THE CATEGORIES OF ALUMINIUM- AND IRON-HUMUS COMPLEXES IN ANDO SOILS DETERMINED BY SELECTIVE DISSOLUTION

Thirty-three samples of Ando soils were extracted by sodium pyrophosphate (O.IM; pH 10) and by dithionite-citrate. The Al, Fe, and C contents of these two extracts offer a means of differentiating the status of humus in relation to Al and Fe in the different horizons. The humus that forms at first in the Al horizon has a very low complexing ability for Al and Fe and little is dissolved by pyrophosphate. The humus evolves with time or pedogenesis into forms that complex Al and Fe released from volcanic ash by weathering, and which are dissolved by pyrophosphate. In the old horizons, the humus further reacts with additional Al and Fe, some of which may be present as hydrous oxides or allophane-like constituents, allophane and imogolite. This reaction probably makes the humus less soluble in pyrophosphate.     

Free beta-hydroxy-gamma-aminobutyric acid in brain

By using the methods of paper chromatography and high-potential paper electrophoresis and by comparing the pattern of prepared extracts with that of synthesized beta-hydroxy-gamma-aminobutyric acid, we found that free beta-hydroxy-gamma-aminobutyric acid exists in the brains of mice, rabbits, cattle, and human beings.     

Changes in fertility of rainbow trout eggs retained in coelom

ABSTRACT:    Effects of prolonged retention time of ovulated eggs in the parental coelom on fertilization success were studied in rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss using cryopreserved sperm with a uniform fertilizing ability. Proportions of successful fertilization, eyed eggs and hatched alevins were examined at different time periods up to a retention time of 14 days beyond the ordinary stripping time, and were compared with eggs incubated in artificial coelomic fluids (ACF). Eggs that were retained longer in the coelom showed gradual decreases in all the proportions of successful fertilization, eyed eggs and hatched alevins. The progress of cleavage after fertilization slowed with prolonged retention times. Eggs incubated in ACF lost their fertilizing ability much sooner than those retained in the coelom. The hatching rate of eggs retained for 2 weeks in coelom was 36%, while it was 1% in those eggs incubated for 4 days in ACF. Thus, eggs retained in the coelom showed higher fertilization success than those incubated in ACF.     

Regression effect of carp, Cyprinus carpio L., peripheral blood lymphocytes on CHV-induced carp papilloma

Abstract. The effect of peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) of carp, Cyprinus carpio L., was investigated on the regression of papilloma which had been induced in carp experimentally infected with Herpesvirus cyprini (CHV). The regression of the papilloma was delayed in carp injected with anti-carp PBL serum. In addition, the spontaneous cytotoxic activity of PBL derived from normal carp was suppressed by injection with anti-carp PBL serum. These results suggest that the spontaneous cytotoxic activity of carp PBL plays an important role in the regression of carp papilloma.     

Herpesvirus cyprini: a search for viral genome in infected fish by infected fish by in situ hybridization

Abstract. Herpesvirus cyprini (CHV) genome was traced in carp, Cyprinus carpio L., after acute infection by the method of in situ hybridization with biotinylated probes. The viral genome was detected in several tissues including cranial nerve ganglia. Subcutaneous tissue and spinal nerves. However, at this stage, viral antigens were not detected and the virus was not isolated. The viral genome was also detected in the same fish tissues when papillomas were present which contained viral antigens and even infective virus particles. After papilloma regression, the viral genome was still detected in these tissues. It is suggested that CHV becomes latently established in cranial nerve ganglia, subcutaneous tissue and spinal nerves, and is associated with the induction and recurrence of papillomas.     

Polymerase chain reaction detection of single nucleotide polymorphisms in the chicken mitochondrial D-loop region

The D‐loop region in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) was sequenced and compared among six chickens. Eleven single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) were observed. For six of the SNP sites, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) primers that had each base (A, C, G and T) as the penultimate base at the 3′ end (N2 base) and bases specific to both alleles at the 3′ end were produced to type the polymorphisms. Twenty‐one out of 96 primers succeeded in distinguishing the SNP by the presence or absence of PCR product. This method provides an easy way to discriminate SNP in chicken mtDNA.     

