The neuroexcitatory,convulsive and lethal effects of lindane analogs on Periplaneta americana (L.)

Lindane analogs, in which one or two chlorine atoms are replaced by various substituents, exhibit convulsive and lethal effects on Periplaneta americana (L.). Some analogs are as active as lindane. These effects are well related to the neuroexcitatory action which produces after-discharges in the central nervous system. Carbamate insecticides have potent convulsive and lethal effects on P. americana, which are also related to after-discharges produced in nerve cords. Convulsion caused by lindane analogs and carbamates is solely attributable to their neuroexcitatory effects on the nervous system, in spite of the difference in their ultimate modes of action.     

Hemorrhagic necrotizing splenitis in a slaughter pig infected with Arcanobacterium species

A 6-month-old barrow presented with lethargy, inappetence and dysstasia. At necropsy, multiple coalescing hemorrhagic foci were detected in the margins of the spleen. Gram-positive bacilli were isolated from the spleen, kidney, muscle and liver. Comparative 16S rDNA gene sequencing analysis of the isolates (TO16177) revealed that they would be the same species of unpublished Arcanobacterium species strain HJ57-14E (accession no. gi 18873551) (99.7% similarity based on a comparison of 675 bp). Histologic examination of the splenic tissue sections revealed extensive necrosis and inflammation, and gram-positive bacilli were discernible. Multifocal necrosis was also detected in the liver. Immunohistochemically, the isolates were cross-reacted with polyclonal antibodies against Arcanobacterium pyogenes and Actinomyces naeslundii, and the reaction was strong for the latter. Similar reactions were found in the suppurative lesions of the tonsil, and occasionally in the spleen and lymph nodes. The present results indicate that the unpublished Arcanobacterium species induced multiple organ failure accompanied by acute hemorrhagic necrotizing splenitis in this growing-finishing pig.     

Differences in lectin-binding properties between the common mucosal epithelium and follicle-associated epithelium in the rabbit small intestine

Differences in sugar distribution between the villous epithelium and follicle-associated epithelium (FAE) were compared using lectins in the rabbit small intestine. In every portion, villous columnar epithelial cells primarily exhibited a positive reaction to the GalNAc, GlcNAc, galactose, and oligosaccharide. In the ileal Peyer's patch (PP), whereas microvillous epithelial cells exhibited positive reactions, M cells tended to be negative. The villous epithelial reaction to the fucose group was negative, but M cells and microvillous epithelial cells showed a positive to the fucose. No epithelium had a positive reaction to the mannose and glucose. The variety of lectin-binding properties of villous epithelial cells and M cells may reflect specificity for the recognizing luminal substances such as antigenic molecules and bacterial elements.     

Antihyaluronidase action of ellagic acid effectively prevents polyspermy as a result of suppression of the acrosome reaction induced by sperm-zona interaction during in vitro fertilization of porcine oocytes

The present study was conducted to examine the effects of three tannin relatives (tannic acid, TA; gallic acid, GA; and ellagic acid, EA) on antihyaluronidase and reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging activity, in vitro fertilization (IVF) parameters, and the acrosome reaction (AR) induced by sperm-zona interaction. Among the three tannin relatives, TA and EA showed the strongest potency for blocking the hyaluronidase activity of boar sperm, with concentration-dependent inhibition over the range of 2-10 microg/ml. In contrast, ROSs were effectively scavenged by TA and GA, but not EA. When cumulus-free oocytes were inseminated in IVF medium containing 5 microg/ml of the tannin relatives, polyspermy was significantly reduced by TA and EA (32 and 29%, respectively) compared with oocytes treated with or without GA (51 and 69%, respectively) under conditions that maintained a high sperm penetration rate (P<0.05). Interestingly, induction of the AR by treatment of preincubated sperm with progesterone was blocked by TA and GA as a result of their higher levels of ROS scavenging activity, while EA, which possessed weak ROS scavenging activity, did not disturb induction of the AR with progesterone. However, the incidence of AR induced by sperm-zona interaction was significantly decreased by the strong antihyaluronidase actions of TA and EA compared with that in the absence of these compounds. Treatment with the compounds caused neither a protective proteolytic modification of the zona pellucida matrix before fertilization nor a reduction in acrosomal proteolytic activity or the number of zona-bound sperm. These findings suggest that the antihyaluronidase action of EA effectively prevents polyspermy by suppression of AR functionality induced by sperm-zona interaction and that hyaluronidase intervention is therefore required during porcine IVF.     

