Gene expression and hormonal regulation of adiponectin and its receptors in bovine mammary gland and mammary epithelial cells

Although the functions of adiponectin, a differentiated adipocyte‐derived hormone, in regulating glucose and fatty acid metabolism are regulated by two subtypes of adiponectin receptors (AdipoRs; AdipoR1 and AdipoR2), those in ruminants remain unclear. Therefore we examined the messenger RNA (mRNA) expression levels of adiponectin and its receptors in various bovine tissues and mammary glands among different lactation stages, and the effects of lactogenic hormones (insulin, dexamethasone and prolactin) and growth hormone (GH) on mRNA expression of the AdipoRs in cultured bovine mammary epithelial cells (BMEC). AdipoRs mRNAs were widely expressed in various bovine tissues, but adiponectin mRNA expression was significantly higher in adipose tissue than in other tissues. In the mammary gland, although adiponectin mRNA expression was significantly decreased at lactation, AdipoR1 mRNA expression was significantly higher at peak lactation than at the dry‐off stage. In BMEC, lactogenic hormones and GH upregulated AdipoR2 mRNA expression but did not change that of AdipoR1. In conclusion, adiponectin and its receptor mRNA were expressed in various bovine tissues and the adiponectin mRNA level was decreased during lactation. These results suggest that adiponectin and its receptors ware changed in mammary glands by lactation and that AdipoRs mRNA expression was regulated by different pathways in BMEC.     

Practicable group testing method to evaluate weight/weight GMO content in maize grains

Because of the increasing use of maize hybrids with genetically modified (GM) stacked events, the established and commonly used bulk sample methods for PCR quantification of GM maize in non-GM maize are prone to overestimate the GM organism (GMO) content, compared to the actual weight/weight percentage of GM maize in the grain sample. As an alternative method, we designed and assessed a group testing strategy in which the GMO content is statistically evaluated based on qualitative analyses of multiple small pools, consisting of 20 maize kernels each. This approach enables the GMO content evaluation on a weight/weight basis, irrespective of the presence of stacked-event kernels. To enhance the method's user-friendliness in routine application, we devised an easy-to-use PCR-based qualitative analytical method comprising a sample preparation step in which 20 maize kernels are ground in a lysis buffer and a subsequent PCR assay in which the lysate is directly used as a DNA template. This method was validated in a multilaboratory collaborative trial.     

Three-dimensional underwater shape measurement of tuna longline using ultrasonic positioning system and ORBCOMM buoy

ABSTRACT:   The installation depth of the hook in longline fishing gear has previously been measured with micro depth loggers. Research that assumes the catenary shape of longline fishing gear by a simulation based on these data has been done. However, it was not known whether the branch line was tangled with the main line or flowed with the current. In this research, an ultrasonic positioning system generally used to investigate the underwater behavior of marine organisms, and a buoy with a communications satellite, have been used, and the 3-dimensional underwater shape of tuna longline fishing gear was measured. It was possible to monitor changes in fishing gear in real time. The possibility of high precision measurement was suggested with future technical improvement.     

Dataset of CarboEastAsia and uncertainties in the CO2 budget evaluation caused by different data processing

The datasets of net ecosystem CO₂ exchange (NEE) were acquired from 21 forests, 3 grasslands, and 3 croplands in the eastern part of Asia based on the eddy covariance measurements of the international joint program, CarboEastAsia. The program was conducted by three networks in Asia, ChinaFLUX, JapanFlux, and KoFlux, to quantify, synthesize, and understand the carbon budget of the eastern part of Asia. An intercomparison was conducted for NEE estimated by three gap-filling procedures adopted by ChinaFLUX, JapanFlux, and KoFlux to test the range of uncertainty in the estimation of NEE. The overall comparison indicated good agreement among the procedures in the seasonal patterns of NEE, although a bias was observed in dormant seasons depending on the different criteria of data screening. Based on the gap-filled datasets, the magnitude and seasonality of the carbon budget were compared among various biome types, phenology, and stress conditions throughout Asia. The annual values of gross primary production and ecosystem respiration were almost proportional to the annual air temperature. Forest management, including clear-cutting, plantation, and artificial drainage, was significant and obviously affected the annual carbon uptake within the forests. Agricultural management resulted in notable seasonal patterns in the crop sites. The dataset obtained from a variety of biome types would be an essential source of knowledge for ecosystem science as well as a valuable validation dataset for modeling and remote sensing to upscale the carbon budget estimations in Asia.     

