Differential characteristics of microfold cells on the dome epithelium of porcine ileum

The monospecific antibody directed against cytokeratin 18 consistently immunostained microfold cells (M‐cells) in the ileum epithelium of pigs. In adult pigs, M‐cells were numerously distributed in the dome epithelium overlying Peyer's patches, especially in the crypt epithelium to the lower dome epithelium. The M‐cells presented in the crypt epithelium were mostly columnar in shape and showed a gradual transition from columnar cells to pocket‐like cells as they drew near the lower dome epithelium. In contrast, the M‐cells that were sporadically located in the villus epithelium were all columnar and similar to enterocytes in shape. In newborn pigs, a few M‐cells were observed only in the infant dome epithelium, which were all columnar resembling the enterocytes. Of the 19 lectins used, the dome epithelial cells were selectively stained by lectins from Ulex europaeus‐I and Anguuilla anguilla. Especially, the M‐cells were stained by lectin from Anguuilla anguilla although the intensity varied on individual pigs. Lymphoid follicles in the lamina propria were well developed in the adults compared to these in the newborns, and lymphoid cells were more populated in the lower part than the upper part of the dome. The present results provide available information to understand the differentiation and functional heterogeneity of porcine M‐cells.     

Phosphorus and nitrogen excretion during growth span of carp kept under two rearing systems

ABSTRACT:   Two feeding trials were performed on carp to investigate phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N) excretion during their growth span. Trial I was conducted under laboratory conditions by feeding 3.9 g carp an experimental diet (crude protein 34.8%, total P 1.41% and available P 0.67%) for 280 days under controlled conditions. Trial II was performed with 72.8 g carp, feeding them a commercial diet (CP 35.8%, total P 1.62% and available P 0.75%) for 180 days on a practical scale. Fish grew throughout the experiment in trial I, whereas they stopped growing in trial II when the water temperature fell below 15°C. In both trials, P and N content in fish body increased with increasing weight until it plateaued when fish were between 500 and 600 g. The retention rates of the two elements also followed a similar pattern, but decreased beyond the size range mentioned above. In both trials, P and N loading increased with an increase in fish size, but such a pattern was less evident until a bodyweight of 600 g, the trend being more pronounced in trial II. The results of the present study indicate that excretion is higher during the slow-growing stage of carp and is, hence, influenced by fish size.     

Suspected panosteitis in a crossbred calf

A male crossbred calf developed a limp and pain upon deep pressure on the right hind limb and the right forelimb. The radiographic findings of affected limbs and pathological findings of bone biopsy were similar to those observed in canine panosteitis. This is the first case of suspected panosteitis reported in cattle.     

Development of lowland weed management and weed succession in Japan

Since the introduction of rice production in Japan, lowland areas have been managed for rice production with the purpose of better rice growth, as well as lesser weed infestation. Rice is cropped every year in lowland fields by repeated cultivation of a single crop, with high yields and without soil sickness usually being observed in upland fields. This is probably because the irrigation water supplies various nutrients for healthy rice growth and the drainage washes out and removes harmful factors. However, until recently, the wet or flooded conditions of lowland fields in the Asian monsoon region never have allowed humans to cultivate useful summer crops, except rice or some aquatic plants. Therefore, the management of lowland areas in the Asian monsoon region has been significantly different from European field management, where crop rotation has been the traditional standard practice. Paddy weeds are aquatic plants or hygrophytes that have adapted to lowland fields. Traditionally, tillage and puddling were practiced seasonally in lowland fields on a regular schedule every year. Rice cultivation technology was developed and supported by regional irrigation systems that created stable environments for typical paddy weeds to complete their life cycle. After the introduction of chemical weed control, rice fields became very severe habitats for these paddy weeds, where they could not grow and reproduce without strategies for survival under herbicide exposure. Even so, many of the traditional paddy weeds survived because of their accumulated or uneradicated seed banks, although several aquatic plants were listed as endangered or threatened species. The important weed species changed, sometimes rapidly and sometimes slowly, depending both on their reproductive system and their biological response towards field management and weed control systems. Very recently, the level of perennial weeds, herbicide‐resistant weeds, and weedy rice has increased in paddy fields that are highly dependent on herbicide use. In addition, several hygrophyte species have invaded paddy fields. In order to address these issues, the improvement and application of integrated weed management methods are expected to be critical.     

