Effects of high ambient temperature and restricted feed intake on urinary and plasma 3-methylhistidine in lactating Holstein cows

Three experiments were performed to examine the effects of high ambient temperature and feed restrictions on urinary 3‐methylhistidine (3MH) excretion and plasma 3MH concentrations as a marker of myofibrillar proteolysis in lactating Holstein cows. In a crossover design, four cows were maintained during two 14‐day treatment periods with ad libitum feed intake under constant moderate (18°C) or high (28°C) ambient temperature (Experiment 1), with ad libitum or 70% ad libitum feed intake under constant moderate temperature (Experiment 2), and with 70% ad libitum feed intake under constant moderate or high ambient temperature (Experiment 3). The total digestible nutrients intake was decreased (P < 0.01) under high ambient temperature (Experiment 1) or feed restriction (Experiment 2). Across experiments, urinary 3MH excretion during days 10–14 of each treatment period was not different among treatments. However, the plasma 3MH concentrations at day 14 of treatment were increased significantly under high ambient temperature with subsequent reduced feeding (P < 0.01) or moderate temperature with feed restriction (P < 0.05), and were increased slightly (P = 0.11) under high ambient temperature alone. These results show that the plasma marker of myofibrillar proteolysis in lactating dairy cows was increased at day 14 of treatments of high ambient temperature with subsequent reduced feeding, moderate temperature with feed restriction, or high ambient temperature alone.     

Increase of ruminal fiber digestion by cellobiose and a twin strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae live cells in vitro

This experiment was designed to investigate the effects of different concentrations of cellobiose (CB) or a twin strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae live cells (YST) (20, 40 and 60 mg/60 mL), and CB + YST (60 + 20, 60 + 40, 60 + 60 mg/60 mL) on mixed ruminal microorganism fermentation in vitro. Ruminal fluid was collected from a cow, mixed with phosphate buffer (1:2) and incubated (60 mL) anaerobically at 38°C for 24 h with or without supplement plus 400 mg (dry matter [DM] basis) substrate (hay plus concentrate, 1.5:1). The medium pH numerically decreased with CB and CB + YST, but was unchanged with YST. The total volatile fatty acid and proportion of propionate increased (P < 0.05) in all cases. The proportion of acetate decreased (P < 0.05) with CB and CB + YST, but increased (P < 0.05) with YST and that of butyrate increased (P < 0.05) with CB and CB + YST, but decreased (P < 0.05) with YST. Ammonia‐N decreased (P < 0.05) with CB and CB + YST, but was unchanged with YST. The number of protozoa was unchanged, and that of cellulolytic bacteria increased (P < 0.05) in all cases. Total gas production increased (P < 0.05) in all cases. Methane decreased, hydrogen was unchanged by YST and both gases were unchanged by CB and CB + YST. The in vitro disappearance of DM and neutral detergent fiber increased (P < 0.05) by 11.2% and 8.9%, 9% and 8.5%, and 12.1% and 10.2% in the case of CB, YST and CB + YST, respectively. Therefore, the dietary supplementation of CB and/or YST may improve ruminal fermentation and digestibility.     

INTRAOPERATIVE SPINAL ULTRASONOGRAPHY IN TWO DOGS WITH SPINAL DISEASE

Ultrasonography was performed during spinal surgery on two dogs that were suspected of having intramedullary lesions by myelography and magnetic resonance imaging. Ultrasonographically, the pathologic conditions of the spinal canal or cord were adequately imaged during surgery in both dogs. On the basis of ultrasonographic findings, a biopsy was obtained in Patient 1 and removal of the lesion was accomplished in Patient 2. Histopathologic diagnosis was myelomalacia in Patient 1 and spinal nephroblastoma in Patient 2. Intraoperative ultrasonography was demonstrated to be suitable for detecting intradural conditions, and, thus, is valuable for increasing the accuracy of biopsies or completeness of resections of intramedullary lesions.     

