Cytokinin signaling and its inhibitor AHP6 regulate cell fate during vascular development

The cell lineages that form the transporting tissues (xylem and phloem) and the intervening pluripotent procambial tissue originate from stem cells near the root tip. We demonstrate that in Arabidopsis, cytokinin phytohormones negatively regulate protoxylem specification. AHP6, an inhibitory pseudophosphotransfer protein, counteracts cytokinin signaling, allowing protoxylem formation. Conversely, cytokinin signaling negatively regulates the spatial domain of AHP6 expression. Thus, by controlling the identity of cell lineages, the reciprocal interaction of cytokinin signaling and its spatially specific modulator regulates proliferation and differentiation of cell lineages during vascular development, demonstrating a previously unrecognized regulatory circuit underlying meristem organization.     

Ethanol Does Not Promote MeIQx-initiated Rat Colon Carcinogenesis Based on Evidence from Analysis of a Colon Cancer Surrogate Marker

Epidemiological studies suggest that alcohol consumption increases the risk of developing colorectal cancer. However, the data are confounded by numerous cosegregating variables. To cast further light on the relationships between alcohol intake and colon cancer development, 21-day-old male F344/DuCrj rats were fed 200 ppm 2-amino-3,8-dimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoxaline (MeIQx) in their diet for 8 weeks and doses of 0, 0.1, 0.3, 1, 3, 10 and 20% of ethanol in their drinking water ad libitum for 16 weeks thereafter. The rats were sacrificed after 24 weeks of experiment, and aberrant crypt foci (ACF), surrogate lesions for colon cancer, were examined under a light microscope at low magnification. Ethanol was found not to affect the ACF formation at any dose compared with the initiated-controls. Furthermore, ethanol did not alter colon epithelial cell proliferation. These data, obtained by analysis of a colon cancer surrogate marker lesion, indicate that ethanol lacks promotion activity for MeIQx-initiated rat colon carcinogenesis.     

First report of whisker mold,a postharvest disease on citrus caused by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Penicillium ulaiense</Emphasis> (in Japan)

In March 2006, stored fruits of the medium-to-late-ripening citrus variety Shiranuhi ([Citrus unshiu × C. sinensis] × C. reticulata) were found to have a disease similar to blue mold. The fungus causing this disease differed distinctly from the well-known, blue mold agent, Penicillium italicum, because it formed whisker-like coremia measuring 1–8 mm. On the basis of the morphological characteristics and the phylogenetic analysis based on the nucleotide sequence of the β-tubulin gene, the fungus was identified as P. ulaiense. This is the first report of citrus whisker mold caused by P. ulaiense in Japan.     

Is metoclopramide an alternative to tramadol in management of post-operative pain? An experimental study

In this study, metoclopramide was compared with other pharmacological agents for preventing post-operative pain. Sixty Sprague-Dawley male rats, weighing 310-345 g were included in the study; 1 cm surgical incision, including skin, facia, and muscle was made to the plantar surface of rear foot of all anaesthetized rats. Rats were randomized into four groups. In group 1 (group S) 2 cm3 saline, in group 2 (group M) 2 cm3 metoclopramide (5 mg/kg) in group 3 (group T) 2 cm3 tramadol (45 mg/kg), in group 4 (group M+T) half doses of group M and group T was given intraperitoneally. Post-operative pain was assessed after 2 h, first and second days of incision. Post-operative pain scores were found to be significantly lower in group M, group T and group M+T when compared with the control group. But there was no significant difference between these groups. We concluded that metoclopramide, with low cost, fewer side-effects and being significantly effective for preventing post-operative pain, can be an alternative to tramadol.     

Equine pyoderma associated with malnutrition and unhygienic conditions due to neglect in a herd

Twelve horses kept at a riding club suffered from pyoderma. All the horses displayed crusting, scaling and alopecia. The lesions were distributed in the chest, back, rump and limbs. Some of the horse patients also showed epilation with an attached crust similar to a 'paintbrush lesion' of dermatophilosis, but normal skin flora or opportunistic pathogenic bacteria were only isolated from the lesions. Some patients clearly showed weight loss, anemia and low levels of serum protein and cholesterol. General condition and skin lesions of the patients were improved gradually with improvement of feed and environment after being moved to new stables. Malnutrition under conditions of poor hygiene and poor management due to neglect might be associated with these equine cases of pyoderma in the herd.     

