Chlorantraniliprole application differentially affects adult emergence of Sympetrum dragonflies in rice paddy fields

Paddy and Water Environment - Rice paddy fields are important habitat for many dragonfly species. In Japan, populations of dragonflies inhabiting rice paddies, in particular Sympetrum (Odonata:...     

Evaluation of 5 Types of Fishing Material, 2 Sterilization Methods, and a Crimp-Clamp System for Extra-Articular Stabilization of the Canine Stifle Joint

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the mechanical properties of 5 types of fishing material, 2 sterilization methods, and a commercially designed crimp-clamp system for the extra-articular repair of the canine stifle joint. STUDY DESIGN: Experimental study. SAMPLE POPULATION: Animals were not used in this study. METHODS: Two brands of monofilament nylon fishing line and 3 brands of monofilament nylon leader line were used to determine the effect of steam and ethylene oxide sterilization on strength and elongation of the material. A strand of 36-kg test monofilament nylon fishing material was wrapped around 2 rods or knotted to form a loop around 2 rods on a materials-testing machine. Ten trials of each brand of unsterilized, steam-sterilized, and ethylene oxide-sterilized fishing material were tested. A strand of each material was elongated to failure at a constant displacement of 1,000 mm/min to determine strength. A strand of each material was cycled 10 times to a load of 50 N to determine percent elongation. The brand of fishing material with the greatest strength and least elongation was crimped to form a loop around 2 rods on a materials-testing machine and tested as described above. ANOVA was used to determine the effect of sterilization method, brand of material, knot, wrap, and crimp on strength and elongation of the material, and a post-hoc t test was used when significant differences were found. A Student t test was used to compare fixation techniques (wrap, knot, and crimp). RESULTS: Sterilization by steam or ethylene oxide had no significant effect on the strength of the nylon fishing material. Steam sterilization resulted in significant increases (2- to 4-fold) in elongation of most nylon fishing material when compared with unsterilized material. Ethylene oxide sterilization had minimal effect on elongation of the fishing material. Mason leader line showed no significant change in strength or elongation regardless of sterilization method. Significantly less strength and significantly less elongation were demonstrated in Mason leader line that was crimped as compared with Mason leader line that was knotted. CONCLUSION: Ethlylene oxide was the preferred method of sterilization to preserve strength and minimize elongation of the fishing material. Of the materials tested, Mason leader line had the least elongation and the greatest preservation of strength when ethylene oxide was used as the sterilization method. Mason leader line and Sufix fishing line were comparable choices when steam was used as the sterilization method. Significantly less elongation was demonstrated in crimped Mason leader line as compared with knotted Mason leader line. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Of the materials tested, Mason leader line and Sufix fishing line had the best mechanical properties for extracapsular stabilization of the canine stifle joint. Crimping is an attractive alternative to knotting and results in a reduction in elongation of the nylon fishing material.     

Inhibition of mouse hepatitis virus multiplication by an oligonucleotide complementary to the leader RNA.

An oligonucleotide complementary to a leader RNA of positive-stranded mouse hepatitis virus (MHV) was tested for the effect on the viral multiplication in mouse DBT cells. A 14-mer antisense oligonucleotide contained a sequence complementary to the conserved pentanucleotide sequence, UCUAA, of the leader RNA. A treatment of MHV-infected cells with the antisense oligonucleotide at concentrations from 5 to 25 microM had an inhibitory effect on the viral multiplication and reduced the synthesis of viral specific mRNA and proteins. No inhibitory effect was observed when the cells were treated with sense oligonucleotide and oligonucleotide which contained unrelated sequences at concentrations from 1 to 10 microM. These results showed that antisense oligonucleotide against the leader RNA reduced the multiplication of positive-stranded RNA virus, MHV.     

Analysis of various antigens in golden hamster testis by monoclonal antibodies.

