Basal levels and responses to glucose infusion of plasma glucose and insulin in beef steer before and after the end of the growing phase on pasture

We examined the effect of grazing during the growing phase on plasma glucose and insulin behavior at the end of the growing phase and at the early stage of the subsequent fattening phase in beef steers. From 13 to 45 weeks of age (growing phase), crossbred beef steers were grazed with minimal supplement (group G: n = 5) or housed while being fed on hay and concentrate (group H: n = 5). Following this phase, both groups were housed for finishing (fattening phase). At the end of the growing phase, group G showed faster plasma glucose disappearance after intravenous glucose infusion, with a smaller plasma insulin response, compared with group H. At the third week of the fattening phase, group G still showed higher glucose tolerance, although they experienced abrupt changes in nutritional and environmental factors. The results suggest that grazing during the growing phase probably improves the glucose tolerance and insulin response to glucose infusion in steers compared with animals that were housed during the corresponding period, and the improved properties may persist at least a few weeks after the commencement of fattening.     

Infective endocarditis of the aortic valve in a Border collie dog with patent ductus arteriosus

Infective endocarditis (IE) in dogs with cardiac shunts has not been reported previously. However, we encountered a dog with concurrent patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) and IE. The dog was a 1-year-old, 13.9-kg female Border collie and presented with anorexia, weight loss, pyrexia (40.4°C) and lameness. A continuous murmur with maximal intensity over the left heart base (Levine 5/6) was detected on auscultation. Echocardiography revealed a PDA and severe aortic stenosis (AS) caused by aortic-valve vegetative lesions. Corynebacterium spp. and Bacillus subtilis were isolated from blood cultures. The dog responded to aggressive antibiotic therapy, and the PDA was subsequently surgically corrected. After a series of treatments, the dog showed long-term improvement in clinical status.     

Biological and genetic characterization of carrot red leaf virus and its associated virus/RNA isolated from carrots in Hokkaido,Japan

Carrot motley dwarf (CMD) is caused by mixed infection of carrot red leaf virus (CtRLV) with either carrot mottle virus (CMoV) or carrot mottle mimic virus, and additional infection with CtRLV-associated RNA (CtRLVaRNA). Here, the author investigated the viruses or virus-like RNA isolated from carrots with reddening symptoms in Hokkaido, the northern island of Japan. Three types of infections were mainly detected: single infection with CtRLV, which was most prevalent; double infection with CtRLV and CMoV; and triple infection with CtRLV, CMoV, and CtRLVaRNA. Fields with the three agents were severely affected, with diseased plants showing mottling, whereas in fields where disease incidence was low and sporadic, CtRLV was often found alone in plants with mild symptoms. Inoculation tests using carrot plants showed that CMoV enhanced disease severity, and the RNA accumulation of CtRLV. However, in the presence of CtRLVaRNA (+ CMoV), distinct symptoms such as systemic mottling and stunting developed, while the enhancement of CtRLV accumulation was abolished. These results imply that CtRLVaRNA (+ CMoV) antagonizes CtRLV despite its dependence on CtRLV for aphid transmission, and that mixed infection with CtRLVaRNA is involved in the development of the conspicuous mottling. All agents detected in Hokkaido were very similar to European and American isolates in terms of their genomic sequences and host range. This represents the first report of CMD in Japan, and provides further information on the genetic and biological properties of CMD-associated agents, as well as the aetiology of the disease.     

Dissolution of slag fertilizers in a paddy soil and Si uptake by rice plant

Abstract

Maize (Zea mays L.) cv. Ganga 2 was grown in refined sand at three levels of copper: deficient (0.00065 mg L^-1), adequate (0.065 mg L^-1), and excess (6.5 mg L^-1), each at three levels, deficient (0.00065 mg L^-1), adequate (0.065 mg L^-1), and excess (6.5 mg L^-1) of zinc. Excess Cu magnified the zinc deficiency effects in maize by lowering further the biomass, the concentration of leaf Zn, activities of carbonic anhydrase, aldolase, and ribonuclease and intensified the visible foliar symptoms of Zn deficiency. The effects of Cu deficiency, low dry weight, the concentration of leaf Cu and activities of cytochrome oxidase and polyphenol oxidase were enhanced by excess Zn. Synergism was observed between combined deficiency of Cu and Zn and Cu or Zn deficiency, because the depression in the parameters characteristic of Cu or Zn deficiency was more pronounced when both Cu and Zn were deficient than when Cu or Zn was deficient. Antagonism was observed in some parameters between combined excess of Cu and Zn and Cu or Zn excess. Dry weight was decreased further when both Cu and Zn were in excess than when either Cu or Zn was in excess. After the infiltration of Cu and Zn together to the leaf discs from deficient Cu-deficient Zn treatment, the increase in the concentration of leaf Zn and the activities of aldolase, carbonic anhydrase, polyphenol oxidase, and cytochrome oxidase was more pronounced than after the infiltration of Cu or Zn singly. Discontinuance of excess Zn supply from the excess Zn-deficient Cu treatment increased the concentration of leaf Cu and activities of polyphenol oxidase and cytochrome oxidase and lowered the concentration of Zn. Similarly the discontinuance of excess Cu supply from the leaf discs in the “excess Cu-deficient Zn” treatment increased the leaf Zn concentration and the activities of carbonic anhydrase and aldolase.     

