Effect of oral administration of 3,3',4,4',5-pentachlorobiphyenl on the intestinal microbiota of Sprague–Dawley rats

The effect of the endocrine-disrupting chemical 3,3',4,4',5-pentachlorobiphyenl (PCB 126) on intestinal microbiota after oral administration, and the improvement of intestinal microbiota and feces quantity by the subsequent administration of Lactobacillus acidophilus or Lactobacillus reuteri was investigated. All the rats were given 100 μg/kg bodyweight of PCB 126. The changes in bacterial counts were confirmed using a culture method. The administration of PCB 126 tended to decrease the bacterial counts of lactobacilli (10^9.6−10^10.2 to 10^8.8−10^9.2) and bifidobacteria (10^5.3−10^6.1 to 10^3.6−10^4.2), and to increase those of Enterobacteriaceae (10^8.2−10^9.1 to 10^9.4−10^10.3) and staphylococci (10^6.6−10^7.4 to 10^7.2−10^8.4) compared to no PCB 126 administration. After administration of PCB 126, L. acidophilus or L. reuteri orally administered to rats caused Enterobacteriaceae and staphylococci counts to decrease, suggesting that the intestinal microbiota was improved by the lactobacilli. The administration of L. acidophilus and L. reuteri improved the balance of intestinal microbiota, and defecation volume returned to its normal level. L. acidophilus and L. reuteri have a remedial effect on intestinal microbiota affected by PCB 126 and can function to lessen accumulated PCB 126 volume.     

Genetic parameters for production traits and measures of residual feed intake in Duroc and Landrace pigs

Data on 380 Duroc boars from seven generations, and 1026 Landrace pigs (341 boars and 685 gilts) from six generations were used to estimate genetic parameters for daily gain (DG), backfat thickness (BF), metabolic weight (MWT), daily feed intake (FI), feed conversion ratio (FCR) and residual feed intake (RFI). Two measures of RFI were estimated as the difference between actual feed intake and that predicted from models that included initial test age and weight and DG (RFI1); and initial test age and weight, DG and BF (RFI2). Heritability estimates for DG, MWT and FI were moderate for both breeds. BF estimates were high for both the breeds. The measures of feed efficiency (FCR and RFI) were moderately heritable. Genetic correlations of BF with measures of RFI were stronger when BF was not included in the estimation of RFI (0.40 and 0.46 for Duroc and Landrace, respectively (for RFI1), compared with 0.05 and 0.06 for Duroc and Landrace, respectively (for RFI2)). Genetic correlations of MWT with measures of RFI were all negative and low. Genetic and phenotypic correlations between DG and measures of RFI were close to zero, which indicated that selection for reduced RFI could be made without adversely affecting DG. BF should also decrease, and MWT should increase under selection for reduced RFI. The reduction in BF would depend on the measure of RFI used.     

Change in river water chemistry as affected by the confluence of forest drainage water in dairy farming area on Hokkaido Island, Northern Japan

We evaluated i) the difference in river water chemistry between a watershed mainly consisting of pasture and a watershed mainly consisting of forest, and ii) how the chemistry of river draining the pasture is influenced by that of the river draining the forest. We selected one river (designated as the T-river) draining the pasture (3,587 ha), and two rivers draining a forest (738 and 879 ha) in eastern Hokkaido, northern Japan. During higher river flow due to precipitation and thawing, the concentrations of NO ₃ ⁻ , SO ₄ ²⁻ , K⁺, Fe, and Al increased, suggesting the relative importance of the shallow soil layer as their source. On the other hand, Na⁺, Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺, and Si decreased, suggesting the relative importance of the source in a deep soil layer. The concentrations of NO ₃ ⁻ , Cl⁻, SO ₄ ²⁻ , K⁺, Na⁺, Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺, and Fe were higher in the T-river than in the forest drainage waters, suggesting the contribution of the excretion components from the milk cows. The Si concentration exhibited the opposite pattern. The concentrations of NO ₃ ⁻ , Cl⁻, SO ₄ ²⁻ , K⁺, Na⁺, Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺ (p<0.001), and Fe (p<0.05) in the T-river decreased after the confluence of the forest drainage waters, while Si concentration increased (p<0.001). The reason for the change in river chemistry was the confluence of the forest drainage waters. These findings suggested the environmental role of the forest in the dilution of the polluted river. Prof. S. Ohata, and Prof. H. Takeda, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, facilitated this study. Prof. T. Sakai, Graduate School of Informatics, Kyoto University, offered this study some convenience. Dr. M. Sakimoto, and Dr. M. Katsuyama, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, offered useful advise.     

