Peaks of brainstem auditory evoked potentials in dogs

The effects of electrode configuration and click polarity on brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEP) in dogs were investigated to clarify the inconsistent nomenclature for each peak. Four positive peaks (waves 1, 2, 3 and 4) before a deep negative trough and a fifth positive peak (wave 5) following the trough were the basic components of BAEP in dogs, which were easily identified regardless of recording conditions such as electrode configuration and click polarity. Additional peaks tended to be present when a noncephalic reference electrode and/or single-polarity (rarefaction or condensation) click stimuli were used. The Roman nomenclature for the individual positive peaks of BAEP in dogs is confused owing to variations in the observed waveforms among researchers, but click polarity and/or reference electrode position can explain all the previously reported variations in BAEP waveforms in dogs. When the criteria concerning wave V in the guidelines of BAEP in human beings are applied to avoid further confusion of Roman nomenclature in dogs, it is recommended that the basic five positive peaks (waves 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 as identified easily with Ai-Vertex configuration and alternating clicks) are designated as waves I, II, III, V and VI, respectively. Wave IV (wave 3b) occurs occasionally before wave V in dogs.Abbreviations BAEP brainstem auditory evoked potentials - dBHL dB hearing level - IPL interpeak latency - Ai the caudodorsal end of the zygomatic arch ipsilateral to the stimulated ear - Nape the neck over the spinous process of the fourth cervical vertebra     

Aromatic Substances Inhibiting Wheat Powdery Mildew Produced by a Fungus Detected with a New Screening Method for Phylloplane Fungi

Microorganisms isolated from wheat leaf surfaces were screened for inhibition of wheat powdery mildew. A new screening method, in which wheat leaves were inoculated with Blumeria graminis f. sp. tritici and incubated with the cultured microorganisms under non-contact conditions, was developed in the present study. Using this method, 10 phylloplane fungi that inhibited wheat powdery mildew were selected from 408 microorganisms isolated from wheat leaf surfaces. Among these 10 strains, a fungus designated as Kyu-W63 had an especially strong inhibitory effect. Kyu-W63 produced white colonies without spores when cultivated on PDA. Kyu-W63 had a strong aromatic odor when being cultured. Wheat powdery mildew was suppressed even though a membrane filter with a pore size of 0.45 μm was placed between the mycelial colony and wheat leaf segment. However, when activated charcoal was introduced, Kyu-W63 did not inhibit growth of B. graminis. It was presumed that volatile substances were involved in the inhibitory effect of Kyu-W63. GC-MS analysis was used to identify two substances produced by Kyu-W63 with molecular weights of 164 and 166. Kyu-W63 also inhibited the in vitro growth of four plant pathogenic fungi other than B. graminis. Received 19 September 2001/ Accepted in revised form 7 February 2002     

Dietary mannitol increased the absorption of calcium and magnesium in rats

The effect of mannitol on bone‐related mineral absorption and retention and the mechanism was investigated in this study. Fourteen 8‐week‐old male Wistar rats in experiment 1 and same number and age cecectomized Wistar male rats in experiment 2 were divided into two subgroups of seven animals, respectively, fed diets containing 0 or 4% mannitol for 28 days. Mineral balance tests were determined twice during days 8–12 and days 22–26, and the rats were slaughtered on day 28 both in experiment 1 and experiment 2. The whole caecum and colon were collected with the content to analyse tissue weight, content weight, content's pH and moisture, organic acids' concentration and mineral levels. In experiment 1, Ca absorption and retention and Mg absorption were significantly increased by mannitol feeding during days 8–12. Caecal total weight, tissue weight and content weight were increased, the pH of caecum and colon was reduced, and the concentrations of caecal short‐chain fatty acids (SCFAs) were modified by mannitol feeding. In experiment 2, during days 8–12 and days 22–26, Ca absorption and retention were significantly lowered by mannitol feeding in cecectomized rats; however, mannitol feeding decreased Mg absorption during days 8–12, but did not impact Mg retention. Colonic total weight, tissue weight and content weight were significantly increased, and colonic pH was reduced by mannitol feeding. In conclusion, dietary mannitol increased the absorption of Ca and Mg and the caecum markedly contributed to this promoting effect of mannitol.     

The changes in proximate compositions and glycogen contents in the dorsal ordinary muscles of the full-cycle cultured Pacific bluefin tuna Thunnus orientalis occurring with growth

ABSTRACT:   Using full-cycle cultured (FC) Pacific bluefin tuna (body length [BL], 42.6–66.4 cm; body weight [BW], 1.66–7.40 kg, n  = 15), the changes in chemical compositions and histological structure of the cephalal parts of the dorsal ordinary muscles (DOM) occurring with growth were investigated. A positive correlation ( r  = 0.9644, P  < 0.05) was observed between BL and BW with growth. The protein, lipid and ash contents of DOM and condition factor did not change with growth. However, the glycogen content of DOM increased ( P  < 0.05) from approximately 55 cm (BL) in this study. Using optical microscopic photographs, the various shapes of muscle fibers were observed and it was noted that the muscle fiber diameter increased ( P  < 0.05) with growth. Using transmission electron microscopic observation, many glycogen granules were observed in muscle fibers (especially, side of connective tissue) of DOM throughout the growth stage in this study. These results indicate that the glycogen content of DOM of FC Pacific bluefin tuna increases before the lipid with growth.     

