Breed Differences in Dopamine Receptor D4 Gene (DRD4) in Horses

Genetic polymorphisms in genes related to neurotransmitters or hormones affect personality or behavioral traits in many animal species including humans. In domestic animals, the allele frequency of such genes has been reported to be different among breeds and it may account for breed differences in behavior. In this study, we investigated breed differences in horses in the dopamine receptor D4 gene (DRD4), which has been reported to affect horse personality. We collected samples from seven horse breeds including those native to Japan and Korea, and compared the sequence of the DRD4 exon3 region among these breeds. We found that there were two types of polymorphisms (VNTR and SNPs) in the exon3 region, and some of them seemed to be breed-specific. In addition, we found that the allele frequency of G292A, reported to be associated with horse personality, differed greatly between native Japanese horses and Thoroughbred horses. The frequency of the A allele which is associated with low curiosity and high vigilance, was much lower in native Japanese horses (Hokkaido, 0.03; Taishu, 0.08) than in Thoroughbreds (0.62). This difference may account for breed differences in personality or behavioral traits. Further studies of the function of these polymorphisms and their effect on behavior are indicated.     

盐酸刺激量对家蚕卵酯酶A4活性的影响及其与蚕卵活化的关系

将产卵后 2 4～ 96h( 2 5℃ )的蚕卵 ,用相同或最佳盐酸刺激量 (浸酸后点青最快、点青卵率最高 )浸酸处理 ,卵龄越大 ,蚕卵点青越迟。蚕卵的点青时间在一定范围内随盐酸刺激量增大而提前 ,超过这一范围 ,则随刺激量增大而延迟。卵龄增大 ,蚕卵酯酶A4和ATPase特征性活性峰出现时间延迟 ;蚕卵经盐酸处理 ,该时间明显提前。产卵后 96h盐酸处理蚕卵 ,酯酶A4的活性峰出现时间随盐酸刺激量增大而提前。随着浸酸卵龄和盐酸刺激量的改变 ,蚕卵酯酶A4的活性峰出现时间与蚕卵点青时间发生一致的变化。盐酸刺激量能够影响蚕卵的活化 (或滞育发育期 )和发育速度。酯酶A4的ATPase活性变化能够反映盐酸处理蚕卵的滞育程度及所使用的盐酸刺激量     

Sex differences in cervical spinal cord and spinal canal development in Thoroughbred horses

Cervical vertebral stenotic myelopathy (CVSM), a common cause of cervical spinal cord compression, is a neurological disease characterized by general proprioceptive ataxia and weakness of hindlimbs that tends to develop in young adult Thoroughbred horses. Although male horses seem to be at increased risk for CVSM, the mechanism for the occurrence of sex differences in the prevalence of CVSM is still poorly understood. Hence, we hypothesized that sex differences in the development of cervical spinal cord and spinal canal would affect the development of CVSM. This study aimed to evaluate sex differences in the development of cervical spinal cord and spinal canal in Thoroughbred horses. A total of 29 Thoroughbred horses underwent computed tomographic myelography. Thereafter, the volumes of cervical spinal cord and spinal canal were calculated. Accordingly, male horses had significantly lager cervical spinal cord volume and cervical spinal cord-to-spinal canal volume ratio than those of female horses (P<0.05). Sex differences in the cervical spinal cord-to-spinal canal volume ratio gradually decreased until around 1,400 days of age. Younger male horses have narrower interspace between the cervical spinal cord and spinal canal than younger female horses, suggesting that an imbalanced cervical spinal cord and spinal canal growth is one of the causes of CVSM.     

Impact of aluminium stress on oxalate and other metabolites in Rumex obtusifolius

To understand alterations of oxalate and other metabolite levels induced by aluminium ion (Al³⁺) stress in Rumex plants, we measured the metabolites in R. obtusifolius using the capillary electrophoresis–mass spectrometry. Oxalate and its precursors (isocitrate and citrate) accumulated in leaves of R. obtusifolius after the Al³⁺ treatment at pH 4.5. Such increase was not observed under the acidic condition (pH 4.5) without Al³⁺. Principal component analysis showed organ‐specific changes in metabolite levels in R. obtusifolius by the Al³⁺ treatment. Highly positive correlations between oxalate and its precursors were revealed by hierarchical clustering and correlation analyses. An increase in oxalate content was consistently observed for three Rumex species (R. obtusifolius, R. crispus and R. japonicus) grown in the presence of Al³⁺. On the other hand, multivariate analyses revealed the differential alterations of other metabolite levels between R. obtusifolius and the other two Rumex species.     

