Relationship between prey utilization and growth variation in hatchery‐reared Pacific bluefin tuna,Thunnus orientalis (Temminck et Schlegel), larvae estimated using nitrogen stable isotope analysis

In mass culture of Pacific bluefin tuna Thunnus orientalis, a marked growth variation is observed after they start feeding at 6–7 mm in body length (BL) on yolk‐sac larvae of other species, and the growth variation in tuna larvae is a factor leading to the prevalence of cannibalism. To examine the relationship between prey utilization and growth variation, nitrogen stable isotope ratios (δ¹⁵N) of individual larvae were analysed. A prey switch experiment was conducted under two different feeding regimes: a group fed rotifers (rotifer fed group), and a group fed yolk‐sac larvae of spangled emperor, Lethrinus nebulosus (fish fed group) from 15 days after hatching (6.87 mm BL). The fish fed group showed significantly higher growth than the rotifer fed group. Changes in the δ¹⁵N of the fish fed group were expressed as an exponential model and showed different patterns from those of the rotifer fed group. The δ¹⁵N of fast‐growing tuna larvae collected in an actual mass culture tank after the feeding of yolk‐sac larvae was significantly higher than those of the slow‐growing larvae, indicating that slow glowing larvae depended largely on rotifers rather than the yolk‐sac larvae.     

Relationship between the Placental Retention Time and the Reproductive Performance at the Foal Heat in Thoroughbred and a Comparison with Heavy Draft

The aim of this study was to clarify the relationship between the placental retention time (PRT) and the reproductive performance following mating at the foal heat in Thoroughbreds. For this purpose, we interviewed 292 farmers over a period of 3 years with questionnaires evaluating foaling, expulsion of placenta and reproductive performance at the foal heat in 1,432 mares. The obtained data were later compared with a previous study of heavy draft mares. The average of the PRT of the 1,432 Thoroughbred mares was 58 ± 88 min (mean ± SD). The mean PRT of Thoroughbreds was significantly shorter than that of the148 min of heavy draft mares. The incidences of retained placenta (RP) occurring in the Thoroughbred mares were 5.2 and 4.0%, for over 3 and 4 hr after foaling, respectively. The incidence of RP over 4 hr was significantly lower than that of 25% in heavy draft mares. The pregnancy rate at foal heat of the mares in which PRT was less than 3 hr was 37%, and it significantly decreased to 11% for those with PRT of more than 3 hr. In the comparison of the reproductive performance between Thoroughbred and heavy draft mares, the pregnancy rate of Thoroughbreds dropped drastically to 10% when PRT exceeded 40, and in consequence, the pregnancy rate of Thoroughbreds was significantly lower than the 30% of heavy draft mares, which had a PRT of over 4 hr. In conclusion, the Thoroughbred mares had a low incidence of RP, however, a PRT exceeding 3 hr severely affected the reproductive performance at the foal heat.     

Detection of novel kobu-like viruses in Japanese black cattle in Japan

During surveillance for bovine diarrhea of unknown causes in Japanese black cattle in Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan, we found two types of novel kobu-like viruses in fecal samples of calves. Sequence analyses revealed that they had L protein and 2A protein with H-box/NC sequence motif, which are present in kobuviruses. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that they were related to kobuviruses; however, they clustered apart from other kobuviruses. In the prevalence study of two types of novel kobu-like viruses, 16.9% and 10.4% prevalence of these viruses were observed in the feces of diarrheal calves in this area.     

Expressions of lipid oxidation markers, N(ε)-hexanoyl lysine and acrolein in cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity in rats

The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether N(ε)-hexanoyl lysine (N(ε)-HEL) and acrolein reflect the severity of cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity. Immunoexpression of N(ε)-HEL and acrolein in kidneys and their urinary concentration were examined up to day 4 post-cisplatin injection in rats. Cisplatin-induced tubular injury was observed histopathologically on days 2-4 after injection and became more severe time-dependently. On days 2-4, N(ε)-HEL and acrolein were immunostained in the cytoplasm of damaged tubular cells. Their immunostaining intensity and urinary levels increased as tubular injury became more severe. These results suggest that expressions of N(ε)-HEL and acrolein were associated with the pathogenesis of cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity.     

Hydrophobic silicone elastomer chamber for recording trajectories of motile porcine sperms without adsorption

Motile porcine sperms adhere to hydrophilic materials such as glass and plastics. The adsorption of sperms to a hydrophobic poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) membrane is less compared with that to glass. We investigated the linear velocity (LV) and amplitude of lateral head displacement (ALHD) of motile porcine sperm on glass and PDMS preparations using computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA). Significant decreases were observed in the 15-min LV (P<0.05) and ALHD (P<0.05) in motile porcine sperm on glass preparations compared with those on PDMS preparations. These differences were due to adsorption of the head and/or neck to hydrophilic substrates. Because of the elasticity of PDMS, we propose that a PDMS membrane should be used for CASA. To investigate the dynamics of motile porcine sperms with microfluidics, we do not recommend plasma treatment to bond PDMS and glass in the microchannel preparation; instead, we suggest that a PDMS molding process without plasma treatment be used for preparation of microfluidic channels.     

