Effects of hypothalamic dopamine (DA) on salsolinol (SAL)‐induced prolactin (PRL) secretion in male goats

The aim of the present study was to clarify the effects of hypothalamic dopamine (DA) on salsolinol (SAL)‐induced prolactin (PRL) release in goats. The PRL‐releasing response to an intravenous (i.v.) injection of SAL was examined after treatment with augmentation of central DA using carbidopa (carbi) and L‐dopa in male goats under 8‐h (8 h light, 16 h dark) or 16‐h (16 h light, 8 h dark) photoperiod conditions. The carbi and L‐dopa treatments reduced basal PRL concentrations in the 16‐h photoperiod group (P < 0.05), while a reduction was not observed in the 8‐h photoperiod group. The mean basal plasma PRL concentration in the control group for the 8‐h photoperiod was lower than that for the 16‐h photoperiod (P < 0.05). SAL significantly stimulated the release of PRL promptly after the injection in both the 8‐ and 16‐h photoperiod groups (P < 0.05). PRL‐releasing responses for the 16‐h photoperiod were greater than those for the 8‐h photoperiod (P < 0.05). The carbi and L‐dopa treatments blunted SAL‐induced PRL release in both the 8‐ and 16‐h photoperiods (P < 0.05). These results indicate that hypothalamic DA blunts the SAL‐induced release of PRL in male goats, regardless of the photoperiod, which suggests that both SAL and DA are involved in regulating the secretion of PRL in goats.     

Effects of in utero and lactational exposure to the no-observed-adverse-effect level (NOAEL) dose of the neonicotinoid clothianidin on the reproductive organs of female mice

Recently, developmental exposure to clothianidin (CLO) has been shown to cause reproductive toxicity in male mice, but the effects in female mice remain to be clarified. Pregnant C57BL/6N mice were given a no-observed-adverse-effect-level (NOAEL) dose of CLO until weaning. We then examined ovaries of 3- or 10-week-old female offspring. In the CLO-administered group, morphological changes, a decrease in the immunoreactivity of the antioxidant enzyme glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPx4), and activation of genes in the steroid hormone biosynthesis pathway were observed in 3-week-old mice, and decreases of GPx4 immunoreactivity, 17OH-progesterone and corticosterone levels were observed in 10-week-old mice, along with high rates of infanticide and severe neglect, providing new evidence that developmental exposure to CLO affects juvenile and adult mice differently.     

In vitro ruminal fermentation characteristics of gum arabic under concentrate and forage substrate conditions

Gum arabic (GA) has potential rumen modifier functions. This is the first study to investigate the in vitro ruminal fermentation characteristics of GA. Rumen fluid was collected from ruminal fistulated wethers; rolled barley and ryegrass straw were used as substrates for concentrate and forage conditions, respectively. Besides incubating with the substrates alone (control), GA or potato starch (PS) was added at 0.2%, 1.0%, and 2.0% along with substrates. Under the concentrate substrate condition, GA treatments showed higher total gas production in 24-h incubation, but lower methane production in 24- and 48-h incubation compared with PS treatments (p < 0.05). The 1.0% and 2.0% GA and 0.2% and 1.0% PS treatments showed higher dry matter and neutral detergent fiber digestibility and lower NH₃-N, and higher short chain fatty acid concentrations compared with the control at 24-h incubation (p < 0.05). The GA treatments also showed a lower acetate/propionate ratio than PS treatments at 48-h incubation (p < 0.01). Under the forage substrate condition, the treatment effects were not significant, except for a higher proportion of propionate with GA than with PS at 24 and 48 h of incubations. We thus concluded that GA supplement may exert potential rumen modifier effects particularly under concentrate feeding condition.     

Myogenetic oligodeoxynucleotide complexed with berberine promotes differentiation of chicken myoblasts

Myoblasts are myogenic precursors that develop into myotubes during muscle formation. Improving efficiency of myoblast differentiation is important for advancing meat production by domestic animals. We recently identified novel oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs) termed myogenetic ODNs (myoDNs) that promote the differentiation of mammalian myoblasts. An isoquinoline alkaloid, berberine, forms a complex with one of the myoDNs, iSN04, and enhances its activities. This study investigated the effects of myoDNs on chicken myoblasts to elucidate their species-specific actions. Seven myoDNs (iSN01–iSN07) were found to facilitate the differentiation of chicken myoblasts into myosin heavy chain (MHC)-positive myotubes. The iSN04–berberine complex exhibited a higher myogenetic activity than iSN04 alone, which was shown to enhance the differentiation of myoblasts into myotubes and the upregulation of myogenic gene expression (MyoD, myogenin, MHC, and myomaker). These data indicate that myoDNs promoting chicken myoblast differentiation may be used as potential feed additives in broiler diets.     

