Effects of early high nutrition related to metabolic imprinting events on growth,carcass characteristics,and meat quality of grass-fed Wagyu (Japanese Black cattle)

The study was conducted to clarify how early high plane of nutrition related to metabolic imprinting affected growth, carcass characteristics, and meat quality of grass-fed Wagyu (Japanese Black cattle). Wagyu steers were allocated randomly into 2 dietary groups: (1) steers fed milk replacer (crude protein 26.0%, crude fat 25.5%; maximum intake 0.6 kg/d) until 3 mo of age and then fed roughage (orchard grass hay) ad libitum from 4 to 10 mo of age (roughage group, RG; n = 11); (2) steers fed milk replacer (maximum intake of 1.8 kg/d) until 3 mo of age and then fed a high-concentrate diet from 4 to 10 mo of age (early high nutrition, EHN; n = 12). After 11 mo of age, all steers were fed roughage ad libitum until 31 mo of age and then slaughtered. Growth performance, carcass traits, longissimus muscle (LM) meat quality and intramuscular fat (IMF) content, plasma insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) concentration, and bone mineral density were measured. Body weight was greater in EHN steers (571 kg) than RG steers (520 kg; P < 0.01). Plasma IGF-I levels were higher in EHN steers than in RG steers at 3, 10, and 14 mo of age (P < 0.01, P < 0.005, P < 0.001, respectively); however, plasma IGF-I levels were lower in EHN steers compared with RG steers at 30 mo of age (P < 0.01). The total weight of the muscles and bones of the left half of the carcass was not different between the 2 groups (P = 0.065). Five of the 19 muscles investigated (semimembranosus, P = 0.036; infraspinatus, P = 0.024; supraspinatus, P = 0.0019; serratus ventralis cervicis, P = 0.032; serratus ventralis thoracis, P = 0.027) were heavier in EHN steers. Total fat weight in the left half of the carcass was 30% greater (P = 0.025) in HNE carcasses. Subcutaneous and perirenal fat weights were 53% and 84% greater (P = 0.008, P = 0.002, respectively) in EHN carcasses. The LM IMF content was greater in EHN loins (13.2%) compared with RG loins (9.4%) at 31 mo of age (P = 0.038); however, no differences were found for shear force, tenderness, and cook loss. These results suggested early high-nutrition affected the growth and meat quality of livestock.     

Developmental ability of somatic cell nuclear transferred embryos aggregated at the 8-cell stage or 16- to 32-cell stage in cattle

Aggregation of somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) embryos in mice is reported to improve full-term development. In the present study, we attempted to improve the development of SCNT embryos by aggregation in cattle. In Experiment 1, to examine the effect of the timing of aggregation on in vitro development of cumulus-cell NT embryos, we aggregated two or three SCNT embryos (2X or 3X embryos) at the 1-cell, 8-cell and 16- to 32-cell stages. Irrespective of the timing of aggregation, 3X embryos developed to the blastocyst stage at a high rate. However, aggregation did not improve the total blastocyst formation rate of the embryos used. The cell numbers of 3X embryos aggregated at the 1-cell stage and 2X embryos tended to be higher than that of single NT embryos (1X embryos). Furthermore, a significant increase in cell number was observed in 3X embryos aggregated at the 8-cell stage and 16- to 32-cell stage. In Experiment 2, we used fibroblast cells as nuclear donors and examined in vitro development of 3X embryos aggregated at the 8-cell stage and 16- to 32-cell stage. As a result, 3X embryos had high blastocyst formation rates and higher cell numbers than 1X embryos, which was consistent with the results of Experiment 1. In Experiment 3, we examined the full-term developmental ability of 3X embryos aggregated at the 8-cell stage and 16- to 32-cell stage. After transfer of fibroblast-derived NT embryos into recipient animals, a significantly higher pregnancy rate was obtained on Day 60 in 3X embryos than in 1X embryos. Two embryos aggregated at 8-cell stage and one embryo aggregated at the 16- to 32-cell stage developed to term, while no pregnancies derived from 1X embryos that lasted to Day 60. However, two of the cloned calves were stillborn. These results suggest that aggregation of the 8-cell stage or 16- to 32-cell stage SCNT embryos may improve the pregnancy rate, but that it cannot reduce the high incidence of fetal loss and stillbirth, which is often observed in bovine SCNT.     

