Stem water transport of Lithocarpus edulis, an evergreen oak with radial-porous wood

The stem water conducting system of an evergreen broad-leaved oak, Lithocarpus edulis (Mak.) Nakai, was investigated. Evergreen broad-leaved oaks (Lithocarpus, Castanopsis, Cyclobalanopsis, Quercus) belonging to the Quercoideae are a major component of Asian monsoon forests, and are characterized by the possession of radial-porous wood. A characteristic of radial-porous wood is the development of aggregate rays between radially oriented files of vessels. We measured the distribution of vessel lumen diameters in a stem cross section and calculated the theoretical water conductivity of the wood. The radial profile of the heat pulse velocity (HPV) was measured for an intact whole tree under field conditions and compared with the theoretical distribution of water conductivity. Soft X-ray photographs of frozen stem sections indicated that most of the vessel lumina were filled with water, including those of vessels more than 20 years old. Even when vessels were relatively wide (lumen diameters > 100 microm), cavitation was negligible. The rate of water uptake from the cut stem base correlated closely with HPV (r = 0.96), and HPV closely reflected the mean volume flow per stem sectional area (SFVS) around the sensor probes. However, the ray tissue sharply inhibited heat transfer, and the positioning of the probes strongly affected the absolute value of HPV. It was also found that HPV more closely reflected the mean sap flow velocity in the vessels than did SFVS.     

Relationship between blood calcium level and ST peak interval of electrocardiographic variables in peripartum Holstein cows

The association between blood calcium levels and electrocardiographic variables was compared in 137 normal parturient and 36 peripartum recumbent Holstein cows to determine whether hypocalcemia in peripartum dairy cows can be rapidly diagnosed using electrocardiograph. Inverse of STc (ST peak interval/SS interval^0.5) and blood ionized calcium or serum calcium concentrations were strongly correlated, and both correlation coefficients were 0.81 (P<0.001). The 95% prediction interval indicated that cows with STc >0.385 ± 0.001 sec are very likely to be hypocalcemic (blood ionized or serum calcium concentrations of <0.9 mmol/l or <7.5 mg/dl, respectively). These findings indicate that hypocalcemia in parturient cows can be non-invasively estimated using the STc.     

Preparation, characterization, and antioxidative effects of oligomeric proanthocyanidin-L-cysteine complexes

Controlled acid-catalyzed degradation of proanthocyanidin polymers in grape seeds together with L-cysteine led to oligomeric proanthocyanidin-L-cysteine complexes along with monomeric flavan-3-ol derivatives being isolated, and their structures were confirmed on the basis of spectroscopic data and by chemical means. In addition, comparative studies on the antioxidative and survival effects of oligomeric proanthocyanidin-L-cysteine complexes and proanthocyanidin polymers were performed. The oligomeric proanthocyanidin-L-cysteine complexes showed higher bioavailability and antioxidant capacity and enhanced survival time in the animal test groups. In addition, it is suggested that the oligomeric complexes may help to prevent oxidative stress and may reduce free radical production.     

Propanil and swep inhibit 4-coumarate:CoA ligase activity in vitro

4-Coumarate:CoA ligase (4CL, EC 6.2.1.12) in the phenylpropanoid pathway in plants has attracted interest as a novel target for developing effective plant growth inhibitors (PGIs). In a previous study in which the 4CL inhibitory activity of 28 existing herbicides was investigated using an optimized in vitro screening assay, 4CL activity was found to be strongly inhibited by propanil and swep at 100 microM. Here, further experimental evidence is provided to substantiate the previous result. Using 4-coumaric acid as substrate, tobacco 4CL activity was inhibited by propanil or swep in a concentration-dependent manner, with 50% inhibition concentrations (I(50)) of 39.6 and 6 microM respectively. These herbicides also exhibited uncompetitive inhibition towards 4-coumaric acid. Furthermore, 4CLs from several plant species were inhibited by the herbicides within a range from 1 to 50 microM. It is proposed that these herbicides have another site of action as a result of the inhibition of 4CL in the phenylpropanoid pathway, and this enzyme represents a new target site for the development of PGI.     

