Two lignan rhamnosides from birch leaves

The extractives of shirakamba (Betula platyphylla Sukatchev var.japonica Hara) leaves were investigated. Two lignan glycosides were isolated, and their structures were elucidated to be 1-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-2-[1-(3--l-rhamnopyranosyloxypropyl)-3-hydroxyphenoxy]-1,3-propanediol (I) and a new 2,3-dihydro-2-arylbenzofuran configuration neolignan,cis-2,3-dihydro-2-(4--l-rhamnopyranosyloxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-3-hydroxymethyl-7-hydroxy-5-benzofuranpropanol (II). These neolignan rhamnosides were newly found in shirakamba.     

Identification of marker genes for intestinal immunomodulating effect of a fructooligosaccharide by DNA microarray analysis

Prebiotic fructooligosaccharides are noted for their intestinal immunodulating effects, and the identification of markers for the effects is a matter of great concern. This study aimed to identify marker genes for physiological effects of a particular fructooligosaccharide (FOS) on a host animal and also to define the target of its function in the small intestine. DNA microarray technology was used to screen candidate marker genes, and comprehensive changes in gene expressions in the ileum of mice fed with FOS were investigated. One of the major physiological effects of FOS was intestinal immunomodulation. Marker genes were then identified for major histocompatibility complex classes I and II, interferon, and phosphatidylinositol metabolites. Also, the ileum was segmented into Peyer's patch (PP) and the other ileal organ (DeltaPP), and these were analyzed by quantitative RT-PCR method, with the result that the site for recognizing the FOS function was the DeltaPP rather than the PP. This is the first paper showing the markers for the physiological effects of FOS in the small intestine at gene expression level. Applying these marker genes would make it possible to clarify the mechanisms of how the administration of dietary FOS and associated changes in the intestinal environment are recognized by host organisms as well as how its immunomodulating effects are expressed in the body.     

Cardiovascular effects of continuous propofol infusion in horses

We examined the influence of propofol infusion on cardiovascular system at the rate of 0.14, 0.20 and 0.30 mg/kg/min in six adult Thoroughbred horses. The cardiovascular parameters were heart rate (HR), mean arterial pressure (MAP), mean right atrial pressure (MRAP), stroke volume (SV), cardiac output (CO), systemic vascular resistance (SVR), pre-ejection period (PEP) and ejection time (ET). In order to keep the ventilation conditions constantly, intermittent positive pressure ventilation was performed, and the partial arterial CO(2) pressure was maintained at 45 to 55 mmHg during maintenance anesthesia. SV showed a significant dose-dependent decrease however, CO did not show significant change. SVR decreased significantly at higher dose. PEP was prolonged and PEP/ET increased significantly at the highest dose. From these results, it became clear that SV decreases dose-dependently due to decrease of cardiac contractility during anesthesia with continuous propofol infusion in horses. On the other hand, since MAP and CO did not show significant changes, total intravenous anesthesia with propofol was suggested to be suitable for long-term anesthesia in horses.     

Development and biological properties of a new live attenuated mumps vaccine

To develop a new live attenuated mumps vaccine, a wild mumps Y7 strain isolated from a patient who developed mild parotitis was treated with nitrosoguanidine and ultraviolet, followed by selection of a temperature-sensitive clone. The selected clone, Y125, showed stable temperature-sensitivity in Vero cells. Intraspinal inoculation of marmosets with the Y125 produced only minimal histopathological changes, while intracerebral inoculation of neonatal rats revealed that the Y125 did not cause hydrocephalus. Both these effects of the Y125 were similar to those of the non-neurovirulent Jeryl Lynn strain. Furthermore, subcutaneous inoculation of the Y125 induced high levels of neutralizing antibodies in all Cercopithecus monkeys examined. Although the safety and immunogenicity should be confirmed in further field trials in humans, the present results indicate that the Y125 could be a promising vaccine candidate.     

Age-related Histological Findings in the Pineal Gland of Crl:CD(SD) Rats

To provide background data as the pathologic basis, the pineal glands of 190 male and 193 female Crl:CD(SD) rats at ages of 0–7, 51–58, 70–85 and 111 weeks were examined histologically in this study. Mineralization and fibrosis were common findings in the aged rats, whereas they were rarely found in the young ones; mineralization was present in 7, 44, 67 and 79% of males and in 0, 32, 67 and 79% in females, and fibrosis was present in 0, 29, 48 and 44% of males and 0, 18, 40 and 35% of females at ages of 0–7, 51–58, 70–85 and 111 weeks, respectively. Striated muscle fiber appeared regularly in the fibrosis region from 51–58 weeks of age when fibrosis increased, while the origin of this fiber remained unclear. Vacuolation of pineal cells also increased with age in both sexes, though the total incidence was low. There was a low incidence of lymphocytic infiltration in both sexes, but this was not related to age.     

Differences between body condition scores and body weight changes in postpartum dairy cows in relation to parity and reproductive indices

Weekly changes in body condition score (BCS) and body weight (BW) were compared in relation to parity and the timing of postpartum reproductive events. To eliminate the effect of frame size, the BW loss (%) was used for analysis using 26 primiparous and 24 multiparous Holstein cows. Compared with primiparous cows, multiparous cows showed significantly lower BCS and greater BW, but had the same BW loss. Recovery from the BW nadir initiated earlier than that from the BCS nadir and was independent of parity. For the 50 cows, those showing early occurrences of first ovulation, estrus, and insemination, or conception expressed the same BCS as those showing late occurrences. However, those cows that were late in ovulating, showing estrus and being inseminated showed a more severe decline in the BW than did those that were early; there was no significant difference between early and late conceiving cows. These results suggest that the BW loss (%) could be a parity-independent indicator of certain reproductive indices.     

Crown gall of tobacco caused by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Agrobacterium tumefaciens</Emphasis> biovar 1 in tobacco fields

Crown gall disease of tobacco was found in Iwate Prefecture, Japan in 1995. Ten bacterial isolates, obtained from the galls of tobacco, were identified as Agrobacterium tumefaciens (Smith and Townsend 1907) Conn 1942 biovar 1 based on their ability to induce galls on the 14 tested plants, including tobacco after needle-prick inoculation, and on 12 cultural, physiological, and biological characteristics. The growth of the causal organism was not inhibited in vitro by agrocin of A. radiobacter strain K84. This report is the first on the natural occurrence of crown gall caused by A. tumefaciens on tobacco plants.     

Kinetic constants for the inhibition of acetylcholinesterase by phenyl carbamates

The kinetic constants of a variety of substituted phenyl N-methyl- and N,N-dimethylcarbamates, which inhibit bovine erythrocyte acetylcholinesterase, were determined by various experimental procedures. A procedure in the presence of a chromogenic substrate was developed, based on the suggestion of Hart and O'Brien, and was compared with the conventional Main method. The dissociation equilibrium constant, K_d, and the carbamylation rate constant, k₂, were shown to apparently depend on the inhibitor concentration range used for the determination in both procedures. Assuming that the binding of further inhibitor molecules to the reversible complex and the carbamylated enzyme is significant under conditions with high inhibitor concentrations, the concentration dependence of the kinetic constants was nicely delineated. It is indicated that reliable constants are obtainable with a rather low inhibitor concentration range, whose product by k_i is of the order of 0.2–1.0 min^?1.