大米蛋白水平对成熟期大鼠体质量及体脂水平的影响

选用蛋白水平(CP)为7%及14%的大米蛋白(R-7,R-14)及酪蛋白(C-7,C-14)喂养20周龄雄性Wistar大鼠2周后,进行大鼠体质量变化、腹腔贮脂水平、血浆总胆固醇、血浆高密度胆固醇、血浆甘油三酯及肝脏胆固醇、甘油三酯含量的测定。与C-7组相比,R-7组大鼠体质量、生长效率、贮藏脂肪含量、血脂及肝脂水平无显著差异。在高蛋白水平(14%)下,R-14组大鼠体质量总增加量、腹腔贮脂水平均低于C-14组,但各组间无显著差异;对比C-14,R-14显著降低了成熟期大鼠血浆总胆固醇、血浆非高密度胆固醇、血浆甘油三酯水平及动脉硬化指数,并且显著降低了肝脏胆固醇及甘油三酯含量。结果表明,蛋白水平是大米蛋白调控体质量及体脂水平主要影响因素之一。随着蛋白水平的增加(7%~14%),大米蛋白能够降低体质量增加量及腹腔贮脂水平,并显著降低成熟期大鼠血浆及肝脏脂质含量,提示大米蛋白潜在的抗肥胖功能与其蛋白水平密切相关。     

A neuroendocrine carcinoma of undetermined origin in a dog

In this report, we describe a case of neuroendocrine carcinoma of undetermined origin in a dog. Necropsy revealed scattered small neoplastic nodules in the bilateral lungs and a small nodule in the parapancreatic lymph node. Histopathologically, both pulmonary and lymph nodal nodules showed a similar histologic pattern, with neoplastic cells being arranged in diffusely proliferating sheet-like cellular nests separated by variable amounts of fibrous septa, sometimes forming rosettes and duct-like structures. Scattered small necrotic foci and invasion to fibrous septa were typically observed. Neoplastic cells showed round to oval-shaped nuclei with prominent nucleoli and abundant eosinophilic cytoplasm that were positive for Grimelius' silver impregnation staining and immunostaining with cytokeratin, synaptophysin, vasoactive intestinal peptide and chromogranin A, indicative of the development of a neuroendocrine carcinoma. However, judging from the distribution of tumors lacking the portion suggestive of the primary site in any organ examined, as well as no further indication of differentiation potential of neoplastic cells, this tumor has so far been diagnosed as neuroendocrine carcinoma of undetermined origin.     

Critical Toxicity Level of Arsenic and Elemental Composition of Arsenic-Induced Chlorosis in Hydroponic Sorghum

In this study, NO₂ and SO₂ levels during a specific winter episode in the city of Istanbul were researched with regard to the respective impact of weather conditions. The city under study has the largest population and is one of the most polluted cities of Turkey. Furthermore, Istanbul is vulnerable to trans-boundary transport of air pollutants from Europe, because its location is on the eastern end of the Continent, where westerly winds prevail. However, there has neither been any comprehensive study nor any regulation to fix and solve the air quality problem in the city so far. A framework was prepared to model air quality using MM5 for meteorological modeling and CMAQ for transport and chemistry modeling. This study was supported by the tracer and the trajectory investigations over the area of interest. The model results underestimated the concentration of air pollutants over Istanbul as expected. But, in spite of the coarse emission inventory, the similarity of the time series between the model and observation values during the simulation period is very encouraging for future studies. That is to say, the tracer and the trajectory studies indicated that trans-boundary sources are responsible for the poor air quality of Istanbul under specific weather conditions. It must be pointed out, though, that a high-resolution national emission inventory is needed to get more accurate results.     

Inhibition of replication induces non-apoptotic cell death in fibroblast cell lines derived from LEC rats

Hydroxyurea (HU), an anticancer drug, inhibits ribonucleoside diphosphate reductase and reduces pool sizes of deoxyribonucleoside triphosphate (dNTP). The reduction of dNTP results in inhibition of DNA replication. The cytotoxic effect of HU was investigated using fibroblast cell lines from LEC rats. LEC rat cells showed significantly higher sensitivity to HU than did cell lines from control WKAH rats. No significant differences were observed between the percentages of apoptotic cells in either LEC or WKAH rat cells that had been treated with HU and those that had not been treated with HU. LEC rat cells also showed significantly higher sensitivity to aphidicolin, which blocks DNA synthesis by inhibiting DNA polymerase alpha, than did WKAH rat cells. In both LEC and WKAH rat cells, intensified bands of p53 protein were observed immediately after treatment with HU. Although the high level of p53 protein persisted in WKAH rat cells until 6 hr post-incubation time after treatment with HU, the level of p53 protein had decreased at 6 hr post-incubation time in LEC rat cells. When the cells were X-irradiated in the absence or presence of HU, the ratio of the surviving fraction without HU to that with HU only slightly increased after X-irradiation in WKAH rat cells. In contrast, the ratio in LEC rat cells significantly increased after X-irradiation in a dose-dependent manner.