Immunogenic properties and mycoplasmal pneumonia of swine (MPS) lung lesions in Large White pigs selected for higher peripheral blood immune capacity

Immunogenic properties and mycoplasmal pneumonia of swine (MPS) lung lesions were compared between the immunity‐selected Large White line and the non‐selected Large White line. The selected Large White line showed a higher level of pulmonary MPS lesions compared with the non‐selected Large White line. Subsequent to vaccination, the percentage of natural killer cells and T cells (CD3⁺CD4⁺CD8^‐ and CD3⁺CD4^?CD8⁺ T cells) were significantly increased in the non‐selected line but remained unchanged in the immunity‐selected Large White line. Secretion of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae vaccine‐specific immunoblogulin G and phagocyte activity in peripheral blood were significantly higher in the immunity‐selected Large White line than in the non‐selected line. Expression of interleukin (IL)‐4 and IL‐6 messenger RNA in hilar lymph nodes was significantly lower in the immunity‐selected Large White line than in the non‐selected line. However, expression of IL‐10 in all immune tissues was significantly higher in the immunity‐selected Large White line. These results suggest that the selection for high immunity was not effective in increasing resistance to MPS lung lesions.     

Sward characteristics,nutritive value and choice by cattle of conterminous monocultures of centipedegrass (Eremochloa ophiuroides) and bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum)

In south‐western Japan, centipedegrass (Eremochloa ophiuroides; CG) offers a novel option for a warm‐season perennial for grazing use in areas where bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum; BG) can be grown. However, the potential of CG as a forage has not been fully explored because of the short history as a forage crop. We conducted four experiments to evaluate CG (cv. TifBlair) in comparison with BG (cv. Pensacola) in terms of sward characteristics, nutritive value and choice by animals. In each experiment, four Japanese Black cows (Bos taurus) were individually allowed to graze conterminous monocultures of CG and BG (5 × 10 m each) for 30 min. Irrespective of regrowth durations and fertilizer rates, CG was consistently shorter, leafier and denser, contained lower acid detergent fiber and cellulose, and was preferred or equally selected by cows, as compared with BG. Furthermore, CG maintained sufficient levels of crude protein (80–89 g/kg DM) to ensure voluntary intake of ruminant animals under extended regrowth^? and without fertilizer, whereas BG failed to do so (65 g/kg DM). CG provided higher digestible dry matter than BG when crude protein concentration exceeded 86 g/kg DM. The results indicate advantages of CG as a forage.     

Artificially induced tetraploid masu salmon have the ability to form primordial germ cells

Diploid gametes generated with tetraploid animals are a stepping stone to improving chromosome manipulation techniques. However, artificially induced tetraploid individuals generally die soon after hatching. Diploid gametes could be induced by in vivo cultures of tetraploid primordial germ cells (PGCs) through germ-line chimera. In the present study, characteristics of PGCs were studied in inviable tetraploid masu salmon, Oncorhynchus masou. Histological observation of tetraploid embryos revealed that the same or smaller numbers of PGCs were observed and they migrate into the genital ridges as did diploid PGCs during gonadogenesis. By whole-mount in situ hybridization using vasa messenger RNA (mRNA), 4–35 vasa-positive signals were detected in a pair of genital ridges of tetraploids. By cytological observation of genital ridge cell suspensions, several large round cells were observed, some of which extended pseudopodia. They also contained large nuclei and round granules in their cytoplasm, characteristics of PGCs. As the results suggest that inviable artificial tetraploids have PGCs, we expect to achieve diploid gamete production through surrogate propagation and tetraploid fish production.     

Glomus-wetland rice mycorrhizas influenced by nursery inoculation techniques under high fertility soil conditions

 We investigated the effect of nursery inoculation techniques on mycorrhizal colonization and sporulation, growth responses, and nutrient (N and P) uptake to determine the suitable nursey inoculation method of wetland rice (Oryza sativa L.) under high-fertility soil conditions. Seedlings were produced in dry-nursery (DN, watered to 60% of –0.03 MPa) and wet-nursery (WN, 3–5 cm water from the soil surface) conditions with or without arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal (Glomus spp.) inoculation. Soil was γ-ray sterilized before use in this experiment. Mycorrhizal fungal colonization was 56% in DN and 23% in WN plants at 6 weeks of growth. The arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal colonization was significantly higher in plants of DN origin than in WN plants after transplantation to the pots, irrespective of growing stages. Mycorrhizal colonization was significantly decreased to 28% in DN plants and to 25% in WN plants at harvest. The grain yield was significantly influenced by nursery conditions. N and P acquisition of wetland rice plants inoculated with Glomus spp. was significantly greater than that of non-inoculated plants at maturity, especially in those originating from DN conditions. P translocation from shoots to grain was accelerated by mycorrhizas. Received: 6 April 1997     

日本冲绳岛琉球松林台风干扰后的群落特点

为阐述亚热带地区琉球松林受到干扰后的演替规律,就日本冲绳地区琉球松人工林在强台风干扰后,林分结构和树种组成特点进行了调查分析。结果表明,琉球松林经台风干扰后演替形成两种群落类型,即琉球松-峨嵋木荷群落和琉球松-峨嵋木荷-蕨类群落;两者在林分结构和树种组成特点方面差异明显。琉球松-峨嵋木荷群落中,出现乔灌树种26种(DBH≥3．0cm),树种多样性指数为2．55,林下植被特别是草本层盖度低,没有蕨类植物分布。而琉球松-峨嵋木荷-蕨类群落中,出现乔灌树种33种,树种多样性指数为3．51,林下植被特别是草本层发育较好,并有大量蕨类植物分布,其盖度达55％。此外,经受干扰的琉球松林出现了大量的较耐荫的常绿阔叶树种,尤其是山茶科和樟科的树种,而没有出现本地天然常绿阔叶林的优势树种壳斗科的栲类(Castanopsis spp.)。充分说明强台风干扰促进了琉球松林向常绿阔叶林演替。     