Assisted reproductive techniques for canines: preservation of genetic material in domestic dogs

Assisted reproductive techniques (ARTs), such as artificial insemination, in vitro fertilization, and cryopreservation of gametes/zygotes, have been developed to improve breeding and reproduction of livestock, and for the treatment of human infertility. Their widespread use has contributed to improvements in human health and welfare. However, in dogs, only artificial insemination using frozen semen is readily available as an ART to improve breeding and control genetic diversity. A recent priority in sperm cryopreservation is the development of alternatives to egg yolk, which is widely used as a component of the sperm extender. Egg yolk can vary in composition among batches and is prone to contamination by animal pathogens. The latter can be a problem for international exchange of cryopreserved semen. Low-density lipoprotein and skim milk are promising candidates for use as extenders, to ensure fertility after artificial insemination. Although not tested for its effects on fertility following artificial insemination, polyvinyl alcohol may also be a useful alternative to egg yolk as an extender. The development of cryopreservation techniques for canine embryos lags behind that for other mammals, including humans. However, given the success of non-surgical embryo transfer in 2011, studies have sought to refine this approach for practical use. Research on sperm cryopreservation has yielded satisfactory results. However, investigation of other approaches, such as cryopreservation of oocytes and gonadal tissues, remains insufficient. Techniques for the efficient induction of estrus may aid in the development of successful canine ARTs.     

Effects of reduced glutathione supplementation in semen freezing extender on frozen-thawed bull semen and in vitro fertilization

During cryopreservation, spermatozoa may suffer cold and cryo-induced injuries ―associated with alterations in cell defense systems― that are detrimental to their function and subsequent fertility. This study aimed to determine the efficacy of supplementing the semen freezing extender with the antioxidant reduced glutathione (GSH) in cattle. Semen was collected from four bulls and diluted in a freezing extender supplemented with or without GSH (0, 1, 5, and 10 mM) before the cooling step of the cryopreservation process. After thawing, the quality of the frozen-thawed semen was investigated for motility, viability, acrosomal and DNA integrity, and subsequent embryo development after in vitro fertilization of bovine oocytes. Additionally, semen from one of the bulls was used to analyze semen antioxidative potential, sperm penetration into oocytes, male pronucleus formation rate, and embryo DNA integrity. The sperm quality varied among bulls after GSH supplementation. One bull had decreased sperm total motility, and two bulls had decreased sperm DNA integrity. GSH supplementation had positive effects on embryo development for three bulls. Two of them showed both improved cleavage and blastocyst formation rates, while the other one only showed an improved cleavage rate. We observed positive effects on early male pronucleus formation and no negative effects on DNA integrity and cell number in blastocyst stage embryos. Although the effect varies depending on individual bulls and GSH concentration, GSH supplementation in semen may improve in vitro embryo production from frozen semen.     

Growth of juvenile common snook (Centropomus undecimalis Bloch, 1792) reared at different temperatures and salinities: Morphometric parameters,RNA/DNA,and protein/DNA ratios

We investigated the growth of juvenile common snook (Centropomus undecimalis) reared at 25°C and 28°C and salinities of 0.3, 15, and 32 g L^?1. Total length, weight, RNA/DNA, and protein/DNA ratios were determined after 90 days of experiment. Higher growth was observed at 28ºC compared with 25°C, at the same salinity. At 28°C and 15 g L^?1 salinity, the weight (25.14 g) of juveniles was twice that of the juveniles reared at the lower temperature. At different salinities, only higher temperature affected growth, with higher weight values obtained at 15 g L^?1 in comparison with 0.3 and 32 g L^?1. Length was similar at 0.3 and 15 g L^?1. The RNA/DNA ratio was greater in juveniles reared at a salinity of 15 g L^?1 when compared with 0.3 and 32 g L^?1. This study shows that the combination of higher temperature and intermediate salinity promotes better growth of common snook juveniles.