Some regulative properties of glutamine synthetase in cucumber leaves

Glutamine synthetase (L-glutamate: ammonia ligase (ADP) EC 6. 3. t 2) was prepared from cucumber leaves grown on ammonium medium and some regulative properties were investigated. The apparent Michaelis constant (Km) values of the various substrates and cofactors were determined. Lineweaver-Burk plots gave a Km of 4.5mM with L-glutamate, 0.74mM with ATP and 3.1 mM with NH₂OH. Metals, including Cu²⁺, Hg²⁺, Zn²⁺, Ni²⁺, Fe²⁺, and Fe³⁺, strongly inhibited the enzyme activity, Cd²⁺ did not inhibit the enzyme activity markedly, in contrast with its effect on the rice enzyme. Ca²⁺ was quite inhibitive to enzyme reaction and more than 50% of the activity was lost at 3 mM. The amino acids tested generally had no effect on the enzyme activity except alanine, which showed little but clear inhibition. Isocitrate and α-ketoglutarate were slightly promotive to enzyme activity while pyruvate and glyoxylate (24 mM) significantly inhibited the enzyme activity. Glucose-l- or -6-phosphate and fructose-6-phosphate were inhibitive to similar degrees, about 20% at 22.5 mM, and 3-phosphoglycerate (22.5 mM) markedly inhibited the enzyme activity up to 56%. Among the nucleotides tested, UTP, CTP, and GTP inhibited slightly, and marked inhibitions of H and 78% were observed after the addition of AMP (5 mM) and ADP (5 mM) respectively. Pyridoxal-5′-phosphate, which is a characteristic incompetitive inhibitor of L-glutamate and NH₂-OH, here inhibited enzyme activity significantly. On the other hand, pyridoxamine-5′-phosphate had almost no effect. The inhibition caused by the former was not recovered by the latter. This response of glutamine synthetase to both compounds was in agreement with the idea that the nitrogen status of the plant could be reflected by the ratio pyridoxamine phosphate/pyridoxal phosphate. Also this suggested that the regulative properties of glutamine synthetase with respect to pyridoxal or pyridoxamine phosphate could be understood from the point of view of the economical use of nitrogen.     

Exogenous proline mitigates the inhibition of growth of Nicotiana tabacum cultured cells under saline conditions

The addition of exogenous proline (10 mm) to Na100-saline culture medium, modified LS medium (Linsmaier and Skoog 1965: Physiol. Plant., 18, 100–127) with 100 mm NaCl promoted the growth of tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L., cv. Bright Yellow-2) suspension cells unadapted to salt stress without maintaining a high ratio of K⁺ to Na⁺ ions under salinity conditions. The addition of exogenous glutamic acid or alanine were not comparable to that of exogenous proline. The proline contents of the NaCl-unadapted cells became much higher when the cells were grown in Na100-saline culture medium with 10 mm proline than when the cells were cultured without proline. The accumulation of K⁺, Na⁺, counter ions was sufficient to compensate for the increase of the water potential of the cells caused by salinity. These results suggest that exogenous proline does not act as a nitrogen store and that proline may act as a protectant for enzymes and membranes against salt inactivation rather than as a compatible solute in tobacco suspension cells.     

Relationship between nitrogen fixation and numbers of cyanobionts and heterocysts in fifteen Azolla strains

The relationship between nitrogen fixation and the numbers of cyanobionts and heterocysts in the mature leaves of fifteen Azolla strains from five species was examined. The nitrogenase (acetylene reduction) activity per leaf and the numbers of cyanobionts and heterocysts in the mature region varied depending on the Azolla strains. The numbers of cyanobionts and heterocysts, particularly the number of heterocysts, were closely correlated with the nitrogenase activity per leaf. However, the nitrogenase activity per leaf was not correlated with the nitrogenase activity per heterocyst. The results indicate that the variation in the nitrogenase activity of the leaves among Azolla strains mainly resulted from the variation in the number of heterocysts and not from the variation in the nitrogenase activity per heterocyst.     

