Fast‐to‐slow shift of muscle fiber‐type composition by dietary apple polyphenols in rats: Impact of the low‐dose supplementation

Our previous studies demonstrated that an 8‐week intake of 5% (w/w) apple polyphenol (APP) in the diet improves muscle endurance of young‐adult rats. In order to identify a lower limit of the dietary contribution of APP to the effect, the experiments were designed for lower‐dose supplementation (8‐week feeding of 0.5% APP in AIN‐93G diet) to 12‐week‐old male Sprague‐Dawley rats. Results clearly showed that the 0.5% APP diet significantly up‐regulates slower myosin‐heavy‐chain (MyHC) isoform ratios (IIx and IIa relative to total MyHC) and myoglobin expression in lower hind‐limb muscles examined (P < 0.05). There was a trend to increased fatigue resistance detected from measurements of relative isometric plantar‐flexion force torque generated by a stimulus train delivered to the tibial nerve (F(98, 1372) = 1.246, P = 0.0574). Importantly, there was no significant difference in the animal body‐phenotypes or locomotor activity shown as total moving distance in light and dark periods. Therefore, the present study encourages the notion that even low APP‐intake may increase the proportions of fatigue‐resistant myofibers, and has promise as a strategy for modifying performance in human sports and improving function in age‐related muscle atrophy.     

Antibacterial Activities of a New Brominated Diterpene from Borneon Laurencia spp

In our continuous interest to study the diversity of halogenated metabolites of Malaysian species of the red algal genus Laurencia, we examined the chemical composition of five populations of unrecorded Laurencia sp. A new brominated diterpene, 10-acetoxyangasiol (1), and four other known metabolites, aplysidiol (2), cupalaurenol (3), 1-methyl-2,3,5-tribromoindole (4), and chamigrane epoxide (5), were isolated and identified. Isolated metabolites exhibited potent antibacterial activities against clinical bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus sp., Streptococcus pyogenes, Salmonella sp. and Vibrio cholerae.     

Chromosomal Location of HWA1 and HWA2, Complementary Hybrid Weakness Genes in Rice

Hybrid weakness phenomena in rice reportedly have two causes: those of HWC1 and HWC2 genes and those of HWA1 and HWA2 genes. No detailed study of the latter has been reported. For this study, we first produced crosses among cultivars carrying the weakness-causing allele on the HWA1 and HWA2 loci to confirm the phenotype of the hybrid weakness and the genotypes of the cultivars on the two loci, as reported earlier. We then confirmed that these cultivars belong to Indica. Subsequent linkage analysis of HWA1 and HWA2 genes conducted using DNA markers revealed that both genes are located in the 1,637-kb region, surrounded by the same DNA markers on the long arm of chromosome 11. The possibility of allelic interaction inducing hybrid weakness is discussed.     

Wind‐induced stock variation of the neon flying squid (Ommastrephes bartramii) winter–spring cohort in the subtropical North Pacific Ocean

Our examination of the neon flying squid (Ommastrephes bartramii) winter–spring cohort catch per unit effort (CPUE, an index of stock) revealed significant positive correlations with the interannual variations of observed chlorophyll‐a (Chl‐a) concentration and autumn–winter mixed layer depth (MLD) in the winter–spring feeding grounds of paralarvae and juveniles (130–170°E, 20–27°N). These correlations suggest the importance of integrated bottom‐up effects by the autumn–winter MLD for the neon flying squid stocks. However, the influence of autumn–winter MLD interannual variation in the forage availability for paralarvae and juveniles, i.e., particulate organic matter and zooplankton, has still been unclear. In this study, we use the lower trophic ecosystem model NEMURO, which uses the physical environmental data from the ocean reanalysis dataset obtained by the four‐dimensional variational (4DVAR) data assimilation method. The model‐based investigation enables us to clarify how the autumn–winter MLD controls the particulate organic matter and zooplankton abundance in the feeding grounds. Further, our investigation of the autumn–winter MLD interannual variation demonstrates that the stronger autumn wind in the feeding grounds develops a deeper mixed layer. Therefore, the deep mixed layer entrains nutrient‐rich water and enhances photosynthesis, which results in good feeding conditions for paralarvae and juveniles. Our results underline that the wind system interannual variation has critical roles on the winter–spring cohort of the neon flying squid stock.     

QTL analysis of morphological traits and pseudostem pigmentation in bunching onion (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Allium fistulosum</Emphasis>)

Pseudostems of bunching onion (Allium fistulosum L.) show wide variation in morphological traits and skin color. However, despite being one of the most important agronomic traits, molecular studies of bunching onion pseudostems remain limited. In this study, six morphological traits (plant height, leaf length, pseudostem length, leaf width, pseudostem width and number of leaf sheaths) along with pseudostem pigmentation indices were evaluated in two field trials using an F_2:3 population derived from a single F₁ cross between a white single pseudostem (non-tillering) and a red tillering bunching onion. Plant height was highly correlated with both leaf length and pseudostem length, but not the number of leaf sheaths. In contrast, the number of leaf sheaths was significantly negatively correlated with both leaf width and pseudostem width. A total of 27 QTLs for the six morphological traits were detected in 16 regions of 11 linkage groups, with a major QTL for the number of leaf sheaths repeatedly detected on Chr. 8. Meanwhile, two QTLs associated with pseudostem pigmentation were repeatedly detected on linkage groups Chr. 4a and Chr. 5a-2. The latter (qPig5a-2) was considered a major QTL, and its location estimated by marker genotyping of the F₂ population around the qPig5a-2 region as being within a 7.6 cM interval.     