A total of 38 hybridomas producing monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) was established by immunizing BALB/c mice with extracts of the golden hamster testis. Six mAbs stained the acrosome of developing spermatids by immunofluorescence. Two mAbs (1A11 and 4D8) reacted with spermatid components other than acrosome. The mAbs 1C9 and 4D3 recognized a 103 kilodalton (kDa) protein on immunoblots, and were reactive to spermatocytes and early spermatids, but not to late spermatids and spermatozoa. This finding suggests that the protein functions for meiosis or early spermiogenesis. Four mAbs (3G2, 2E5, 2G3, and 3F10) stained all stages of spermatogenic cells. The remaining 24 mAbs showed a positive reaction to the basement membrane of the seminiferous tubule. Two of them, 3D6 and 3E5, recognized approximately 150 kDa major proteins, indicating that the antigen is an extracellular matrix.     

Lectin-binding patterns in the spermatogenic cells of the shiba goat testis.

Lectin-binding patterns in the testis of the sexually mature goat were investigated by light and transmission electron microscopy. Dolichos biflorus agglutinin (DBA) and Griffonia simplicifolia agglutinin-I (GS-I) were negative in the seminiferous epithelium, but soybean (Glycine max) agglutinin (SBA), Griffonia simplicifolia agglutinin-II (GS-II) and peanut (Arachis hypogaea) agglutinin (PNA) were positive in the acrosomal vesicle of the Golgi-phase spermatids and in the acrosome of the cap-, acrosome- and maturation-phase spermatids. In addition, PNA was positive also in the plasma membrane and cytoplasm of the spermatogenic cells from the late pachytene spermatocytes to the maturation-phase spermatids. This finding indicates that glycoconjugates containing D-galactose residue appear at this period. Therefore, PNA may be a useful marker of developing spermatogenic cells. Electron microscopically, the positive reactions of SBA, GS-II and PNA were demonstrated in the central dense area (acrosomal granule) of the cap-phase spermatid acrosome, but not in the peripheral low-dense area. These results indicate that the lectin-bindings in the goat testis not only are common features, but also have patterns somewhat different from those in other mammals in such a way that GS-II can be detected in the acrosomal region of all phases of spermatids and that PNA is positive in the late spermatid acrosome.     

No significant differences were observed in the amounts of DNA strand breaks produced by copper between male and female liver cells of long-evans cinnamon (LEC) strain rats.

The amounts of DNA single strand breaks that are oxidative damage produced by copper were examined by comet assay in the liver cells of an inbred strain of Long-Evans Cinnamon (LEC) rats that spontaneously develops fulminant hepatitis. At 4 weeks of age, copper contents in the liver of LEC rats were approximately 30-fold higher than those of WKAH rats that are control rats used in the present study. Copper accumulated in the liver of LEC rats in an age-dependent manner and no significant differences were observed between copper contents in the livers of males and females at each week of age from 4 to 15 weeks. No significant amounts of DNA strand breaks were found in the liver cells of both male and female WKAH rats from 4 to 15 weeks of age. DNA strand breaks were produced in the substantial population of LEC rat liver cells at 10 weeks of age and induced in an age-dependent manner from 10 to 15 weeks of age. The amounts of DNA strand breaks produced by copper accumulation in the liver cells of female LEC rats are not more abundant than those in the cells of male rats, although it has been reported that hepatitis in female rats is more serious than that in male rats.     

Characterization and classification of Actinobacillus (Haemophilus) pleuropneumoniae plasmids.

Actinobacillus (Haemophilus) pleuropneumoniae plasmids were characterized and classified. They were isolated from A pleuropneumoniae strains different in serotype, year isolated, or location from which isolated. Six of 8 plasmids encoded streptomycin (Sm) and sulfonamide (Su) resistance (SmSu). One of the other plasmids, pVM105, encoded ampicillin (Ap) resistance and another, pHM0, encoded no drug resistance. All SmSu plasmids were transferred to Escherichia coli strains by transformation. Among them, pABO and pMS260 were 8.1 kb and incompatible with each other; they were stable in E coli. The other SmSu plasmids, pHM1, pVM104, pVM106, and pKD25, were 4.3 kb and did not replicate stably in E coli. The former SmSu plasmids were mobilized in E coli strains by a plasmid RP4, which belonged to incompatibility (Inc) group P, but the latter plasmids were not. Further, each 8.1-kb SmSu plasmid and each 4.3-kb plasmid had the same respective restriction pattern. These results indicated that there were at least 2 types of SmSu plasmids in A pleuropneumoniae. The 2 types were classified in 2 groups: H1(pMS260 and pABO) and H2(pHM1, pVM104, pVM106, and pKD25). The H1 and H2 plasmids belonged to different Inc groups, and H2 plasmids belonged to a different Inc group from that of pHMO and pVM105.     

