Formation of an Antral Follicle–like Structure of Bovine Cumulus–Oocyte Complexes Embedded Individually or in Groups in Collagen Gels

Culture techniques of antral follicle–like structure (AFLS) derived from cumulus–oocyte complexes (COCs) might provide important insights into follicular development and oocyte maturation. This study was undertaken to investigate the effects of embedding bovine COCs individually (one COC) or in groups (4–5 COCs) in collagen gels on the formation of AFLS and the meiotic status of oocytes. The observations of AFLS formation were performed every second day for 14 days. The AFLS was formed at Day 2 or 4 after the start of culture (Day = 0), irrespective of the culture methods. The mean diameters of AFLS during Days 4–14 using the individual culture method were significantly higher (p < 0.05) than those using the group culture method. However, the AFLS formation rate in the individual culture method was significantly lower compared to that in the group culture method (26.1% vs 62.7%, p < 0.01). Almost all oocytes had undergone the germinal vesicle breakdown stage, irrespective of the culture method or AFLS formation. In conclusion, comparison with the individual culture method revealed that the mean diameters of AFLS in the group culture method were smaller, but more COCs formed AFLS. The group culture method might be useful for evaluating the various hypotheses of follicular formation and interfollicular communication. However, improvement of the group culture system is necessary to prevent the meiotic resumption of oocytes, because the AFLS formation is dependent on the cumulus/granulosa cells surrounding oocytes.     

ULTRASONOGRAPHIC APPEARANCE OF ORTHOTOPIC URETEROCELE IN A DOG

A three-year-old, intact male, Siberian husky was evaluated for a two day history of dysuria. Sonographically there was an anechoic cyst-like structure in the urinary bladder. The abnormality appeared to be a'cyst within a cyst', which is a characteristic ultrasonographic feature of ureterocele in humans. Ultrasonography may be a useful means of establishing a diagnosis of ureterocele in dogs.     

Chemical and mineralogical studies on the citrus soils in Wakayama Prefecture,Japan

Wakayama Prefecture is one of the important districts of citrus production in Japan. The citrus groves are located in the northern districts of the prefecture along the watershed of the Kii, and Arita rivers. Geologically, the rocks in these districts are classified into crystalline schist, Palaeozoic Upper Chichibu and Mesozoic Cretaceous systems. The associated soils are chiefly members of the Red Yellow Podzolic and Lithosol group.⁷⁾     

Developmental patterns of lamellae and stroma fractions of chloroplasts in rice plants

On examining the changes in lamellae and stroma nitrogen during leaf development, it is demonstrated that the lamellae and stroma fractions ofrice chloroplasts develop in quite different ways. In the case of stroma, the stroma materials existing in the leaf section which has just emerged from a leaf sheath are quite limited and the major part of this fraction is derived from the successive protein synthesis, i.e., the synthesis of this fraction was markedly increased during leaf expansion. This developmental pattern of the stroma coincided with the changes in the high-molecular-weight water soluble leaf protein, which seemed to be mainly composed of Fraction I protein. A rapid increase in stroma nitrogen was found to be a major cause for an increase in the leaf nitrogen content during leaf development.

On the other hand, the developmental pattern of the lamellae fraction was characterized by the fact that a considerable amount of this fraction had already been prepared when a leaf emerged from a leaf sheath and thereafter, no outstanding increase was seen compared to that of the stroma. This developmental pattern of the lamellae fraction resulted in a lowering of the proportion of lamellae nitrogen to the total leaf nitrogen during leaf development.

A great change in the lamellae-stroma composition of chloroplasts was observed. The proportion of stroma nitrogen to the total chloroplast nitrogen tended to increase as a leaf develops. Since the developmental stage varied according to the regions of a leaf, variation of the lamellaestroma composition was seen even within a leaf, i.e., the proportion of stroma nitrogen increased from base to tip.

In order to compare the synthetic rate of chlorophyll with those of the stroma and lamellae fractions, the changes in the ratios of stroma nitrogen/chlorophyll and lamellae nitrogen/chlorophyll were examined. The lamellae nitrogen/chlorophyll ratio decreased as a leaf developed, whereas the stroma nitrogen/chlorophyll ratio increased. Then the synthetic rates of these fractions during leaf development turned out to be of the same order as the stroma fraction, chlorophyll, lamellae fraction.     

Isolation and characterization of an attenuated strain of an Orthotospovirus,melon yellow spot virus

Journal of General Plant Pathology - An attenuated mutant strain of melon yellow spot virus (MYSV), an Orthotospovirus, designated as SA08-8, was obtained from a pathogenic isolate, C95S, via high...     