Ventilation of seawater during bleeding suppresses the occurrence of burnt meat in yellowtail <Emphasis Type="Italic">Seriola quinqueradiata</Emphasis>

Fifteen farmed yellowtail Seriola quinqueradiata were randomly selected from sea cages. Five fish were slaughtered instantly by cutting the spinal bulb (control group). The remaining ten fish were left for 20 min in a narrow net and then they were slaughtered by cutting the spinal bulb instantly. These ten fish were bled in two water tanks. In one tank, the water was aerated (ventilation group), while the other tank was not aerated (burnt group). The ATP ratio in the control group (83.8 ± 4.1%) was higher than the ventilation group (37.2 ± 22.1%) and the burnt group (5.8 ± 6.0%) at 3 h after slaughter. The K value of the burnt group increased remarkably at 3 h after slaughter, and was significantly higher than those for the other groups. The ventilation group showed a recovery in available energy for physiological maintenance to the same level as the control group during bleeding, as well as a significantly slowed loss of muscular firmness compared to the burnt group. This study shows that the yellowtail continued to respire and take up oxygen until complete physiological death, and elevated oxygen levels during bleeding slowed the postmortem changes and suppressed the occurrence of burnt meat.     

Assemblages of vertical migratory mesopelagic fish in the transitional region of the western North Pacific

Assemblages of vertical migratory mesopelagic fish are described for the nighttime upper 20 m layer of the transitional and adjacent waters in the western North Pacific. Twenty-three mesopelagic fish species belonging to six families and 16 genera were collected during June 1996. Family Myctophidae was most speciose, represented by 17 species, followed by Sternoptychidae (two spp.) and Bathylagidae (one spp.). Six assemblages are recognized based on their species composition: Subarctic, Northern Transition, Southern Transition, Subtropical, Slope Water and Seamount Assemblages. These assemblages are also characterized by size composition and biomass of the catches. The distributions of the Subarctic, Northern Transition, Southern Transition and Subtropical Assemblages are approximately defined by the Kuroshio and Oyashio fronts and the Subarctic Boundary. Slope Water and Seamount Assemblages are closely related to the slope water around the shelf edge off Japan and waters around the Shatsky Rise and the Emperor Seamount chain, respectively. The importance of the Southern Transition Assemblage area between the Kuroshio front and Subarctic Boundary as spawning and nursery grounds of many subarctic, transitional and subtropical fishes is elucidated, based on the geographical distribution patterns of their larvae and juveniles.     

Nephrocalcinosis formation by soy isoflavones in male rats

Isoflavones (IFs), found in the form of both aglycones and glucosides in soybean foods, induce weak estrogenic activities. Although IFs have a number of health benefits, it was previously reported that IFs cause nephrocalcinosis (NC) in the kidney of male Fischer 344 (F344) rats. The present study aims to elucidate the safety of IFs by focusing on IF-induced NC formation in rats. Fermented soybean extract (FSE) containing 420 mg/g isoflavone aglycones was orally administered to male F344 and Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats for 28 days. FSE induced NC formation in the kidney of F344 rats, but not in SD rats. However, absorption of IFs did not differ between F344 and SD rats. NC formation and its severity of FSE were histologically compared with those of soybean extract (SE) containing 518 mg/g isoflavone glucosides in F344 rats. There were no differences in the number of NC formations and the extent of calcium deposit between FSE and SE groups. To examine the dose effect of FSE on NC formation, doses of 20, 140, or 1000 mg/kg FSE were administered to F344 rats for 90 days. NC formation was observed in the 140 and 1000 mg/kg groups. These results indicated that a high dose of oral administration of IFs induced NC formation depending on the strain of rat.     

Structural identification of anthocyanins and analysis of concentrations during growth and flowering in buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench) petals

The anthocyanin profiles and variety/breeding-line differences of anthocyanin concentrations in petals of common buckwheat flowers have been studied. Four anthocyanins, cyanidin 3-O-glucoside, cyanidin 3-O-rutinoside, cyanidin 3-O-rhamnoside, and cyanidin 3-O-galactosyl-rhamnoside were isolated from the petals of common buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench), separated using high performance liquid chromatography and identified using reversed-phase liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry techniques. In every variety/breeding line tested, cyanidin 3-O-rutinoside was detected as the major anthocyanin and the next is cyanidin 3-O-glucoside whereas cyanidin 3-O-rhamnoside and cyanidin 3-O-galactosyl-rhamnoside were trace or not detectable in white and pink flowered buckwheat. Of all the varieties/breeding lines tested, Gan-Chao, a Chinese variety, contained the highest amount of anthocyanins. The largest part of cyanidin moiety was presented as a proanthocyanidin form (PAs-Cy). Anthocyanins and PAs-Cy in petals were increased along with increase of flower development stages. Therefore, fully developed petals of red flowered buckwheat, especially Gan-Chao, are promising as a new anthocyanin-rich material for food processing.     

Bovine abortion and necrotic placentitis by Aspergillus terreus

A 31-month-old Japanese Black cow (Bos taurus) aborted at 5 months of gestation with no clinical symptoms. Histopathological examination of the placenta and fetus revealed severe necrotic placentitis associated with numerous irregular degenerative fungi and inflammatory cells. Regular filamentous fungi were also detected, without inflammatory response in the fetal digestive and respiratory organs. Both fungi had aleurioconidia and septa in the placenta and fetal organs and immunohistochemically stained with antibodies against Aspergillus spp. Aspergillus terreus was isolated from the fetal lung and abomasal contents as confirmed using mycological and molecular methods. This is the first immunohistochemical, morphological, and molecular identification of A. terreus in bovine placenta and aborted fetuses.