Effect of intravenous infusion of isotonic sodium bicarbonate solution on acidemic calves with diarrhea

The effect of 1.35% isotonic sodium bicarbonate solution (ISB) administered intravenously on acid-base equilibrium was examined in 18 acidemic Japanese black beef calves with spontaneous diarrhea. The infusion volumes of ISB were decided based on the first half volumes of base needed. In 72.2% (13/18) of calves, improvement of acidemia was detected. There was good correlation (r=0.693, p<0.01) between infused volume of ISB and changes in base excess (y=1.097x + 4.762). Infusion volumes of ISB were 7.5, 10.2, 12.9 and 15.7 ml/kg, respectively, enough to correcting the first half of 5, 10, 15 and 20 mEq/l of base deficit in acidemic calves. Our finding suggested that ISB could be used to correct metabolic acidosis without altering electrolyte concentrations in calves.     

The duality of teleost gonadotropins

The duality of salmon gonadotropins has been proved by biochemical, biological, and immunological characterization of two chemically distinc gonadotropins. GTH I and GTH II were equipotent in stimulating estradiol production, whereas GTH II appears to be more potent in stimulating maturational steroid synthesis. The ratio of plasma levels and pituitary contents of GTHs and the secretory control by a GnRH suggest that GTH I is the predominant GTH during vitellogenesis and early stages of spermatogenesis in salmonids, whereas GTH II is predominant at the time of spermiation and ovulation. GTH I and GTH II are found in distinctly separate cells. In trout, GTH I is expressed first in ontogeny, whereas GTH II cells appear coincident with the onset of spermatogenesis and vitellogenesis, and increase dramatically at the time of final reproductive maturation. Comparison of the amino acid sequences of polypeptides and the base sequences of cDNA revealed that salmon GTH I β is more similar to bovine FSHβ than bovine LHβ and salmon GTH II β shows higher homology to bovine LHβ than to bovine FSHβ. The existence of two pituitary gonadotropins in teleosts as well as tetrapods suggests that the divergence of the GTH gene took place earlier than the time of divergence of teleosts from the main line of evolution leading to tetrapods.     

Cashew nut shell liquid potentially mitigates methane emission from the feces of Thai native ruminant livestock by modifying fecal microbiota

The methane-mitigating potency of cashew nutshell liquid (CNSL) was evaluated by investigating gas production from batch cultures using feces from Thai native ruminants that had been incubated for different periods. Feces was obtained from four Thai native cattle and four swamp buffaloes reared under practical feeding conditions at the Kasetsart University farm, Thailand. Fecal slurry from the same farm was also included in the analysis. CNSL addition successfully suppressed the methane production potential of feces from both ruminants by shifting short chain fatty acid profiles towards propionate production. Methane mitigation continued for almost 150 days, although the degree of mitigation was more apparent from Day 0 to Day 30. Bacterial and archaeal community shifts with CNSL addition were observed in feces from both ruminants; specifically, Bacteroides increased, whereas Lachnospiraceae and Ruminococcaceae decreased in feces to which CNSL was added. Fecal slurry did not show marked changes in gas production with CNSL addition. The findings showed that the addition of CNSL to the feces of ruminants native to the Southeast Asian region can suppress methane emission. Because CNSL can be easily obtained as a byproduct of the local cashew industry in this region, its on-site application might be ideal.     

Monitoring of QoI fungicide resistance in Plasmopara viticola populations in Japan

BACKGROUND: The increasing occurrence of QoI fungicide resistance in Plasmopara viticola (Berk. & MA Curtis) Berl. & DeToni populations is becoming a serious problem in the control of grapevine downy mildew. In Japan, the existence of QoI‐fungicide‐resistant P. viticola was reported in 2009. RESULTS: The QoI fungicide resistance in P. viticola samples collected from vineyards in Japan in 2008 and 2009 was monitored. Resistant P. viticola were detected in the regions where QoI fungicides have been introduced in accordance with the pest management programme, whereas in Hokkaido vineyards, where QoI fungicides have not yet been introduced, QoI‐fungicide‐resistant P. viticola were not found. CONCLUSION: Japan comprises thousands of islands and is physically isolated from other countries by the sea. Monitoring the emergence, incidence and distribution of QoI fungicide resistance in P. viticola populations in Japan is necessary to improve pest management strategies for downy mildew disease in Japanese vineyards. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry     

Variation in cooking and eating quality traits in Japanese rice germplasm accessions

The eating quality of cooked rice is important and determines its market price and consumer acceptance. To comprehensively describe the variation of eating quality in 183 rice germplasm accessions, we evaluated 33 eating-quality traits including amylose and protein contents, pasting properties of rice flour, and texture of cooked rice grains. All eating-quality traits varied widely in the germplasm accessions. Principal-components analysis (PCA) revealed that allelic differences in the Wx gene explained the largest proportion of phenotypic variation of the eating-quality traits. In 146 accessions of non-glutinous temperate japonica rice, PCA revealed that protein content and surface texture of the cooked rice grains significantly explained phenotypic variations of the eating-quality traits. An allelic difference based on simple sequence repeats, which was located near a quantitative trait locus (QTL) on the short arm of chromosome 3, was associated with differences in the eating quality of non-glutinous temperate japonica rice. These results suggest that eating quality is controlled by genetic factors, including the Wx gene and the QTL on chromosome 3, in Japanese rice accessions. These genetic factors have been consciously selected for eating quality during rice breeding programs in Japan.     

