Protection against Trp-P-2 DNA adduct formation in C57bl6 mice by purpurin is accompanied by induction of cytochrome P450

Purpurin, an anthraquinone constituent from madder root, has previously been reported as antimutagenic in the Ames Salmonella bacterial mutagenicity assay and as antigenotoxic in Drosophila melanogaster, against a range of environmental carcinogens. Short-term dietary supplementation with purpurin inhibits the formation of hepatic DNA adducts in male C57bl6 mice after a single dose of the heterocyclic amine dietary carcinogen Trp-P-2 (30 mg/kg). Inhibition of adduct formation was dose-dependent. No DNA adducts were observed in animals treated only with purpurin. The decrease in adduct formation was accompanied by significant, dose-dependent inductions of hepatic cytochrome P450-dependent dealkylations of methoxy- (CYP1A2), ethoxy- (CYP1A1), and pentoxy- (CYP2B) resorufins, total cytochrome P450, and NADPH cytochrome P450 reductase. It is hypothesized that purpurin exhibits chemopreventive potential by inhibiting the cytochrome P450-dependent metabolism of heterocyclic amines to their genotoxic N-hydroxylamines.     

Carbon allocation in mycelia of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi during colonisation of plant seedlings

The direction of carbon (C) allocation in mycorrhizal mycelia is of fundamental importance to coexistence of individual plants. We therefore investigated the transfer of C from established plants to plant seedlings through fungal mycelia. C allocation by the arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungus Glomus intraradices, from ‘donor’ plants to mycelia in soil and two different species of introduced ‘receiver’ seedlings, was investigated in a pot experiment using ¹³C labelling and fatty acid analysis. After ¹³CO₂ application to the shoots of Trifolium subterraneum or Plantago lanceolata, used as donor plants, T. subterraneum and P. lanceolata receiver seedlings were introduced. Samples were collected 4-20 days after ¹³CO₂ application and analysed regarding ¹³C and the fatty acid 16:1ω5, the signature of AM fungi. ¹³C transfer from T. subterraneum donor plants was demonstrated by ¹³C enrichment of the roots of the receiver seedlings, but not from the P. lanceolata donor plants. ¹³C allocation to the neutral lipid fatty acid 16:1ω5 was only 1 ng in each receiver seedling, but 2 μg of the fatty acid in whole soil. The results indicate that C allocation through mycelial networks is influenced by the donor plant species, but is not directed towards receiver seedlings to any higher degree than towards other directions. The importance of the extraradical AM fungal mycelium as a C sink was demonstrated.     

Automated analysis of fine‐root dynamics using a series of digital images

Information related to the growth of fine roots is important for understanding C allocation in trees and the mechanisms of C cycling in ecosystems. Observations using a camera or scanner embedded in the soil enabled us to obtain continuous images of fine‐root‐growth dynamics. However, these methods are still labor‐intensive because the image analysis has to be conducted manually. We developed an automated method for tracking movement or elongation of fine roots using a sequence of scanner images. We also show how data obtained with these methods can be used for calculating fine‐root behavior. Two A4‐size scanners were buried in a mixed forest in Japan and images were taken continuously from within the soil. We preprocessed these images by extracting the fine‐root area from the images and developed an automated calculation plug‐in we named A‐root for tracking growth movement of the tips of fine roots. A‐root and manual‐tracking results were compared using the same images. The results show the A‐root and manual‐tracking methods yielded similar levels of accuracy. The average growth rate of 17 fine roots tracked using the program was 0.16 mm h^–1. The observation of the direction of growth in fine roots showed the direction may be influenced by the original root's growth where the fine roots branched, distribution of soil particles, other roots, and the force of gravity. The A‐root analysis also suggested there may be an interaction between speed of growth and changes in direction of growing fine roots.     