Effects of dietary phytol on tissue accumulation of phytanic acid and pristanic acid and on the tissue lipid profiles in mice

Recent in vitro evidence suggests that the phytol‐derived fatty acids, phytanic acid (PA) and pristanic acid (PrA), are components of animal products with the potential to cause both beneficial and harmful effects on human health. In this study, we investigated the in vivo tissue accumulation of PA and PrA and the changes in tissue lipid profiles, using mice fed a phytol‐containing diet. After 4 weeks of treatment with a diet containing 1.0% phytol, plasma, adipose tissue, liver, and brain were collected and their lipid profiles were biochemically and gas‐chromatographically determined. Dietary phytol caused PA and PrA accumulation in the adipose tissue and liver but not in the brain, and reduced plasma and liver triacylglycerol levels. Phytol intake also decreased the fatty acid concentrations in the adipose tissue, especially polyunsaturated fatty acids such as linoleic acid, but increased the concentrations of these fatty acids in the liver. However, dietary phytol had a low impact on the brain lipid profile. This study suggests that dietary phytol intake caused accumulation of PA and PrA and modified lipid profiles in the adipose tissue and liver, but that the brain is an insusceptible tissue to dietary phytol‐induced changes.     

Correction to: First detection of two potyviruses,uraria mosaic virus and passiflora foetida virus Y,from passionfruit in Japan

Journal of General Plant Pathology -     

Development of CAPS markers and their application in breeding for mango, Mangifera indica L.

To develop cleaved amplified polymorphic sequence (CAPS) markers for the identification of true hybrids in F1 progeny, we cloned sucrose synthase (SS) and sucrose phosphate synthase (SPS) genes from 19 mango cultivars. Through comparison of amino acid sequences in a BLASTX search, cloned SS and SPS genes were found to be homologs of Citrus unshiu CitSUS1 (AB022092) and CitSPS1 (O22060), respectively. Therefore, we designated the SS and SPS genes as MiSUS1 and MiSPS1, respectively. There were 11 genotypes in MiSUS1 and 10 in MiSPS1 sequences. In the MiSUS1 nucleotide sequences, 46 SNPs and 5 in/dels were detected. Twenty-six out of the 46 SNPs mapped on the restriction enzyme recognition sites were successfully converted to 25 CAPS markers. In the MiSPS1 nucleotide sequences, 99 SNPs and 6 in/dels were detected. Thirty out of 99 SNPs and 2 out of 6 in/dels mapped on the recognition sites were also converted to 32 CAPS markers. By using two CAPS markers, SS-2798 and SPS-5745, we identified 37 true hybrids that had different genotypes to ‘Irwin’ from 82 F1 progeny obtained through a cross between ‘Irwin’, the maternal parent, and paternal parents by using flies as pollinators. The method developed here to identify true hybrids is a simple, rapid and highly reliable tool for efficient mango breeding.     

Effects of Estradiol on Expression of Estrogen Receptor and Collagen mRNAs in Chick Skin

Skin thickness and strength differ between male and female chickens. This study aimed to clarify the effects of estradiol on the expression of estrogen receptors and collagen mRNA in chicken skin. Estradiol was administered to male chicks for 3 weeks, then cryosections of skin collected from the cervical, thoracic, dorsal, and pelvic limb regions were stained with hematoxylin and eosin, and dermal thickness was measured. Estrogen receptor and collagen mRNA expression was assessed using real-time RT-PCR, and collagen contents were determined. Estradiol did not alter dermal thickness or the collagen content of the skin from any tested region. Among the estrogen receptors, significantly more ESR1 mRNA was expressed in the thoracic skin of chicks administered with estradiol compared with vehicle (control), and in the thoracic skin compared with skin from other regions within each group. Estradiol did not affect ESR2, GPER, and COL1A1 mRNA expression. These results suggested that estradiol stimulates ESR1 expression in thoracic skin, but does not affect collagen synthesis in skin from any other region of male chicks.     

Antioxidative activities of a mycosporine-like amino acid,porphyra-334

Antioxidative activities of porphyra-334, a mycosporine-like amino acid extracted from laver were evaluated. Oxidation of linoleic acid induced by an alkyl-radical 2,2′-azobis (2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride (AAPH) was successfully suppressed by porphyra-334 (0–200 μM). The simultaneous application of 0.02 μM α-tocopherol and 50 μM porphyra-334 effectively suppressed the AAPH induced oxidation level to approximately 40% of a single application of porphyra-334 after 10 min reaction. Porphyra-334 (0–200 μM) efficiently suppressed the lipid peroxidation induced by singlet oxygen although the antioxidative effect observed was relatively moderate at the initial stage of oxidation. These results suggested that porphyra-334 may function as an antioxidant which influences the storage stability of laver.