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.     

Assessment of rabbit spleen size using ultrasonography

Assessment of spleen size using the ultrasonography has become a standard practice in human. However, the assessment is not established method in experimental animals. To establish the index to assess the spleen size using ultrasonography, we measured the cross-section image of rabbit spleen during endotoxin shock. The image of the cross-section was appeared as triangle, and the height of the triangular image was defined as the spleen index. This spleen index showed strong correlation with the spleen weight. In conclusion, this method is suitable for observation of changes in rabbit spleen size and may reduce the number of rabbit in the longitudinal studies.     

Growth of the collembolan Folsomia candida Willem in soil supplemented with glucose

Freely available glucose improves the conditions for soil microorganisms which are utilized as food by Collembola. We examined the effects of glucose application on collembolan (Folsomia candida Willem) growth and on several biotic and abiotic soil parameters (microbial biomass, soil respiration, qCO₂, dissolved organic carbon, inorganic nitrogen, and Olson-P) in an artificial system without predatory pressure on Collembola. Glucose addition increased soil respiration and qCO₂, and decreased nutrient levels in the soil. Collembolan growth increased with increasing glucose doses. We conclude that the availability of carbon substrates can sustain collembolan growth via an improvement of microbial growth conditions.     

Effects of various selective phosphodiesterase inhibitors on carbachol-induced contraction and cyclic nucleotide contents in guinea pig taenia coli

Effects of various selective phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitors on muscle contractility and cyclic nucleotide contents in guinea pig taenia coli were investigated. Forskolin and sodium nitroprusside inhibited carbachol (CCh)-induced contraction in a concentration-dependent manner. Various selective PDE inhibitors, vinpocetine (type 1), erythro -9-(2-hydroxy-3-nonyl)adenine (EHNA, type 2), milrinone (type 3), Ro20-1724(type 4) and zaprinast (type 5) inhibited CCh-induced contraction in a concentration-dependent manner, but the inhibition of milrinone was noticeably smaller than that of the other PDE inhibitors. The rank order of potency was zaprinast > vinpocetine > EHNA > Ro20-1724 > milrinone. In the presence of CCh (0.3 microM), vinpocetine and Ro20-1724 both increased cAMP content, but not cGMP. By contrast, EHNA and zaprinast both increased cGMP content, but not cAMP. Pretreatment with ODQ (30 microM), a soluble guanylyl cyclase inhibitor, decreased the inhibition of CCh-induced contraction by EHNA or zaprinast. Pretreatment with SQ22536 (100 microM), an adenylyl cyclase inhibitor, decreased the inhibition of CCh-induced contraction by vinpocetine or Ro20-1724. In conclusion, it was indicated that vinpocetine- or Ro20-1724-induced relaxation was correlated with cAMP but EHNA- or zaprinast- induced relaxation was correlated with cGMP.     

Proper reprogramming of imprinted and non‐imprinted genes in cloned cattle gametogenesis

Epigenetic abnormalities in cloned animals are caused by incomplete reprogramming of the donor nucleus during the nuclear transfer step (first reprogramming). However, during the second reprogramming step that occurs only in the germline cells, epigenetic errors not corrected during the first step are repaired. Consequently, epigenetic abnormalities in the somatic cells of cloned animals should be erased in their spermatozoa or oocytes. This is supported by the fact that offspring from cloned animals do not exhibit defects at birth or during postnatal development. To test this hypothesis in cloned cattle, we compared the DNA methylation level of two imprinted genes (H19 and PEG3) and three non‐imprinted genes (XIST, OCT4 and NANOG) and two repetitive elements (Satellite I and Satellite II) in blood and sperm DNAs from cloned and non‐cloned bulls. We found no differences between cloned and non‐cloned bulls. We also analyzed the DNA methylation levels of four repetitive elements (Satellite I, Satellite II, Alpha‐satellite and Art2) in oocytes recovered from cloned and non‐cloned cows. Again, no significant differences were observed between clones and non‐clones. These results suggested that imprinted and non‐imprinted genes and repetitive elements were properly reprogramed during gametogenesis in cloned cattle; therefore, they contributed to the soundness of cloned cattle offspring.     

Cytogenetical and molecularbiological studies on a bovine XY female.

A bovine XY female in Holstein-Friesian heifer, which appeared as female with uterus and ovaries but did not show the estrus until 23 months old after the birth, was cytogenetically and molecularbiologically examined. As results of chromosome analysis, leucocyte and fibroblasts from skin, spleen and kidney examined had only metaphase plates with 60, XY. From these results and the clinical characteristics, this case was clearly diagnosed as a pure XY female. It was ascertained that the two genes, ZFY and AMG gene which located on the short arm of the Y chromosome (Yp) were detected in normal bulls and a XY female, but were not detected in normal cow, mother cow and half-sib heifer by Southern blotting.     

Involvement of two different types of Verticillium dahliae in lettuce wilt in Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan

Although wilt diseases of various plants by Verticillium dahliae occur worldwide, Verticillium wilt of lettuce is relatively new and rare. In 2009, this disease appeared suddenly in commercial fields in Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan. To investigate the cause of the disease, we characterized each lettuce isolate for pathogenicity, mating types, and genetic characteristics and found two types of V. dahliae. A population that included at least two types of V. dahliae was the putative infection source of the disease. Effective management systems against V. dahliae isolates of different races and having different host ranges are necessary.