Relationship between safening activity of dymron and fenclorim to pretilachlor and glutathione S-transferase activity in rice

Dymron [1‐(α,α‐dimethybenzyl)‐3‐(p‐tolyl)urea] and fenclorim (4,6‐dichloro‐2‐phenylpyrimidine) were found to exhibit a safening activity on the growth of rice (Oryza sativa L.) seedlings against pretilachlor [2‐chloro‐2′,6′diethyl‐N‐(2‐propoxyethyl)acetanilide] injury. By pretilachlor treatment at 10^–6 and 10^–5 mol L^–1, the elongation of the third leaves of rice seedlings was reduced by approximately 20 and 40%, and that of the fourth leaves was reduced by approximately 40 and 80%, respectively. Upon the treatment of dymron at 3 × 10^–6 and 10^–5 mol L^–1 in combination with pretilachlor, the growth inhibition was half alleviated in the third leaves, and the length of the fourth leaves was almost recovered from 10^–6 mol L^‐1 pretilachlor injury, and was 20–25% recovered from 10^–5 mol L^–1 pretilachlor injury. Upon the treatment of fenclorim at 3 × 10^–6 and 10^–5 mol L^–1 in combination with pretilachlor, the growth inhibition of rice seedlings was almost alleviated in both the third and the fourth leaves. This result indicated that dymron and fenclorim showed almost the same safening effect on the fourth leaf growth against 10^–6 mol L^‐1 pretilachlor injury, although fenclorim showed higher effects at higher concentrations of pretilachlor. Glutathione S‐transferase (GST) activities in rice seedlings were investigated after being treated with a herbicide and safener. By pretilachlor treatment at 10^–6 and 10^–5 mol L^–1, the GST activity was approximately 32 and 72% increased in roots, respectively, and a little increased (7–13%) in shoots of two‐leaf‐stage rice seedlings. By dymron treatment at 3 × 10^–6?10^–5 mol L^–1, the GST activity was 2–30% increased in roots, but was not increased in shoots. By their combination treatment, the GST activity was almost the same or less than that by treatment with pretilachlor alone. In contrast, by fenclorim treatment alone, the GST activity was 43–52 and 33–45% increased in roots and shoots of rice seedlings, respectively. By the combination treatment of pretilachlor and fenclorim, the GST activity was increased 73–126% in shoots and 101–139% in roots, and was much more increased in both shoots and roots compared with treatment of pretilachlor or fenclorim alone. It was found that dymron showed less effect in increasing the GST activity than fenclorim. It is also suggested that dymron did not increase the GST activity in shoots but did increase it slightly in roots, and showed almost no effect on GST increase by pretilachlor in shoots, or rather reduced the increase in roots. From the above results, fenclorim and dymron may have different mechanisms of safening effects on the protection of rice seedlings against pretilachlor injury.     

Studies on the organo-mineral colloidal complexes of paddy soil V

In the preceding paper (1), humus status in G 1 colloidal complexes of the high yield paddy soils was reported. This report describes the experimental results on the clay minerals contained in G 1 colloidal complexes of the same soils as above.     

Influences of organic debris and rice root on the nitrogen fixation in the submerged soil

Abstract

A series of experiments has been conducted on the N2 fixation in the paddy soils by the authors (1–4). The amount of organic substrates for microorganisms and the degree of reduction of the soil are found to be two major factors affecting the N₂-fixing activity of the heterotrophic microorganisms in the submerged soil. Organic debris, rice root and their neighboring soils are identified to be the important micro-sites for the heterotrophic N₂ fixers. The organic debris and the rice root are considered to play dual roles by supplying the organic substances; (1) increase of the population of the heterotrophic N₂ fixers—the amount of nitrogenase, (2) preparation of the reduced conditions favorable for the nitrogenase activity.

However, it is not yet clearly known which of these two roles of the organic substrates is more essential to the N₂-fixing activity in the paddy soil. In addition, it is expected that there must be some differences between the organic debris and rice root in their contribution to the N₂ fixation in the paddy soil.

