Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG SpaC pilin subunit binds to the carbohydrate moieties of intestinal glycoconjugates

Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) is a well‐established probiotic strain. The beneficial properties of this strain are partially dependent on its prolonged residence in the gastrointestinal tract, and are likely influenced by its adhesion to the intestinal mucosa. The pilin SpaC subunit, located within the Spa pili structure, is the most well studied LGG adhesion factor. However, the binding epitopes of SpaC remain largely unknown. The aim of this study was to evaluate the binding properties of SpaC to the carbohydrate moieties of intestinal glycoconjugates using a recombinant SpaC protein. In a competitive enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay, SpaC binding was markedly reduced by addition of purified mucin and the mucin oligosaccharide fraction. Histochemical staining revealed that the binding of SpaC was drastically reduced by periodic acid treatment. Moreover, in the surface plasmon resonance‐based Biacore assay, SpaC bound strongly to the carbohydrate moieties containing β‐galactoside at the non‐reducing terminus of glycolipids. We here provide the first demonstration that SpaC binds to the oligosaccharide chains of mucins, and that the carbohydrate moieties containing β‐galactoside at the non‐reducing termini of glycoconjugates play a crucial role in this binding. Our results demonstrate the importance of carbohydrates of SpaC for mucus interactions.     

Effects of testosterone on rat placental development

We investigated the morphological effects of testosterone on placental development in a rat model of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). Testosterone propionate (TP), which was subcutaneously administered to pregnant rats with 5 mg/animal from gestation day (GD) 14 to GD 18, induced a maternal weight reduction without mortality or clinical signs from GD 19 onwards. A decrease in fetal and placental weight, an increase in intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) rates, and histological changes in the placenta were observed on GD 21 but not on GD15 or 17. Histopathologically, on GD 21, the trophoblast septa thickened, and the maternal sinusoids were narrowed in the labyrinth zone, resulting in a small placenta. Additionally, the placental weight, thickness, and histological morphology in the labyrinth zone on GD 21 in the TP-treated group were nearly identical to those on GD 17 in the control and TP-treated groups. Therefore, it was assumed that the testosterone-induced small placenta was induced in association with the developmental inhibition of the fetal part of the placentas from GD 17 onwards.     

Ceramide aminoethylphosphonate from jumbo flying squid Dosidicus gigas attenuates the toxicity of cyanotoxin microcystin-LR

We have previously established the method for isolation of ceramide aminoethylphosphonate (CAEP) from jumbo flying squid Dosidicus gigas. In this study, we performed a MTT assay to evaluate the safety of CAEP to the cell lines for the application to health food and supplements. The CAEP did not show any cytotoxicity to various HEK293-transfectant cells. Next, we elucidated the positive function of CAEP to the somatic cells. Recently, we have reported that hepatotoxin microcystin-LR was taken up into the hepatocytes mediated by hepatocellular uptake transporters OATP1B1 and OATP1B3, and the cells were induced cytotoxicity subsequently. Cytotoxicity of microcystin-LR to permanently OATP1B3-expressing HEK293-OATP1B3 cells rather than to HEK293-OATP1B1 cells was preferentially attenuated by CAEP in a concentration-dependent manner. In addition, the enzyme activity of serine/threonine phosphatase, which was inhibited by microcystin-LR, was recuperated by co-exposure to CAEP. Furthermore, microcystin-LR-induced cellular protein phosphorylation were disrupted by CAEP exposure. These results suggested that CAEP is a promising remedy and/or preventive medicine for liver damage with microcystin-LR.     

A pollen extender medium technology for seedless watermelon production by pollination with soft X-ray irradiated pollen

The inactivation of pollen by soft X-ray irradiation and subsequent artificial pollination are time-intensive practices used in the production of seedless watermelons (Citrullus lanatus L.). Watermelon generally has a lot of staminate flowers; however, they only have a small amount of pollen. Watermelon pollen cannot be used in pollination under the present situation. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine which is the most effective pollen extender medium for cultivation of watermelon with soft X-ray irradiated pollen. In this experiment, ‘Agar,’ ‘Marriage powder,’ and ‘Sekishoshi’ (Lycopodium dyed red with safflower pigment) were used as extender media with soft X-ray irradiated pollen at equal or twice the weight of the pollen. When ‘Sekishoshi’ was used as an extender medium, fruit set was very low. A lot of deformed fruit was produced when agar was used with the pollen. On the other hand, when ‘Marriage powder’ was used in equal proportions with the pollen, fruit set was about 70% and, moreover, Brix was high. Thus, the mixture of ‘Marriage powder’ with an equal amount of pollen was the best for use in actual cultivation. We conclude, then, that soft X-ray irradiated pollen in an extender medium can be effectively adapted for producing seedless watermelons.     

Combination of lipids and emulsifiers enhances the absorption of orally administered quercetin in rats

The effects of lipids, emulsifiers, and ethanol on the absorption of orally administered quercetin in rats were investigated for its efficient intestinal absorption. Rats were administered 150 micromol/kg quercetin in water supplemented with lipids and/or emulsifiers, or ethanol, and blood was collected from the tail for 6 h after administration. Co-administration of lipids such as lecithin and soybean oil or emulsifiers including sucrose fatty acid ester, polyglycerol fatty acid ester, and sodium taurocholate had no statistically significant effects on quercetin absorption, although these constituents rather increased the accumulation of conjugated forms of quercetin and those of isorhamnetin in rat plasma. However, the combination of lipids and emulsifiers enhanced the absorption of quercetin significantly. Thirty and fifty percent (v/v) of the ethanol in the vehicle raised the efficiency of quercetin absorption in a concentration-dependent manner. Quercetin absorption-enhancing effects of these constituents seemed to be affected by quercetin's solubility in respective vehicles used for the administration. Ethanol is not helpful for the effective absorption of quercetin, as a high concentration is required. In conclusion, a combination of lipids and emulsifiers is necessary for enhancing quercetin absorption.     

鸡马立克氏病二价活疫苗免疫协同作用研究

鸡马立克氏病二价活疫苗免疫协同作用研究@吴长新@刘秀梵@吴艳涛@张如宽@甘军纪@刘慧谋@彭大新@李胜$江苏农学院动物医学系@李胜$杭州市近江种鸡场鸡；马立克氏病；二价＋疫苗；免疫协同作用农业部“七·五”重大攻关项目；江苏省“八·五”重大攻关项目...     

Synthesis and biological activity of furanyl anti-juvenile hormonal compounds

Twenty-one synthetic compounds, containing one or more furan rings, were demonstrated to possess anti-juvenile hormone (AJH) activity as evidenced by their induction of premature metamorphosis in the milkweed bug, Oncopeltus fasciatus (Dallas) by contact, topical application or fumigation. The ED₅₀ of the four most active analogs required to induce precocious metamorphosis from 3rd-instar nymphs by residue contact in a Petri dish compared favorably with that of precocene II (6,7-dimethoxy-2,2-dimethyl 2H-chromene) a naturally occurring phytochemical AJH. Precocious metamorphosis was fully reversible by co-treatment with juvenile hormone (JH III) or JH analogs, demonstrating that the observed AJH activity resulted from an induced deficiency of juvenile hormone.