Effects of cecectomy on digestion and retention time of digesta in rats

The present experiment aimed to obtain basic knowledge of the role of the cecum in the digestion of protein, fiber and energy, and in the retention of digesta in rats. Twelve healthy male Sprague–Dawley strain rats were used. The experiment lasted for 8 weeks following preliminary feeding. Crude protein [CP], acid detergent fiber [ADF], and energy digestibilities were measured in weeks 1, 4, and 7 of the experiment, while the digesta retention time was measured in weeks 2, 5, and 8. At the end of the test, the colon capacity was measured after killing the rats with diethyl ether. The effects of the cecectomy were not recognized in bodyweight gain, even while the feed intake was high and the feed efficiency was low due to the cecectomy. However these effects were not recognized in the latter half of the test periods. The mean retention time of digesta for the cecectomized rats was about 2 h shorter than that for the control group of rats, while the retention time of digesta in week 8 increased compared to weeks 2 and 5. The digestibility of each substance was significantly lower following the cecectomy. The colon became swollen because of the cecectomy and this swollen colon made up for the capacity of the dissected cecum. It had been considered that the cecum does not play a role in the digestion of nutrition for growth, however, the present results showed two types of effects of cecectomy: one that disappears in accordance with time after surgery (i.e. feed intake and feed efficiency), and another that continues for a longer period (i.e. digestibility, retention time of digesta).     

The novel polymorphism of the beta 3-adrenergic receptor gene and its distribution in domestic pigs and wild boars in Asia

The beta 3‐adrenergic receptor (ADRB3) is a G protein‐coupled receptor that is involved in regulating energy homeostasis. We have studied DNA sequences of porcine ADRB3 to find candidate genetic polymorphisms for economically important growth and performance traits in pigs. Five novel haplotypes derived from the three In/dels and 44 SNPs were identified among domestic pigs and wild boars. Three of them encode non‐synonymous amino acid sequences by five missense polymorphisms and a frameshift by a thymine insertion. The amino acid polymorphic sites were distributed as follows: one substitution was in extracellular loop 1, three substitutions were in intracellular loop3 and one substitution and the deletion of two amino acids were at the carboxyl‐terminal. There was no polymorphism in the transmembrane domains. In addition, we surveyed the allelic frequency of the thymine insertion that cause frameshift in South‐east Asian local pigs, including some commercial breeds and wild boars. This thymine insertion was distributed widely in the domestic pigs and wild boars. The frequencies of this allele were relatively low in Western improved breeds, while they were very common in Asian breeds and wild boars in Asia. This result indicates that this insertion originally occurred in ancient Asian wild boars and then circulated among Asian domestic pigs. This allele also spread over Western breeds, probably through the introgression of Asian pigs into European stocks during the 18th and 19th centuries.     

Behavior, performance and physical condition of laying hens in conventional and small furnished cages

The aim of the present study was to compare the welfare level and performance of laying hens between conventional and small furnished cages. At the age of 54 weeks, 120 White Leghorn layers were divided into four groups: four (C4) or six hens/cage in conventional cages and four or six (F6) hens/cage in furnished cages. Their behavior, number of steps taken, performance and physical condition were measured. Sham dust‐bathing was greater in conventional cages than in furnished cages (P = 0.05) and dust‐bathing, litter scratching and litter pecking were also observed in furnished cages. Other comfort behavior, moving and number of steps taken were more frequent in the four‐hen cages than in the six‐hen cages (P < 0.01, P < 0.001, P < 0.001, respectively). Though egg production and egg mass in C4 and F6 were lower than in the other groups, no significant differences were found in the other production measurements. Bodyweight gain was larger in the four‐hen cages than the six‐hen cages (P < 0.01). In conclusion, behavior was not restricted in the furnished cages, but activity and bodyweight gain were affected by group size (density) rather than cage design. Hereafter, the studies on suitable density in each cage design, using young layers, are required.     

A numerical study on the transport of eggs and larvae of Sergia lucens in Suruga Bay,Japan

Numerical experiments were performed to investigate the transport processes of eggs and larvae of Sergia lucens in Suruga Bay, Japan, focusing on the physical effects of the river water spreading. In the experiments, labeled particles, which were regarded as the eggs or early larvae of S. lucens with no (or weak) swimming ability, were passively transported in flow fields that were calculated by an ocean general circulation model. In the innermost region of the bay (off the Fuji River mouth) where there is no continental shelf, a retention area where the eggs and larvae could stay in a nutrient‐rich environment for a long time was formed, especially in the upper part of their habitation layers, by the large bulge with anticyclonic (clockwise) circulation. No retention area was formed in the western region of the bay (off the Oi and Abe River mouths) or in an additional experiment in which a continental shelf was artificially created in the innermost region. It was estimated that in the retention area, the residence time of the eggs and early larvae is prolonged by about a month. The formation of the retention area is controlled by the dynamics of the river water spreading, affected by the bottom topography and the Earth’s rotation. Moreover, the reason why S. lucens are only caught in abundance in Suruga Bay was discussed.     

