Two species of philometrid nematodes (philometridae) from marine fishes off Japan, including Philometroides branchiostegi sp. n. from Branchiostegus japonicus (malacanthidae)

Gravid females of two species of philometrid nematodes (Philometridae) were collected from marine perciform fishes in Japanese waters, mainly from the southern Sea of Japan. Based on light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy examinations, the previously described but poorly known species Philometra cryptocentri Yamaguti, 1961 is redescribed from specimens recovered from the abdominal cavity of Acanthogobius flavimanus (Temminck et Schlegel), Pterogobius elapoides (Günther) and P. zonoleucus Jordan et Snyder (all Gobiidae) (all new host records); the number (14) and arrangement of cephalic papillae in this species are described for the first time. The new species, Philometroides branchiostegi sp. n. from head tissues of Branchiostegus japonicus (Houttuyn) (Malacanthidae), based on a single specimen, is mainly characterized by the embossment of the entire body except for the cephalic end, presence of four submedian pairs of large cephalic papillae of external circle and two small lateral single papillae of internal circle, pair of large papilla-like caudal projections, the oesophagus with a distinct anterior inflation, by a markedly small body (length about 18 mm) and the larvae 306-465 microm long.     

CHORDOMA OF THE TAIL IN A DEGU (OCTODON DEGUS)

A 6-year-old female degu (Octodon degus) in good body condition was presented with a mass at the base of the tail. Following presentation and the owners’ approval, the tail of the degu was surgically amputated. The mass was submitted for pathological evaluation following the surgical procedure. Histologically, the mass was comprised of lobules and sheets of polygonal cells displaying moderate amounts of basophilic foamy cytoplasm (physaliferous cells). The pathological results of the tail mass were consistent with chordoma. Approximately 3 months following the tail amputation the patient died.     

Biometric analysis on diversity of coconut palm: cultivar classification by botanical and agronomical traits

Botanical and agronomical traits were observed using 39 cultivars of coconut palms which mainly collected in the PhilipApines, and statistically analyzed to clarify the variation between and within cultivar groups (typica, nana and javanica). Although there were broad variations in all the traits except for several male flower characters, significant differences among three cultivars were found in a dozen of traits. The variation within a cultivar group was higher in typica and javanica. Nana was noted as an aggregate group, which was far distance from typica. Javanica was characterized as the intermediate group having overlapping boundaries with other groups. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Swim bladder tumor in the young adult scoliotic medaka (Oryzias latipes)

A swim bladder tumor was detected in one scoliotic medaka aged 22 weeks. The tumor was located in the dorsal abdominal cavity, with maximum dimension of 1,850 × 1,500 µm. No swim bladder lumen was identified, and the region where the swim bladder lumen would have been located, was replaced with adipose tissues. The tumor was a non-invasive, expansile, and encapsulated solid mass with a few cysts, and comprised a homogenous population of well-differentiated, densely packed, gas glandular epithelium-like cells. The tumor mass was connected to a rete mirabile that showed a hyperplastic capillary plexus; however, the tumor cells did not invade the rete mirabile, thereby revealing that the tumor was an adenoma originating from the gas glandular epithelium of the swim bladder. Since proliferative lesions in the swim bladder have been reported in some teleosts with skeletal deformations, including medaka, the occurrence of a spontaneous swim bladder tumor in teleosts is considered to be closely associated with various types of skeletal deformation, and spinal curvature in particular.     

Vibrational property changes of spruce wood by impregnation with water-soluble extractives of pernambuco (Guilandina echinata Spreng.)

Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis Carr.) was treated with water-soluble extractive components of pernambuco (Guilandina echinata Spreng. syn Caesalpinia echinata Lam.) by two methods: impregnation under evacuation using an aspirator and repetitive surface application using a brush. The influence of these treatments on the vibrational properties were examined. The loss tangent (tan ) of the impregnated specimen decreased, up to nearly a half of its original value, with increasing weight gain. It is suggested that the decrease in tan results from impregnation of the extractive components into the amorphous region of cell walls, forming secondary bonds between matrix substances. The surface application of the extractive components, on the other hand, hardly brought about the desirable change in vibrational properties.Part of this work was presented at the 47th annual meeting of the Japan Wood Research Society, Kochi, April 1997, and the 48th annual meeting of the Japan Wood Research Society, Shizuoka, April 1998     

Application of laser-assisted zona drilling to in vitro fertilization of cryopreserved mouse oocytes with spermatozoa from a subfertile transgenic mouse

Development of assisted reproductive technologies is necessary to obtain fertilized oocytes in a subfertile transgenic mouse strain. Here, we showed the application of laser-assisted drilling of the zona pellucida to in vitro fertilization of cryopreserved mouse oocytes with sperm from subfertile transgenic mice (C57BL/6N-Tg(UCP/FAD2)U8 strain). After cryopreservation by vitrification, the recovery and survival rates of the zona-drilled mouse oocytes were 97% (97/100) and 94% (91/97), respectively. In vitro fertilization of the cryopreserved zona-drilled mouse oocytes with sperm from the subfertile transgenic mice was greatly facilitated (60%, 55/91) compared to that of the cryopreserved zona-intact mouse oocytes (11%, 81/768). In vitro fertilized embryos that developed to the 2-cell stage were again cryopreserved by vitrification, and after warming they were transferred into recipient females. Subsequently, six viable offspring were delivered, and all were confirmed to be transgenic mice. These results indicate that laser-assisted zona drilling of oocytes combined with cryopreservation by vitrification may be a useful approach for large-scale production of in vitro fertilized embryos for managing transgenic mouse strains with reproductive disabilities such as subfertile sperm.     

Growth, stress tolerance and non-specific immune response of Japanese flounder Paralichthys olivaceus to probiotics in a closed recirculating system

ABSTRACT:   Effects of probiotics on growth, stress tolerance and non-specific immune response in Japanese flounder Paralichthys olivaceus were evaluated in a closed recirculating system. Survival and growth of flounder treated by supplying commercial probiotics either in the diet (the probiotic diet group), or into the rearing water (the water supply group), were higher compared to the untreated group (the control group). Water quality parameters, pH, NH₄-N, NO₂-N and PO₄-P showed lower concentration in the probiotic diet group compared with the control group and the supply group. Plasma lysozyme activity in the probiotic diet group and the water supply group was significantly higher ( P  < 0.05) than that in the control group. In heat shock stress tests, flounder in the probiotics-treated groups showed greater heat tolerance (measured by 50% lethal time, LT50) than the control group. Pathogen challenge tests with Vibrio anguillarum (2 × 10⁷ c.f.u./mL) resulted in significantly higher survival in the probiotics-treated groups than the control group. Results indicated that probiotics supplied in the rearing water and the diet of fish enhanced the stress tolerance and the non-specific immune system of Japanese flounder, providing them a higher resistance against stress conditions and pathogens.     

Physical and mechanical properties required for violin bow materials II: Comparison of the processing properties and durability between pernambuco and substitutable wood species

Pernambuco (Guilandina echinata Spreng. syn Caesalpinia echinata Lam.), which has been used for a material of violin bows, was compared with substitutable wood species from the viewpoint of processing properties and durability. The properties required for bow material are discussed. The shearing strength of pernambuco was higher than that of the other wood species at the same specific gravity. High shearing strength seems to be effective for preventing damage to the head (top part) of the bow. The presence of extractives affects the thermal softening of wood material, but ease of handling and permanent retention of form are not particularly superior for pernambuco, although it does have a high extractives content. A peculiarly low loss tangent (tan S) of pernambuco can probably be attributed to the large amount of extractives, rather than the mean microfibril angle.Part of this report was presented at the 46th Annual Meeting of the Japan Wood Research Society in Kumamoto, April 1996.