Large-scale survey of frequency of forest walking and related factors in a Japanese population inhabiting a large city, and comparison of an urban area and a rural area

The frequency of forest walking among the general population is a major topic of study in forest science. The objectives of this study were threefold: to assess the frequency of forest walking among Japanese residents of Nagoya, a large city; to evaluate differences among frequency of forest walking by participants from a large city, an urban area (Shizuoka; 4,666 participants), and a rural area (Yakumo Town, Hokkaido; 397 participants) in previous studies; and to examine factors related to frequency of forest walking. The survey, by self-administered questionnaire, in the major city of Nagoya was conducted between June 2008 and May 2010. In all, 5,158 participants (M/F, 1,466/3,692; mean age ± SD [range], 52.5 ± 10.3 [35–69] years) were included in the analysis. The proportions of frequency of forest walking ≥ once/month and ≥ once/year were 10.9 % (M/F, 15.1/9.3 %) and 46.1 % (51.0/44.1 %), respectively. In multiple logistic regression analysis, significant differences were noted among study sites for the adjusted odds ratio for frequency of forest walking. Overall, the order of highest to lowest frequency of forest walking was Shizuoka > Nagoya > Yakumo. Factors related to frequency of forest walking were common among the three study sites. Higher frequency of forest walking was associated with male sex and older age; the most relevant factor related to frequency of forest walking was its enjoyment level. Further studies will be required to clarify why these factors are related to frequency of forest walking.     

Increased Cellular Distribution of Vimentin and Ret in the Cingulum of Rat Offspring After Developmental Exposure to Decabromodiphenyl Ether or 1,2,5,6,9,10-Hexabromocyclododecane

Abstract: To determine effects of developmental exposure to brominated flame retardants (BFRs), weak thyroid hormone disruptors, on white matter development, white matter-specific global gene expression analysis was performed using microdissection techniques and microarrays in male rats exposed maternally to decabromodiphenyl ether (DBDE), one of the representative BFRs, at 10, 100 or 1000 ppm. Based on previous gene expression profiles of developmental hypothyroidism and DBDE-exposed cases, vimentin⁺ immature astrocytes and ret proto-oncogene (Ret)⁺ oligodendrocytes were immunohistochemically examined after developmental exposure to representative BFRs, i.e., DBDE, 1,2,5,6,9,10-hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD; 100, 1000 or 10,000 ppm) and tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA; 100, 1000 or 10,000 ppm). Vimentin⁺ and Ret⁺ cell populations increased at ≥ 100 ppm and ≥ 10 ppm DBDE, respectively. Vimentin⁺ and Ret⁺ cells increased at ≥ 1000 ppm HBCD, with no effect of TBBPA. The highest dose of DBDE and HBCD revealed subtle fluctuations in serum thyroid-related hormone concentrations. Thus, DBDE and HBCD may exert direct effects on glial cell development at ≥ middle doses. At high doses, hypothyroidism may additionally be an inducing mechanism, although its contribution is rather minor.     

Distribution of radioactive cesium in edible parts of cattle

After the disastrous incident of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, various agricultural, livestock and fishery products have been inspected for radioactive contamination with cesium in Japan. In this study, radioactive cesium was measured in various edible parts of cattle to verify the current inspection method for cattle, in which the neck tissues are generally used as samples. Radioactive cesium concentration in the short plate, diaphragm, liver, lung, omasum, abomasum and small intestine were lower and sirloin, tenderloin, top round meat and tongue were higher than that in the neck. There was no significant difference between the other organs (heart, kidney, lumen and reticulum) and the neck. Ninety‐five percent upper tolerance limits of the relative concentration to the neck were 1.88 for sirloin, 1.74 for tenderloin, 1.87 for top round and 1.45 for tongue. These results suggest that a safety factor of 2 is recommended for the radioactivity inspection of cattle to prevent a marketing of meat with higher cesium than the legal limit. Re‐inspection should be conducted using another part of muscle, for example, top round, when suspicious levels of 50–100 Bq/kg are detected in the neck.     

Resistance to paraquat in Mazus pumilus

Mazus pumilus is an annual self‐pollinating weed that is commonly found in arable land, vegetable gardens and roadsides. This weed harbours insects and pathogens that attack vegetables. The mechanism of resistance to paraquat of M. pumilus found in Ohita, Japan, was studied. Whole plant bioassays revealed that the resistant (R) biotypes were four to six times less susceptible than controls. Chlorophyll destruction of leaf discs by paraquat treatment in R biotypes was 4–20 times lower than those of susceptible (S) biotypes. Ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) values in R biotypes were higher than those of S biotypes before and after paraquat treatments. The activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) was also higher in R biotypes than those of S biotypes before and after treatment with paraquat, but the activities of ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and catalase (CAT) were not different between R and S biotypes. Change of ascorbate (AsA) contents before and after paraquat treatment was equivalent in both biotypes. These results indicate that the increased SOD activity and antioxidant capacity in R biotypes contribute to the resistance to paraquat of M. pumilus.