Mesh-like vascular changes in copper deficiency-induced rat cardiomyopathy

The pathological effects of copper deficiency (COD) are well known. However, the pathogenesis of cardiomyopathy resulting from COD remains unclear. In this study, aimed to elucidate the pathogenesis of COD-induced cardiomyopathy by examining the morphology of the cardiovascular system in copper-deficient rats using histopathology, immunohistochemistry, and scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Changes detected in the myocardium and interstitium were consistent with those reported for COD. Morphological changes included mesh-like changes in the capillary endothelial cells that appear to be a novel finding in COD-induced cardiomyopathy. These changes are hypothesized to result from abnormal vascular remodeling following damage to the basement membrane and due to the mechanical effects of myocardial contractions. Although cardiomyopathy may be associated with microcirculatory disorders arising from these lesions, further investigations are necessary to demonstrate a causal relationship between the pathogenesis of cardiomyopathy and the contribution of these lesions to disease progression.     

The influence of rearing conditions on the physical growth of captive Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata)

To clarify the influence of rearing conditions on the growth of various body parts of Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata), two groups reared under different conditions, i.e., a group born and reared in open enclosures (Enclosure group) and another consisting of macaques born and reared in cages (Caged group), were somatometrically analyzed. Somatometric data on 36 measures of various body parts were collected from 77 males and 92 females. Growth in many body parts was smaller in the Caged group than in the Enclosure group. Body parts that exhibited large incremental increases were more sensitive to differences in rearing space at the infantile growth stage in both sexes. Recovery from delayed growth at the pubertal growth stage was found in many body parts. However, the size of some locomotor elements such as the wrist and hand, and ankle and foot strongly reflected limitations of space and changes due to this were irreversible. Females were more sensitive than males to such differences in rearing conditions. We conclude that open enclosures with ample rearing space are necessary for the innate growth of Japanese macaques to occur.     

Seasonal variation in pigmentation and anthocyanidin phenetics in commercial Eustoma flowers

The seasonal change in petal color and pigmentation of 29 commercial Eustoma cultivars was studied. The flowers are basically divided into four groups according to the major anthocyanidin phenotype in association with petal coloration, i.e., delphinidin (Dp)-based (purple flower), cyanidin (Cy)-based (reddish purple flower), pelargonidin (Pg)-based (pink flower), and none (white flower) groups. The constitution of petal anthocyanidins was not changed by forcing treatment in most of the flowers. Lightness (L^*) and chroma (C^*, color saturation) showed a change along with the increase/decrease of hue angle difference (ΔH^*), thus simultaneously the chromatic tonalities tended to move to redder and bluer, respectively. Floral pigment clustering described two flower groups in a dendrogram, based on anthocyanidin constitutions as phenetic markers, which are apparently the Dp- and Pg-based phenotypes of anthocyanidin syntheses. The Cy-based flowers made a subcluster with the Pg-based flowers, indicating a close relationship in the biosynthesis of the two anthocyanidins, and suggesting the Dp- and Pg-syntheses complement one another.     

Numbers of nitrate-reducing bacteria in the rumen as estimated by competitive polymerase chain reaction

Cell numbers of known species of nitrate- and nitrite-reducing bacteria, Selenomonas ruminantium, Veillonella parvula and Wollinella succinogenes , in the rumen of goats (25–30 kg) were estimated by competitive polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The number of S. ruminantium was the largest of the three species examined, and tended to be greater in goats fed a high-concentrate diet (5.6 × 10⁷ cells/mL rumen fluid) than in goats fed a high-roughage diet (1.3 × 10⁷ cells/mL). The number of V. parvula tended to be greater when goats were fed a high-roughage diet (6.7 × 10³/mL) than when fed a high-concentrate diet (3.2 × 10³/mL). The number of W. succinogenes was below the detectable level (< 1.0 × 10²/mL) when a high-concentrate diet was fed, but was significantly increased by feeding a high-roughage diet (1.6 × 10³/mL). Addition of potassium nitrate (6 g/day) to the high-concentrate diet tended to increase V. parvula , and significantly increased W. succinogenes , indicating that these two bacteria can be increased by feeding a diet containing nitrate.     

