Effects of heat stress on production,somatic cell score and conception rate in Holsteins

We examined the effects of heat stress (HS) on production traits, somatic cell score (SCS) and conception rate at first insemination (CR) in Holsteins in Japan. We used a total of 228 242 records of milk, fat and protein yields, and SCS for the first three lactations, as well as of CR in heifers and in first‐ and second‐lactation cows that had calved for the first time between 2000 and 2012. Records from 47 prefectural weather stations throughout Japan were used to calculate the temperature–humidity index (THI); areas were categorized into three regional groups: no HS (THI < 72), mild HS (72 ≤ THI < 79), and moderate HS (THI ≥ 79). Trait records from the three HS‐region groups were treated as three different traits and trivariate animal models were used. The genetic correlations between milk yields from different HS groups were very high (0.91 to 0.99). Summer calving caused the greatest increase in SCS, and in the first and second lactations this increase became greater as THI increased. In cows, CR was affected by the interaction between HS group and insemination month: with summer and early autumn insemination, there was a reduction in CR, and it was much larger in the mild‐ and moderate‐HS groups than in the no‐HS group.     

Acute vascular and interstitial rejection following renal allograft transplantation in dogs

Renal allograft transplantation was performed in four beagles. Immunosuppressive treatment using cyclosporine, mizoribin and prednisolone was continued from Day 5 pre- until Day 20 post-transplantation. Between Days 28 and 32 post-transplantation, an abrupt elevation of the serum creatinine values followed by the development of uremia was seen in all recipients. Histopathology of the allografts examined between Days 28 and 37 revealed edema, necrosis, hemorrhage and severe diffuse interstitial cellular infiltration as well as tubulitis. Glomerular changes notably included swelling of the tufts due to hypercellularity, which was consistent with transplant glomerulitis. The intrarenal arteries exhibited fibrinoid necrosis of the walls and intimal or transmural cellular infiltration. These renal lesions were consistent with those of acute vascular and interstitial rejection in humans.     

Identification of an antihypertensive peptide derived from chicken bone extract

A novel angiotensin‐converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory peptide was isolated and purified from chicken bone extract by enzymatic digestion. The peptide was defined as an ACE inhibitor, and it demonstrated antihypertensive activity following oral administration to spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs). The results of this study suggest that peptides derived from an extract of chicken bones, administered orally, have the ability to reduce the blood pressure of SHRs significantly over a short period of time (3 h). Moreover, the blood pressure then remains low for 3 h. This peptide derived from chicken bones may therefore have great value as a short‐term remedy for chronic conditions such as high blood pressure. The amino acid sequence of the peptide was YYRA (Tyr‐Tyr‐Arg‐Ala), which was the origin of the Ig heavy chain V region (27–30 position). The IC₅₀ value of its synthetic peptide was 33.9 μg/mL. We suggest that the ACE inhibitory and antihypertensive peptides derived from chicken bone extract may contribute to develop physiologically functional foods or improve food functionality.     

The Effects of GABA on embryonic gonadotropin-releasing hormone neurons in rat hypothalamic primary culture

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) neurons arise in the olfactory placode, migrate into the preoptic area (POA), and then extend axons to the median eminence during embryogenesis. Little information is available concerning the properties of GnRH neurons during the late gestational period when GnRH neurons reach the POA and form neuronal networks, although many studies have examined such properties during earlier developmental stages or the postnatal period. The present study was performed to elucidate the involvement of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), one of the major neurotransmitters modifying GnRH neural activity, in regulation of GnRH gene expression on embryonic day 18.5 (E18.5) using transgenic rats expressing enhanced green fluorescence protein (EGFP) under the control of GnRH promoter. First, using RT-PCR, the mRNA of two isoforms of the GABA-synthesizing enzyme glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD), GAD65 and GAD67 was detected in E18.5 embryonic POA-containing tissues. GAD67-positive cells were also demonstrated in close vicinity to GnRH-positive cells by immunohistochemistry, and immunoreactivity for both the GABA-A and GABA-B receptor subunits was detected in GnRH neurons. Next, primary cultures derived from anterior hypothalamic tissue of E18.5 embryos were prepared, and the effects of GABA and its agonists on GnRH promoter activity were evaluated using EGFP expression as a marker. GABA and the GABA-A receptor agonist muscimol, but not the GABA-B receptor agonist baclofen, significantly increased the EGFP-positive/GnRH-positive cell ratio. These results suggest that GABA plays a role in stimulating GnRH gene expression through GABA-A receptors in embryonic GnRH neurons in late gestational stages.     

Natural growth of juveniles of the sea cucumber <Emphasis Type="Italic">Apostichopus japonicus</Emphasis>: studying juveniles in the intertidal habitat in Hirao Bay,eastern Yamaguchi Prefecture,Japan

In order to determine the population dynamics of juvenile Apostichopus japonicus, successive surveys were conducted in the stony intertidal zone of Hirao Bay, Seto Inland Sea. The juveniles of the green and black types of this species grew well from January to June. Before this high growing season, zero year old juveniles were too small to be readily detected by visual observations during field surveys. During the high water temperature season from August to November, juveniles over 1 year of age estivated underneath rocks. They awakened from their estivation in November, and it took another month before they could eat and discharge. The juveniles mainly migrated from the intertidal zone before they reached 3 years of age. In the present work, three patterns of juvenile growth were found. It is suggested that these differences in juvenile growth are mainly caused by differences in their start times for growth initiation when they are zero years old.     

