Genetic variants of the unsaturated fatty acid receptor GPR120 relating to obesity in dogs

G protein-coupled receptor (GPR) 120 is an unsaturated fatty acid receptor, which is associated with various physiological functions. It is reported that the genetic variant of GPR120, p.Arg270His, is detected more in obese people, and this genetic variation functionally relates to obesity in humans. Obesity is a common nutritional disorder also in dogs, but the genetic factors have not ever been identified in dogs. In this study, we investigated the molecular structure of canine GPR120 and searched for candidate genetic variants which may relate to obesity in dogs. Canine GPR120 was highly homologous to those of other species, and seven transmembrane domains and two N-glycosylation sites were conserved. GPR120 mRNA was expressed in lung, jejunum, ileum, colon, hypothalamus, hippocampus, spinal cord, bone marrow, dermis and white adipose tissues in dogs, as those in mice and humans. Genetic variants of GPR120 were explored in client-owned 141 dogs, resulting in that 5 synonymous and 4 non-synonymous variants were found. The variant c.595C>A (p.Pro199Thr) was found in 40 dogs, and the gene frequency was significantly higher in dogs with higher body condition scores, i.e. 0.320 in BCS4–5 dogs, 0.175 in BCS3 dogs and 0.000 in BCS2 dogs. We conclude that c.595C>A (p.Pro199Thr) is a candidate variant relating to obesity, which may be helpful for nutritional management of dogs.     

Parentage assignment of stocked black sea bream <Emphasis Type="Italic">Acanthopagrus schlegelii</Emphasis> in Hiroshima Bay using microsatellite DNA markers

The genetic contribution of 51 broodstock, comprising 29 females and 22 males, reared at Hiroshima City Marine Products Promotion Center for the production of stocked black sea bream was monitored during two consecutive years using seven microsatellite DNA loci. The high discrimination ability of these markers was reflected in the polymorphic identification content (PIC=0.831), the exclusion probability (Q≈1), and the low probability of identity index (I=3.635⁻¹⁰). The total number of breeders contributing to the mating process was estimated at 32 (62.7%) in 2000 and 30 (58.8%) in 2001. On pedigree reconstruction, 69.3% of the offspring were successfully assigned to a single broodstock pair. Loss of alleles accounted for 16.9% during seed production; nevertheless, 90.9% of males and 69.0% of females participated in the mating process. Based on microsatellite genetic tagging, 58.9% of the fish sampled during the two months after release were identified as hatchery stock, presenting no significant differences from wild conspecifics in either fork length or body weight.     

Toxicity of the antifouling biocide Sea-Nine 211 to marine algae, crustacea, and a polychaete

We evaluated the acute toxicity of the antifouling biocide Sea-Nine 211 to the algae Chaetoceros calcitrans, Dunaliella tertiolecta, Tetraselmis tetrathele, and Skeletonema costatum, the crustacea Tigriopus japonicus and Portunus trituberculatus, and the polychaete Perinereis nuntia. The algae, and especially the diatoms C. calcitrans and S. costatum, were sensitive to Sea-Nine 211 toxicity, with the average acute toxicity values being 0.32, 3.9, 1.6, 0.22, 1.6, 12, and 27 μg/l for C. calcitrans, D. tertiolecta, T. tetrathele, S. costatum, T. japonicus, P. trituberculatus, and P. nuntia, respectively. A sediment toxicity test for Sea-Nine 211 using the polychaete P. nuntia revealed demonstrated that the 14-day median lethal concentration was 110 μg/kg dry-wt sediment and that growth was the most sensitive indicator. The chronic toxicity values of Sea-Nine 211 for the diatoms C. calcitrans and S. costatum were within the range of reported Sea-Nine 211 concentrations in seawater in coastal Japan, and the toxicity values for P. nuntia were within the reported concentrations in sediment. Based on these results, Sea-Nine 211 may have toxic effects on some sensitive species residing in the coastal areas of Japan, but the ecological risk posed by Sea-Nine 211 would appear to be confined to a limited area of Japanese coastal waters.     

Fixation of carbon dioxide by chemoautotrophic bacteria in grassland soil under dark conditions

Grassland is one of the most important terrestrial ecosystems for carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) cycling. However, while CO₂ fixation by phototrophic bacteria is relatively well studied, little is known about microbial CO₂ fixation without light by chemoautotrophic bacteria in grassland soils. Therefore, in this study, the isotope ¹⁴C-CO₂ was used to investigate the CO₂-fixing process in grassland soils. Soil samples were collected from both fenced and adjacent continuous grazing grassland sites in Inner Mongolia and then incubated for 120 days under dark conditions. Meanwhile, the cbbL genes (red- and green-like) were analyzed to isolate chemoautotrophic bacteria, which are responsible for CO₂ fixation. After incubation, ¹⁴C was fixed into soil organic carbon (¹⁴C-SOC) and microbial biomass carbon (¹⁴C-MBC) were found in both the fenced and grazing soils, and the fixation rate of ¹⁴C-SOC in the fenced soils (48.55‰) was significantly higher than in the grazing soils (22.11‰). The fixation rate of ¹⁴C-MBC in the fenced soils (14.05‰) was higher than in the grazing soils (7.08‰), but the difference was not significant. The red-like cbbL genes could be detected in all the soil samples, but the green-like cbbL genes could not be amplified. A greater number of identified operational taxonomic units were observed in the fenced soils compared with the grazing soils. The chemoautotrophic bacteria were mainly affiliated with Alphaproteobacteria and Actinobacteria. However, Chloroflexi was detected in only the fenced soils. The results suggested that CO₂ fixation by chemoautotrophic bacteria might be significant in carbon cycling in grassland.     

