Flow cytometric analysis of peripheral blood mononuclear cells induced by experimental endotoxemia in horse

Cellular activation and functional cell surface markers were evaluated during experimentally-induced endotoxemia in healthy horses. Eight healthy adult horses were infused a low dose of endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide from Escherichia coli O26: B6, 30 ng/kg of body weight, IV) and five control horses were given an equivalent volume of sterile saline solution. Venous blood samples were collected for flow cytometric analysis of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and to measure plasma endotoxin concentrations. Clinical signs of endotoxemia were recorded at 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 min, 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 16, 24 and 48 hr after endotoxin or saline solution administration. Clinical findings characteristic of endotoxemia (tachycardia, tachypnea, increased rectal temperature, and leukopenia) occurred transiently in all horses administered endotoxin; however, plasma endotoxin concentrations were detectable in only 50% (4/8) of the endotoxin-infused horses. The percentage of CD4(+), CD5(+), and CD8(+) cells decreased while the percentage of CD14(+), IgM(+), and MHC class II(+) cells increased significantly after endotoxin infusion. Alterations in the immunophenotype of PBMCs from horses with experimentally-induced endotoxemia were associated with changes in vital signs, indicating that endotoxin altered the immuno balance.     

Factors that Affect Spread of Pseudomonas syringae in the Phyllosphere

ABSTRACT Successful spread of an organism to a new habitat requires both immigration to and growth on that habitat. Field experiments were conducted to determine the relative roles of dispersal (i.e., immigration) and bacterial multiplication in spread of Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae in the phyllosphere. To study spread, individual plots consisted of three nested concentric squares with the inner 6 m(2) planted to snap beans serving as the sink. Each sink, in turn, was surrounded by a barrier zone, usually 6 m wide, which was surrounded by a 6-m-wide source area. The source areas were planted with snap bean seeds inoculated with doubly marked strains derived from wild-type P. syringae pv. syringae B728a. The treatments were designed to test the effects of the nature and width of the barrier zone and suitability of the habitat in the sinks on spread of P. syringae pv. syringae. The marked strains introduced into the source areas at the time of planting were consistently detected in sink areas within a day or two after emergence of bean seedlings in the sources as assessed by leaf imprinting and dilution plating. The amounts of spread (population sizes of the marked strain in sinks) across barrier zones planted to snap bean (a suitable habitat for growth of P. syringae pv. syringae), soybean (not a favorable habitat for P. syringae pv. syringae), and bare ground were not significantly different. Thus, the nature of the barrier had no measurable effect on spread. Similarly, spread across bare-ground barriers 20 m wide was not significantly different from that across barriers 6 m wide, indicating that distance on this scale was not a major factor in determining the amount of spread. The suitability of the sink for colonization by P. syringae pv. syringae had a measurable effect on spread. Spread to sinks planted to clean seed was greater than that to sinks planted with bean seeds inoculated with a slurry of pulverized brown spot diseased bean leaves, sinks planted 3 weeks before sources, and sinks planted to a snap bean cultivar that does not support large numbers of P. syringae pv. syringae. Based of these results, we conclude that the small amount of dispersal that occurred on the scale studied was sufficient to support extensive spread, and suitability of the habitat for multiplication of P. syringae pv. syringae strongly influenced the amount of spread.     

Reovirus isolation from healthy dogs in Japan

Twenty-two strains of viruses isolated from apparently healthy dogs were identified as reoviruses on the basis of their biological, physico-chemical and morphological properties. The cross hemagglutination-inhibition test revealed that all of them were of type 1, except one which was of type 3. The significance of reovirus isolation from healthy animals is discussed.     

2-arylalkanoates,a new group of synthetic pyrethroid esters not containing cyclopropanecarboxylates

Although structure modifications of natural pyrethrin constituents have disclosed a variety of potent synthetic analogues, all known examples are cyclopropanecarboxylate esters, a grouping that appeared to be essential for insecticidal activity. Some new substituted 2-phenylalkanoates, whose biological activities are of a similar nature and potency to those of conventional pyrethroids, are now reported. 5-Benzyl-3-furylmethyl and 3-phenoxybenzyl 3-methyl-2-phenylbutyrates and their analogues are potent insecticides. Activity is increased on the introduction of appropriate groups into the 3 and/or 4-positions of the aryl ring and the (S)-2-phenylalkanoates are far more active than their (R)-enantiomorphs. Structure/activity relationships are compared with those for conventional pyrethroids. Some of the new series compare favourably with typical insecticides in tests against Musca domestica, Spodoptera litura and Plutella xylostella.     