Inhibition on human liver cytochrome P450 3A4 by constituents of fennel (Foeniculum vulgare): identification and characterization of a mechanism-based inactivator

Fennel, a seed of Foeniculum vulgare, is used as a culinary spice and traditional medicine. The methanolic extract of fennel showed a characteristic of mechanism-based inactivation on erythromycin N-demethylation mediated by human liver microsomal cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4). The present study was conducted to identify the fennel constituent having the inhibition. Thirteen compounds have been isolated from a methanol extract of fennel and tested for their inhibition on CYP3A4. Among them, 5-methoxypsoralen (5-MOP) showed the strongest inhibition with an IC50 value of 18.3 microM and a mixed type of inhibition. In addition, with the preincubation time of 20 min only 5-MOP showed preincubation time dependency; the IC50 value decreased from 18.3 microM with a preincubation time of 0 min to 4.6 microM with a preincubation time of 20 min. Further investigation on 5-MOP showed the characteristics of time-dependent inhibition, requirement of NADPH, lack of protecting effect of nucleophiles, and recovery of CYP3A4 activity by the competitive inhibitor. This result suggests that the inhibitory activity of CYP3A4 by 5-MOP was a mechanism-based inactivation. The kinetic parameter for mechanism-based inactivation was characterized by a KI value of 15.0 microM and a kinact value of 0.098 min(-1).     

Supplementation of various meals to fish meal diet for chum salmon fry

In a 6-week feeding experiment, chum salmon, Oncorhynchus keta, swim-up fry, were fed fish meal diets supplemented with silkworm pupae powder (5%), dried beef liver (5%), krill meal (5%) or earthworm powder (5%) at the expense of fish meal, or substituting glucose (13%) for dextrin. Fish fed the diet with earthworm powder showed the best growth performance (675% weight gain in 6 weeks) and feed efficiency (117%). The growth rate and feed efficiency of the krill meal group were also significantly better than those of the control group (without supplement or substitution). Substitution of glucose and supplementation of silkworm pupae or beef liver failed to improve the growth rate, but significantly improved feed efficiency. Food consumption of fish fed the diet supplemented with earthworms was lowest, and none of the dietary treatments appreciably increased food intake of the fish over that of the control group. The dietary group receiving earthworm powder also showed significantly higher body fat content than the remaining dietary groups. No significant differences were noted in body protein and ash contents among all dietary treatments.     

Changes in estrogen receptor expression in the chick thymus during late embryonic development

In chickens, although estrogen receptors (ER) are reported to be associated with the immunological processes, detailed information about the differences in ER expression in the tissues related to the development of lymphocytes is not fully known, especially during the developmental stage. To learn more about this immunological relationship, we used semi‐quantitative polymerase chain reaction method to detect the ER expression levels in the thymus tissues of chicks during the developmental stage. Furthermore, ER‐expressing cells were detected by immunohistochemistry. The results of this study show that the expression level of ER increased on embryonic day 16 and decreased on day 20. Furthermore, ER expression was significantly higher in male than in female chickens at day 16. The increased expression on day 16 and decreased level on day 20 were also reproduced in the incidence of immunoreactive cells, although there was a 1‐day delay in the elevated incidence of the cells. This study revealed the changes in ER expression and the incidence of ER‐positive cells in the thymus of chickens during the developmental stage.     

Comprehensive Analysis of Plant Gene Expression in Soybean Root Nodules at Different Growth Stages

Gene expression profiles in early (12 d after sowing, DAS), mature (35 DAS) and senescent (77 DAS) soybean ( Glycine max (L.) Merr. cv. Enrei) root nodules were analyzed using Lotus japonicus cDNA macroarray. The cDNA macroarray membranes contained 18,144 independent cDNAs of L. japonicus isolated from various organs. The membranes were hybridized to ³³P-labeled single-strand cDNAs transcribed from mRNA extracted from the soybean root nodules at three different growth stages. The results showed that over 75% of the cDNA clones gave a relative signal intensity (RSI) lower than 300, irrespective of the soybean growth stage. cDNA with an RSI value over 5,000 accounted for 2.1, 1.2 and 0.5% of the total cDNA clones at 12, 35 and 77 DAS, respectively. The highest RSI value was detected in a clone hybridized to putative pectinesterase (MWM097c10_r) at 12 DAS, while the RSI value of lycopene β-cyclase (MWL025d06_r) was the highest at 35 and 77 DAS. At 77 DAS, the percentage of transferase gene cDNA clones accounted for 20.5% of the total cDNA clones showing an RSI value over 500, a value clearly lower than that at 12 and 35 DAS. On the other hand, the percentage of hydrolase gene cDNA clones accounted for 45.2% at 77 DAS, a value around 1.5 times higher than that at 12 and 35 DAS. The chronological RSI profiles of individual cDNA clones were classified into nine patterns, and the profiles of the cDNA clones belonging to 15 homologous gene groups encoding enzymes of nitrogen and carbon metabolism, nodule specific proteins, enzymes of RNA and protein hydrolysis, and synthesis of jasmonic acid precursor were compared within and between groups. As a result, significant variations both within- and between-groups were revealed.