Expressions of protein oxidation markers, dityrosine and advanced oxidation protein products in Cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity in rats

The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether dityrosine and advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP) reflect the severity of cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity. Immunoexpression of dityrosine in kidneys and plasma AOPP concentration were examined up to day 4 post-cisplatin injection in rats. Cisplatin injection induced tubular injury on days 2-4 after injection and increased serum creatinine and BUN on days 3 and 4. On days 2-4, dityrosine was immunostained in the cytoplasm of damaged tubular cells, and their immunostaining intensity increased time-dependently. Plasma AOPP levels were significantly increased on days 3 and 4. These results suggest that expressions of dityrosine and AOPP were associated with the severity of renal injury and may be useful markers for the development of cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity.     

Assisted hatching of poor-quality bovine embryos increases pregnancy success rate after embryo transfer

Embryos of good, fair and poor quality were collected from superovulated cows and subjected to zona cutting (ZC) treatment using a needle under either an inverted microscope or a stereomicroscope. One (single transfer) or 2 (twin transfer) embryos with or without prior ZC treatment were transferred nonsurgically to recipients. Without the ZC treatment, lower embryonic quality resulted in lower pregnancy success rates. However, the ZC treatment increased the pregnancy success rate following transfer of poor-quality embryos, but not the pregnancy rate after transfer of good- or fair-quality embryos. No differences were observed between the pregnancy success rates after the transfer of embryos treated under the inverted microscope and those after transfer of embryos treated under the stereomicroscope, and this was the same after single and twin transfer. Moreover, ZC treatment of embryos prior to transfer did not result in an increased abortion rate, irrespective of the number of transferred embryos. In conclusion, ZC treatment improves pregnancy success rates following transfer of poor-quality embryos. Moreover, the results indicate that ZC treatment by using a stereomicroscope is practical for on-farm application.     

In vitro production of porcine embryos: current status,future perspectives and alternative applications

The pig is considered to be a suitable source of cells and organs for xenotransplants, as well as a transgenic animal to produce specific proteins, given the biological similarities it shares with human beings. However, the in vitro embryo production system in pigs is inefficient compared with those in other mammals, such as cattle or mice. Although numerous modifications have been applied to improve the efficiency of in vitro embryo production systems in pigs, not much progress has been made to overcome the problem of polyspermy, and low developmental ability due to insufficient cytoplasmic abilities of in vitro matured oocytes and improper culture conditions for the in vitro produced embryos. Recent achievements, such as the establishment of chemically defined medium and utilization of ‘zona hardening’ technique, have gained some success. However, further research for the reduction of polyspermy and detrimental effects of the culture systems in pigs is still needed.     

Germination stimulatory activity of bacterial butenolide hormones from Streptomyces albus J1074 on seeds of the root parasitic weed Orobanche minor

Damage caused by Orobanchaceae root parasitic weeds is a substantial agricultural problem for global food security. Many studies have been conducted to establish practical methods of control, but efforts are still required for successful management. Seed germination of root parasitic weeds requires host-derived germination stimulants including strigolactones (SLs). Studies on SLs have revealed that a butenolide ring is the essential moiety for SL activity as a germination stimulant. Interestingly, recent studies have revealed that butenolide hormones regulate the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites and mediate communication in actinomycete bacteria. Because of the structural similarity between SLs and the bacterial butenolides, we evaluated the germination stimulatory activity of butenolides isolated from Streptomyces albus J1074 on root parasitic weeds. These butenolides were found to specifically induce seed germination of Orobanche minor. Our findings contribute to understanding the molecular mechanisms of germination stimulant perception and to the development of a method for their biological control.     

Identification of fructo- and malto-oligosaccharides in cured tobacco leaves (Nicotiana tabacum)

Fructo-oligosaccharides (FOSs) and malto-oligosaccharides (MOSs) in cured tobacco leaves ( Nicotiana tabacum ) were detected and quantified using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled with electrospray ionization (ESI) tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS). These oligosaccharides were present in several tobacco materials including flue-cured tobacco, sun/air-cured tobacco, and cut filler of commercially available tobacco products, but were not detected in air-cured tobacco. The changes in these oligosaccharides during storage were also investigated. The results revealed that MOSs simply decreased under a warm atmosphere and FOSs increased. In addition, the formation of FOSs in cured tobacco leaves occurred in the presence of sucrose. With regard to FOSs, it has been reported that green tobacco leaves do not contain FOSs such as kestose, nystose, and fructosyl-nystose. The results of a model test suggested that the changes in FOS amount were caused by enzymatic reactions.     

