Influences of protein ingestion on glucagon‐like peptide (GLP)‐1‐immunoreactive endocrine cells in the chicken ileum

Influences of a specific dietary nutrient on glucagon‐like peptide (GLP)‐1‐containing cells in the chicken intestine are not yet clear. Significance of dietary protein level on GLP‐1‐containing cells in the chicken ileum was investigated. Chickens fed control or experimental diets of varying protein levels were examined using immunohistochemical and morphometrical techniques. We show that the protein ingestion had an impact on the activities of GLP‐1‐immunoreactive cells in the chicken ileum. Weight gains declined with decreasing dietary crude protein (CP) levels, but no significant differences were detected in the daily feed intake and villous height. GLP‐1‐immunoreactive cells with a round or oval shape were frequently observed in the lower CP level groups (4.5% and 0%). Frequencies of occurrence of GLP‐1‐immunoreactive cells were 41.1 ± 4.1, 38.5 ± 4, 34.8 ± 3.1 and 34.3 ± 3.7 (cells/mm², mean ± SD) for dietary CP level of 18%, 9%, 4.5% and 0% groups, respectively and significant differences were recognized between the control and lower CP level groups (P < 0.05). Multiple regression analysis indicated a significant correlation between the daily protein intake and frequencies of occurrence of GLP‐1‐immunoreactive cells. The protein ingestion is one of the signals that influence GLP‐1‐containing cells in the chicken small intestine.     

Phenolic profile, antioxidant property, and anti-influenza viral activity of Chinese quince (Pseudocydonia sinensis Schneid.), quince (Cydonia oblonga Mill.), and apple (Malus domestica Mill.) fruits

To evaluate the phenolic extracts of Chinese quince, quince, and apple fruits, their phenolic profiles, antioxidant properties, and anti-influenza viral activities were investigated. Chinese quince had the largest amount of phenolics consisting mainly of high polymeric procyanidins. Quince had considerable amounts of hydroxycinnamic derivatives mainly composed of 3-caffeoylquinic acid and 5-caffeoylquinic acid and polymeric procyanidins. Apple (cv. Fuji) had the lowest amount of phenolics, mainly 5-caffeoylquinic acid and monomeric and oligomeric procyanidins. The antioxidant functions of Chinese quince and quince phenolic extracts were superior to that of chlorogenic acid standard or ascorbic acid evaluated in both the linoleic acid peroxidation system and the DPPH radical scavenging system. However, those extracts were less effective than apple phenolics or (-)-epicatechin in linoleic acid peroxidation system. On the other hand, Chinese quince phenolics showed the strongest anti-influenza viral activity on the hemagglutination inhibition test.     

Predicting soil moisture condition in arbitrary agricultural lands using the digital soil map and soil physical properties database

To predict soil moisture condition in arbitral agricultural lands by taking spatial distribution of soil type in a watershed into account, we investigated the possible proper methods of determining the soil hydrological parameters using available soil physical properties database of Japanese soils, “SolphyJ”, and the digital soil map. In this study, simulation of soil moisture was conducted at three neighboring locations, including monitoring sites each in Toyama and Fukui cities. The simulated results of soil moisture appeared to be improved when hydraulic parameters were obtained by fitting water retention data of SolphyJ compared to the parameters estimated by neural network with soil texture and dry bulk density data. It is probably because peculiar soil structure in each field could affect the hydraulic properties more than the soil texture. Simulation results also indicated that soil moistures are much different even if they are located in neighbors (<5 km). We concluded that combination of these two databases is useful for estimating soil hydraulic parameters and to predict soil moisture condition in arbitrary agricultural lands.     

Micropores and mesopores in the cell wall of dry wood

To investigate micropores and mesopores in the cell walls of dry wood, CO₂ gas and N₂ gas adsorption onto dry wood were measured at ice-water temperature (273 K) and liquid nitrogen temperature (77 K). CO₂ gas adsorption isotherms obtained were used for determining micropore volumes smaller than 0.6 nm by the HK method (Horvath-Kawazoe method), and N₂ gas adsorption isotherms obtained were used for determining the mesopore volume between 2 nm and 50 nm by the Barrett-Joyner-Halenda (BJH) method. Micropores and mesopores existed in cell walls of dry wood, and the cumulative pore volume was much larger for micropores than for mesopores. Micropores in the cell wall of dry wood decreased with elevating heat treatment temperature, and the decreased micropore was reproducible by wetting and drying. Mesopores did not decrease so much with elevating heat treatment temperature. Micropore volumes for the softwood Hinoki and the hardwood Buna were compared. A larger amount of micropores existed in hardwood Buna than in softwood Hinoki, and this relationship was considered to correspond to the difference in thermal softening properties for lignin in water-swollen Hinoki and Buna. This result probably indicates that micropores in the cell walls of dry wood relate to the structure of lignin.     

