Dynamics of CD3+ T-cell Distribution Throughout the Estrous Cycle and Gestation in the Bovine Endometrium

T cells are the dominant lymphocytes in the endometrium and are considered to play a crucial role in implantation and in the maintenance of gestation through cytokine production and immune regulation. The mechanisms underlying immunoregulation at the feto-maternal interface are still obscure for this complex system. Understanding the role of T cells is a key factor in understanding the endometrial immune system. In this study, the distribution of endometrial CD3⁺ T cells in bovines was examined by immunohistochemical analysis. The estrous cycle and gestation was divided into 4 stages, and the number of CD3⁺-positive T cells was counted in each stage. CD3⁺ cells were found in the endometrium in significant numbers throughout the estrous cycle and were mostly located in the subepithelial area. The number of CD3⁺ cells significantly increased in the early and mid-luteal phases but decreased after implantation with the progression of gestation. No T cells were found in the placentome or specifically in the tissues near the fetus, including the trophoblastic area. In addition, very few T cells were found in stromal regions close to the myometrium of the endometrium. These findings suggest that downregulation of bovine endometrial CD3⁺ T-cell functions is closely related to the successful maintenance of gestation in a spatiotemporal manner.     

Nephroblastoma with transcoelomic metastasis in a Japanese black bull

This paper describes a nephroblastoma with transcoelomic metastasis in a three-year-old Japanese black bull. At necropsy, a huge, oval neoplastic mass containing the residual right kidney was found. Moreover, severe transcoelomic metastasis occurred throughout the abdominal and thoracic cavities. Histologically, the mass was mainly composed of sheets, nests, islands and cords of polygonal blastemal cells with trabeculae of fibrous stroma. In some areas, epithelial elements composed of tubules and winding duct-like structures were also observed. Glomeruloid structures were scattered in these epithelial elements. Metastatic nodules were composed of blastemal and stromal elements, which were similar to those in the mass.     

Measurement of porcine luteinizing hormone concentration in blood by time-resolved fluoroimmunoassay

We validated a time-resolved fluoroimmunoassay (TR-FIA) using the lanthanide element europium as a non-radiological tracer for measuring luteinizing hormone (LH) in porcine peripheral blood. The dose-response curve of the reference standard ranged from 0.2048 to 50 ng/ml. Good parallelism was noted between the LH standard and plasma sample. The profile of LH throughout the estrous cycle, assessed by daily blood sampling, was consistent with the previous findings obtained by radioimmunoassays (RIAs). Moreover, the secretory patterns of pulsatile LH in the follicular phase and the preovulatory LH surge were also similar to those obtained in previous RIAs. We conclude that TR-FIA can be used to measure LH levels in porcine blood, with practical and convenient applications.     

Trophic sources and linkages to support mesozooplankton community in the Kuroshio of the East China Sea

Many migratory fishes reproduce and recruit around the Kuroshio, and their survival of early life stages is supported by mesozooplankton. Mesozooplankton standing stocks and productivity equivalent to those on the continental shelf have been found in the Kuroshio; however, there is limited information on trophic sources and linkages to support the mesozooplankton community. Here, we evaluate mesozooplankton feeding on protists and their trophodynamics importance by removal bottle experiments in the Kuroshio of the East China (ECS‐Kuroshio). Pico‐ and nano‐autotrophs dominated chlorophyll a concentrations throughout the study sites across the continental shelf, within the Kuroshio path and in adjacent waters. Calanoid and poecilostomatoid copepods comprised more than 85% of mesozooplankton biomass. Significant mesozooplankton ingestion rates were found for nano‐autotrophs based on size‐fractionated chlorophyll; for haptophytes, chrysophytes, chlorophytes, and diatoms from pigment‐based phytoplankton analysis; and for naked ciliates in the microzooplankton. Based on the estimates of individual carbon budgets, nano‐autotrophs and naked ciliates ingested by mesozooplankton composed 39% of their food requirements, suggesting other available prey like nano‐heterotrophs. These results imply that mesozooplankton ingestion in the ECS‐Kuroshio has great impacts on protozoan and phytoplankton communities and their major trophic pathways are from nano‐sized auto‐ and heterotrophs and ciliates to copepods.     

Effects of spawning temperature on the reproductive characteristics of walleye pollock Gadus chalcogrammus

Fisheries Science - Reproductive characteristics under different water temperature regimes were examined in hatchery-reared walleye pollock Gadus chalcogrammus. The fish had been cultured for...     

Catch performance of coastal squid jigging boats using LED panels in combination with metal halide lamps

Squid attracting light systems consisting of low power light emitting diode panels (LEDs) and conventional metal halide lamps (MHs) were tested to describe the influence of combinations of LEDs and MHs on squid catch. Fishing trials using LEDs (9 kW) and different numbers of MHs were carried out in August and September 2009 targeting two squid species: (1) Japanese common squid Todarodes pacificus in northern waters of the Sea of Japan (off Hokkaido) by 4 coastal squid jigging boats (19 gross tonnage) and (2) swordtip squid Photololigo edulis in western waters (off Iki) by 5 boats of the same class. Catches of both species tended to increase with the number of MHs. Generalized Linear Model analysis revealed that in addition to the number of MHs, the catch amount was influenced by fishing power (ability) of boat and by the monthly variation of squid abundance (only for P. edulis off Iki). The expected catch (number of boxes) was not proportional to the number of MHs. The largest catch was expected for P. edulis off Iki by using LEDs with 24 MHs. The optimal combination of LEDs and MHs for T. pacificus off Hokkaido was less clear because the combination with 36 MHs had the largest positive effect on the catch; this was the maximum number MHs used.     

Background Data for General Toxicology Parameters in RccHan:WIST Rats at 8, 10, 19 and 32 Weeks of Age

Recently, RccHan(TM):WIST (Wistar Hannover) rats were introduced to toxicity studies in Japan. The present study was performed to obtain control data for general toxicological parameters as an aid for interpretation of results in toxicity studies using this strain of rats. Four test groups comprising of 25 male and 25 female RccHan(TM):WIST rats were housed for 2, 4, 13 or 26 weeks from 6 weeks of age and observed and examined for clinical observation, body weight, food consumption, urinalysis, hematology, blood chemistry, organ weight, necropsy and/or histopathology. Ophthalmological examination was not conducted in this study, and the data in this report were obtained from an ongoing 104-week background study in RccHan(TM):WIST rats. These data were compared with the historical control data of CD(SD) (Sprague-Dawley) and/or F344 (Fischer) rats. The body weights of RccHan(TM):WIST rats were lower than those of CD(SD) rats and higher than those of F344 rats. The ophthalmological examination revealed a greater incidence of focal corneal opacity. Histopathology revealed focal mineralization of the cornea and Berlin blue-positive pigmentation in the epididymal interstitium as well as hepatocytes. Other than the above, some minor differences were found in urinalysis, hematology, blood chemistry and organ weights as compared with CD(SD) rats.