Oestradiol enhances plasma growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor-I concentrations and increased the expression of their receptors mRNAs in the liver of ovariectomized cows

Many metabolic hormones, growth hormone (GH), insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and insulin affect ovarian functions. However, whether ovarian steroid hormones affect metabolic hormones in cattle remains unknown. This study aimed to determine the effect of sex steroids on the plasma profiles of GH, IGF-I and insulin and their receptors in the liver and adipose tissues of dairy cows. Ovariectomized cows (n = 14) were randomly divided into four groups: control group (n = 3) was treated with saline on Day 0; oestradiol (E2) group (n = 3), with saline and 1 mg oestradiol benzoate (EB) on Day 0 and 5, respectively; progesterone (P4) group (n = 4) with two CIDRs (Pfizer Inc., Tokyo, Japan) from Day 0; and E2 + P4 group (n = 4) with two CIDRs on Day 0 that were removed on Day 6 and were immediately injected with 1 mg EB. The animals were euthanized after the experiment, and liver and adipose tissues samples were quantitatively analysed using real-time PCR for the expression of mRNA for the GH (GHR), IGF-I (IGFR-I) and insulin (IR) receptor mRNAs. Oestradiol benzoate significantly increased the number of peaks (p < 0.05), pulse amplitude (p < 0.05) and area under the curve (AUC; p < 0.01) for plasma GH; moreover, it increased plasma IGF-I concentration (p < 0.05), but it had no effect on the plasma insulin profile. P4 significantly decreased the AUC (p < 0.01), compared with the control group, whereas it did not affect the number of peaks and the amplitude of GH pulses. P4 + E2 did not affect the GH pulse profile. E2 increased the mRNA expression of GHR, IGFR-I and IR in the liver (p < 0.05), whereas both P4 and E2 + P4 did not change their expressions. Our results provide evidence that the metabolic and reproductive endocrine axes may regulate each other to ensure optimal reproductive and metabolic function.     

Combining pre-transplanting phosphorus application and green manure incorporation: a trial for reducing fertilizer input

Pre-transplanting phosphorus application is a fertilization method that can reduce phosphorus (P) fertilization of the field and increase P use efficiency. We investigated whether P use efficiency can be increased further by combining pre-transplanting phosphorus application and the green manure practice, using cabbage as a test plant in a field experiment performed from 2006 to 2008. The pre-transplanting phosphorus application successfully reduced P fertilization of the field to half without any yield losses in 2006 and 2008. However, growth and yield could not be maintained with the pre-transplanting phosphorus application when P fertilization was halved in 2007. Differences among seasons and discrepancies in the results compared to previous studies may have arisen from the differences in the field management and the nursery soil used. No benefits of green manure in terms of the subsequent cabbage yield were detected. Consequently, there was no positive effect of the combination of pre-transplanting phosphorus application and incorporation of green manure. Studies with mycorrhizal plants as test plants may be necessary to verify the mechanism of enhanced P supply by the incorporation of green manure, and to examine any potential benefit of combining green manure and pre-transplanting phosphorus application practices.     

Pyrolysis behavior of levoglucosan as an intermediate in cellulose pyrolysis: polymerization into polysaccharide as a key reaction to carbonized product formation

Pyrolysis behavior of levoglucosan (1,6-anhydro--d-glucopyranose), the major anhydromonosaccharide formed during cellulose pyrolysis, was studied at 250°–400°C under nitrogen. The pyrolysis products were found to change stepwise: levoglucosan MeOH-soluble fraction (lower-molecular-weight products and oligosaccharides) water-soluble fraction (polysaccharides) insoluble fraction (carbonized products). From the present experimental results, a pathway of cellulose pyrolysis via anhydromonosaccharide is proposed including polymerization to polysaccharides (a reversible reaction) as a key reaction to carbonized product formation.Part of this study was presented at the XIXth International Carbohydrate Symposium, San Diego, August 1998; and the 50th Annual Meeting of the Japan Wood Research Society, Kyoto, April 2000     

Evaluation and improvement of MODIS gross primary productivity in typical forest ecosystems of East Asia based on eddy covariance measurements

Gross primary productivity (GPP) is a major component of carbon exchange between the atmosphere and terrestrial ecosystems and a key component of the terrestrial carbon cycle. Because of the large spatial heterogeneity and temporal dynamics of ecosystems, it is a challenge to estimate GPP accurately at global or regional scales. The 8-day MODerate resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) GPP product provides a near real time estimate of global GPP. However, previous studies indicated that MODIS GPP has large uncertainties, partly caused by biases in parameterization and forcing data. In this study, MODIS GPP was validated using GPP derived from the eddy covariance flux measurements at five typical forest sites in East Asia. The validation indicated that MODIS GPP was seriously underestimated in these forest ecosystems of East Asia, especially at northern sites. With observed meteorological data, fraction of photosynthetically active radiation absorbed by the plant canopy (fPAR) calculated using smoothed MODIS leaf area index, and optimized maximum light use efficiency (ε _max) to force the MOD17 algorithm, the agreement between predicted GPP and tower-based GPP was significantly improved. The errors of MODIS GPP in these forest ecosystems of East Asia were mainly caused by uncertainties in ε _max, followed by those in fPAR and meteorological data. The separation of canopy into sunlit and shaded leaves, for which GPP is individually calculated, can improve GPP simulation significantly.     

