Quantitative capillary reversed passive latex agglutination test for C-reactive protein (CRP) in the dog

A capillary reversed passive latex agglutination test (capillary RPLA) was developed which allows quantification of serum C-reactive protein (CRP) within approximately 15 min. The logarithmic regression line (calibration curve) obtained after measuring each CRP concentration three times in twofold dilutions of a standard canine serum containing 222 g/ml of CRP was y=6.394+0.030x (r=0.995). Capillary RPLA permitted quantification of CRP in the range 6.9–222 g/ml. The coefficients of variation ranged from 10.28% to 12.40%. The recovery rates (percentage recovery) of CRP by capillary RPLA were within the range 87% to 106%. On measuring the CRP concentrations in sera from 78 dogs by capillary RPLA, single radial immunodiffusion (SRID) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), close correlations were demonstrated between SRID and capillary RPLA (y=7.250+1.109x, r=0.978), between SRID and ELISA (y=3.042+1.059x, r=0.967), and between capillary RPLA and ELISA (y=1.778+0.929x, r=0.962). Capillary RPLA may be considered useful as a routine biochemical technique for measurement of serum CRP concentration in the dog.Abbreviations CRP C-reactive protein - ELISA enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay - RPLA reversed passive latex agglutination test - SRID single radial immunodiffusion     

Effects of tris(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate on epididymal sperm parameters in adult male rats

Tris(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate (TDCIPP) is widely used as a flame retardant and is known to exhibit anti-androgenic effects in vitro and in vivo. To assess the reproductive toxicity potency of TDCIPP, we investigated the effects of 7 days of TDCIPP oral administration on epididymal sperm motion and concentration in adult male Wistar–Imamichi rats. Thirty-five days after the final administration, sperm parameters were evaluated by computer-assisted sperm analysis. Results showed that sperm swimming progression and vigor and sperm concentration in TDCIPP-treated rats were unexpectedly higher than those in control rats. TDCIPP did not significantly affect the percentage of motile sperms or sperm swimming pattern. These results contribute to the understanding of the biological effects of TDCIPP.     

Seasonal contribution of C3 and C4 species to ecosystem respiration and photosynthesis estimated from isotopic measurements of atmospheric CO2 at a grassland in Japan

Measurements of δ¹³C in atmospheric CO₂ and plant samples were made in 2003, along with CO₂ flux measurements, at a grassland site in Tsukuba in central Japan. The objective of the study was to obtain estimates of relative seasonal contributions of C₃ and C₄ plants to the net CO₂ flux over a C₃/C₄ grassland area influenced by the Asian monsoon. C₄ contribution to the ecosystem respiration (f_4R) increased from June to September, and then became constant at 63–67% through October and November. The seasonal variation in f_4R reflected the biomass composition of C₃ and C₄ plants at the measurement site. The seasonal C₄ contribution to photosynthesis (f_4P) was significantly different from its contribution to f_4R in May (8%) while it showed similar values to f_4R after June. The seasonal variations in f_4R and f_4P reflect the biomass composition ratio. Such seasonal transition from C₃ to C₄ of relative contribution to the carbon flux is similar to that observed in humid prairie ecosystems, while it is different from that in dry prairie ecosystems where the contribution of C₃ plants is lower and the seasonal maximum of the C₄-plant contribution occurs earlier compared to the humid prairie ecosystems.     

Partial characterization and ontogenetic development of pancreatic digestive enzymes in Japanese eel Anguilla japonica larvae

The pancreatic digestive enzymes, trypsin, chymotrypsin, lipase and amylase were partially characterized, and changes in their activities were examined during the initial ontogeny of Japanese eel Anguilla japonica larvae from 5 to 34 days post-hatching (dph). The pH optima of the eel larval enzymes were narrower than those other fish species; trypsin activity was highest at pH 9, chymotrypsin and amylase activities were highest at pH 7 and 8, and lipase activity was highest at pH 8 and 9. In an analysis of thermal profiles, the larval pancreatic enzymes had a high optimal temperature and high thermal stability, which are typical of fish from the tropics. At 12 and 13 dph, lipase activity and gene expression levels of trypsin (-a and -b), lipase and amylase decreased markedly, suggesting a marked change in larval metabolism at that time. These data could be useful in the development of artificial larval diets in Japanese eel.     