电阻抗分析法在海藻酸钙胶囊干燥中的应用

海藻酸钙胶囊是由大分子、水分子和离子组成的复杂网络结构,其水分含量很高(约3500%,以干基计)。在海藻酸钙胶囊干燥过程中,用常规分析方法确定干燥机理和硬化反应关键点等比较困难。电阻抗分析法在实际分析中有很多优点,该研究用于监控海藻酸钙胶囊的干燥进程。确定了电阻抗分析法的测定条件,测定并分析了几种干燥过程中电阻抗特性的变化     

Histopathologic effect of in ovo exposure to methotrexate at early embryonic stage on optic tectum of Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica)

The optic tectum of Japanese quail embryos with in ovo exposure to methotrexate 100 ng/g egg on embryonic day 4 was examined from 3 to 24 hour after treatment. At 9 hour after methotrexate exposure, several apoptotic neuroepithelial cells appeared in the ventricular zone of the optic tectum; these increased in number and were diffusely distributed throughout all layers of the ventricular zone of the optic tectum at 12 hour. At 24 hour, neuroepithelial cells in the ventricular zone of the optic tectum were eliminated and showed sparse cell density. Throughout the experimental period, proliferation of neuroepithelial cells in the ventricular zone of the optic tectum of methotrexate-treated embryos was inhibited. These results suggest that neuroepithelial cells in the ventricular zone of the optic tectum in Japanese quail embryos can be affected by folic acid antimetabolites, methotrexate, at an early embryonic stage.     

First report of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Impatiens necrotic spot virus</Emphasis> infecting chrysanthemum (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Chrysanthemum morifolium</Emphasis>) in Japan

In 2009, chlorotic mottle and necrosis were observed on chrysanthemums (cv. Jimba) in Aomori Prefecture, Japan. A virus was isolated from the chrysanthemum plants by serial local-lesion transfer. The symptoms exhibited by the test plants, the particle morphology, the features of the protein and the potential for transmission by thrips were similar to those for Impatiens necrotic spot virus (INSV). The partial nucleotide sequences of the nucleocapsid protein gene and the 3′-untranslated sequence of the S RNA shared 99% identity with that of an INSV isolate. This report is the first of INSV infection of chrysanthemums in Japan.     

Effect of Dietary Inclusion of Blue Mussel Extract on Growth and Body Composition of Japanese Flounder Paralichthys olivaceus

Dietary inclusion of a water-soluble fraction of blue mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis was examined as a feeding stimulant for juvenile Japanese flounder Paralichthys olivaceus . The control diet mainly consisted of fish meal, potato starch, and pollack liver oil. Five, 10, and 20% (weight/weight) of the control diet was exchanged with aqueous extracts of blue mussel meat in experimental groups. Fish of about 10 g in initial body weight were fed each diet to satiation, twice daily, 6 d per wk for 6 wk at 20 C. The final body weight, weight gain, and feed efficiency of fish fed the diets containing blue mussel extracts were significantly higher than those of fish fed the control diet. However, these parameters were not different among experimental groups containing blue mussel extract independent of the inclusion level of extract. A similar trend was shown in protein efficiency ratio as fish fed the control diet had a significantly lower protein efficiency ratio than the other dietary groups. Compared to the control diet, higher plasma protein and lower triglyceride were found in fish fed the diets with the extract, while other blood constituents were relatively similar for the dietary groups tested. On the other hand, whole-body crude lipid content and lipid retention of fish fed the diets with the extract were generally significantly higher than those of fish fed the control diet. Whole body crude protein was identical regardless of the dietary composition; however, protein retention of fish showed a similar trend to lipid retention.     

Diffuse global granulomatous glomerulonephritis in a pig

Diffuse global granulomatous glomerulonephritis with unique morphological characters was detected in a pig. The structure of the basement membrane of glomerular tufts was destroyed in almost all glomeruli. Various inflammatory cells consisted mainly of macrophages infiltrated severely into the glomerular tuft and the Bowman's space of and extended to the periglomerular interstitium. Periarteritis with fibrinoid necrosis was occasionally seen in the arterioles and small arteries running through the renal parenchyma and pelvis. In the present case, the results of either the immunohistochemical reactions to the antigens against PRRSV or PCV-2 or Ziel-Neelsen staining for acid-fast bacilli were negative and no pathogenic bacteria were cultured.     

Deformed liver with prominent proliferation of bile ducts in a pig

A deformed liver characterized by remarkable ductular proliferation was encountered in a 6-month-old pig and examined histopathologically. The most conspicuous histopathologic change was a mild to severe ductular proliferation in the interlobular areas without any degenerative changes of cholangiolar epithelial cells or hepatocytes. Fibrotic changes and reconstruction of the lobule were not found. Morphological evidence of intrahepatic and extrahepatic cholestasis was lacking. Other characteristics were deformity with displacement of the gall bladder, irregular shape and size of lobules, and structural abnormality of large-sized vessels. The severe ductular proliferation was considered to be due to structural malformations of the excretion channel of bile.