Effect of intravenous infusion of a 7.2% hypertonic saline solution on serum electrolytes and osmotic pressure in healthy beagles.

The effect of an intravenous (i.v.) infusion of hypertonic saline solution (HSS; 7.2%, 2,400 mOsmol/kg.H2O) was evaluated by serum electrolyte concentrations and osmotic pressure in the anesthetized beagles. Sixteen beagles were assigned to 3 experimental groups (2.5, 5 or 15 ml/kg of HSS i.v. infusion) or a control group (5 ml/kg of isotonic saline solution (ISS) i.v. infusion) and were monitored for 120 min after the initiation of fluid infusion. The relative plasma volume (rPV) in the 5 ml/kg and 15 ml/kg HSS groups progressively expanded to 143.1 +/- 7.4% at 3 min and 156.4 +/- 5.9% at 5 min after the initiation of the fluid infusion, respectively. Significant increases were not produced by ISS and 2.5 ml/kg HSS infusion. The serum sodium and chloride concentrations in the ISS group were not altered. The 5 ml/kg HSS infusion induced transient high osmotic and sodium levels, and the serum sodium concentration remained under the 160 mM/l after the completion of the HSS infusion. However, the 15 ml/kg HSS infusion induced a constant high osmotic level (340.5-352.8 mOsmol/kg.H2O) and hypernatremia (161.4-174.5 mM/l) from 10 to 90 min after the initiation of the fluid infusion. The 15 ml/kg HSS infusion induced significant decreases in the partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2), reaching 63.7 +/- 8.0 mmHg at 120 min after the initiation of the fluid infusion compared with an immediately before fluid infusion value. On the basis of these findings, 5 ml/kg HSS infusion can be safely administered to healthy beagles for expanding the plasma volume without inducing hypernatremia. A 5 ml/kg HSS infusion is thus recommended for the initial field resuscitation of dogs.     

Expression of amphiregulin during the pre- and post-implantation period in the mouse reproductive tract

In mammals, embryo implantation is an essential step in reproduction. Implantation is a phenomenon that involves crosstalk between the blastocyst and the maternal endometrium. However, the molecular basis of the connections between the blastocyst and endometrium is not yet fully understood. Amphiregulin is a member of the epidermal growth factor family and is known to be expressed in the luminal epithelium of the mouse uterus on 3.5 days post coitum (dpc). Thus, to clarify the mechanism of amphiregulin at fetomaternal interface, we analyzed the expression pattern of amphiregulin mRNA in the oviducts and uteri of pregnant and psuedopregnant mice by means of real-time PCR. Amphiregulin expression in the pregnant uterus dramatically increased on 2.5 dpc, peaked on 3.5 dpc, and declined by 5.5 dpc. Furthermore, to analyze the effect of the presence of an embryo on amphiregulin expression, we determined the expression pattern of amphiregulin mRNA in the uterus after embryo transfer on 0.5 and 1.5 dpc. A previous study showed that the expression of amphiregulin mRNA depends on the concentration of progesterone. However, our present results indicate that amphiregulin mRNA is upregulated by the presence of fertilized eggs in the lumen of the oviduct on 0.5 dpc.     

Expression Pattern of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor in Canine Folliculogenesis and its Effect on the Growth and Development of Follicles after Ovarian Organ Culture

In this study, the expressions of VEGF in dog follicles were detected by immunohistochemistry and the effects of VEGF treatment on the primordial to primary follicle transition and on subsequent follicle progression were examined using a dog ovary organ culture system. The frozen‐thawed canine ovarian follicles within slices of ovarian cortical tissue were cultured for 7 and 14 days in presence or absence of VEGF. After culture, the ovaries were fixed, sectioned, stained and counted for morphologic analysis. The results showed that VEGF was expressed in the theca cells of antral follicles and in the granulosa cells nearest the oocyte in preantral follicle but not in granulosa cells of primordial and primary follicles; however, the VEGF protein was expressed in CL. After in vitro culture, VEGF caused a decrease in the number of primordial follicles and concomitant increase in the number of primary follicles that showed growth initiation and reached the secondary and preantral stages of development after 7 and 14 days. Follicular viability was also improved in the presence of VEGF after 7 and 14 days in culture. In conclusion, treatment with VEGF was found to promote the activation of primordial follicle development that could provide an alternative approach to stimulate early follicle development in dogs.