Two quantitative trait loci on Sus scrofa chromosomes 1 and 7 affecting the number of vertebrae

The objective of the research was to identify QTL affecting the number of vertebrae in swine, one of the major determining factors of growth and body composition. Previously, we reported a QTL for the number of vertebrae located on SSC1qter (terminal band of the q arm of SSC 1) in an F2 family produced by crossing a G?ttingen miniature male with two Meishan females. Eight other swine families were subsequently produced by crosses between different breeds of European, Asian, and miniature pigs. In these families, the QTL on SSC1qter for the number of vertebrae was detected. Unlike the Asian alleles, all European alleles in this study had the effect of increasing the number of vertebrae by 0.44 to 0.69 and acted additively without dominance. The G?ttingen miniature sire, for which we previously reported a smaller additive effect, seemed to be heterozygous at the QTL. In the present study, another QTL was found for the number of vertebrae on SSC7. This QTL was not fixed in the European pigs used as parents in our experimental families, and some of the European alleles increased the number of vertebrae. A half-sib analysis confirmed that this QTL was segregating in a commercial Large White population. Analysis in an F2 family in which the parental pigs were fixed for alternative alleles revealed that the effects of the QTL on SSC1 and on SSC7 were additive and similar in size. The two QTL acted independently without epistatic effects and explained an increase of more than two vertebrae.     

Expression of nerve growth factor in itchy skins of atopic NC/NgaTnd mice

Although the possible involvement of neurotrophic factors in itchy skins of atopic dermatitis has been predicted, the exact mechanism by which itch is induced remains unclear. Since nerve growth factor (NGF) has crucial effects on development and functions of sensory nerves, we determined production of NGF and extension of nerve fibers in skins of NC/NgaTnd mice with or without atopic dermatitis. NC/NgaTnd mice spontaneously develop atopic dermatitis-like skin lesions when they are raised in air-unregulated conventional circumstances. We quantified scratching behavior of NC/NgaTnd mice during the development of dermatitis using a novel analytical system and compared to clinical skin severity scores. A significant correlation between the severity of dermatitis and the increase in the number of scratches was identified, indicating that scratching behavior may associate with clinical skin conditions. NGF contents in the skin lesions of conventional NC/NgaTnd mice were significantly higher than those in SPF mice. Positive reactions for NGF were observed in keratinocytes and fibroblasts in affected skins of conventional NC/NgaTnd mice. Immunohistochemical analysis showed the extension of protein gene product 9.5-positive nerve fibers from the dermis toward the epidermis at the skin lesions. These results suggest that sensory nerves induced by NGF may contribute to development of itch, and that NGF produced at the affected site may provide abnormal skin sensitivity in atopic dermatitis.     

An ultrastructural study on the Leydig and Sertoli cells in the immature lesser mouse deer (Tragulus javanicus)

Leydig and Sertoli cells of the immature lesser mouse deer testes, obtained in East Malaysia, were observed using light and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The testes were fixed in 5% glutaraldehyde, post-fixed in 1% OsO4, dehydrated in ethanol, and embedded in Araldite M. Serial semi-thin sections were cut, stained with toluidine blue and observed using light microscopy. Serial ultra-thin sections were cut, stained with uranyl acetate and lead citrate, and examined using TEM. As a result, ultrastructurally, two types of underdeveloped filament bundles were infrequently recognized in Leydig cells, but not in other testicular cells. One type was the underdeveloped bundles of actin filaments (approximately 5 nm in diameter), which were found in the nucleus of Leydig cells. The other type was the underdeveloped bundles of intermediate filaments (approximately 10 nm in diameter), which were found in the cytoplasm of Leydig cells. A multivesicular nuclear body (MNB)--specifically present in the Sertoli cell nucleus of ruminant testes--was infrequently observed. The MNB is situated in the vicinity of nuclear membrane, still in an underdeveloped stage.