Usefulness of an early diagnosis for the favorable prognosis of fibrocartilaginous embolism diagnosed by magnetic resonance imaging in 10 Small- to Middle-Sized Dogs

Fibrocartilaginous embolism (FCE), a disorder of rapid onset featured by nonprogressive paralysis and paresis of four legs, shows clinical symptoms very similar to those of other disorders, e.g., disk herniation. We examined 10 animals diagnosed with FCE based on clinical symptoms and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings in a retrospective study to examine the relationship between onset-to-diagnosis/treatment initiation time and prognosis of FCE. Statistical procedures, including Fisher’s exact probability test, were conducted. All animals in a group, in which the diagnosis was made and treatment was initiated after an elapse of <15 days after onset, showed improved symptoms; the group showed a positive correlation (r = 0.76) between “onset-to-symptom improvement time” and “onset-to-diagnosis/treatment initiation time”. Furthermore, the mean onset-to-diagnosis/ treatment initiation times were 2.67 days and 10.25 days in groups without and with sequelae, respectively; the time was significantly (P < 0.02) shorter in the group without sequelae. A significant difference was found between the groups in early diagnosis and treatment initiation. Our study indicates that the early precise diagnosis for acutely developed paralysis and paresis of four legs through testings including MRI, as well as the early onset of their treatment are important to obtain a favorable prognosis.     

Temperature effects on early development and occurrence of metamorphosis-related morphological abnormalities in hatchery-reared brown sole Pseudopleuronectes herzensteini

The objectives of the present study are to elucidate the effects of rearing temperatures on early larval development and the occurrence of metamorphosis-related morphological abnormalities in hatchery-reared brown sole Pseudopleuronectes herzensteini. Newly hatched larvae were reared through metamorphosis at different temperatures (6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, and 24 °C). Growth and development of larvae were accelerated concomitant with higher temperatures. Metamorphosed juveniles were classified into four morphological categories as normal, pseudoalbinism (two types), and ambicoloration, in combination with body color (pigmentation) and eye location. Incidence of normal morphology was lowest (11–24%) and that of pseudoalbinism was highest (74–83%) at 12 °C. The highest incidence of normal morphology (51–73%) was obtained at 21 °C. Although occurrence of ambicoloration was very low in all temperature regimes (0–10%), it increased slightly with increasing temperatures. Results of the present study strongly suggested that rearing temperature during the larval period affected the appearance of normal fish because of the different larval growth and development.     

Influence of all-trans retinoic acid on pigmentation and skeletal formation in larval Japanese flounder

ABSTRACT: The effect of all- trans retinoic acid (atRA) on pigmentation and skeletal formation of Japanese flounder Paralichthys olivaceus was investigated. Five groups of flounder larvae were fed live food enriched with 0.5 mL docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) 38G oil containing 10 mg of atRA/10 L of culture medium during different developmental stages; that is, A–B, C–D, E–F, G–H, and I. The control group was fed live food enriched with only DHA 38G oil. Flounder that were fed live food enriched with atRA during the A–B stages showed albinism, and mandible and severe caudal defects (albinism 75.7%, lower jaw defects 75%, caudal defects 100%). Occurrence of these abnormalities in other groups was 0%, 1–4%, and 4.5–10.7%, respectively. Administration of atRA during the A–B stages also caused a high number of vertebrae mainly in the caudal area. Moreover, additional abdominal vertebrae had formed in 25% of fish that were fed live food enriched with atRA in the A–B stages. These results indicate that the effect of atRA is dependent on the developmental stage of flounder larvae and they also suggest that morphological and color abnormalities in flounder were induced by atRA accumulated in live food (rotifers 13 mg/g; Artemia 1.6 mg/g), especially during the A–B stages.     

Reproductive cycle of yellow sea bream <Emphasis Type="Italic">Dentex tumifrons</Emphasis> in Wakasa Bay,the Sea of Japan off central Honshu

ABSTRACT:   To determine the spawning season and reproductive cycle of the yellow sea bream, Dentex tumifrons , in Wakasa Bay, in the Sea of Japan off central Honshu, seasonal change in the gonadosomatic index ( GSI ) was examined and histological observations of both ovaries and testes were conducted. The female GSI gradually increased from May, maintained a high level between August and October and then rapidly decreased. The histological observations of the ovary showed that vitellogenesis began from May and developed until September. Spent fish began to be observed in October and all the fish collected in December were spent. There was only one peak in the seasonal change in GSI of males and females in Wakasa Bay. Thus, yellow sea bream spawn only in autumn in Wakasa Bay. Differences in the reproductive cycle and number of spawning seasons were found between the two different latitudinal areas, Wakasa Bay and the East China Sea (low latitudinal area) where the spawning seasons were spring and autumn. An increase in water temperature is an important factor to initiate gonadal maturation (recrudescence) and is terminated by the short day-length in Wakasa Bay.     

Differences in vernalisation responses in onion cultivars

Onions normally form bulbs in the first year of growth; however, exposure to low temperatures can induce flowering (vernalisation) before bulbs are produced. Based on the cultivation data of onions grown in Japan, we evaluated and validated a reported model describing the onion vernalisation response. The observed bolting rates of ‘Sapporoki’, which was used in the construction of a previous model, were a good fit to the model, whereas, the bolting rates of one of the overwinter-type cultivars, ‘Momiji No.3?, were lower than the predicted value. The difference between the predicted and observed bolting rates in ‘Momiji No.3? was caused by a larger VD_0.5, the coefficient in vernalisation response models that represents the time point when half of the plants have bolted. Overwinter-type and/or bolting resistant cultivars can have parameters that indicate a further vernalisation requirement for bolting. The parameters in our model can be customised to the cultivar being investigated, and our study suggests the viability of modelling onion bolting by using air temperature.     

Isoflavone-free soy protein prepared by column chromatography reduces plasma cholesterol in rats

To know whether isoflavones are responsible for the hypocholesterolemic effect of soy protein, the effect on plasma cholesterol of isoflavone-free soy protein prepared by column chromatography was examined in rats. Five-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed cholesterol-enriched AIN-93G diets containing either 20% casein (CAS), 20% soy protein isolate (SPI), 20% isoflavone-free SPI (IF-SPI), 19.7% IF-SPI + 0.3% isoflavone-rich fraction (isoflavone concentrate, IC), or 20% CAS + 0.3% IC for 2 weeks. Plasma total cholesterol concentrations of rats fed SPI and IF-SPI were comparable and were significantly lower than that of rats fed CAS. The addition of IC to the CAS and IF-SPI did not influence plasma cholesterol level. Fecal steroid excretion of the three SPI groups was higher than that of the two CAS groups, whereas the addition of IC showed no effect. Thus, a significant fraction of the cholesterol-lowering effect of SPI in rats can be attributed to the protein content, but the isoflavones and other minor constituents may also play a role.