Development and promotion of laborsaving application technology for paddy herbicides in Japan

Total labor time on paddy rice has been decreasing year by year with the development and introduction of appropriate herbicides, especially ‘one‐shot' herbicides. However, in the case of application of granules, it is still difficult for a farmer to apply herbicides while carrying heavy power backpack sprayers. New formulation recipes and different application technology such as a throw‐in type formulation on jumbo granules or flowable has improved heavy workloads in comparison with granule application by using heavy power backpack sprayers. In addition, other advantageous points such as application volume and elimination of the drift problems of this new application technology were introduced and confirmed. As a result of this introduction, these formulations were used in 830 000 ha and reached 30% of the total treatment area in paddy rice in 2000.     

Matrix-metalloproteinases-2 and -9 production in bovine endometrial cell culture

In vitro cell culture is a convenient tool for studying cellular mechanisms. In the present study, production of matrix-metalloproteinases (MMPs) in bovine endometrial (containing both epithelial and stromal cells) monolayer cells was examined. Blastocysts attached to the endometrial cells in a monolayer culture were examined for their effects on MMP-2 production. Initial attachment of blastocysts to the monolayer inhibited MMP-2 production by endometrial cells. But once trophoblast cells began to migrate into the endometrial cell layer, MMP-2 production increased, and at the same time MMP-9 production also became evident in the medium. In order to understand how blastocysts affected MMP-2 production, we examined the effect of progesterone, estradiol, insulin-like growth factors (IGFs), tumor necrosis factors (TNFs), and interferon-tau (IFN-tau) supplementation. It was IFN-tau that inhibited the production of MMP-2. In addition, progesterone at a lower dose appeared to inhibit MMP-2 production. Both TNF-alpha and TNF-beta strongly stimulated the production of MMP-2 and MMP-9, whereas IGFs had no effect. Based on these findings, it appears that conceptus has the capacity to inhibit MMP activity.     

Effects of salivary gland extract from Rhipicephalus sanguineus on IgG subclass production and cytokine mRNA expression in mononuclear cells of canine peripheral blood

The effects of salivary gland extract (SGE) from R. sanguineus were examined on the production of IgG1 and IgG2 and the mRNA expression of IFN-gamma, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5 and IL-10 in the mononuclear cells from canine peripheral blood, treated with concanavalin A (ConA) in vitro. SGE suppressed the ConA-induced production of IgG2. It also inhibited the expression of IFN-gamma, IL-2 and IL-5 mRNA in a dose-dependent manner. No dose-dependent suppression was observed of IL-10 mRNA expression although a significant effect was observed at a SGE protein concentration of 25 microg/ml. SGE had no effect on the mRNA expression of IL-4. These results suggest that the suppression of IgG2 production by SGE from R. sanguineus was caused by the suppression of IFN-gamma production.     

Evaluation of cytokine messenger RNA expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from dogs with canine demodicosis

Using RT-PCR and semi-quantitative PCR, mRNA expression for canine interferon (IFN)-gamma, interleukin (IL)-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-10, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) was examined in dogs with or without demodicosis. mRNA expression for IFN-gamma as well as TNF-alpha in dogs with demodicosis (localized (LD) and generalized (GD)) was slightly lower than those in dogs without demodicosis (healthy controls). Expression of IL-5 mRNA in dogs with demodicosis was higher than that in control dogs, but there were no significant differences in IL-4 and IL-10 mRNA expression levels among the three groups. On the other hand, expression levels of TGF-beta mRNA in dogs with GD were higher than those in control dogs and dogs with LD. The expression levels of IL-5 and TGF-beta mRNA decreased in all three dogs with GD which showed resolution of the clinical signs. Taken together, these results suggest that the Th2-like response in PBMCs from dogs with demodicosis is up-regulated, and that subsequent increased expression of IL-5 and TGF-beta mRNA in dogs with GD is reversible after treatment. Therefore, these cytokines, particularly IL-5, might be a useful clinical index of the clinical course in demodicosis. Also, increased TGF-beta mRNA expression might be a key factor for revealing the difference in the mechanism of onset between LD and GD.     

Nationwide seroprevalence of Neospora caninum among dairy cattle in Japan

Serum samples from 2420 clinically healthy dairy cattle, randomly selected from stored sera in 18 districts of Japan, were tested for the presence of Neospora caninum antibodies using an indirect fluorescent antibody test (titer > or =1:200). Nationwide seroprevalence is estimated at 5.7% (139/2420). Seropositive cattle were detected in all surveyed districts despite the evidence of confirmed case reports of bovine neosporosis, showing that N. caninum is widely distributed throughout Japan. Age-specific seroprevalence did not increase with cattle age, suggesting that Neospora infection is likely to be transmitted vertically rather than horizontally in Japan. Considering that N. caninum seropositive cows are thought to be more likely to abort, substantial fetal losses may be induced by N. caninum infection in Japan. Devising strategies are needed to reduce the economic impact on the Japanese dairy industry. This is the first study to investigate the nationwide seroprevalence of N. caninum in cattle in Asia.