The luteotrophic function of galectin-1 by binding to the glycans on vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 in bovine luteal cells

The corpus luteum (CL) is a temporary endocrine gland producing a large amount of progesterone, which is essential for the establishment and maintenance of pregnancy. Galectin-1 is a β-galactose-binding protein that can modify functions of membrane glycoproteins and is expressed in the CL of mice and women. However, the physiological role of galectin-1 in the CL is unclear. In the present study, we investigated the expression and localization of galectin-1 in the bovine CL and the effect of galectin-1 on cultured luteal steroidogenic cells (LSCs) with special reference to its binding to the glycans on vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR-2). Galectin-1 protein was highly expressed at the mid and late luteal stages in the membrane fraction of bovine CL tissue and was localized to the surface of LSCs in a carbohydrate-dependent manner. Galectin-1 increased the viability in cultured LSCs. However, the viability of LSCs was decreased by addition of β-lactose, a competitive carbohydrate inhibitor of galectin-1 binding activity. VEGFR-2 protein, like galectin-1, is also highly expressed in the mid CL, and it was modified by multi-antennary glycans, which can be recognized by galectin-1. An overlay assay using biotinylated galectin-1 revealed that galectin-1 directly binds to asparagine-linked glycans (N-glycans) on VEGFR-2. Enhancement of LSC viability by galectin-1 was suppressed by a selective inhibitor of VEGFR-2. The overall findings suggest that galectin-1 plays a role as a survival factor in the bovine CL, possibly by binding to N-glycans on VEGFR-2.     

A method of experimental infection of kuruma shrimp larvae, Penaeus japonicus Bate, with baculoviral mid-gut gland necrosis (BMN) virus

Abstract. Infectivity experiments were undertaken by water-borne inoculation of kuruma shrimp, Penaeus japonicus Bate, larvae with BMN virus. Mysis stage larvae were inoculated with the virus by exposure for 2h in sea water containing a homogenized and filtered preparation (450nm) of naturally BMN virus-infected shrimp stored for about 7 weeks at −80°C. Inoculated shrimp stocked in rearing jars were examined to determine whether nuclear hypertrophy of the mid-gut gland epithelial cells characteristic for BMN virus infection could be observed in fresh squash preparations under dark field illumination equipped with a wet-type condenser. Four days post-inoculation at 25–30°C incubation temperature were considered to be satisfactory for the experimental trial.     

Developmental stages of kuruma shrimp, Penaeus japonicus Bate, susceptible to baculoviral mid-gut gland necrosis (BMN) virus

Abstract. The stages of kuruma shrimp susceptible to BMNV were determined by water-borne infection at the fertilized egg, nauplius, zoea, mysis, and 2-day (P-2), 4-day (P-4), 6-day (P-6), 8-day (P-8) and 10-day-old (P-10) post-larval stages. Susceptibility to infection tended to decrease with advancing stages of development from zoea to P-10. The stages from zoea to P-4 were very susceptible, with much higher mortality and lower growth rates in virus inoculated animals compared to controls. P-6 shrimp were also highly susceptible with all inoculated animals becoming infected with the virus. However, this group grew only slightly less well than controls and no mortality was observed. P-8 and P-10 post-larvae were refractory to the disease showing no mortality and no loss of growth, even though some were slightly infected with the virus. Fertilized eggs and nauplii did not become infected with the virus using water-borne inoculation.     

Evaluation of caudal vena cava size using computed tomography in dogs under general anesthesia

This study investigated the association between caudal vena cava (CVC) size and circulatory dynamics in dogs using computed tomography (CT) under general anesthesia. The subjects were 104 dogs who had undergone CT under general anesthesia in the past. The ratio of short diameter of the CVC to aortic diameter (CVC_S/Ao) and the ratio of long to short diameter of the CVC (CVC_L/CVC_S) in the thorax and abdomen, respectively, were calculated using factors such as mean blood pressure (MBP), shock index (SI), anemia, hypoproteinemia, presence of intra-abdominal mass, and cardiac disease. There was a significant but negligible negative correlation between CVC_S/Ao and MBP. In contrast, no significant correlation was found between CVC size and SI. The low MBP group had significantly higher CVC_S/Ao of the thorax than the normal MBP group. The group with intra-abdominal mass had significantly lower CVC_S/Ao of the abdomen than the group without intra-abdominal mass. The group with cardiac disease had significantly lower CVC_L/CVC_S of the thorax than the group without cardiac disease. In multiple regression analysis, low MBP, cardiac disease, intra-abdominal mass, and anemia were significant factors for CVC_S/Ao of the thorax, CVC_L/CVC_S of the thorax, CVC_S/Ao of the abdomen, and CVC_L/CVC_S of the abdomen, respectively. In conclusion, CVC size assessment using CT in dogs under general anesthesia is influenced by various factors.