Decreased transport of orally administered protein into the blood circulation of developing juveniles of Japanese eel Anguilla japonica

ABSTRACT: To clarify the quantitative changes in the transport of orally intubated protein into the blood circulation as macromolecules in development, immunoglobulin Y (IgY) extracted from chicken eggs was administered orally to juvenile Japanese eel, Anguilla japonica . For the first experiment, which was performed before the commencement of artificial feeding, the oral delivery of 2.0 μg/0.1 g bodyweight of IgY resulted in a rapid increase in plasma IgY to a maximum of 2.30 μg/mL. However, the transport of IgY into the blood decreased significantly in the experiments that followed, which were performed after 12, 25 and 42 days. During this period, bodyweight increased approximately by a factor of eight, and rapid growth of the stomach was observed histologically. Possible contributions for the development of the alimentary canal to the diminishment of intestinal protein assimilation are discussed.     

Chemical changes of kenaf core binderless boards during hot pressing (I): influence of the pressing temperature condition

Self-bonding is the main factor of the performance expression of binderless boards, and therefore its clarification is considered to be an important issue. For this purpose, a series of chemical analyses were conducted on kenaf core binderless boards and their chemical changes during the hot-pressing process are discussed in this article. First of all, binderless boards were prepared from kenaf core powder at different pressing temperatures (without steam-explosion process) and were used for chemical analyses after they were reduced into powders and extracted with methanol. To investigate their chemical changes, lignin, holocellulose, and neutral sugar contents were determined, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra were recorded, and the nitrobenzene oxidation procedure was applied. As a result, it was found that parts of lignin and hemicelullose were decomposed during the hot-pressing process; however, the contribution of the resulting fractions to selfbonding was not observed. In addition, progress of condensation reactions in lignin and the formation of chemical bonds by low molecular weight conjugated carbonyl compounds in methanol extractives were observed. Thermal softening of lignin is also suggested to play an important role in the expression of board performance.     

Identification of c-kit mutations-independent neoplastic cell proliferation of canine mast cells

Gain-of-function mutations in the proto-oncogene c-kit have been considered the molecular mechanism of neoplastic proliferation of mast cells. However, the importance of c-kit gene mutations is not well evaluated in canine mast cell tumors (MCTs). In the present study, we established and characterized a mast cell line, HRMC, derived from a dog with MCT. We also examined c-kit mutations in HRMC cells and assessed an inhibitory effect of a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, STI571, on HRMC cells. HRMC cells had cytoplasmic metachromatic granules, chymase and tryptase, and expressed both KIT and FcepsilonRI on the cell surface. HRMC cells contained histamine and released beta-hexosaminidase through FcepsilonRI cross-linking and calcium ionophore stimulation. Nucleotide sequence analysis demonstrated no mutations in an open reading frame of c-kit cDNA and genomic DNA of the juxtamembrane domain of c-kit in HRMC cells. STI571 did not show any inhibitory effects on the proliferation of HRMC cells. These findings clearly demonstrated the existence of c-kit mutations-independent neoplastic canine mast cell proliferation. The growth factor-independent mast cell line established in this study might be valuable to explore novel mechanisms of c-kit mutations-independent neoplastic proliferation of mast cells in dogs.     

Effects of maize (Zea mays L.) silage feeding on dry matter intake and milk production of dairy buffalo and cattle in Tarai, Nepal

To identify the effects of whole crop maize silage (MS) as a substitute for rice straw (RS) on feed intake and milk production of mid-late lactating buffalo and cattle in Tarai, Nepal, eight Murrah and eight Jersey-Hariana were fed the basal diet, RS ( ad libitum ) with concentrate (0.68% of bodyweight [BW] on a dry matter [DM] basis). A 4 × 4 Latin square design experiment was conducted in each animal species with graded levels of MS substitution for RS (0%, T1; 33%, T2; 67%, T3 and 100%, T4). The MS had higher digestibility and total digestible nutrient (TDN) than RS. The DM intake per BW of the both species was highest in T3. The substitution of MS for RS increased the crude protein intake and the TDN intake in the both species. Although the buffalo showed the highest milking performance in T4, the cattle showed no significant differences in their milking performance among the treatments. The substitution of MS for RS improved the feed intake and milk production in the buffalo. On the other hand, the milk yield was not raised in the cattle, though the feed intake was increased by the substitution.     

