Compression wood induced by 1-N-Naphthylphthalamic acid (NPA), an IAA transport inhibitor

Summary NPA, applied in a 2–3 cm band around the middle protion of 2- or 3-year-old internodes of three vertically-oriented six-year-old Sugi trees (Cryptomeria japonica D. Don), brought about abnormal thickening all over the upper segment from the NPA treatment. Xylem tissues above and below the treatment, as well as at the treated area itself, was examined by ordinary light microscopy and by scanning electron microscopy. The results obtained seemed to indicate that the tissue formed after treatment in the upper segment of the stem was true compression wood. In the lower segment of the stem, no abnormal tissue but a small amount of latewood-like tissue was produced after treatment.Referring to the previous studies in which morphactin, another IAA transport inhibitor, has induced compression wood, we consider it likely that compression wood formation must be induced by high concentrations of endogenous IAA, which could be brought about by blockage created not only by NPA and morphactins, but also by IAA transport inhibitors in general.     

Therapeutic antibodies: their mechanisms of action and the pathological findings they induce in toxicity studies

Antibodies can swiftly provide therapeutics to target disease-related molecules discovered in genomic research. Antibody engineering techniques have been actively developed and these technological innovations have intensified the development of therapeutic antibodies. From the mid-1990’s, a series of therapeutic antibodies were launched that are now being used in clinic. The disease areas that therapeutic antibodies can target have subsequently expanded, and antibodies are currently utilized as pharmaceuticals for cancer, inflammatory disease, organ transplantation, cardiovascular disease, infection, respiratory disease, ophthalmologic disease, and so on. This paper briefly describes the modes of action of therapeutic antibodies. Several non-clinical study results of the pathological changes induced by therapeutic antibodies are also presented to aid the future assessment of the toxic potential of an antibody developed as a therapeutic.     

Determination of theaflavins including methylated theaflavins in black tea leaves by solid-phase extraction and HPLC analysis

A quantitative method for four theaflavins and two methylated theaflavin derivatives in black tea leaves was developed by solid-phase extraction and a high-performance liquid chromatographic method with photodiode array detection. The theaflavins in black tea leaves were extracted three times with 40 vol 50% aqueous ethanol (mg dry tea powder/mL) containing 2% ascorbic acid. The ethanol extracts were diluted 4-fold with distilled water. All diluted extracts were directly applied to the solid-phase C18 cartridge column without concentration. The fraction of theaflavins was obtained by 40% ethanol extraction after rinsing with water followed with 15% ethanol extraction. An aliquot of theaflavins after concentration was injected onto an ODS C18 reversed-phase column, and four theaflavins and two methylated theaflavins were sufficiently separated by a linear gradient system using distilled water and acetonitrile with 0.5% acetic acid. This analytical method is sensitive for the determination of a small amount of methylated theaflavins, since various interfering substances produced during the fermentation process were eliminated in advance by solid-phase extraction. Using this analytical method, we also demonstrated that methylated theaflavins were easily produced during the manufacture of black tea.     

Stocking effectiveness of hatchery-released kuruma prawns estimated by two-stage sampling of commercial catch in Ariake Sound, Japan

ABSTRACT:    To evaluate the stocking effectiveness of the kuruma prawn Penaeus japonicus , a two-stage sampling survey of Gensiki bottom-drift-netters was carried out in Ariake Sound, Saga Prefecture, Japan. A total of 471 000 hatchery-produced juveniles, marked by cutting off the right uropods, was released. Thirty-three fishing days were randomly drawn from four boats, which were selected from the 80 boats operating in the fishery. All prawns caught on the selected days were examined, and the hatchery-produced individuals were identified by their regenerated uropods. A telephone survey of all boats was also conducted, to determine the number of fishing days. A total of 286 marked prawns were caught on the survey days for the Saga area in Ariake Sound, from the last half of July to the first half of September 2002. The recapture rate and standard error were estimated at 0.76 ± 0.52%. Economic efficiency was estimated at 0.28 ± 0.02. Strategies for sampling schemes and stock recovery are also discussed.     

Reproductive parameters of the chub mackerel <Emphasis Type="Italic">Scomber japonicus</Emphasis> estimated from human chorionic gonadotropin-induced final oocyte maturation and ovulation in captivity

ABSTRACT:   Final oocyte maturation and ovulation of captive chub mackerel Scomber japonicus with fully yolk-accumulated oocytes were induced by a single injection of human chorionic gonadotropin. Reproductive parameters, including spawning frequency and batch fecundity, which are required to estimate spawning biomass in pelagic fish by the daily egg production method, were analyzed. Germinal vesicle migration (GVM) occurred at 18–24 h post-injection, and the hydration and ovulation of oocytes were completed at 30 and 36 h post-injection, respectively. The results of the maturation process suggest that fish with GVM-stage ovaries captured in the daytime from the field are capable of spawning on the night following their capture. The oocytes used in the oocyte size-frequency distribution method for batch fecundity estimates should be at late GVM and more advanced stages. The results of sequential artificial insemination showed that the quality of ovulated eggs held in the ovarian lumen rapidly deteriorated as time progressed after ovulation. This indicates that the fertilization window for the ovulated eggs of chub mackerel lasts only a few hours, and spawning behavior should be performed within a few hours after ovulation in the wild population.     