Mottled coloration of haploid-diploid and diploid-triploid mosaic amago salmon Oncorhynchus masou ishikawae

ABSTRACT:   Mottled amago salmon Oncorhynchus masou ishikawe with both yellow- and dark-pigmented skin occurred together with typical albino individuals in a commercial farm. Out of 12 mottled fish examined by DNA content flow-cytometry and erythrocytic nucleus size, three were diploid, eight were haploid-diploid mosaic and one was diploid-triploid mosaic. This fact indicates that the mottled coloration might link to polyploid mosaicism. Genotype of diploid and non-diploid cells at the albino locus was estimated in nine mature mottled fish by observing the frequency of wild-type and albino progeny when mating to homozygous albino ( aa ). One diploid and three haploid-diploid mosaic mottled fish were presumed to have mosaic genotype with both hemizygous ' a ' and heterozygous ' Aa ' cells ( a/Aa ), because the segregation ratio between two phenotypes was 1 : 1. Three other haploid-diploid mosaic fish were presumed to have mosaic genotype with both hemizygous ' a ' and homozygous ' AA ' cells ( a/AA ), because of exclusive occurrence of wild-type phenotype in the progeny. The diploid-triploid mosaic mottled fish was presumed to have mosaic genotypes ' aa / AAA ', ' aa/AAa ' or ' aa / Aaa ', because this fish yielded only albino progeny. One diploid mottled fish produced both two phenotypes but albino embryos appeared with much more frequency than the expectation, when assuming the genotype ' Aa '. Thus, this fish was considered to have mosaic genotype ' Aa/aa '.     

Artificially induced tetraploid masu salmon have the ability to form primordial germ cells

Diploid gametes generated with tetraploid animals are a stepping stone to improving chromosome manipulation techniques. However, artificially induced tetraploid individuals generally die soon after hatching. Diploid gametes could be induced by in vivo cultures of tetraploid primordial germ cells (PGCs) through germ-line chimera. In the present study, characteristics of PGCs were studied in inviable tetraploid masu salmon, Oncorhynchus masou. Histological observation of tetraploid embryos revealed that the same or smaller numbers of PGCs were observed and they migrate into the genital ridges as did diploid PGCs during gonadogenesis. By whole-mount in situ hybridization using vasa messenger RNA (mRNA), 4–35 vasa-positive signals were detected in a pair of genital ridges of tetraploids. By cytological observation of genital ridge cell suspensions, several large round cells were observed, some of which extended pseudopodia. They also contained large nuclei and round granules in their cytoplasm, characteristics of PGCs. As the results suggest that inviable artificial tetraploids have PGCs, we expect to achieve diploid gamete production through surrogate propagation and tetraploid fish production.     

Influence of volcanic ash sediments on spore adhesion of the red alga Gelidium elegans from the coastal seabed around Miyakejima Island, Japan

The populations of red alga Gelidium elegans along the coast of Miyakejima Island were severely damaged by a volcanic eruption in 2000. The effect of this volcanic eruption has been long lasting, and populations of this red alga still have not recovered. We investigated the effect of seabed sediment particles derived from volcanic ash on the substrate adhesion of G.?elegans spores. The analysis provides evidence that increasing amounts of sediment particles result in lower adhesion rates of G.?elegans spores, and that smaller sediment particles have a greater influence on adhesion. The amount of seabed sediment particles around Miyakejima Island was 9.3?C1815.4?mg/cm². This amount has changed greatly from year to year. The adhesion rate of G.?elegans spores in water around Miyakejima Island was 0?% at all points in 2008 and 2010, but it was estimated as 6.3?C38.6?% in 2009. These results suggest that there is significant inhibition of algal spore adhesion by seabed sediment particles derived from volcanic ash around Miyakejima Island.     

Stress responses in neonatal meat and layer Nagoya chicks

We reported that meat chicks have either a greater capability to acclimatize to novel environments, or a blunted hypothalamic‐pituitary‐adrenal response to novel environments compared with layer chicks in a commercial base. The present study compared the differences in behavior and plasma corticosterone concentrations under isolation‐induced stress between neonatal meat and layer Nagoya chicks which had been separated from the same population. Both types of neonatal chicks reared in groups were individually separated and their spontaneous activity and distress‐induced vocalizations were monitored for 10 min. The responses of the two types were remarkably different, with the meat chicks being less active than the layer chicks. Distress‐induced vocalizations were fewer in the meat than in the layer chicks. The meat chicks spent more time in a sleeping posture during isolation‐induced stress. Plasma corticosterone concentrations measured at the end of the test tended to be higher in the layer chicks than in meat ones, but not significantly. In conclusion, the selection of Nagoya chickens for meat and layer may have trends similar to those observed in commercial chickens in relation to stress susceptibility.