Effects of synchronization of donor cell cycle on embryonic development and DNA synthesis in porcine nuclear transfer embryos

The relationship between donor cell cycle and the developmental ability of somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) embryos has not fully been elucidated. Donor cells that are usually prepared by serum starvation or confluent-cell culture for SCNT represent a heterogeneous population that includes mainly G0 phase cells, other cells in different phases of the cell cycle and apoptotic cells. In this study, we compared the developmental ability of porcine SCNT embryos reconstructed from G0 phase cells (G0-SCNT embryos) and strictly synchronized-G1 phase cells (G1-SCNT embryos), and examined the developmental rates and timing of first DNA synthesis. The G0 phase cells were synchronized by confluent culture, and the G1 phase cells were prepared from actively dividing M phase cells. The G1-SCNT embryos showed a significantly higher (P<0.05) developmental rate to the blastocyst stage per cleaved embryo (59%) than the G0-SCNT embryos (43%). Moreover, initiation of first DNA synthesis and cleavage occurred significantly earlier in the G1-SCNT embryos than in the G0-SCNT embryos. Delay of initiation of first DNA synthesis in the SCNT embryos by aphidicolin resulted in decreased developmental rates to the blastocyst stage without any effect on cleavage rates. Our data demonstrates that synchronized-G1 phase cells can be used as donor cells for SCNT embryos and that earlier initiation of first DNA synthesis may be important for subsequent development of SCNT embryos. The SCNT system using G1-synchronized cells, in terms of their highly uniform and viable cell states, can be useful for studying the reprogramming processes and embryonic development of SCNT embryos.     

以棉花为碳源去除地下水硝酸盐的研究

采用室内试验装置,研究了以棉花为碳源和反应介质的生物反应器去除地下水中的硝酸盐。结果表明,以棉花为碳源的反应器启动快。在室温25℃±1℃,进水硝酸盐氮浓度为22.6mgN·L-1,水力停留时间不小于9.8h时,反应器对硝酸盐氮可以100%去除,出水未检出亚硝酸盐。反硝化反应受温度变化及水力停留时间影响大:14℃的反硝化速率不到25℃的1/2;当水力停留时间为7.2h,N去除效率只有45%。反硝化反应受pH值和DO的影响小,当pH值在6～9,进水DO在2～6mg·L-1范围变化时,反应器去除效率没有变化。在反应进行过程中,棉花也被消耗掉。     

Quantitative structure—activity studies of insect growth regulators. XI. Stimulation and inhibition of N-acetylglucosamine incorporation in a cultured integument system by substituted N-tert-butyl-N,N′-dibenzoylhydrazines

The ability to stimulate N-acetylglucosamine (GluNAc) incorporation in-vitro of a number of N-tert-butyl-N,N′-dibenzoylhydrazines having various substituents on both phenyl rings was measured in cultured integument excised from the rice stem borer (Chilo suppressalis Walker). The relationship between in-vitro and larvicidal potency was approximately linear. The substituent effects on variations in the potency were similar between in-vitro and larvicidal activities. An inhibitor of oxidative detoxication, piperonyl butoxide, had no synergistic effects on the in-vitro potency. The ability of some dibenzoylhydrazines to inhibit GluNAc incorporation at exposure periods longer than the optimum for stimulation was also measured in a similar cultured integument system. The relationship between the inhibitory and stimulatory potency indices was linear, indicating that the larvicidal activity of dibenzoylhydrazines is closely related to its ability to stimulate as well as to inhibit GluNAc incorporation into the larval cuticle.