Effects of plane of nutrition on slaughtering traits and meat characteristics in Murrah graded male buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) calves in Nepal

An experiment was conducted using 17 male buffalo calves to assess the effects of plane of nutrition on slaughtering traits and meat characteristics. To attain 250 kg body weight (BW), the calves were allocated into three groups: high (H), low‐high (L‐H) and low (L) corresponding to concentrate levels receiving the concentrate at 1.50% of BW, 0.75% of BW until 190 kg BW and 1.50% thereafter, and 0.75% of BW, respectively. The animals had ad libitum access to urea‐treated rice straw. No significant differences of hot carcass weight, dressing percentage and lean fat–bone yields were observed among the treatment groups. The L group had heavier brisket weight and lower percentage of round weight in the hot carcass than the H and L‐H groups (P < 0.05). The H group had heavier hearts than the L group, and the H and L‐H groups had heavier livers and kidneys than the L group (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference of rib eye area, pH and the contents of moisture, crude protein and fat in loin meat among the groups. The findings indicated that the effects of plane of nutrition affected the weight or percentages of some cut yields in the hot carcasses and internal organs.     

Relationship between the sperm count and the fertilization rate of ova ovulated from the contralateral ovary in intrauterine horn insemination in cats

Unilateral intrauterine horn insemination (UIUI) was carried out in cats, and we investigated the fertilization rate of ova ovulated from the contralateral ovary. Various numbers of sperm were used to inseminate the uterine horn on the side where ovulation was inhibited. The rates of conception were 1/11 (9.1%), 2/11 (18.2%), and 5/7 (71.4%) in the 2 x 10(6), 4 x 10(6), and 8 x 10 (6) groups, respectively. Furthermore, the fertilization rate was 70.7% in the 8 x 10(6) group. Thus, ova ovulated from the contralateral ovary were not fertilized or the fertilization rate was low in some cats even when UIUI was performed with a large number of sperm.     

Role of actin microfilaments in canine distemper virus replication in vero cells

Several studies have indicated that viruses require a specific cytoskeletal structure for replication in host cells. In this study, we examined the role of actin fiber in the replication of canine distemper virus (CDV), belonging to the Morbillivirus genus of the family Paramyxoviridae. For this purpose, we used two actin depolymerizing agents, cytochalasin-D (C-D) and mycalolide-B (ML-B). In Vero cells, C-D disrupted actin fibers distributed in the cytosol, but peripheral actin fibers remained intact. On the other hand, ML-B completely disrupted the actin fibers distributed in both areas. Treatment of Vero cells with C-D or ML-B inhibited the replication of CDV. Double staining of CDV-infected Vero cells with antibody to N-protein and rhodamine-phalloidin revealed the presence of N-protein in mid-cytoplasm. However, the N-protein was specifically localized at the submembrane region in the presence of C-D, whereas it was clustered in the presence of ML-B. Viral mRNA levels of N- and H-proteins were rather increased by treatment with C-D or ML-B. The treatment with ML-B strongly inhibited N-protein expression, whereas C-D only slightly inhibited N-protein expression. These results suggest that actin microfilaments distributed in the cytoplasm and on the membrane region in host cells may have a different role in the process of CDV replication.     

Role of prostatic fluid in cooled canine epididymal sperm

In this study, sperms collected from the right and left cauda epididymis were grouped into having canine prostatic fluid (PF) sensitization or not diluted with egg yolk Tris–fructose citrate extender, and stored at 4°C. The necessity of canine PF in cooled preservation was determined by elucidating the sperm quality after the storage. As a result, while there was no difference among all groups up to 48 hr of storage, after storage for 96 hr and more, a significantly lower sperm motility was observed in the group without being sensitized to PF than the groups with being sensitized to PF (p < .05, p < .01). Although sperm abnormality increased in all groups with increased storage time, the group without being sensitized to PF showed significantly higher sperm abnormality than did the groups with being sensitized to PF after storage for 24 hr and more (p < .01). From these findings, we concluded that PF was necessary for the cooled preservation of the canine sperm because these sperms were protected from any effects of low temperatures by being sensitized to PF.     

Circadian variations in salivary chromogranin a concentrations during a 24-hour period in dogs

The purpose of this study was to determine if salivary chromogranin a secretion in dogs exhibits a circadian rhythm. Saliva sampling was performed during three different sessions occurring in three nonconsecutive 24-h periods. Sixteen healthy adult beagle dogs (8 males and 8 females) were moved to a sampling room and housed individually in cages. Saliva samples were obtained every 4 h from 12:00 p.m. to 12:00 p.m. the following day. In the interest of habituation, saliva was obtained hourly from each dog 3 h before the experiment was started. Salivary chromogranin A concentrations were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. No circadian rhythm was detected for salivary chromogranin A secretion, and no differences in salivary chromogranin A concentrations measured every 4 h were demonstrated during the 24-h cycle in dogs.