Participation of different macrophage populations and myofibroblastic cells in chronically developed renal interstitial fibrosis after cisplatin-induced renal injury in rats

To shed some light on the mechanisms behind renal fibrogenesis, the present study immunohistochemically investigated the participation of different macrophage populations and myofibroblastic cells in rat renal interstitial fibrosis developed chronically after repeated injection of cisplatin (2 mg/kg body weight, once weekly for 7 weeks). During the 19-week recovery period after the final injection, fibrotic lesions progressively developed in the corticomedullary junction, with the greatest level at post-final injection (FPI) week 5, and then the lesions were gradually repaired by PFI week 19, indicative of a healing process. In conformity with the development of fibrotic lesions, the number of myofibroblastic cells reacting with an anti-alpha-smooth muscle actin antibody was increased, with a peak at PFI week 3, and collagens (types I, III, and IV), fibronection, and laminin were excessively accumulated in these areas. Interstitial cells forming the fibrotic lesions showed mitotic activity at the early stages, whereas they disappeared by apoptosis in the healing process. A large number of cells reacting with an antibody of ED1 (for exudate macrophages), ED2 (for resident macrophages), or OX6 (for major histocompatibility complex class II-presenting macrophages and interstitial dendritic cells) had already appeared at PF1 week 1, and then their numbers increased, with a peak at PFI weeks 7, 3, and 9 in ED1-, ED2-, and OX6-positive cells, respectively. Thereafter, the number of ED1- and ED2-positive cells decreased, whereas the number of OX6-positive cells persisted at a high level until PFI week 19. In the healing process, clusters of lymphocytes were present, the development of which might have been related to OX6-positive cells. The present study demonstrated that chronically developing rat renal interstitial fibrosis might be produced by the complicated mechanisms evoked by interactions between different macrophage populations and myofibroblastic cells, because macrophages show heterogeneous functions depending on microenvironmental factors.     

Sex identification of Japanese black bear,Ursus thibetanus japonicus,by PCR based on amelogenin gene

A method for sex identification of the Japanese black bear was examined using a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequencing of a part of the amelogenin gene. This gene is located on the X and Y chromosomes, and there are 54 nucleotide deletions on the Y chromosome-specific gene. Forty-seven (26 male and 21 female) DNA samples and 23 (13 male and 10 female) DNA samples, respectively extracted from white blood cells and hairs of Japanese black bears were analyzed. The primers SE47 and SE48 from this X-Y homologous region were used in sex identification by PCR amplification. These primers amplified X- and Y-specific bands, which could be used to discriminate between sexes by a length polymorphism in all samples. We suggest that PCR amplification using the primers SE47 and SE48 is useful for sex determination of the Japanese black bear and could be applied to DNA analysis of small samples such as hairs.     

Plant secondary metabolites regulating behaviour of zoospores of the phytopathogenic fungus Aphanomyces cochlioides

A number of compounds isolated from various plant species were tested for their ability to affect the mobility of zoospores of the fungus Aphanomyces cochlioides which causes root rot in spinach (Spinacia oleracea). Compounds may act as attractants, repellents or stimulants of zoosphore movement or they may halt movement by causing the spore to clump and settle. Bioassay revealed compounds with these methods of action, as well as some which acted directly on the fungus. ©1999 Society of Chemical Industry     

Bovine leukemia virus genotype surveillance in cattle at a slaughterhouse in Aichi Prefecture,Japan, in 2019 using polymerase chain reaction combined with restriction fragment length polymorphism

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) combined with restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) is commonly used for genotyping bovine leukemia virus (BLV) in slaughterhouses. However, unclassified BLV genotypes have been sporadically reported. To assess the current status of BLV genetic characterization in cattle, PCR-RFLP was performed on blood samples of 170 cattle (84 Japanese Black, 60 Japanese Black x Holstein, and 26 Holstein) from 17 farms (5 prefectures) at a slaughterhouse in Aichi Prefecture in 2019. A total of 65 samples (38.2%) were BLV positive, and genotype 1 was the most predominant (56/65 samples), followed by genotypes 3 (6 samples) and 5 (1 sample), and two unclassified samples. No relationship between the genotypes and breeds was observed. Sequence and phylogenetic analyses demonstrated that unclassified BLV genotypes clustered with genotype 1 sequences were, therefore, not new genotypes.