Genetic improvement of wood density and radial growth in Larix kaempferi: results from a diallel mating test

Context

Wood density is an important component of wood quality, and it is therefore important to assess whether it can be subject to genetic improvement.

Aim and methods

We assessed the potential for genetic improvement of wood density in Larix kaempferi by recording components of annual growth rings. A full diallel mating test based on six plus L. kaempferi trees was used. Trees were 29 years old. Wood density was recorded by soft X-ray densitometry, and genetic parameters and genetic gains were computed.

Results

Wood density of mature wood was highly heritable, and the largest heritability (0.78) was reached at age 25. Specific combining ability and reciprocal effects displayed very low variance. The age–age correlation of overall wood density was very high (>0.94). The genetic correlation between overall wood density and basal cross-sectional area was positive after age 10. Early selection at age 6 would account for 69 % of the genetic gain from direct selection at age 28 in terms of wood density.

Conclusion

Genetic improvement of wood density could be achieved by mass selection and a simultaneous selection for radial increment in L. kaempferi; early selection for wood density can be achieved in this species.     

A plant vacuolar protease, VPE, mediates virus-induced hypersensitive cell death

Programmed cell death (PCD) in animals depends on caspase protease activity. Plants also exhibit PCD, for example as a response to pathogens, although a plant caspase remains elusive. Here we show that vacuolar processing enzyme (VPE) is a protease essential for a virus-induced hypersensitive response that involves PCD. VPE deficiency prevented virus-induced hypersensitive cell death in tobacco plants. VPE is structurally unrelated to caspases, although VPE has a caspase-1 activity. Thus, plants have evolved a regulated cellular suicide strategy that, unlike PCD of animals, is mediated by VPE and the cellular vacuole.     

Predictive modes of action of pesticides in uterine adenocarcinoma development in rats

Endometrial adenocarcinoma in the uterine corpus is a malignant cancer that occurs in menopausal women and aged rodents. Because of the similarities in pathogenesis and morphology of endometrial adenocarcinoma in rodents and humans, prediction of the modes of action (MOA) in uterine carcinogenesis is important for extrapolation of rodent data to humans. Three MOAs have been accepted as major pathways for uterine carcinogenesis in rodents: 1) estrogenic activity, 2) increased serum 17beta-estradiiol (E2) to progesterone (P4) ratio and 3) modulation of estrogen metabolism to produce 4-hydroxyestradiol via P450 induction. Inhibition of estrogen excretion and increased aromatase in situ in the tumor are also a potential pathway. Here, chemicals showing uterine carcinogenicity were chosen from approximately 300 pesticides evaluated in Japan within the past decade, and their mechanisms were predicted using parameters from mechanistic and toxicity studies. Seven pesticides increased uterine tumor formation in rats, and the pathways of 4 pesticides could be predicted based on various mechanistic studies. The MOAs of cyenopyrafen and benthiavalicarb-isopropyl were predicted to be modulation of estrogen metabolism, while those of pyriminobac-methyl and spirodiclofen were predicted to be increased E2 to P4 ratio. The driven pathways of metazosulfuron and isopyrazam could not be predicted using several mechanistic studies. No mechanistic studies have been reported for sedaxane, which has a chemical structure and toxicological profile similar to isopyrazam. Our results indicated that appropriate mechanistic studies are useful for mechanism prediction in risk assessment. From this analysis, a flowchart showing a decision tree for predictive MOAs in uterine carcinogenesis was proposed.     

Insulin secretion by anomers of d-glucose

Isolated rat islets were incubated for 5 minutes in the media containing either the alpha or beta anomer of D-glucose (2 milligrams per milliliter). The amounts of secreted insulin and changes of anomers ratio were concomitantly determined. In spite of rapid mutarotation, significantly greater stimulation of insulin secretion was observed by alpha-D-glucose as compared with beta-D-glucose.     

评价大米储藏品质的炊饭特性指标的研究

提出了评价大米储藏品质的炊饭特性新指标——光透过率差。实验证明，随着大米品质的劣化，光透过率差明显变小。以此指标为主，结合原有的加热吸水率和ｐＨ值，对因生霉和陈化引起的大米储藏品质的变化，都能较好地进行评价。同时对影响这些指标稳定的实验因素也进行了探讨。