Marker-assisted selection of low erucic acid quantity in short duration Brassica rapa

Low erucic acid (LEA) rapeseed, which has accumulated mutant fatty acid elongase genes at the BnFAE1.1 and BnFAE1.2 loci of the A- and C-genome, respectively, is an important oilseed crop. Short growing turnip rape (B. rapa) is also important as a catch crop in the continuous cropping of rice in Asia but there is no LEA B. rapa cultivar for cultivation in South Asia. In order to develop LEA turnip rape cultivars, high erucic acid turnip rape cultivars were interspecifically crossed as recurrent parents to a canola quality rapeseed. In the meantime, we monitored incorporation of the mutant bnfae1.1 (e1) gene into A-genome of turnip rape, using a dCAPS primer pair, which can amplify PCR fragment only for the mutant e1 gene from A-genome. The early backcross progenies showed poor seed set, but which was improved in advanced progenies. Finally, homozygous e1e1 genotypes were established in the selfed progenies of BC₂–BC₃, and their LEA content was confirmed by gas-chromatography analysis. Our results and promising lines will contribute to LEA-trait selection in turnip rape and rapeseed breeding.     

Relationship between the sperm count and the fertilization rate of ova ovulated from the contralateral ovary in intrauterine horn insemination in cats

Unilateral intrauterine horn insemination (UIUI) was carried out in cats, and we investigated the fertilization rate of ova ovulated from the contralateral ovary. Various numbers of sperm were used to inseminate the uterine horn on the side where ovulation was inhibited. The rates of conception were 1/11 (9.1%), 2/11 (18.2%), and 5/7 (71.4%) in the 2 x 10(6), 4 x 10(6), and 8 x 10 (6) groups, respectively. Furthermore, the fertilization rate was 70.7% in the 8 x 10(6) group. Thus, ova ovulated from the contralateral ovary were not fertilized or the fertilization rate was low in some cats even when UIUI was performed with a large number of sperm.     

Fipronil modulation of GABAA receptor single-channel currents

Fipronil is the first phenylpyrazole insecticide introduced for pest control. Although fipronil is known to inhibit GABA receptors, the detailed mechanism of action remains to be seen. In order to elucidate the mechanism of fipronil interaction with the mammalian GABAA system, single-channel patch clamp experiments were performed using rat dorsal root ganglion neurons. The amplitude of main conductance state (27pS) current was not significantly altered by co-application of 10 microM fipronil and 10 microM GABA. The histograms of open time distribution were fitted to a sum of three exponential functions. After application of 10 microM fipronil, the proportion of the fastest component increased slightly and that of the slowest component decreased slightly. Thus, the mean open time was decreased from 11.4 ms to 7.8 ms by fipronil. The histograms of closed time distribution were fitted to a sum of four exponential functions. Fipronil 10 microM prolonged the slowest time constant resulting in a prolongation of the mean closed time from 29.7 ms to 52.8 ms. Thus, the frequency of channel openings was reduced. Thus, the fipronil suppression of GABA-induced whole-cell currents is caused in part by decreases in the channel open time and the frequency of channel openings.     

Synovial fluid total protein concentration as a possible marker for canine idiopathic polyarthritis

Idiopathic polyarthritis (IPA) is a very common inflammatory arthropathy in the dog. Canine IPA is diagnosed mainly by detecting increased number of leukocytes in the synovial fluid (SF), which is easily influenced by glucocorticoid therapy. We obtained 31 SF samples from 24 IPA dogs prior to (n=19) and/or after (n=12) 1 to 10 weeks of glucocorticoid therapy. The SF total protein concentrations of IPA dogs were significantly higher than those of dogs with non-arthritis diseases (n=34) and healthy controls (n=10). Our data revealed that the SF total protein concentrations are not influenced by several weeks of glucocorticoid therapy. Hence, the SF total protein concentration is applicable as a diagnostic marker of canine IPA even when the patients are receiving glucocorticoid therapy.