Expression of monocarboxylate transporter 1 (MCT1) in the dog intestine

In this study, the expression and distribution of monocarboxyolate transporter 1 (MCT1) along the intestines (duodenum, jejunum, ileum, cecum, colon and rectum) of dogs were investigated at both the mRNA and protein levels. The expression of MCT1 protein and its distribution were confirmed by Western blotting and immunohistochemical staining using the antibody for MCT1. We identified mRNA coding for MCT1 and a 43-kDa band of MCT1 protein in all regions from the duodenum to the rectum. Immunoreactive staining for MCT1 was also observed in epithelial cells throughout the intestines. MCT1 immunoreactivity was greater in the large intestine than in the small intestine. MCT1 protein was predominantly expressed on the basolateral membranes along intestinal epithelial cells, suggesting that MCT1 may play an important role in lactate efflux and transport of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) to the bloodstream across the basolateral membranes of the dog intestine.     

The fate of ammonium nitrogen applied to flooded rice as affected by zeolite addition

High rice (Oryza sativa L.) yields are closely related to plant absorption of a large amount of nitrogen (N). However, there is little information on the fate of N applied at the middle growth stages of rice. Labeled ¹⁵N ammonium sulfate was applied at the panicle formation stage in Experiment I, and 10 d after heading in Experiment II. Zeolite was also added at the concentration of 0, 0.01, and 0.1 kg kg^-1 to increase the cation exchange capacity (CEC) of the soil. The amount of ¹⁵N fertilizer in the soil surface water decreased exponentially and the fertilizer disappeared within 2 d after application. The soil that received zeolite at 0.1 kg kg^-1 exhibited significantly less ¹⁵NH₄ ⁺-N in the surface water and in the soil solution than the soil without the zeolite amendment. A significantly larger amount of exchangeable ¹⁵NH₄ ⁺-N was observed in the high zeolite-treatment of soil compared to the low zeolite-treatment of soil. The amount of exchangeable ¹⁵NH₄ ⁺-N increased initially, and thereafter decreased to traces 4 d after application in Experiment I, while 6 or 9 d after application in Experiment II. The disappearance of exchangeable ¹⁵NH₄ ⁺-N could be attributed mainly to the uptake by plants. The zeolite amendment or the time of N application did not significantly affect the amount of immobilized N. The rate of N adsorption was inhibited with increasing zeolite application. Moreover, zeolite application did not increase the recovery percentage of ammonium sulfate by rice plants. The total recovery of applied N ranged from 65 to 75%, irrespective of the zeolite treatments or the time of N application.     

Effect of echo-guided high-intensity focused ultrasound ablation on localized experimental tumors

We fabricated a prototype 3.25-MHz split-focus therapeutic transducer combined with a small 6.5-MHz imaging ultrasonic probe for transrectal treatment of prostate cancer and evaluated the feasibility of using split-focus high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) to ablate localized tumor tissue without injuring the surrounding organs. We therefore established a localized tumor model by inoculating VX2 tumor into rabbit livers. The localized VX2 tumors of nine rabbits were transdermally treated with split-focus ablation at a peak intensity in water of 6 kW/cm2 for 4 s (6 shots) under the guidance of ultrasonic B-mode imaging. Necropsy a day after treatment found the surface of the livers and gastrointestinal tracts to be grossly normal. The VX2 tumors were completely coagulated and were surrounded by ablated liver tissue. The six shots of split-focus HIFU destroyed the VX2 tumors without injuring the liver surfaces or the surrounding organs. These results suggest that split-focus HIFU ablation could be an effective treatment of localized tumors.     

