Fine mapping the number of corpora lutea quantitative trait loci on SSC3: Analysis of the porcine follicle‐stimulating hormone receptor gene

In females, follicle‐stimulating hormone (FSH) targets a FSH receptor (FSHR) expressed only on granulose cells, inducing maturation of the ovarian follicles. We hypothesized that genetic variants in the FSHR gene influence litter size by affecting the number of corpora lutea. We fine‐mapped a region of Sus Scrofa chromosome 3 that contains quantitative trait loci for corpora lutea. Polymorphisms were detected in the exons and 5′ flanking region of the porcine FSHR gene, a positional candidate for the statistically most significant of the quantitative trait loci. Finally, 248 F₂ animals from a Duroc and Meishan cross were genotyped for three FSHR SNPs at positions 74, 532 and 1166, and these were correlated with the phenotypes of litter size and corpus luteum number. Three haplotypes were identified: M1 (G/G/C), M2 (C/A/T) and D (C/A/C). In the F₂ population, the M1 haplotype was associated with a greater number of corpora lutea (P < 0.01) and also seemed to be associated with increased litter size, although the association was not significant (P = 0.2571). Some polymorphisms resulting in amino acid substitutions in these genes were excluded from the polymorphisms possibly responsible for the number of corpora lutea.     

Effect of ovary lipid from Skipjack tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis) on brain monoamines in rats

In our previous experiments with rats, ovary lipid from Skipjack Tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis) (OLS) was shown to have a mitigating effect on anxiety and/or fear in elevated T-maze tests. This suggests that OLS has some effect on the central nervous system (CNS) of rats. Thus, we performed experiments to examine the status of CNS in rats given OLS. The effect of OLS on chronic stress was also examined at the same time. The feed for control rats used oil and fat that have the same energy percentages for n-6 and n-3 fatty acids and the same n-6/n-3 ratio as OLS. As a result, rats given OLS for 28 days had lower serotonin levels in various brain areas regardless of stress application, showing that OLS affected the serotonin nervous system. From this, it was inferred that the ability of OLS to mitigate anxiety and/or fear resulted from its action on CNS, especially the serotonin nervous system. Substances other than the essential fatty acids may have been responsible for the action of OLS on monoamines and the metabolites. The effect of OLS on CNS, especially the serotonin nervous system, suggests that OLS may suppress anxiety.     

Immunoreactivity and morphological changes of bursal follicles in chickens infected with vaccine or wild-type strains of the infectious bursal disease virus

Infectious bursal disease (IBD) is characterized by immunosuppression due to the depletion of lymphocytes in the atrophied bursa of Fabricius (BF). We have sometimes encountered contradictory findings: chickens infected with the vaccine IBD virus (IBDV) strain have sometimes exhibited a highly atrophied BF, but not immunosuppression. In this study, chickens administered vaccine or wild-type strains of IBDV were later vaccinated with the B1 strain of the Newcastle disease virus (NDV). Bursal changes were examined histologically with a focus on the bursal follicle. The immunoreactivity to NDV was also evaluated with the hemagglutination inhibition test. In gross examination, we observed a few chickens with a severely atrophied BF in vaccine strain-administered groups (vaccine groups), and the level of severity was the same as that in the wild-type strain-administered group (wild-type group). However, these chickens retained humoral antibody responses to NDV and were revealed to possess a higher number of bursal follicles than those of the wild-type group. These results indicated that macroscopic evaluation dose not accurately reflect the immunoreactivity and degree of bursal damage in IBDV-administered chickens. We also found non-immunosuppressed chickens in the wild-type group. These non-immunosuppressed chickens retained a significantly higher number of normal follicles and total follicles according to our statistical analysis. Furthermore, a high correlation coefficient between the NDV-HI titer and the number of normal follicles was found in the wild-type group. These results implied that the retained number of normal follicles is important for the immunoreactivity of chickens infected with IBDV.     

Allele‐specific polymerase chain reaction typing and sequencing of mitochondrial D‐loop region in broiler chickens in Japan

This study aimed to comprehend a feature of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mainly of general broiler chickens in Japan. We typed two SNP sites (199C/T and 792A/G) of the D‐loop region in mtDNA by allele‐specific PCR (AS‐PCR) in 359 broiler (182 chunky and 177 cobb) and 506 layer (233 White Leghorn, 140 Barred Plymouth Rock and 133 Rhode Island Red) chickens. The SNP of 199C or 792A by AS‐PCR was observed in the chunky and cobb chickens, and not in the layers. The haplotype 199T/792G was observed in a part of cobb and all layers. By the result of AS‐PCR haplotyping and the broiler brands, the D‐loop region was sequenced in 44 broiler chickens (20 chunky and 24 cobb) and compared with the layers’ sequence data. Among the broiler and layer chickens, 21 SNP sites (including one insertion) and 11 sequence haplotypes were observed. Haplotype variation or correspondence was observed in and between the broiler brands. This study provides important information to establish a chicken meat traceability system by SNP haplotyping of mtDNA in Japan.     

The g.841G>C SNP of FASN gene is associated with fatty acid composition in beef cattle

The objective of the current study is to evaluate the association between fatty acid composition and fatty acid synthase gene polymorphisms as responsible mutations. For this purpose, we selected seven previously reported single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in FASN gene, including one within promoter region (g.841G>C) and six non‐synonymous SNPs (g.8805C>T, g.13126C>T, g.15532A>C, g.16024A>G, g.16039C>T, g.17924A>G), and genotyped them in Japanese Black cattle. Genotyping results revealed that g.8805 C>T and g.17924 A>G were monomorphic loci. Genome‐wide association analysis including the other five SNPs revealed that only g.841G>C showed significant associations with the percentages of C14:0, C14:1, C16:1 and C18:1 at 5% genome‐wide significance level. In order to further evaluate the effect, we genotyped g.841G>C using additional three populations, including two Japanese Black populations and a Holstein cattle population. g.16024A>G was also genotyped and included in the analysis because it has been reported to be associated with fatty acid composition in Japanese Black cattle. In the result of analysis of variance, g.841G>C showed stronger effects on fatty acid percentage than those of g.16024A>G in all populations. These results suggested that g.841G>C would be a responsible mutation for fatty acid composition and contribute to production of high‐grade beef as a selection marker in beef cattle.     