An experiment was carried out to clarify these problems. Moist soil sample was collected from the plough layer of the paddy field at Central Agric. Exp. Sta. in Konosu City, Saitama Pref., passed through a 5 mm sieve and placed in pots (3 kg moist soil/pot). Ammonium sulfate, calcium superphosphate, and potassium chloride at the rate of 0.4-0.4-0.4 (N-P₂O₅-K₂0) g/pot were incorporated into the soil 7 days before transplanting. Split application of ammonium sulfate at the rates of 0.2 and 0.4 g N/pot were also incorporated at 30 and 41 days after transplanting respectively. These pots were divided into three series; planted (P-series), non-planted (N-series), and non-planted and applied with organic manure (O-series). In case of O-series, 60 g of fairly rotted organic manure was applied to each pot. Each pot of P-series was planted with two 4O-day-old seedlings of rice plant at 7 days after submergence. The Nseries was regarded as a control. Each series was not replicated in this preliminary experiment.     

Molecular mechanism of the S-RNase-based gametophytic self-incompatibility in fruit trees of Rosaceae

Self-incompatibility (SI) is a major obstacle for stable fruit production in fruit trees of Rosaceae. SI of Rosaceae is controlled by the S locus on which at least two genes, pistil S and pollen S, are located. The product of the pistil S gene is a polymorphic and extracellular ribonuclease, called S-RNase, while that of the pollen S gene is a protein containing the F-box motif, SFB (S haplotype-specific F-box protein)/SFBB (S locus F-box brothers). Recent studies suggested that SI of Rosaceae includes two different systems, i.e., Prunus of tribe Amygdaleae exhibits a self-recognition system in which its SFB recognizes self-S-RNase, while tribe Pyreae (Pyrus and Malus) shows a non-self-recognition system in which many SFBB proteins are involved in SI, each recognizing subset of non-self-S-RNases. Further biochemical and biological characterization of the S locus genes, as well as other genes required for SI not located at the S locus, will help our understanding of the molecular mechanisms, origin, and evolution of SI of Rosaceae, and may provide the basis for breeding of self-compatible fruit tree cultivars.     

体外盐酸处理与PIN对酯酶A4活性影响的关系

从家蚕Ｃ１０８ 品种产下后２ｄ 的滞育性卵纯化酯酶Ａ４ 及其活性抑制多肽ＰＩＮ,体外调查了盐酸处理与ＰＩＮ 对酯酶Ａ４ 的ＡＴＰａｓｅ 活性影响的关系。结果表明：盐酸处理不仅迅速消除了ＰＩＮ 对酯酶Ａ４ 的ＡＴＰａｓｅ 活性抑制作用;盐酸处理使蚕卵酯酶Ａ４ 的ＡＴＰａｓｅ 活性峰提早出现的时间还反映了蚕卵的滞育发育时间。     

Evaluation of the air sac volume of penguins with respiratory diseases using computed tomography

Captive penguins with respiratory diseases exhibit advanced pathological conditions upon the appearance of clinical signs. Therefore, the successful treatment of respiratory diseases remains difficult after the onset of clinical signs, leading to high mortality rates. In this study, we measured air sac volume using computed tomography (CT) to evaluate the respiratory condition of penguins. In a regular quarterly health checkup, blood samples were collected from 45 penguins housed at an aquarium in Hokkaido, Japan. A total of 12 penguins with abnormal blood parameters underwent CT. The air sac volumes were calculated in three-dimensional CT, and the scatter plots of the air sac volumes and body weights were analyzed. No correlation was found between the air sac volume and body weight in both the gentoo and king penguins. Two gentoo penguins with infiltration and one king penguin with multiple nodules on CT were tentatively diagnosed with aspergillosis and treated with oral administration of itraconazole. Follow-up CT examination was performed until the outcome: healed or died. The mean air sac volumes of the two gentoo penguins, which recovered after treatment, increased from 273.9 and 329.0 cm³ before healing to 449.0 and 424.6 cm³ after healing, respectively. Meanwhile, the air sac volume of the king penguin, which subsequently died, decreased from 1,556.9 to 920.6 cm³ despite treatment. Changes of the air sac volume in the same individual could be useful for evaluating the respiratory condition of penguins.