Androgen induces production of male effect pheromone in female goats

Previously we showed that the primer pheromone responsible for the "male effect" was produced in specific skin regions of castrated male goats by androgen treatments. In the present study, we examined whether androgen can also induce production of the male effect pheromone in female goats. Capsules containing dihydrotestosterone (DHT) or testosterone (T) were subcutaneously implanted into six ovariectomized (OVX) goats for 28 days. Small skin samples were collected from the head and rump regions, and the pheromone activity of their ether extracts was examined using a bioassay that monitors the electrophysiological manifestation of the hypothalamic gonadotropin-releasing hormone pulse generator as multiple-unit activity. Behaviors of OVX goats towards ovary-intact estrous goats were also examined before and at the end of DHT or T treatment. Before androgen treatment, neither the head nor rump skin samples in OVX goats showed pheromone activity. DHT treatment induced pheromone activity in the head skin sample of six OVX goats and in the rump skin sample of two OVX goats. Similar results were obtained by T treatment. In addition, OVX goats treated with T showed masculine-type sexual behaviors such as courtship and mounting behaviors towards the estrous goats. These results demonstrate that androgen is capable of inducing primer pheromone activity in the female and suggest that the synthesis pathway of the male effect pheromone exists in both sexes in the goat.     

Quality evaluation and prediction of Citrullus lanatus by 1H NMR-based metabolomics and multivariate analysis

(1)H NMR spectrometry in combination with multivariate analysis was considered to provide greater information on quality assessment over an ordinary sensory testing method due to its high reliability and high accuracy. The sensory quality evaluation of watermelon (Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum. & Nakai) was carried out by means of (1)H NMR-based metabolomics. Multivariate analyses by partial least-squares projections to latent structures-discrimination analysis (PLS-DA) and PLS-regression offered extensive information for quality differentiation and quality evaluation, respectively. The impact of watermelon and rootstock cultivars on the sensory qualities of watermelon was determined on the basis of (1)H NMR metabolic fingerprinting and profiling. The significant metabolites contributing to the discrimination were also identified. A multivariate calibration model was successfully constructed by PLS-regression with extremely high reliability and accuracy. Thus, (1)H NMR-based metabolomics with multivariate analysis was considered to be one of the most suitable complementary techniques that could be applied to assess and predict the sensory quality of watermelons and other horticultural plants.     

Thermal behavior of beta-1 subunits in lignin: pyrolysis of 1,2-diarylpropane-1,3-diol-type lignin model compounds

1,2-Diarylpropane-1,3-diol-type lignin model compounds, 1,2-bis(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)propane-1,3-diol (1) and 1-(3,4-diethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-methoxyphenyl)propane-1,3-diol (2), were pyrolyzed at 500 degrees C for 4 s to clarify the thermal behavior of beta-1 subunits in lignin. Products were monitored by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. The cleavage of the Calpha-Cbeta bond to produce benzaldehydes such as 4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzaldehyde (9) and phenylethanals as the counterparts such as 4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenylethanal (10) occurred in pyrolyses of both 1 and 2. In pyrolysis of 1, an oxetane pathway leading to the formation of Z/E-stilbenes without the gamma-CH2OH group such as Z/E-4,4'-dihydroxy-3,3'-dimethoxystilbene (3) was predominant. In pyrolysis of 2, the oxetane pathway was minor, while pathways producing a dimer with a =CgammaH2 group by loss of water and a dimer with an alpha-carbonyl group were predominant. Pyrolysis of Japanese cedar wood provided 3 and 10 in approximately 0.8% and 0.6% yields, respectively, based on the Klason lignin content, while pyrolysis of a guaiacyl bulk dehydrogenation polymer gave them in a very small amount.     

Behavior of four broad-leaved tree species used to revegetate eroded granite hill slopes

Information on primary growth behavior after planting is required for mixed-plantation revegetation using broad-leaved species. To estimate primary growth, especially from the perspective of crown coverage and changing growth rates, we examined the growth and survival of four broad-leaved species that are frequently used in erosion-control plantations in Japan. The species studied were Myrica rubra Sieb. et Zucc., Alnus pendula Matsum., Quercus glauca Thunb., and Q. serrata Thunb. The survival, height, and basal diameter of planted trees were measured over a 4-year period, and crown area was calculated over a 3-year period. We found a negative relationship between relative growth rate (RGR) and survival rate, suggesting that fast growth may be fatal when resources are severely limited. The relative height growth rate (RHGR) of A. pendula was especially high during the early period of the study (1997–1999) and then drastically declined, whereas the opposite tendency was observed in Q. glauca. The results of stem allometry analyses conformed to the specific relationships between height growth and diameter growth of the four species; increases in stem thickness based on height increments were smaller in the pioneer species A. pendula. Between-species differences in coverage per planted tree (mean crown area multiplied by survival rate) were small as a result of the negative relationship between coverage area and survival rate.     