Susceptibility-inducing factor (suppressor) from Blumeria graminis f. sp. hordei has no effect on the primary infection of the fungus

When fungal germlings, after forming haustoria of Blumeria graminis f. sp. hordei (B. graminis), were removed from the surfaces of barley coleoptiles by cellulose acetate, followed by challenge inoculation with the non-pathogen Erysiphe pisi, they infected the nonhost barley coleoptile cells. This phenomenon was not observed on the coleoptile surface when the fungal germlings of B. graminis were removed before the formation of haustoria. Also, when the surface was inoculated with the pathogen of barley B. graminis as a challenger, after removing the fungal germlings of inducer post haustorial formation, the penetration efficiency of the fungi increased significantly compared with that of the control. Furthermore, when we extracted the crude-susceptibility inducing factor (suppressor) from coleoptiles before and after the formation of haustoria of B. graminis, suppressor activity against infection with E. pisi was observed only in the extract of barley coleoptiles that included haustoria of B. graminis about 18 h or later after inoculation. Surprisingly, however, the extract did not increase the penetration efficiency of B. graminis significantly. Thus, we hypothesize that the suppressor extracted from barley coleoptiles in which B. graminis had formed haustoria has no effect on increasing the penetration efficiency of the primary infection from the appressorium of B. graminis but has an effect on the infection with non-pathogen E. pisi.     

Mechanism-based CYP2D6 inactivation by acridone alkaloids of Indonesian medicinal plant Lunasia amara

Fourteen acridone alkaloids isolated from Lunasia amara Blanco were tested for their mechanism-based inhibition on human liver microsomal dextromethorphan O-demethylation activity, a prototype marker for cytochrome P450 2D6 (CYP2D6). Among the 14 compounds, 5-hydroxygraveroline (1), 8-methoxyifflaiamine (2), lunamarine (3), and lunine (12) increased their inhibitory activity with increasing preincubation time. Then, we further examined the possibility of mechanism-based inhibition on 5-hydroxygraveroline (1) and lunamarine (3), which showed the potent inhibition. Further investigations on 1 and 3 showed that the characteristic time- and concentration-dependent inhibition, which required a catalytic step with NADPH, was not protected by nucleophiles, and was decreased by the presence of a competitive inhibitor. Thus, 1 and 3 were concluded as mechanism-based inactivators of CYP2D6.     

Time course of changes in antioxidant activity of milk from dairy cows fed a trehalose‐supplemented diet

This study was to investigate the time course of changes to the antioxidant activity of milk from cows fed a trehalose‐supplemented diet, and to determine possible underlying mechanisms for observed changes. Six Holstein cows were used, and subjected to two experimental feeding periods consisting of a 1% trehalose‐supplemented diet for 10 days, followed by a basal diet only (no trehalose) for 10 days. 1,1‐Diphenyl‐2‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activities in milk were gradually increased during the trehalose supplementation period and were highest at the end of the second period. However, trehalose was not detected in the milk and plasma of dairy cows fed a diet supplemented with trehalose for 10 days, indicating that the increased antioxidant activity in the milk of trehalose‐fed cows is not due to the direct transfer of trehalose to the milk. Plasma DPPH activities exhibited a similar time course to that seen for milk. Relative superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities in the rumen were higher 3 days after the end of trehalose supplementation than at any other time during the experimental periods. These results suggested that the improved antioxidant activity in milk and plasma of cows fed a trehalose‐supplemented diet was due to improved ruminal relative SOD activity.     

Modification of the hyperosmotic infiltration method of vaccination against vibriosis in cultured ayu, Plecoglossus altivelis Temminck and Schlegel

Abstract. A vaccine solution of a formalin-killed culture of Vibrio anguillarum cells was observed to be toxic to young ayu when administered by the hyperosmotic infiltration method. The toxin was present in the culture broth. After the toxin was removed from the broth by centrifugation, the fish were dipped in 5.32% NaCl solution for 2 min and then in a solution containing precipitated cells for 3 min. The immunized fish were protected against vibriosis when challenged one month after immersion. The bacterin was administered to ayu by a further two methods, both using lyophilized whole cells of formalin-killed V. anguillarum. In one method, the fish were placed in a 5.32% NaCl solution for 2 min and then in a solution containing lyophilized cells at 2 g/l of well water for 3 min (two-step immersion). In the other method, the fish were placed in a 5.32% NaCl solution containing lyophilized cells also at 2 g/l for 3 min (one-step immersion). A high level of protection against artificial challenge was achieved with either method. No agglutinating antibodies to V. anguillarum were detected in either the serum or mucus of fish dipped in a vaccine solution, a supernatant, or a precipitated solution, one month after immersion. On the other hand, serum titres were detected in fish vaccinated by injection, although no titres were detected in mucus. LD₅₀ values are presented for the virulence of the V. anguillarum strain. Compared to the original strain, virulence increased after the third passage in ayu, but decreased after the thirteenth passage in medium.     

Identification of facultative anaerobic bacteria isolated from the intestine of the minke whale <Emphasis Type="Italic">Balaenoptera acutorostrata</Emphasis> by 16S rRNA sequencing analysis

There are few reports in the literature about the isolation of bacteria from whale intestine. In this report, we counted colony-forming units in the feces obtained from three female common minke whales (Balaenoptera acutorostrata). The number of colony-forming units ranged from (2.2 ± 0.4) × 10⁵ to (8.9 ± 2.0) × 10⁸ per gram (wet weight) of excrement. 16S rRNA gene sequences of 141 isolates were determined. These strains were identified as Enterococcus faecalis, Enterococcus sp., Enterobacter cloacae, Enterobacter sp., Escherichia coli, Edwardsiella ictaluri or Clostridium sp. The data suggested that the facultative anaerobic population of the intestinal bacterial flora of the minke whale was similar to that of ground mammals.