Mottled coloration of haploid-diploid and diploid-triploid mosaic amago salmon Oncorhynchus masou ishikawae

ABSTRACT:   Mottled amago salmon Oncorhynchus masou ishikawe with both yellow- and dark-pigmented skin occurred together with typical albino individuals in a commercial farm. Out of 12 mottled fish examined by DNA content flow-cytometry and erythrocytic nucleus size, three were diploid, eight were haploid-diploid mosaic and one was diploid-triploid mosaic. This fact indicates that the mottled coloration might link to polyploid mosaicism. Genotype of diploid and non-diploid cells at the albino locus was estimated in nine mature mottled fish by observing the frequency of wild-type and albino progeny when mating to homozygous albino ( aa ). One diploid and three haploid-diploid mosaic mottled fish were presumed to have mosaic genotype with both hemizygous ' a ' and heterozygous ' Aa ' cells ( a/Aa ), because the segregation ratio between two phenotypes was 1 : 1. Three other haploid-diploid mosaic fish were presumed to have mosaic genotype with both hemizygous ' a ' and homozygous ' AA ' cells ( a/AA ), because of exclusive occurrence of wild-type phenotype in the progeny. The diploid-triploid mosaic mottled fish was presumed to have mosaic genotypes ' aa / AAA ', ' aa/AAa ' or ' aa / Aaa ', because this fish yielded only albino progeny. One diploid mottled fish produced both two phenotypes but albino embryos appeared with much more frequency than the expectation, when assuming the genotype ' Aa '. Thus, this fish was considered to have mosaic genotype ' Aa/aa '.     

Comparison in taste and extractive components of boiled dorsal muscle and broth from half-smooth golden puffer Lagocephalus spadiceus caught in Japan with those of the same fish imported

The taste and extractive components of boiled dorsal muscle and broth prepared from half-smooth golden puffer Lagocephalus spadiceus caught in Japan and from those imported from China were compared. In the sensory test, the first taste, elasticity, and saltiness of boiled muscle from Japanese (domestic) fish were higher than those of the imported fish, whereas the orthonasal fishy smell of the imported fish was higher than that of the domestic fish. The first taste, aftertaste, retronasal fishy smell, sweetness, saltiness, and umami of the broth prepared from dorsal muscle of the domestic fish were higher than those of the imported fish, whereas orthonasal fishy smell and bitterness of the imported fish were higher than those of the domestic fish. Most panelists preferred the overall taste of the domestic fish to that of the imported fish. The concentration of trimethylamine in the trichloroacetic acid extracts from boiled muscle and broth of the imported fish was higher than that of the domestic fish, suggesting that this substance contributes to the orthonasal fishy smell of the imported fish.     

Spontaneous well-differentiated pancreatic islet cell carcinoma with vascular invasion in a male F344 rat

This case report describes a case of spontaneous pancreatic islet cell carcinoma with vascular invasion in a 110-week-old male F344 rat. Histologically, a pancreatic nodule consisting of tumor cells and many blood-rich vessels, and covered with a fibrous capsule showed local invasion in the capsule and adjacent acinar tissues, encircling a large duct-like structure (DS). The tumor was composed of well-differentiated tumor cells resembling normal pancreatic islet cells, which had small round nuclei and eosinophilic cytoplasm. Mitotic figures were rare. Immunohistochemistry revealed that the tumor cells were positive for insulin. Although endothelial cells were not detected, the DS wall showed cells positive for α-smooth muscle actin and elastic fibers, suggesting that the DS is the pancreatic artery. This is a rare case of islet cell carcinoma consisting of well-differentiated tumor cells with invasion of the pancreatic artery in a rat.     

Direct and indirect markers of cartilage metabolism in synovial fluid obtained from dogs with hip dysplasia and correlation with clinical and radiographic variables

OBJECTIVE: To compare activities of interleukin (IL)-1beta, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-3 and contents of sulfated glycosaminoglycan (S-GAG) in joint fluid obtained from dogs with hip dysplasia (HD) and clinically normal dogs, evaluate correlations among these markers in joint fluid obtained from dogs with HD, and evaluate correlations between each marker and clinical and radiographic variables. Animals-26 dogs with HD (clinical group) and 43 clinically normal Beagles (control group). PROCEDURE: Joint fluid was aseptically collected from the hip joints of all dogs. For each dog in the clinical group, age, duration of lameness, radiographic osteoarthritis (OA) score, and Norberg angle in each affected joint were recorded. Activities of IL-1beta, IL-6, TNF-alpha, and MMP-3 and S-GAG contents were measured. Values were compared between groups by use of Mann-Whitney U tests, and the Spearman rank correlation test was used to evaluate correlations among markers and between each marker and clinical or radiographic variables. RESULTS: Values of all markers were significantly higher for the clinical group, compared with values for the control group. There was a moderate positive correlation between lameness duration and IL-6 activity and a strong negative correlation between the Norberg angle and IL-1beta activity. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Analysis of our results indicated that there was a significant increase in markers of OA in dogs with HD. Activities of IL-1beta and IL-6 in joint fluid of dogs with HD may be influenced by the severity of laxity in the hip joint and lameness duration, respectively.     

Diffuse bilateral hemangiosarcoma of the uterus in a dog

A 15-year-old female mongrel dog showed abdominal swelling, marked hemorrhagic ascites and vulvar discharge, and ovariohysterectomy was performed. Grossly, the uterus was enlarged bilaterally without apparent mass formation. Histologically, the uterine muscular wall was composed of proliferated sinusoidal vessels. In some areas, irregular and small vessels proliferated markedly, while in others, pleomorphic and atypical tumor cells forming irregular vascular structures were predominant. From these findings, the case was diagnosed as diffuse bilateral hemangiosarcoma of the uterus that invaded to the ovary and broad ligament. The relationship between the tumor and angiomatosis was discussed.