Volatile organic compounds from wood and their influences on museum artifact materials II: Inference of causal substances of deterioration based on intercomparison of laser Raman spectra of deteriorated products

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from wood and their effects on artifacts are of intense interest to museum staff who must strictly manage the preservation environment. In this study, the causal substances of deterioration were inferred by comparison with laser Raman (LR) spectra of deterioration products. The artifact samples were deteriorated using VOCs from woods (WV test), and using specific substances that occur in wood VOCs (SV test). The deteriorated samples were analyzed by LR spectroscopy and the results of the WV and SV tests were compared. Hinokitiol and acetic acid were found to be two of the main causal substances of deterioration in western red cedar. Deterioration of iron and copper by spruce did not appear to be caused by acetic acid, as is generally assumed, but by some other unknown compound(s). Sensitivity to wood-based VOC components depended on the type of artifact. In western red cedar, mitsudasou (litharge) was very sensitive to acetic acid, while other artifacts were sensitive to hinokitiol. The LR method used in this study is very useful for the inference of causal substances of deterioration based on the detection of small amounts of deteriorated products such as those generated by deterioration due to wood VOCs. Part of this article was presented at the 25th Annual Meeting of the Japan Society for the Conservation of Cultural Property, Kyoto, June 2003     

Pericardial mesothelioma in a neonatal calf

We encountered an extremely rare tumor, a pericardial mesothelioma, in a neonatal calf. The patient calf showed severe abdominal distention, and died immediately after birth. The thoracic cavity was contained a huge heart with a large amount of pericardial fluid. A number of granular and cobblestone-like nodules were dispersed over the epicardium and pericardium. The nodules consisted of papillary proliferations of neoplastic cells, and the neoplasm occasionally showed mesenchymal proliferations. Immunohistochemistry revealed that they had the characteristics of mesothelial cells (cytokeratin-and vimentin-positive), and the neoplasm was diagnosed as mesothelioma.     

Parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP) and Ca levels in the milk of lactating cows

To investigate the roles of mammary PTHrP in calcium uptake and/or release in the mammary gland of cows, plasma PTHrP and Ca levels, and their arterial-venous differences were examined in a Jersey cow during the periparturient period. Levels of Ca in both abdominal aorta and abdominal subcutaneous vein blood slightly decreased around the parturition and at 24 days after the parturition, however, no remarkable arterial-venous differences were observed. Plasma PTHrP levels in both arterial and venous samples were below the detection limit (0.57 pmol/l) during the experimental period. Milk PTHrP and Ca levels were measured in 9 Holstein dairy cows. Although plasma PTHrP levels in all arterial and venous samples were also below the detection limit, milk PTHrP and Ca levels were remarkably high, ranging from 14,900 pmol/l to 41,200 pmol/l and from 772 mg/l to 1,200 mg/l, respectively. In addition, a significant positive correlation (P<0.01) was observed between milk PTHrP and Ca levels. These results suggested that mammary PTHrP is closely related to Ca concentration in the milk.     

Analysis of neutral glycosphingolipids from Trypanosoma brucei

Neutral glycosphingolipids (GSLs) were isolated from Trypanosoma brucei and analyzed by thin-layer chromatography (TLC), TLC/secondary ion mass spectrometry (TLC/SIMS), and liposome immune lysis assay (LILA). Three species of neutral GSLs, designated as N-1, -2, and -3 were separated on TLC. N-1 GSL migrated very close to glucosylceramide (GlcCer) and N-2 GSL showed the same mobility as lactosylceramide (LacCer). On the other hand, the mobility of N-3 GSL on the TLC plate was slower than globotetraosylceramide (Gb4). In order to characterize the molecular species of neutral GSLs from T. brucei, N-1, -2 and -3 GSLs were analyzed by TLC/SIMS. The TLC/SIMS analysis of N-1 of the parasites revealed a series of (M–H)⁻ ions from m/z 698 to 825 representing the molecular mass range of ceramide monohexoside (CMH) (GlcCer or galactosylceramide). On the other hand, the TLC/SIMS spectra of N-2 GSL revealed a series of (M–H)⁻ ions from m/z 944–987 indicating the molecular mass range of LacCer. In the TLC/SIMS analysis of N-3 GSL, however, the characteristic molecular ions that can elucidate the structure of N-3 GSL were not obtained. In order to confirm the results obtained from TLC/SIMS, N-1, -2, and -3, GSLs were tested by LILA with specific antibodies against GlcCer, LacCer, and Gb4, respectively. N-1 GSL had reactivity to anti-GlcCer antibody and N-2 GSL reacted with the antibody against LacCer. However, N-3 GSL was not recognized by anti-Gb4 antibody. Using anti-GlcCer and anti-LacCer antibodies, furthermore, we studied the expression of GlcCer and LacCer in T. brucei parasites. Both GlcCer and LacCer were detected on the cell surface of T. brucei.