Untersuchungen über den einfluss einer langjährigen kalkdüngung auf die humuszusammensetzung und den kohlenhydratgehalt im reisboden

An Hand von Bodenproben aus langjährigen Dauerdüngungsversuchen im Relsfeld wurden Untersuchungen über den Einfluβ der Kalkdüngung auf den Humusgehalt, die Humuszusammensetzung und den Koblenhydratgehalt durchgeführt, die folgende Ergebnisse brachten:

Durch langjährige hobe Kalkdüngung wurde der Gehalt an organischer Bodensubstanz wesentlich herabgesetzt und dies um so stärker, je höher die Kalkmenge war, wobei die Erhöhung der pH-Werte parallel verlief. Aber bel der Kalkdüngung im praktisch angewandten Ausmaβe oder im etwas höheren Ausmaβe wurde der Gehalt an organischer Bodensubstanz unwesentlich verändert, obwohl es sich auch hler urn elne sebr langjährige Dauerdüngung handelt.

Die langjährige hohe Kalkdüngung verändert sowohl den extrahierbaren Humusgehalt als auch die Humuszusammensetzung stark, wobei extrahierte Fulvosäure besonders stark abgenommen hat und der relative Fulvosäureanteil am Gesamthumus beträchtlich kleiner wurde.

Eine absolute und relative Abnahme der Menge an gesamten und wasser-löslichen Kohtenhydraten wurde durch langjährige hohe Kalkdüngung festgeetellt.

Es wird darauf hingewiesen, daβ die Kohlenhydrate in stärkerer Beziehung zu den Bestandteilen der Fulvosäure als zu denen der Huminsäure stehen.

Der Einfluβ organischer Düngung zur Erhaltung der unter Kalkdüngung stehenden organischen Bodensubstanz wurde festgestellt.     

Cetacean Toll-like receptor 4 and myeloid differentiation factor 2, and possible cetacean-specific responses against Gram-negative bacteria

Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and myeloid differentiation factor 2 (MD-2) are essential for recognizing the lipopolysaccharides (LPS) of Gram-negative bacteria. We determined the sequences of cDNAs encoding TLR4 and MD-2 from cetaceans and generated three-dimensional (3D) models for a better understanding of their modes of interaction and LPS recognition. The 3D reconstructions showed that cetacean TLR4 and MD-2 formed a horseshoe-like structure comprised of parallel β-strands and a β-cup structure consisting of two anti-parallel β-sheets, respectively. The (TLR4-MD-2)₂ duplex-heterodimer was shown to form a symmetrical structure. Comparison with the interfaces of the complexes in other mammals revealed that cetacean TLR4s have some amino acid residue substitutions involved in duplex-heterodimer formation and in species variation for LPS recognition. These substitutions in the changed amino acid residues may alter the interaction among TLR4, MD-2, and LPS and modify the TLR4/MD-2 immunological responses.     

Sarcoptes scabiei var. canis refractory to ivermectin treatment in two dogs

A 10-year-old castrated male Shih Tzu presented with severe generalized pruritus. Skin scrapings revealed the presence of Sarcoptes scabiei var. canis. A Yorkshire terrier in the same household simultaneously developed pruritus due to scabies. Both dogs were treated with 300 μg/kg ivermectin, at first orally and then subcutaneously at 14 day intervals. However, live mites were still found on day 35, and the skin condition deteriorated in both dogs. These findings suggested that the S. scabiei in these dogs was clinically refractory to ivermectin. The pruritus in both dogs rapidly and completely disappeared following topical fipronil administration. This appears to be the first report of canine scabies refractory to ivermectin treatment.     

A Single‐Blood‐Sample Method Using Inulin for Estimating Feline Glomerular Filtration Rate

Background

Application of a multisample method using inulin to estimate glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in cats is cumbersome.

Objectives

To establish a simplified procedure to estimate GFR in cats, a single‐blood‐sample method using inulin was compared with a conventional 3‐sample method.

Animals

Nine cats including 6 clinically healthy cats and 3 cats with spontaneous chronic kidney disease.

Methods

Retrospective study. Inulin was administered as an intravenous bolus at 50 mg/kg to cats, and blood was collected at 60, 90, and 120 minutes later for the 3‐sample method. Serum inulin concentrations were colorimetrically determined by an autoanalyzer method. The GFR in the single‐blood‐sample method was calculated from the dose injected, serum concentration, sampling time, and estimated volume of distribution on the basis of the data of the 3‐sample method.

Results

An excellent correlation was observed (r = 0.99, P = .0001) between GFR values estimated by the single‐blood‐sample and 3‐sample methods.

Conclusions and Clinical Importance

The single‐blood‐sample method using inulin provides a practicable and ethical alternative for estimating glomerular filtration rate in cats.