Detection of granzyme B in CD3-positive cells infiltrated in lesional skin of a dog with erythema multiforme associated with zonisamide

In human erythema multiforme (EM), cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) play an essential role in the pathogenesis. In canine EM, immunohistochemical staining with anti-CD8 antibody using frozen sections has shown the involvement of CTLs; however, CTL infiltration has never been quantitatively analyzed. We herein quantitatively analyzed CTL infiltration by immunohistochemical staining with granzyme B and CD3 antibodies using paraffin sections of a dog with EM associated with zonisamide. The present results indicated approximately 70% of cells at the border between the epidermis and dermis consisted of CTLs. Detection of granzyme B and CD3 using paraffin sections employed in this study can be a clinically applicable method for detecting CTLs.     

Distribution of the FoToml gene encoding tomatinase in formae speciales of Fusarium oxysporum and identification of a novel tomatinase from F. oxysporum f. sp. radicis-lycopersici, the causal agent of Fusarium crown and root rot of tomato

The antifungal glycoalkaloid -tomatine accumulates in tomato plants and may protect plants from fungal infection. Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici, the causal agent of vascular wilt of tomato, produces a tomatinase (FoToml) that degrades -tomatine to the nontoxic compounds tetrasaccharide lycotetraose and tomatidine. Induction of tomatinases and the distribution of FoToml homologs were examined among 30 strains belonging to 16 formae speciales of F. oxysporum. Tomatinase activity was found in 27 strains belonging to 15 formae speciales, but FoToml homologs (>98% sequence identity) were detected in only six strains belonging to four formae speciales. To identify tomatinases other than FoToml, -tomatine-inducible proteins of another tomato pathogen F. oxysporum f. sp. radicis-lycopersici were analyzed by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. A protein with a molecular mass of 64kDa accumulated in the -tomatine-induced culture filtrates, and the protein had tomatinase activity, degrading -tomatine to lycotetraose and tomatidine.     

Analysis of yield attributes and crop physiological traits of Liangyoupeijiu,a hybrid rice recently bred in China

Crop physiological traits of Liangyoupeijiu, a “super” hybrid rice variety recently bred in China, were compared with those of Takanari and Nipponbare in 2003 and 2004 in Kyoto, Japan. Liangyoupeijiu showed a significantly higher grain yield than Nipponbare in both years, and achieved a grain yield of 11.8 t ha⁻¹ in 2004, which is the highest yield observed under environmental conditions in Kyoto. Liangyoupeijiu had longer growth duration and larger leaf area duration (LAD) before heading, causing larger biomass accumulation before heading than the other two varieties. Liangyoupeijiu had a large number of grains and translocated a large amount of carbohydrates from the vegetative organ to the panicle during the grain filling period. The three yield components measured were panicle weight at heading (P₀), the amount of carbohydrates translocated from the leaf and stem to the panicle during the grain filling period (ΔT), and the newly assimilated carbohydrates during grain filling (ΔW). It was found that the sum of P₀ and ΔT were strongly correlated with grain yield when all the data (n = 8) were combined (r = 0.876**). However, there was no significant difference in the radiation use efficiency (RUE) of the whole growth period between Liangyoupeijiu and Nipponbare for both years. Even though the growth duration was shorter, Takanari, an indica/japonica cross-bred variety, showed a similar yield to Liangyoupeijiu in both years. The mean RUE of the whole growth period was significantly higher in Takanari, 1.60 and 1.64 g MJ⁻¹ in 2003 and 2004, respectively, than in Liangyoupeijiu, which had a RUE of 1.46 and 1.52 g MJ⁻¹ in 2003 and 2004, respectively. The high grain yield of Takanari was mainly due to its high RUE compared with Liangyoupeijiu and its large P₀ and ΔT. Our result showed that the high grain yield of Liangyoupeijiu was due to its large biomass accumulation before heading, which resulted from its large LAD rather than its RUE.