Reduction of transport stress of ayu by obligated schooling

We investigated stress responses of ayu Plecoglossus altivelis under the hypothesis that overcrowding during transport can be a stressor and the stress predisposes fish to disease by decline in immunocompetence. The extent of stress response was determined under different fish densities. As inferred from the serum concentration of cortisol 1 day after the treatment, the density at more than 23 kg/m³, which was within the range of normal transporting procedures, acutely evoked intense stress responses. To examine a possible way to reduce the stress response of fish under crowding conditions, we compared two fish groups established in water tanks with circulating (whirling) and turbulent currents at the same density. The cortisol levels 1 day after the treatment were 2.5-fold higher in turbulent current than in whirling current. Fish in whirling current formed a school, while those in turbulent current aggregated with each other. Schooling of fish induced by water flow may reduce their stress responses during transport. A transport system with a directional water flow should keep fish in good condition without reducing the number of fish contained.     

Quantitative analysis of pattern of gonial proliferation during sexual maturation in Japanese scallop <Emphasis Type="Italic">Patinopecten yessoensis</Emphasis>

ABSTRACT:   This study was undertaken to describe and quantitatively analyze the pattern of development of gametes in the Japanese scallop Patinopecten yessoensis . Incorporation of 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU) into gonial cells was used to quantitatively detect mitotically active gonial cells. Oogonia increased in number from November to December and decreased rapidly to March. A small number of oocytes was detected in November. Oocytes steadily increased in number and size up to March. The number of spermatogonia slightly increased from November to December, and increased markedly from January to March. Both ratios of BrdU-immunopositive gonial cells in the ovary and testis to gonial cells moderately increased from September to December. The ratio of BrdU-immunopositive spermatogonia to gonial cells drastically increased from January to February and kept an elevated level in March, whereas the oogonia started to disappear in January. The results suggest that the pattern of proliferation of gonial cells can be divided into two phases: (i) phase I, oogonia and spermatogonia slowly proliferate through the growing stage; and (ii) phase II, oogonia develop into oocytes and spermatogonia begin to proliferate rapidly through the mature and spawning stages. The proliferation of gonial cells is likely under different endocrine controls in phases I and II.     

Inhibitory effects of seaweeds on histamine release from rat basophile leukemia cells (RBL-2H3)

ABSTRACT:   The effects of 80% methanol extracts from frozen samples of 41 macroalgae and one sea grass collected in the Ise-Shima region of Japan were investigated on histamine release from rat basophile leukemia cells (RBL-2H3) sensitized with antidinitrophenyl (DNP) IgE and stimulated with DNP-BSA. Of the 21 brown algae, five green and 15 red algae, and one sea grass tested, only extracts from seven brown algae suppressed histamine release from RBL cells, as determined by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis. When the cytotoxic effects of the seven brown algal extracts were investigated by Trypan blue staining, only Eisenia arborea and Sargassum thunbergii did not show cytotoxic effects. Therefore, we conclude that E. arborea and S. thunbergii may contain compounds that have antiallergic effects without inducing cell death.     

Effect of retinoic acid on gene expression profiles of bovine intramuscular preadipocytes during adipogenesis

To investigate genes involved in intramuscular adipogenesis in ruminants, 16 genes with dramatic variable expression were selected. These were selected from the differentiation‐ and proliferation‐phase libraries of our previous serial analysis of gene expression (SAGE) studies of a clonal bovine intramuscular preadipocyte (BIP) cell line. We harvested the BIP cells over 12 days after adipogenic stimulation with all‐trans retinoic acid (ATRA). Quantitative real‐time PCR confirmed the earlier SAGE study results of the expression patterns of 15 of the genes. On day 6, TG accumulation increased significantly in the BIP cells but was completely inhibited in the 3T3‐L1 cells (the monogastric reference). ATRA enhanced expression levels of six genes whereas it suppressed expression of eight genes on day 3 of adipogenesis in the BIP cells. Forty‐eight hours after transfection, the messenger RNA expression level of the adipose differentiation‐related protein (ADFP), encoded by one of the upregulated genes, in the ADFP small interference RNA (siRNA)‐transfected cells was 3.5% of that in negative control‐transfected cells. Also, 6 days after induction the TG level in the ADFP siRNA‐transfected cells was 21.8% lower than that in negative control‐transfected cells. This analysis of gene expression profiles after ATRA treatment will contribute to our understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in bovine intramuscular adipogenesis.