Estimation of potassium and magnesium flows in animal production in Dianchi Lake basin,China

The objectives of this study were to estimate and evaluate potassium (K) and magnesium (Mg) budgets and flows of animal production in the basin of Dianchi Lake, China. Feed sampling and farmer interviews were conducted in field surveys. The supplies of K and Mg from local and external feeds and the retention, production and excretion of animals were calculated individually for dairy cows, fattening pigs, breeding sows, and broilers and laying hens. The K and Mg flows on a regional level were estimated using the individual budgets. At the individual level, in dairy cattle, the K and Mg supplied from local feeds accounted for large parts of the total nutrient intakes, whereas in the other animal categories most of the K and Mg in the feeds depended on external resources. Our findings also suggested that excessive Mg intake resulted in high Mg excretion and low use efficiency in dairy cattle and fattening pigs. At the regional level, the K and Mg amounts of manure produced and applied in the area (K: 339 and Mg: 143 t/year) exceeded those used as local feeds. Our results imply the animal production potentially increased the K and Mg loads in the regional agriculture system.     

Characterization of monoclonal antibodies directed against the canine distemper virus nucleocapsid protein

We have established four monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against the nucleocapsid protein (NP) of canine distemper virus (CDV). A competitive binding assay has revealed that the MAbs are directed against two antigenic domains. An immunofluorescence assay using a series of deletion clones of the NP and an immunoprecipitation assay using the NP have revealed that two of the MAbs recognize the C-terminal region of the NP while the other two recognize the tertiary structure of the N-terminal domain. These MAbs reacted with all eight strains of CDV used in this study, but showed different reactivities against measles virus and rinderpest virus.     

Protective Effect of Stachybotrys microspora Triprenyl Phenol-7on the Deposition of IgA to the Glomerular Mesangium in Nivalenol-induced IgA Nephropathy Using BALB/c Mice

Activators of tissue proteolysis including Stachybotrys microspora triprenyl phenol (SMTP)-7 are a new class of agents that are expected to be effective for amelioration of chronic tissue destructive diseases. The present study was performed to examine whether SMTP-7 is effective for the amelioration or protection of early-stage IgA nephropathy (IgAN) induced by nivalenol (NIV) in female BALB/c mice. In Experiment 1, mice were administered NIV at 24 ppm in diet for 8 weeks, and during the NIV treatment, they were intraperitoneally injected with SMTP-7 (10 mg/kg) three times a week. In Experiment 2, mice were injected similarly with SMTP-7 during the last 4 weeks of a 16-week NIV treatment. Immunofluorescence analysis revealed an inhibitory effect of SMTP-7 on the glomerular deposition of IgA in Experiment 1; however, it was ineffective in Experiment 2. On the other hand, SMTP-7 did not affect the serum concentration of IgA in both experiments. These results suggest that SMTP-7 has a potential to decrease the progression of IgAN induced by NIV through inhibition of local accumulation of IgA in the glomerular mesangium, while it was ineffective for suppression of IgA production. On the other hand, SMTP-7 was found to be ineffective for already deposited IgA, suggesting that SMTP-7 may not be effective for ameliorating advanced IgAN.     

Measurement of plasma chromogranin A concentrations for assessment of stress responses in dogs with insulin-induced hypoglycemia

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether cross-reactivity exists between canine chromogranin A (CgA) and anti-human CgA antibody and investigate the usefulness of plasma CgA concentration measurements as an index of acute stress responses in dogs. ANIMALS: 12 healthy Beagles. PROCEDURE: Canine CgA was extracted and purified from canine adrenal glands of cadaver dogs for studying cross-reactivity with anti-human CgA antibody. Western blotting with anti-human CgA antibody was performed. Blood samples were collected from dogs at 0, 10, 20, 30, 40, 60, 120, and 180 minutes after IV administration of saline (0.9% NaCl) solution or insulin. Canine plasma CgA concentrations were determined by use of a CgA ELISA kit with rabbit antiserum against the carboxy-terminal fragment of human CgA. Plasma cortisol and catecholamine (ie, norepinephrine and epinephrine) concentrations were measured by use of an ELISA and a high-performance liquid chromatography method, respectively. RESULTS: Purified canine CgA was specifically detected by use of western blot analysis and an ELISA with anti-human CgA antibody. An increase in plasma CgA concentrations was observed in insulin-induced hypoglycemic dogs. Changes in plasma CgA concentration were correlated with changes in plasma cortisol or catecholamine concentrations of hypoglycemic dogs. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Use of the CgA ELISA kit for determination of human plasma CgA concentrations is applicable to the measurement of canine plasma CgA concentrations. Canine plasma CgA concentrations, along with measurements of plasma cortisol and catecholamine concentrations, correctly reflect insulin-induced hypoglycemic stressed conditions in dogs. Measurement of canine plasma CgA concentrations may provide a useful index for evaluation of an acute stress response.     

Inhibition of virus attachment to CPK cells by monoclonal antibody to transmissible gastroenteritis virus.