稻瘟菌水平抗性稳定性的研究——品种与小种适合度的分析

在温室条件下,对9个无垂直抗性基因粳稻品种×8个日本标准稻瘟菌株组合测定了侵染几率(IP)、病斑型比例(PB)、病斑扩展速率(LR)和产孢能力(SPC)组分,并据此确定了品种与小种的适合度。方差分析结果表明,除SPC的互作项外,其它组分及类型,方差均达到显著或极显著水平。但品种和小种主效应所占方差更大,从而证实了品种的抗性类型为水平抗性。某些品种在IP、PB及LR组分上反映了小种的专化作用,但因为不同品种在各组分上的抗性反应不同,因此,品种水平抗性的稳定性不能由组分的小种专化作用确定,而须由各组分组成的适合度的小种专化性确定。对品种X小种的适合度进行了互作的多重比较,未发现专化性互作,说明供试品种的水平抗性是稳定的。     

Experimental infection of recent field isolates of feline herpesvirus type 1

Two field isolates of feline herpesvirus type 1 (FHV-1) designated as 00-015 and 00-035, were obtained from cats diagnosed as feline viral rhinotracheitis (FVR) in Japan. To analyze the character of recent FHV-1, these two isolates and our laboratory strain C7301 were inoculated experimentally to specific-pathogen-free cats. Although all cats showed typical FVR symptoms, more severe clinical symptoms were observed on cats infected with the isolates 00-015 and 00-035 compared with those of C7301-infected cats. Severe ocular lesions including conjunctivitis were found in the cats infected with the isolates, indicating that the recent FHV-1 has a potential to induce severe FVR symptoms including ocular lesions.     

Down regulation of a novel protein,PSP, in rat hepatoma cdRLh 84-beared tumor

Perchloric acid-soluble protein (PSP) is a members of a new hypothetical family (YER057c/YJGF family) of small proteins with presently unknown function. The high degree of evolutionary conservation of these proteins reflect an involvement in basic cellular regulation. The expression of PSP was examined in rat hepatoma cell dRLh 84-beared rats. The tumor weight increased to 4.24 g at 3 weeks after the transplantation of hepatoma cells and hepatoma which has less differentiated characteristics were observed in rat liver. The expression of PSP in rat hepatoma was down regulated as compared with intact tissue. Thus the expression of PSP seems to be associated with the differentiation process in these transformed cells. On the other hand, some positive cells against the PSP-antibody were observed in the central region of tumor tissue by immunohistochemistry. These cells were shown to be the lymphocytes and the macrophages. The involvement of PSP to cellular growth and differentiation is discussed.     

Suppressive effect of liquid potassium silicate on powdery mildew of strawberry in soil

A soil drench of soluble silicon (liquid potassium silicate) was tested for the control of powdery mildew of strawberry in soil for 2 years in a vinyl house under growers' conditions on two cultivars: very susceptible Toyonoka and slightly susceptible Sachinoka. Soluble silicon suppressed the disease more effectively as a preventive control than as a control to reduce initial incidence. The suppressive effect against this disease was more effective for Toyonoka than for Sachinoka. The control value of soluble potassium silicate was 85.6% for Toyonoka in the first year and 60.2% in the second year, while for Sachinoka it was 58% in the first year and 40.6% in the second year. Strawberry leaf hardness was measured for the control and silicate-treated leaves. Although silicate-treated leaves seemed to be harder than control leaves, leaf hardness did not vary significantly between controls and silicate-treated leaves in either of the 2 years, and the mode of preventive action of liquid potassium silicate remains unknown. A factor other than a physical action may be involved.     

Factors affecting forest growth and possible effects of climate change in the Taihang Mountains, northern China

To estimate the possible effects of site factors and climatechange on forest growth in the Taihang Mountains, northern China,we assessed the factors influencing forest growth by using forestinventory data from 712 forest sample plots. Meteorologicaldata from 77 meteorological stations in the region were usedto estimate temperature and precipitation at each site fromelevation and longitude. Analyses showed that temperature, aspect,precipitation and soil thickness all significantly influencedforest growing stock (FGS), i.e. stem volume. When temperaturerose, FGS was reduced, possibly because increasing temperatureincreased evapotranspiration. Precipitation had a positive effecton FGS. The effect of aspect on FGS was perfectly expressedas a cosine function, with south-west- and south-facing slopeshaving the lowest FGS and north-facing slopes having the highest.We developed multifactorial regression models to predict changesin FGS in the Taihang Mountains. Temperature, forest age, forestcover, soil thickness, precipitation and aspect were well relatedto FGS. The effects of a temperature decrease and a precipitationincrease on FGS would be 2.5–8 per cent per degree centigradeand 10 per cent per 100 mm, respectively. The combination oftemperature increase and precipitation changes under futureclimate change is likely to result in a decrease of FGS, thoughthis does not take account the effect of increasing CO₂. Wealso used multifactorial regression models to analyse the effectsof site factors on FGS of Pinus tabulaeformis Carr. and Robiniapseudoacacia L., two major species used in afforestation inthe Taihang Mountains. Although site factors had similar effectson FGS, diameter at breast height and tree height of both species,prediction accuracy (regression coefficient) was improved greatlywhen we treated the species separately.