Genome‐wide association study for fatty acid composition in Japanese Black cattle

Fatty acid composition is one of the important traits in beef. The aim of this study was to identify candidate genomic regions for fatty acid composition by genome‐wide association study with 50 K single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) array in Japanese Black cattle. A total of 461 individuals and 40 657 SNPs were used in this study. We applied genome‐wide rapid association using mixed model and regression (GRAMMAR) and genomic control approaches to estimate the associations between genotypes and fatty acid composition. In addition, two SNPs in fatty acid synthase (FASN) (T1952A) and stearoyl‐CoA desaturase (SCD) (V293A) genes were also genotyped. Association analysis revealed that 30 significant SNPs for several fatty acids (C14:0, C14:1, C16:1 and C18:1) were located in the BTA19 FASN gene located within this region but the FASN mutation had no significant effect on any traits. We also detected one significant SNP for C18:1 on BTA23 and two SNPs for C16:0 on BTA25. The region around 17 Mb on BTA26 harbored two significant SNPs for C14:1 and SNP in SCD in this region showed the strongest association with C14:1. This study demonstrated novel candidate regions in BTA19, 23 and 25 for fatty acid composition.     

Physical, chemical, and biological properties of s-allylcysteine, an amino acid derived from garlic.

Physical, chemical, and biological properties of S-allylcysteine (SAC) were investigated. SAC showed stable properties under tested conditions, and its acute/subacute toxicity was very minor in mice and rats (LD(50) value >54.7 mM/kg po; >20 mM/kg ip). The pharmacokinetics of SAC was investigated after oral administration of garlic supplement containing SAC to human volunteers. SAC from garlic consumption was rapidly absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract, however, the half-life and excretion time were more than 10 h and 30 h, respectively.     

Cloning of estrogen receptor-β cDNA of common Japanese conger Conger myriaster and expression of the gene during oocyte development

ABSTRACT:   Estrogen receptor (ER) cDNA was cloned from the liver of common Japanese conger Conger myriaster . Common Japanese conger ER cDNA contains 2543 nucleotides including an open reading frame that encodes 596 amino acids, with a molecular weight of 66.1 kDa. The deduced amino-acid sequence of the common Japanese conger ER shares 85% identity with that of eel Anguilla japonica ER-β, and 39–46% and 53–59% identity with the deduced sequences of ER-α and ER-β of other species, respectively. In a phylogenetic analysis, the common Japanese conger ER was found to cluster with the ER-β of other species. The common Japanese conger ER-β also has six domains (A–F), which are conserved in the nuclear receptor superfamily. The amino-acid sequences in the C and E domains were highly conserved between common Japanese conger ER-β and other ER. However, the other domains showed low homology. In the female common Japanese conger, ER-β mRNA was highly expressed in the liver and pituitary gland. The expression levels of the ER-β gene increased from the oil droplet stage to the primary yolk globule stage and were maintained until the migratory nucleus stage.     

Effect of bovine lactoferrin feeding on lipopolysaccharide-induced metabolic and hormonal disturbances in preruminant calves

One of the biological functions of bovine lactoferrin (LF) is modulation of the host defense system, including cytokine production and immune response. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of oral administration of LF in calves on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‐induced metabolic and hormonal changes in inflammatory response. Thirty Holstein calves at 4 day of age were given one of three oral doses of LF (0, 1, 3 g/day) for 10 days (?10 day to ?1 day). They were injected i.v. with LPS (50 ng/kg bodyweight) the day (day 0) after the end of LF treatment. Plasma samples were obtained on ?10, 0 day (immediately before LPS injection), and at 2, 6, 12, 24, 48, 72, and 96 h after LPS injection. Plasma tumor necrosis factor‐α concentrations at 2 h after LPS treatment were lower (P < 0.05) in LF 1 g/day‐fed claves compared with LF 0 g/day (control) calves. On day 0 there were no significant group differences in plasma LF concentration. Plasma concentration of haptoglobin in control calves was elevated by LPS injection. In LF groups, plasma haptoglobin concentrations slightly increased after LPS injection, but those levels at 6–24 h were lower (P < 0.05) than in the control group. The LF treatment inhibited (P < 0.05) the reduction of plasma ferrin concentration in calves following LPS challenge. The concentration of plasma aspartate aminotransferase in calves treated with LF was lower (P < 0.05) than in control calves at 24–96 h after LPS treatment. The concentration of plasma insulin‐like growth factor‐1 (IGF‐1) in all groups was decreased by LPS treatment, while in the LF groups the IGF‐1 level was higher (P < 0.05) than in the control group. Plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone and insulin concentrations in LF groups were lower (P < 0.05) than in control calves at 2 h after LPS injection. These data suggest that LF has a substantial anti‐inflammatory effect on the modulation of the host defense system in preruminant calves.