Inhibition of chitin biosynthesis by buprofezin analogs in relation to their activity controlling Nilaparvata lugens Stål

Buprofezin (Applaud, 2-tert-butylimino-3-isopropyl-5-phenyl-3,4,5,6-tetrahydro-2H-1,3,5-thiadiazin-4-one) strongly inhibited the [³H]chitin synthesis from N-acetyl-d-[1-³H]glucosamine in the brown rice planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens Stål. No inhibition was observed for [³H]-labeled protein biosynthesis from [5-³H]glucose or l-[3,5-³H]tyrosine but [³H]-labeled nucleic acid synthesis from [5-³H]glucose was weakly reduced by buprofezin. The lethal activity of buprofezin analogs related well to their inhibitory potency against chitin biosynthesis in N. lugens nymphs.     

Economic importance of theileriosis in Japan

Tropical Animal Health and Production -     

Application of renal microangiography to normal and diseased kidneys of cattle and mice

Use of microangiography is now essential for the study of microcirculation in various organs. Renal microangiographic studies have been reported in rats, rabbits, dogs, human beings, and mice. However, we could not find any report on use of the technique in cattle, despite high incidence of renal disease in that species. The perfusion technique used in mice was improved over that of our previous report, and was applied to normal and diseased bovine kidneys. For the microangiographic technique, composition of the contrast medium, pressure of the injection, duration of perfusion, and washing of kidneys with heparinized saline solution before perfusion are important. In cattle, 1- to 2-mm-thick sections of the kidneys were generally necessary to observe renal vasculature: arcuate and interlobular arteries, afferent arterioles, and glomerular capillaries. In normal bovine kidneys, the angiographic and microangiographic findings were easily recognized as normal, compared with those of normal mice. In affected bovine kidneys, which histologically represented glomerulonephritis and pyelonephritis, angiography and microangiography revealed corresponding findings.     

Vertical transmission of bovine leukemia virus and bovine immunodeficiency virus in dairy cattle herds.

Vertical transmission of bovine leukemia virus (BLV) and bovine immunodeficiency virus (BIV) was investigated in five dairy cattle herds in Hokkaido, where 36.1 and 17.0% of cattle were BLV and BIV seropositive, respectively, and 9.9% of dams were co-infected with both BIV and BLV. Twenty six cases of offspring born from dams infected with only BLV (17 cases) or with both BIV and BLV (9 cases) were examined for the presence of BLV and BIV before and after colostrum feeding by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and syncytium assay. After birth, all calves were separated immediately from their dams. The offspring born from BLV-positive dams were BLV-negative before colostrum feeding, suggesting that no transplacental transmission had occurred. Thereafter, these offspring were fed colostrum or milk from their dams, but still remained BLV-negative. The other offspring born from BLV-positive dams were fed with BLV-negative colostrum, or with pasteurized BLV-positive colostrum. All these calves remained negative for BLV infection, suggesting that in utero transmission of BLV is negligible. In the case of offspring born from dams co-infected with BLV and BIV, calves were BIV-positive before colostrum feeding at 1 day after the birth, indicating in utero transmission of BIV. After colostrum feeding from their dams, newborn calves became BLV-positive. In addition, one calf was BLV-positive even before colostrum feeding. These results suggest that BIV can be transmitted to offspring in utero, and that BLV can be transmitted through colostrum or milk if dams are infected with both BIV and BLV.     

Enterolithiasis in a cat

An 8-year-old female Persian cat was brought in for evaluation of chronic vomiting. The presence of opaque enteric foreign bodies and intestinal obstruction along with azotaemia, hyperphosphataemia, moderate anaemia and peritoneal fluid were revealed following appropriate diagnostic work-up. Exploratory laparotomy confirmed jejunoileal dilation, ileocaecal stenosis, and numerous foreign objects in the jejunoileum. These foreign objects and ileocaecal stenosis were surgically removed, and intestinal resection and anastomosis was performed. The patient recovered favourably. Analysis revealed that the foreign objects were composed of calcium phosphate and calcium carbonate. Intestinal inflammation and stenosis secondary to enterolithiasis may have developed following ingestion of cat litter or a previous unrelated surgical intervention. We were unable to delineate the inciting pathogenesis in this particular case.