Glaucoma in a New Zealand White Rabbit Fed High-cholesterol Diet

Goniodysgenesis, malformation of the filtration angle, was observed in a New Zealand white rabbit supplied with 100 g/day rabbit chow containing 0.2% cholesterol for 10 months. Histopathology revealed cupping of the optic disc, atrophy of the retina and hyalinization of the ciliary body in the bilateral eyeballs. These findings corresponded with histopathological features caused by glaucoma. On the basis of these findings, we diagnosed this lesion as glaucoma, and classified it as primary glaucoma because of the presence of developmental defects of the filtration angle. In this case, hypercholesterolemia-induced changes, such as aggregation of lipid-laden macrophages and cholesterin clefts in the sclera or choroid, might cause deterioration of the lesions in glaucoma.     

Long-lived volcanism on the lunar farside revealed by SELENE Terrain Camera

We determined model ages of mare deposits on the farside of the Moon on the basis of the crater frequency distributions in 10-meter-resolution images obtained by the Terrain Camera on SELENE (Selenological and Engineering Explorer) (Kaguya). Most mare volcanism that formed mare deposits on the lunar farside ceased at approximately 3.0 billion years ago, suggesting that mare volcanism on the Moon was markedly reduced globally during this period. However, several mare deposits at various locations on the lunar farside also show a much younger age, clustering at approximately 2.5 billion years ago. These young ages indicate that mare volcanism on the lunar farside lasted longer than was previously considered and may have occurred episodically.     

Developmental changes in testicular luteinising hormone receptors and androgens in the dog

The changes with age in the levels of testicular luteinising hormone (LH) receptors in dogs, were correlated with plasma androgen concentrations and the effects of stimulation with human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG). The presence of high-affinity binding sites for lh was demonstrated in the testes of all the animals studied, and the apparent affinity of the LH receptors did not change significantly with age. The total number of LH receptor sites per testis increased continuously with age and the growth of the testis. The major rise in the number of LH receptors occurred between six and 10 months of age, and coincided with the phase of rapid testicular growth. The concentrations of androstenedione, testosterone and 5α-dihydrotestosterone in plasma increased gradually until six months of age, and then increased rapidly with the increase in the number of testicular LH receptors. An increase in the concentrations of androgens in plasma was observed in response to stimulation with hCG after the number of testicular LH receptors began to increase progressively. The increase in the sensitivity of the dogs' gonads to LH could be responsible for the marked increase in the secretion of androgens which occurs during puberty in the male dog.     

The plasma superoxide scavenging activity in canine cancer and hepatic disease

To clarify the relationship between plasma antioxidant activity and diseases in dogs, plasma samples were collected from 6 healthy dogs and 16 diseased dogs (6 dogs with cancer, 5 dogs with hepatic disease, and 5 dogs with inflammation ), and measured superoxide anion scavenging activities. Antioxidant activities of canine plasma were evaluated by measuring their superoxide anion (O(2)(-.)) scavenging activities with electron spin response spectroscopy combined with spin trapping reagent, 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline-N-oxide (DMPO). Total O(2)(-.) scavenging activities in the presence of plasma of diseased dogs tended to be higher than those in healthy controls, especially significant higher activities in the presence of canine plasma of hepatic disease and inflammation were observed. In diseased dogs, KCN-insensitive activities, suggesting the activity of manganese-containing superoxide dismutase (Mn-SOD), were significantly higher than those in healthy controls. Therefore, it seems that there is a possibility of utilizing of plasma O(2)(-.) scavenging activity as one of clinical indicators for oxidative-related diseases such as cancer, hepatic disease and inflammation in dogs.     

Costimulatory effects of complement receptor type 3 and Fc receptor for IgG (FcgammaR) on superoxide production and signal transduction in bovine neutrophils

The present study evaluated the costimulatory effects of complement receptor type 3 (CR3) and Fc receptor for IgG (FcgammaR) on superoxide production and intracellular signal transduction in bovine neutrophils. Stimulation with opsonized zymosan (OPZ) and heat-aggregated bovine IgG (Agg-IgG) resulted in much greater superoxide production and chemiluminescent (CL) responses in normal neutrophils compared with those stimulated with OPZ or Agg-IgG only. Superoxide production and CL response were closely associated with the stimulant-induced rise of the intracellular calcium ([Ca2+]i) concentration, amount of tyrosine phosphorylated 100 kDa protein, and activation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK). No costimulatory effect was found for these receptors on superoxide production in CR3-deficient neutrophils. Costimulation of CR3 and FcgammaR on bovine neutrophils leads to enhancement of superoxide production and their signaling pathways and appears to be associated with enhancement of neutrophil functions.     

3维图像处理系统在稻米品质检测中的应用研究

利用微切片3维图像处理系统对稻米的品质特性进行了探索性的研究。结果表明，借助于3维可视化技术，可以对稻谷的外观品质、营养品质及蒸煮品质等进行更为直观且客观的观察与测定。尤其是在营养成分分布密度的评价、心白米内部组织的分析、蒸煮过程中组织结构变化的观测等方面，取得了传统研究方法难以获得的结果。利用该系统对垩白度的定量化测定，为食品的定量形态学研究开辟了一条新的研究途径。     

Spatial distribution of Raffaelea quercivora hyphae in transverse sections of seedlings of two Japanese oak species

To compare the distributions of Raffaelea quercivora hyphae within seedlings of a susceptible species, Quercus crispula, and a resistant species, Q. glauca, we examined water conductance at transverse sections. Raffaelea quercivora was inoculated into the stems of seedlings in July (summer) and October (autumn) and observed by light and fluorescence microscopy at 1 and 2 weeks after inoculation. The hyphal distribution patterns expressed as the I_δ index differed between the species at each occasion. The hyphal growth was wider in Q. crispula than in Q. glauca in July inoculation, but did not differ in October inoculation. Non‐conductive sapwood in Q. crispula in transverse section was wider than that in Q. glauca at each occasion. The differences of hyphal growth and hyphal distribution patterns between species as little as 1 week after inoculation reflect differences in host susceptibility to the fungus.     

Stomatal patterning and differentiation by synergistic interactions of receptor kinases

Coordinated spacing and patterning of stomata allow efficient gas exchange between plants and the atmosphere. Here we report that three ERECTA (ER)-family leucine-rich repeat-receptor-like kinases (LRR-RLKs) together control stomatal patterning, with specific family members regulating the specification of stomatal stem cell fate and the differentiation of guard cells. Loss-of-function mutations in all three ER-family genes cause stomatal clustering. Genetic interactions with a known stomatal patterning mutant too many mouths (tmm) revealed stoichiometric epistasis and combination-specific neomorphism. Our findings suggest that the negative regulation of ER-family RLKs by TMM, which is an LRR receptor-like protein, is critical for proper stomatal differentiation.