Comparison of changes in sugars and ethylene production of cherimoya fruit grown at different seasons

Summary

Changes in fruit weight, total soluble solids (TSS), sugar content and postharvest ethylene production during fruit development were compared on fruit of cherimoya (Annona cherimola Mill., cv. Big Sister) pollinated at different times (early, at the beginning of April, 1995 and late, at the end of May, 1994). Fruit weight increased by growth, independently of pollination times. Changes in TSS and sugar content were strongly affected by pollination time. In late pollinated fruits, both TSS and sugar content increased during the growth period, 110–160 d after pollination, while neither increased with fruit growth in early pollinated fruit. Moreover, changes in TSS and sugar content after ripening depended not only on pollination time but also on the growth period. With late pollination, fruit harvested after 140 d became edible after ripening. The TSS and total sugar contents, (the sum of fructose, glucose and sucrose contents) increased to about 20° Brix and above 16%, respectively. But early pollinated fruits were not edible after ripening, since total sugar content increased only to about 7%, even though they kept growing for 160 d on the tree. The maximum rate of ethylene production declined and the number of days to the ethylene peak from harvest is also reduced with growth in both cases. These changes were closely correlated with days after pollination (r>0.9) regardless of pollination time. Comparisons of accumulated temperature suggest that temperature at pollination time and during the resting period of growth affected fruit development. These results indicate that neither fruit weight nor number of days after pollination is a suitable index for harvesting time.     

Contribution of charcoal to short-term nutrient dynamics after surface fire in the humus layer of a dwarf bamboo-dominated forest

Ecological function of charcoal has been mainly investigated by adding charcoal to soil, which is not fully adequate to understand in situ the role in fire-prone forest ecosystem. To determine in situ effects of charcoal on ecosystem functions, such as nutrient availability, we conducted an experimental burning in a Japanese white birch forest with dense coverage of dwarf bamboo in the understory with or without removal of charcoal. Ammonium-N in the remaining humus layer increased immediately after the burning, but decreased to the level of unburnt plots within 1?month of the burning. Removal of charcoal had no significant effect on the NH₄ ⁺-N dynamics. Although burning did not affect NO₃ ^?-N dynamics during the sampling period, charcoal removal led to a slight increase in NO₃ ^?-N. The available P increased immediately after the burning, but then fell at 1?month after burning. Charcoal inhibited the available P depletion and prolonged the high availability of P. Greater availability of P might be due to the adsorption of phosphate in charcoal pores. Exchangeable Ca and Mg increased gradually; charcoal appeared to extend the period of higher concentration of exchangeable Ca and Mg. Charcoal deriving from fire is a key factor in influencing available nutrient in the humus layer of post-fire forests.     

Uptake by dietary exposure and elimination of aflatoxins in muscle and liver of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

Uptake and elimination of aflatoxins (AFs) by rainbow trout ( Oncorhynchus mykiss ) during a long-term (21 days) dietary exposure were studied to assess contamination by AFs in aquaculture fish fed AF-containing feed. The uptake factor (UF) of aflatoxin B(1) (AFB(1)) in muscle ranged from 0.40 × 10(-3) to 1.30 × 10(-3). AFB(1) concentrations in liver were 165-342 times higher than in muscle. AFs from feed were more highly accumulated in liver than in muscle. Aflatoxicol (AFL) and aflatoxin M(1) (AFM(1)) were detected in muscle and liver and also in the rearing water. AFL concentrations were higher than AFM(1) by 2 orders of magnitude in muscle, and AFL was a major metabolite of AFB(1). The elimination rate constants (α) of AFB(1) and AFL in muscle (1.83 and 2.02 day(-1), respectively) and liver (1.38 and 2.41 day(-1), respectively) were very large. The elimination half-life (t(1/2)) of AFB(1) was 0.38 days (9.12 h) in muscle and 0.50 days (12.00 h) in liver. The elimination half-life of AFL in muscle and liver was 0.34 day (8.16 h) and 0.29 day (6.96 h), respectively. These data show that AFs are eliminated rapidly and are not biomagnified in fish. Thus, AFB(1) concentration in muscle of fish fed AFB(1)-containing feed (ca. 500 μg/kg) decreased to below the detection limit (20 ng/kg) of the most sensitive analytical method at 1.54 days (36.96 h) after the change to uncontaminated feed.