Structure of bovine fungiform taste buds and their immunoreactivity for gustducin

The taste buds of bovine fungiform papillae were studied by light and electron microscopy using both histological and immunohistochemical methods. The taste buds existed in the epithelium of the apical region of the papillae. By electron microscopy, two types of taste cells, namely type I and type II cells, could be classified according to the presence of dense-cored vesicles, the cytoplasmic density and the cell shape. Type I cells were thin, had an electron-dense cytoplasm containing dense-cored vesicles, and possessed long thick apical processes in the taste pore. Type II cells were thick, had an electron-lucent cytoplasm containing many electron-lucent vesicles, rather than dense-cored vesicles, and possessed microvilli in the taste pore. Immunohistochemical staining with an antiserum against gustducin was investigated by both light and electron microscopy using the avidin-biotin complex (ABC) method. Some, but not all, of the type II cells exhibited gustducin immunoreactivity, whereas none of the type I cells showed any immunoreactivity.     

Biological control of apple crown gall by nonpathogenic Rhizobium vitis strain VAR03-1

A nonpathogenic strain of Rhizobium vitis, VAR03-1, was tested as a biological control agent for crown gall of apple. When apple tree roots were soaked in a cell suspension of antagonists before planting in the field, treatment with VAR03-1 significantly reduced the number of plants with tumors and the disease severity. The inhibitory effects of treatment with VAR03-1 and the nonpathogenic R. rhizogenes strain K84, which is commercially used as a biological control agent throughout the world, on apple crown gall were almost identical. VAR03-1 was bacteriocinogenic, producing a halo of inhibition against two species of tumorigenic Rhizobium isolated from galled apple trees. Moreover, VAR03-1 established populations on roots of apple tree rootstock and persisted on roots for 437?days. This is the first report that the nonpathogenic R. vitis VAR03-1 effectively controls crown gall of apple.     

Effects of introgressions from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Festuca pratensis</Emphasis> on winter hardiness of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lolium perenne</Emphasis>

Previous studies reported that some genotypes with introgressed Festuca chromosome segment(s) in Lolium genome showed enhanced winter hardiness compared to Lolium. The aim of this study was to search comprehensively for the Festuca pratensis chromosome regions affecting winter hardiness-related traits when introgressed into the Lolium perenne genome. Association between F. pratensis introgression and winter hardiness-related traits (fall and winter hardiness indexes, early-spring dry matter yield, and freezing tolerance) were screened in the diploid introgression populations (n = 203) that had some F. pratensis chromosome segments introgressed. Eighty-four intron markers corresponding to unique rice genes randomly distributed across the genome were used for genotyping. Winter hardiness of almost all plants in the introgression populations was lower than that of the F. pratensis and triploid hybrid parents, but the average was higher than that of L. perenne. A significant positive effect of F. pratensis introgression on early-spring dry matter yield was detected on chromosome 7. This quantitative trait locus (QTL) was confirmed by linkage analysis using a backcross population with F. pratensis introgression in the target region of chromosome 7. However, the contribution of the newly identified QTL was rather small (6.7–9.6%), suggesting that superior winter hardiness of F. pratensis compared to L. perenne is conferred by multiple small-effect QTLs. We also detected a previously unreported negative effect of Festuca introgression on winter hardiness. Newly obtained QTL information in this study would contribute to the design of Festuca/Lolium hybrid breeding.     

Bilateral microphthalmos with cyst in a neonatal foal

A 1‐day–old miniature horse filly was presented to the University of Florida Veterinary Ophthalmology service for evaluation of multiple ocular anomalies which were present from birth. Protruding from the right orbit was a large, fluctuant, red, dry and variably ulcerated mass. A globe could not be appreciated clinically in the left orbit. Ocular ultrasound of both orbits was performed. This revealed a lobular, hypo‐echoic structure filling the right orbit, with multiple hyperechoic septations; normal ocular structures were not identified. Ultrasound of the left orbit revealed a microphthalmic eye, with a well‐defined, hyperechoic structure in the vitreous that was thought to be the lens. Due to irreversible blindness, the foal was humanely euthanized. Histopathology and immunohistochemistry of the orbital contents revealed bilateral microphthalmos with cyst, a congenital defect rarely reported in the veterinary literature.