Identifying a new locus that regulates the development of rete ovarian cysts in MRL/MpJ mice

MRL/MpJ (MRL) is a mouse model for autoimmune disease and develops ovarian cysts with age. The ovarian cysts originate from the rete ovarii, which is considered to be the remnant of fetal mesonephric tubules. In a previous study, we analyzed the genetic background of ovarian cysts by using backcross progenies between MRL and C57BL/6N (B6) mice. By interval mapping, suggestive linkages were detected on several chromosomes (Chrs), and a significant linkage on Chr 14 was designated as MRL Rete Ovarian Cyst (mroc). In the present study, which evaluated 113 F2 intercross progenies, a significant linkage appeared on Chr 6 at the marker position D6Mit188 (likelihood ratio statistic = 18.5). In particular, the peak regions of Chrs 6 and 14, which contain major causative loci by backcross analysis, showed close reverse interaction. From these results, a locus on Chr 6 was identified as mroc2, the second major locus associated with ovarian cyst formation in MRL mice.     

Long-term changes in the assemblage of demersal fishes and invertebrates in relation to environmental variations in Tokyo Bay, Japan

Abstract Long-term changes in the demersal assemblage, including both fishes and invertebrates, in Tokyo Bay, Japan, were examined between 1977 and 1995. A total of 255 species were collected, of which 113 were regarded as representative in terms of occurrence. Multivariate analyses of the representative species showed that fluctuations in the catch were related to three periods that reflected changes in relative abundance and species composition. In particular, mantis shrimp, Oratosquilla oratoria (de Haan), whipfin dragonet, Repomucenus valenciennei (Temminck & Schlegel), and marbled sole, Pleuronectes yokohamae Günther, showed high dominance in the mid-1980s. Discriminant analysis suggested that the demersal assemblage changed synchronously with environmental conditions. Causes of the temporal changes in the demersal assemblage in relation to variations in environmental factors are discussed.     

Changes in drug resistance of Vibrio anguillarum in cultured ayu, Plecoglossus altivelis Temminck and Schlegel, in Japan

Abstract. Two-hundred-and-fifty-nine strains of Vibrio anguillarum isolated from diseased cultured ayu, Plecoglossus altivelis in various districts of Japan from 1974 to 1977 were studied for their sensitivity to 12 different chemotherapeutic agents: chloramphenicol (CM), tetracycline (TC), streptomycin (SM), kanamycin (KM), aminobenzyl penicillin (ABP), colistin (CL), nalidixic acid (NA), oxolinic acid (OA), piromidic acid (PA), furazolidone (NF), sulpharaonomethoxine (SA) and trimethoprim (TMP). One-hundred-and-thirty-four of the strains were additionally tested for sensitivity to O/129(2,4-diamino-6,7-diisopropyl pteridine) and ormethoprim (OMP). All strains were susceptible to SM, KM and ABP and also highly sensitive to CL. A correlation of resistance was found among the chemically-related drugs NA, OA and PA, and TMP, OMP and O/129, Nine strains were sensitive to all the drugs tested. The remaining 250 strains were resistant to various combinations of six drugs (CM, TC, NA, NF, SA and TMP). In particular, strains resistant to NA and NF (20.1%), to CM, TC, SA, NA and NF (29.7%) and to all six drugs (28.2%) were frequently detected. NA- or NF-resistant strains have increased since 1974 and TMP-resistant strains have increased since 1976. Transferable R plasmids were detected in 165 out of 250 resistant strains. The most common type of R plasmid determined resistance to CM, TC and SA. These multiple drug-resistant strains with transferable R plasmids were isolated from many different districts.     

Detection of transferable R plasmids in strains of the fish–pathogenic bacterium, Pasteurella piscicida

Abstract. Sixty strains of Pasteurella piscicida were collected from cultured yellow–tail, Seriola quinqueradiata Temminck & Schlegel, in various districts of Japan. These strains were tested for their sensitivity to 14 different chemotherapeutic agents and the detected drug resistant strains were investigated to determine whether or not they possessed R plasmids. All strains were most susceptible to ampicillin of the tested drugs. All except five strains were found to be susceptible to chloramphenicol (CM) and doxycycline (DOTC). However, the strains were only moderately susceptible to cephazolin, cephalexin, nalidixic acid, trimethoprim and ormethoprim, and their MIC values were under 3–lμg/ml. Twenty–one strains showed resistance to furazolidone (NF). Five out of the 60 strains were resistant to CM, tetracycline (TC), kanamycin (KM), NF and sulphamonomethoxine (SA). Transferable R plasmids were detected in these drug–resistant strains. These R plasmids had markers for resistance to CM, TC, KM and SA.