Easy Preparation of Dietary Fiber with the High Water-Holding Capacity from Food Sources

Dietary fibers were prepared as alkali- and acid-insoluble fractions with chemical phosphorylation from Tossa jute (Corchorus olitorius), defatted soybean (Glycine max), and Shiitake (Lentinula edodes). The dietary fiber fractions treated with alkaline solution containing sodium metaphosphate had the lower protein content and higher total dietary fiber content than those of the preparations without phosphorylation. Alkaline extraction followed by phosphorylation led to a 1.5-fold increase in the water holding capacity of dietary fiber compared with no phosphorylation, whereas the binding capacity to bile acids of dietary fiber was almost the same. The alkali- and acid-insoluble extraction with phosphorylation provided an efficient preparation of water-insoluble dietary fiber with high-water holding capacity from various food sources.     

Clarification of adsorption and movement by predicting ammonia nitrogen concentrations in paddy percolation water

We noted that ammonia nitrogen was not adsorbed by the cultivated layers of highly permeable paddy fields during the initial fertilization period, but reached the lower layers relatively early. In our study, we considered an exponential equation from an aqua-environmental perspective with the goal of obtaining good growth of rice plants in order to estimate the concentrations and integrated volume of ammonia nitrogen accompanying paddy percolation. Using this exponential equation, we were able to derive a relation between time and concentrations of paddy percolation water, and hypothesized that if percolation rates were less than 10 mm/day, percolation would have no effect on rice growth, while simultaneously helping to maintain the good water quality of the extra-paddy environment. We also clarified the differences between the potential ammonia nitrogen adsorption volume derived from the CEC value and the integrated amount of ammonia nitrogen water in soil, and considered the causes from the perspectives of solute movement and water movement. Electronic Publication     

Pathology of cutaneous fowlpox with amyloidosis in layer hens inoculated with fowlpox vaccine

Cutaneous fowlpox occurring in vaccinated layer hens was investigated pathologically and microbiologically. Anorexia, decrease of egg production, increased mortality, yellow scabs on faces, and alopecia of feathered skins with yellow scabs were observed in affected hens. Histologically, proliferative and necrotic dermatitis with eosinophilic ring-shaped cytoplasmic inclusions (Bollinger bodies) and clumps of gram-positive cocci (Staphylococcus hyicus) were noted in the affected birds. Fowlpox lesions were primarily observed in the feathered skins. Proliferation of feather follicle epidermal cells, with cytoplasmic inclusions and degeneration of the feather, and bacterial clumps in the feather follicles were noted in the affected skins. Ultrastructurally, characteristic fowlpox viral particles were observed in the cytoplasmic inclusions of hyperplastic epidermal cells. Amyloid deposition was observed in the Disse space of the liver, splenic sinus, and lamina propria of the bronchiolar, bronchial, and tracheal areas. Amyloidosis could be one factor inducing the fowlpox infection in vaccinated chickens.     

麦冬块根提取物对稻瘟病菌丝及苗期稻瘟病发生的抑制效果

采用不同浓度来自70%甲醇溶液的麦冬块根提取物对2种产自日本的稻瘟病菌生理小种菌株MAFF305480和MAFF101002的菌丝生长及其接种诱发水稻幼苗稻瘟病发生的抑制效果进行评价。试验表明：含有麦冬块根提取物的原液1/10,1/20,1/40以及1/80浓度都能明显抑制稻瘟病菌小种菌株(MAFF305480和MAFF101002)菌丝生长, 抑制率均56.4%以上, 对接种诱发稻瘟病的水稻幼苗处理发现, 幼苗植株发病级数为明显下降, 抑制率均38.4%以上, 并且都随着处理浓度提高抑制效果明显提高。本研究结果表明,麦冬块根提取物中含有抑制稻瘟病菌生长的化学物质, 并且能直接抑制稻瘟病菌发生和生长。     

A conceptual framework for eco-friendly paddy farming in Taiwan,based on experimentation with System of Rice Intensification (SRI) methodology

This paper reviews the constraints and challenges of paddy farming in Taiwan. Based on those evidences, a set of eco-friendly rice farming practices raised by SRI principles are proposed from exploratory SRI trials conducted in Taiwan. The trials show that even with less exact leveling in the SRI field than is ideally provided, the average yield for SRI was higher than for CP; with an aerobic soil situation, the combination of biocontrol agent application and SRI management was seen to give better rice blast control; and the highest paddy yield was obtained from single-seedling transplants from potted nursery trays which protect the young seedlings’ roots from shock or twisting, compared with the planting of more numerous seedlings grown on flat nursery trays by a mechanical rice transplanter. In conclusion, a conceptual framework for eco-friendly paddy farming is formulated to encourage farmers to practice SRI principles. Among the participants in this collaboration, a co-operating group of SRI farmers is organized under investor sponsorship to guarantee the quality and safety of food, integrating an inspection service and food-source traceability from field to market with the production process. It is seen that in Taiwan, SRI principles can be adopted by local farmers without need for additional premiums through eco-friendly collaboration that can raise simultaneously the productivity of land, capital, and irrigation water. In addition, this collaboration can take advantage of increasing consumer demand for safe food with fewer chemicals and for supporting a greater level of biodiversity.