Five MAbs, which recognized E2 glycoprotein of TGE virus TO-163 and showed neutralizing activity, were examined to see if they inhibit virus attachment to the susceptible cells (CPK cells). Only one (160/4) MAb blocked the virus attachment to the cells, indicating that the inhibition of virus attachment is one of important mechanisms of neutralizing by antibody.     

Occurrence of equine coital exanthema in pastured draft horses and isolation of equine herpesvirus 3 from progenital lesions

During the period from 2001 to the following year, progenital diseases had been epidemic among the draft stallions and mares pastured together in Iwate Prefecture, the northeastern district of Japan. A stallion and 8 of 31 mares were affected in 2001, and 1 of 2 stallions and 10 of 36 mares in 2002. The clinical symptoms consisted of the formation of papules, pustules, ulcers and scabs on the progenital skin and mucosa in stallions and mares. In 2002, Equine herpesvirus 3 (EHV3) was isolated from 2 mares and the glycoprotein G gene of the virus detected from a stallion and 4 mares by polymerase chain reaction. Serum neutralizing tests showed that 12 of 38 horses, 10 clinically and 2 subclinically affected, changed to be positive for the EHV3 antibody. The results suggest that the horses were affected with equine coital exanthema (ECE) through coitus. Five mares with the antibody at the pre-pastured period may have been the possible origins of EHV3 infection in 2002, although the exact origin in 2001 remains unknown. The artificial insemination was performed for the prevention of ECE spreading through coitus on the pasture in 2003. There was no epidemic of the disease in 31 mares, although 3 mares with the antibody at the pre-pastured period showed the significant increase in the titers during the pastured period.     

Databases for technical aspects of immunohistochemistry: 2021 update

With the aim of sharing information about the technical aspects of immunohistochemistry (IHC) and facilitating the selection of suitable antibodies for histopathological examination, this technical report describes the results of a questionnaire distributed during the period of 2018 to 2019 among members of the Conference on Experimental Animal Histopathology. Additionally, it describes the immunological properties and supplier details (clone, supplier, catalog number, species reactivity, etc.) as well as the IHC staining conditions (fixing solution, fixing time, embedding, antigen retrieval method, antibody dilution, incubation time, incubation temperature, positive control tissue, blocking condition, secondary antibody information, etc.) for a total of 509 primary antibodies (comprising 220 different types). These survey results were an update on the contents reported by CEAH in 2017.     

In vitro ruminal fermentation characteristics of gum arabic under concentrate and forage substrate conditions

Gum arabic (GA) has potential rumen modifier functions. This is the first study to investigate the in vitro ruminal fermentation characteristics of GA. Rumen fluid was collected from ruminal fistulated wethers; rolled barley and ryegrass straw were used as substrates for concentrate and forage conditions, respectively. Besides incubating with the substrates alone (control), GA or potato starch (PS) was added at 0.2%, 1.0%, and 2.0% along with substrates. Under the concentrate substrate condition, GA treatments showed higher total gas production in 24-h incubation, but lower methane production in 24- and 48-h incubation compared with PS treatments (p < 0.05). The 1.0% and 2.0% GA and 0.2% and 1.0% PS treatments showed higher dry matter and neutral detergent fiber digestibility and lower NH₃-N, and higher short chain fatty acid concentrations compared with the control at 24-h incubation (p < 0.05). The GA treatments also showed a lower acetate/propionate ratio than PS treatments at 48-h incubation (p < 0.01). Under the forage substrate condition, the treatment effects were not significant, except for a higher proportion of propionate with GA than with PS at 24 and 48 h of incubations. We thus concluded that GA supplement may exert potential rumen modifier effects particularly under concentrate feeding condition.     

Simple detection method of powerful antiradical compounds in the raw extract of plants and its application for the identification of antiradical plant constituents

A simple detection method for a powerful radical scavenging compound in a mixture containing a large variety of compounds, such as the raw extract of edible plants, was developed using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) as the radical reagent. The method was established on the basis of the features of the typical chain-breaking antioxidation reaction mechanism, which suggests that the radical scavenging antioxidant should be converted to other stable nonradical compounds during the reaction. This method requires only a simple HPLC instrument, and the disappearance or decrease in the peak intensity, which is induced by the addition of DPPH. This change is monitored by the HPLC to detect the powerful radical scavenger from the complex mixture. The method was applied to the detection and identification of the most powerful antiradical compound in the extracts of three antioxidatively active plant extracts (Psidium guajava, Citrus depressa, and Hypericum chinense). The radical scavenging efficiency of a newly identified compound from H. chinense was also compared with that of Trolox and catechin using the method.     

紫外线(UV-B)照射对水稻产量及稻米蛋白质含量的影响

以抗紫外线UV-B的日本粳稻品种Sasanishiki为材料,1999年和2000年在大田条件下,探讨了不同生育时期的UV-B处理对水稻产量、糙米的大小及蛋白质含量的影响.结果表明,营养生长期(移栽至幼穗分化)、生殖生长期(幼穗分化至抽穗)及抽穗成熟期的UV-B处理对Sasanishiki的产量及其构成因素的影响不显著;生殖生长期(幼穗分化至抽穗)与