Effects of Full-Length Kisspeptin Administration on Follicular Development in Japanese Black Beef Cows

Kisspeptin is a key molecule that stimulates gonadotropin secretion via release of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH). In the present study, our aim was to investigate whether kisspeptin has stimulatory effects on follicular development via GnRH/gonadotropin secretion in cows. Japanese Black beef cows were intravenously injected with full-length bovine kisspeptin [Kp-53 (0.2 or 2 nmol/kg)] or vehicle 5 days after they exhibited standing estrus (Day 0). In cows injected with Kp-53 at 2 nmol/kg, the follicular sizes of the first dominant follicles increased on Day 6 and thereafter. Ovulation of the first dominant follicle occurred in 1 out of 4 cows treated with Kp-53 at 2 nmol/kg. Injection of Kp-53 at 2 nmol/kg increased the concentration of plasma luteinizing hormone (LH) but not follicle-stimulating hormone, over a 4-h period following injection in all cows. The present study suggests that administration of full-length kisspeptin causes LH secretion, which is sustained for a few hours, and it is capable of stimulating follicular development and/or ovulation.     

Mobility of the forearm skeleton in the Asiatic black (Ursus thibetanus), brown (U. arctos) and polar (U. maritimus) bears

In several primates and carnivores, pronation/supination angles of the forearm skeleton were examined, and it is thought that a larger angle is useful to acquire dexterous behaviors in feeding and/or life style, including climbing. In this study, the pronation/supination angles in Asiatic black, brown and polar bears were nondestructively examined. These specimens were classified as adult or non-adult. Three or four carcasses of each group of Asiatic black and brown bears were used for CT analysis, whereas only one adult polar bear was used. The forearms were positioned within the gantry of a CT scanner in both maximally supinated and pronated states. Extracted cross-sectional CT images of two positions were superimposed by overlapping the outlines of each ulna. The centroids of the radii were detected, and then the centroid of each radius and the midpoint of a line which connects between both ends of the surface of each radius facing the ulna, were connected by lines to measure the angle of rotation as an index of pronation/supination. In adult brown and polar bears, the angles were smaller as compared with the other groups (Asiatic black and non-adult brown bears). Asiatic black and non-adult brown bears can climb trees, whereas adult brown bears and polar bears cannot. This suggests that the pronation/supination angle is related to arboreal activity in Ursidae.     

Labor requirements of system of rice intensification (SRI) in Cambodia

Local governments, NGOs, system of rice intensification (SRI) adopters, and researchers in Cambodia have extensively discussed the SRI. Agreement on the benefits, however, remains elusive. Some claim SRI increases rice yields at lower costs; others state that the evidence is still inconclusive. The adoption and impact of innovations influenced by the most practical SRI principles, which adopters can and do implement, as well as other SRI labor requirement have yet to be comprehensively investigated. This study aimed at elucidating and comparing distinct aspects of SRI labor requirements and conventional practices that can lead to more intensive SRI adoption. A household survey and field observations were conducted in three rain-fed villages in the southern part of Cambodia: two in Kampot Province and one in Kampong Speu Province. Findings showed little or no difference between SRI labor requirements and conventional practices. Laborers are in high demand when preparing land and nurseries, transplanting seedlings, and harvesting. Rice farmers alone or hired laborers have generally proved sufficient to date. Hired labor costs depend on the supply of farmer-family labor and the efficacy of the “Sharing-hand” system, not on farming techniques per se. This system helps alleviate hired labor costs, one of the highest cost factors. The findings also indicated that the degree of SRI adoption shows no correlation between the home-to-plot distance and availability of farmer-family labor or hired labor. The key factors for improving the degree of SRI adoption are farmer zeal and careful attention rather than the home-to-plot distance and availability of labor.     

Characterization of lignin-derived products from various lignocellulosics as treated by semi-flow hot-compressed water

To elucidate the decomposition behaviors of lignin from different taxonomic groups, five different lignocellulosics were treated with hot-compressed water (230 °C/10 MPa/15 min) to fractionate lignins into water-soluble portions, precipitates, and insoluble residues. The lignin-derived products in each fraction were characterized and compared. The delignification of monocotyledons [nipa palm (Nypa fruticans) frond, rice (Oryza sativa) straw, and corn (Zea mays) cob] was more extensive than that achieved for Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica, gymnosperm) and Japanese beech (Fagus crenata, dicotyledon angiosperm). The water-soluble portions contained lignin monomers like coniferyl alcohol and phenolic acids, while the precipitates contained higher molecular weight lignin with high content of ether-type linkages. Lignin in the insoluble residues was rich in condensed-type structures. In all five lignocellulosics, ether-type linkages were preferentially cleaved, while condensed-type lignin showed resistance to hot-compressed water. In the monocotyledons, lignin–carbohydrate complexes were cleaved and gave lignins that had higher molecular weights than those eluted from the woods. These differences would facilitate the delignification in monocotyledons. Such information provides useful information for efficient utilization of various lignocellulosics.