Sorption and desorption studies of Cs and Sr in contaminated soil samples around Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant

Journal of Soils and Sediments - Huge amounts of radiocesium, radiostrontium, and fission products were released into the atmosphere during the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP)...     

Differential scanning calorimetry and circular dichroism spectrometry of walleye pollack myosin and light meromyosin

The thermodynamic properties of myosin and its C-terminal fragment, light meromyosin (LMM), from walleye pollack, a typical cold-water fish efficiently utilized on an industrial scale, were analyzed by using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and circular dichroism (CD) spectrometry. Recombinant walleye pollack LMM expressed in Escherichia coli was also subjected to DSC and CD measurements for reference. The two proteins prepared from frozen surimi showed three endothermic peaks, the transition temperatures (T(m)) of which were quite similar, although overall DSC patterns differed considerably from one another. Their alpha-helical contents determined by CD were low compared to values reported before for other species. On the other hand, recombinant LMM gave four endothermic peaks at 27.4, 30.8, 36.5, and 43.4 degrees C in DSC and showed an alpha-helical content of approximately 80%. The peak at 27.4 degrees C could not be observed in walleye pollack LMM prepared from frozen surimi and thus was possibly attributed to its C terminus, because this extreme C-terminal region is supposedly truncated during preparation of LMM by tryptic digestion.     

Distribution of immunoglobulin-positive cells in the spleen and kidney of Japanese flounder Paralichthys olivaceus

SUMMARY: The distribution of surface immunoglobulin-positive (sIg⁺) cells in the spleen, the head-kidney, and the trunk-kidney of adult Japanese flounder Paralichthys olivaceus was investigated by a flow cytometric analysis using a monoclonal antibody FB17 against flounder immunoglobulin M. Although the percentage of sIg⁺ cells varied among organs, a good correlation was revealed between the percentage in the head-kidney and that in the trunk-kidney ( r = 0.996, P < 0.001). In contrast, no correlation was obtained between the percentage of sIg⁺ cells in the spleen and the head-kidney or trunk-kidney. The head-kidney and the trunk-kidney contained cells bearing fewer sIg that were stained dimly by FB17 in addition to brightly stained sIg⁺ cells regarded as mature B cells, while the spleen contained only sIg⁺ cells stained brightly. Moreover, the immunocytochemical analyses showed that the head-kidney contains plasma cells with strongly stained cytoplasm in addition to B cells with stained cell surface, which suggests that the cells with fewer sIg detected by flow cytometric analysis are presumed to be at a stage during the processes of differentiation to plasma cells. These results suggest that there are some differences between the spleen and kidney in the role of the immune system and it is considered that differentiation of B cells to plasma cells occurs in the kidney.     

Predicting of molecules mediating an interaction between bovine embryos and uterine epithelial cells

Embryo-maternal reproductive tract interactions are pivotal for successful pregnancy. The present study predicted the molecules modulating embryo-uterine communication by comparing two sets of differentially expressed genes (DEGs): DEGs in uterine epithelial cells (UECs) collected from the uterus with and without blastocysts and DEGs between blastocysts developed in vivo and in vitro. Cows were subjected to super ovulation (SOV), followed by insemination or non-insemination at estrus (SOV + AI and SOV cows). Seven days after estrus, the uterus was flushed to collect UECs, and the presence of blastocysts in the uterus was confirmed. UECs were subjected to RNA-Sequencing (RNA-Seq) to identify DEGs. Publicly available RNA-Seq data of in vivo and in vitro developed bovine blastocysts were used to determine DEGs. Then, using ingenuity pathway analysis, activated- and inhibited-upstream regulators (USRs) for UECs in blastocysts were compared with those for blastocysts developed in vivo. RNA-Seq of UECs revealed that the DEGs were associated with immune response and cell adhesion pathways. The activated and inhibited USRs of UECs derived from SOV+ AI cows overlapped with the activated and inhibited USRs of blastocysts developed in vivo. Overlapping activated USRs include leukemia inhibitory factor, interleukin 6, fibroblast growth factor-2, transforming growth factor beta-1, and epidermal growth factor. In conclusion, the present study predicted the molecules that potentially mediate communication between the developing embryo and the uterus in vivo and prepare the uterus for pregnancy.     

水稻生物调理剂的开发及培育壮秧机理的研究

有机育苗生物调理剂由吉林省农业科学院水稻研究所研制。研究结果表明,有机育苗生物调理剂具有杀灭病原菌、抑制杂草发生、提高床土养分含量等功能。使用有机育苗生物调理剂育苗,植株健壮,干物重高,根系发达,抗病力和抗逆性强,省工省力,使用安全。