Electroencephalographic olfactometry (EEGO) analysis of odour responses in dogs

Scientists in many fields have studied olfaction in dogs, but no simple method exists to study this function. The olfactory ability of dogs is used in many fields. However, the owners of the dogs have a frustrating experience because there is not an easy method to measure olfactory function. The purpose of this study was to examine the characteristics of olfactory function of the dog with electroencephalographic olfactometry (EEGO) recording. It was found that slow waves decreased and rapid waves increased in response to odours. From these results, it is suggested that the rapid waves of EEGO activity are important in determining a dog's olfactory ability. The EEGO recording is effective in diagnosing anosmia in the dog and is easier than a behavioural experiment. Additionally, this method may not cause distress to an animal.     

Induction of callose in roots of Norway spruce seedlings after short-term exposure to aluminum

Callose (1,3-beta-glucan) is a suggested physiological indicator of aluminum (Al) toxicity in crop plants. It is not known if callose serves a similar function in forest trees, because quantitative data on callose formation in tree roots are limited, particularly under controlled conditions. To evaluate callose as a physiological indicator of Al toxicity in tree roots, we quantified callose formation in roots of Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) seedlings. Seedlings were grown in simulated soil solutions in the presence or absence (control) of Al under controlled conditions. In seedlings grown in solutions containing 280 microM Al, callose concentrations in roots were twice as high as control values after 6 h of Al treatment and 5 times higher than control values after 1 day. Thereafter, root callose concentrations gradually decreased and were only twice as high as control values after 7 days. The presence of various Al concentrations in the simulated soil solutions indicated that callose was induced by a relatively low Al concentration (84 microM). We conclude that callose in tree roots is an indicator of Al toxicity.     

Nitrogen budget of a rehabilitated forest on a degraded granitic hill

Rehabilitated forests established about 100 years ago on denuded lands in a hilly granitic area are widespread in the Kyoto–Osaka area, the second largest megalopolis in Japan. From 2001 to 2003, we monitored the annual nitrogen (N) budget of a rehabilitated forest watershed dominated by Quercus serrata and Ilex pedunculosa. The ion concentrations of bulk rain in the watershed were similar to those of other watersheds in Japan. The annual bulk rain input of N ranged from 5.1 to 6.3 kg N ha⁻¹ year⁻¹, and the N deposition from throughfall and stem-flow ranged from 7.5 to 8.2 kg N ha⁻¹ year⁻¹. Estimated annual outputs of N from the stream ranged from 3.3 to 10.6 kg N ha⁻¹ year⁻¹. These results indicate that the amount of N deposition in this area is less than that in urban Tokyo (>10 kg N ha⁻¹ year⁻¹), but the N output of the watershed is comparable with that of the Tokyo area. We discuss the characteristics of N dynamics in rehabilitated forests, focusing on the biogeochemical processes of this watershed.     

Root morphology and nutritional status of Japanese red cedar saplings subjected to in situ levels of aluminum in forest soil solution

There is little information on the effects of in situ levels of aluminum (Al) in the forest soil solution on the root morphology of Japanese red cedar (Cryptomeria japonica D. Don). We evaluated whether morphological and nutritional changes in the white roots of Japanese red cedar saplings grown in glass-bead culture for 18 weeks occurred in response to Al solutions at five concentrations: 0 (control), 0.05, 0.1, 0.5, and 1.0mM. Branching white roots treated with 0.5 or 1.0mM Al had some stunted, brown, thickened tips. Their mean lengths were significantly shorter than those of roots treated with 0.05 or 0.1mM Al. The maximum diameters of white roots treated with 0.5 or 1.0mM Al were significantly larger than those of the control. Treatment with 0.5 or 1.0mM Al reduced the concentrations of Ca and Mg in the white roots and increased the concentration of Al compared with the control. These results indicate that between 0.1 and 0.5mM Al, a drastic change occurs in the effects of Al on the morphology and nutritional status of white roots of Japanese red cedar saplings, and suggest that the Al levels in Japanese forest soils may induce morphological changes in the white roots.