Two-decadal trends in aboveground litterfall and net primary production in self-thinning Pinus banksiana stands in Wood Buffalo National Park,NWT, Canada

We estimated the aboveground net primary production (ANPP) in five self-thinning jack pine (Pinus banksiana) stands in Wood Buffalo National Park, NWT, Canada. The stands (11 to ca.175 years old) were selected to examine the relationship between stand density and tree size and its effect on carbon dynamics. Aboveground litterfall was collected from each stand from 1997 to 2012. Stand biomass was estimated by measuring tree size every 5 years and estimating the individual mass using allometric relationships. ANPP was then estimated by summing the litterfall mass, dead stem mass increment and stand biomass increment. We determined the proportional contribution of each organ to the total litter and the seasonal pattern of needle litterfall. There was a lower turnover rate of aboveground biomass in older stands than younger stands. The ANPP increased in the youngest stand (<30 years old) showed a decreasing trend in stands >50 years old. The maximum ANPP was estimated to be ca. 500?g m^?2 year^?1 in dry matter, which was found in 30–50 year-old stands.     

Effects of alpha-pinene odor in different concentrations on stress-induced hyperthermia in rats

Stress-induced hyperthermia is observed in animals exposed to stressful conditions. In our previous study, plant-derived fragrances such as green odor and alpha-pinene were shown to suppress this stress response in rats. In the present study, we examined the concentration-dependence of the alpha-pinene effects on stress-induced hyperthermia. Male rats carrying telemetry transmitters were transferred individually to a new cage containing bedding that had been sprayed with 0.3, 0.03, and 0.003% concentrations of alpha-pinene or control solvent. Following transfer to the novel environment, the body temperature increased significantly, and this response was clearly suppressed when the cage was scattered with 0.03% alpha-pinene only. These results suggest that the effect of alpha-pinene on stress-induced hyperthermia can be observed only at a certain concentration.     

Localization of inhibin alpha-, betaA- and betaB-subunits and aromatase in ovarian follicles with granulosa theca cell tumor (GTCT) in 6 mares

To clarify the morphological and immunohistochemical characteristics in mares with granulosa theca cell tumor (GTCT), the localization of inhibin subunits (alpha, betaA, betaB) and aromatase in the granulosa cell layers and theca layers in the ovarian follicles were determined by immunohistochemical staining. The follicles were obtained from the ovaries of 6 mares with GTCT and 4 normal mares as controls. Immunohistochemically, inhibin alpha-subunit was localized in the granulosa cells of all follicles showing different sizes in all GTCT cases and betaA- subunit was localized in two GTCT cases in all sized follicles. But inhibin betaB- subunit and aromatase were not localized in GTCT cases. On the other hand, inhibin alpha-, betaA-, and betaB-subunits and aromatase were localized in the large and medium sized follicles, but inhibin betaA- and betaB-subunits and aromatase were not stained in the small sized follicles in normal cases. These findings suggest that some mares with GTCT can secrete dimeric inhibin (inhibin A), but all GTCT cases cannot secrete inhibin B. By the results of aromatase staining it is clear that testosterone is not converted into estradiol due to the lack of aromatase in the GTCT follicles.     

Substances derived from 4-ethyl octanoic acid account for primer pheromone activity for the "male effect" in goats

A major constituent of the characteristic "goaty odor" 4-ethyl octanoic acid (4EOA) was previously shown to have no primer pheromone activity. This was also confirmed by our own bioassay system utilizing the recording technique of neural activity of the hypothalamic gonadotropin-releasing hormone pulse generator in goats. However, when the synthetic 4EOA solution was kept at room temperature for several months, primer pheromone activity appeared in the same solution. Headspace gas chromatography/mass spectrometry analysis revealed that there were several newly formed substances in addition to 4EOA samples with primer pheromone activity. These results suggest that 4EOA derived substance(s) but not 4EOA itself is(are) primer pheromone in goats.     

Quantification and Understanding of Above and Belowground Biomass in Medium Saline Zone of the Sundarbans,Bangladesh: The Relationships with Forest Attributes

ABSTRACT

The relationship between stand attributes and biomass accumulation pattern in a mangrove forest has been intensively studied in this study. We assessed above (AGM) and belowground mass (BGM) and examined the relationship between forest attributes and aboveground mass in the Sundarbans, Bangladesh. The study was conducted with 18 plots having total area of 1.08 ha. The mean AGM and BGM of the study sites were 234.08 and 132.85 Mg ha^?1 respectively. H. fomes contributed the highest amount (82.9% of total AGM and 80.53% of total BGM) of above (193.56 Mg ha^?1) and belowground mass (107.09 Mg ha^?1) at the study site. Our study revealed structural attributes (tree diameter, height, and basal area) positively correlated with AGM. In contrast, species richness and species diversity negatively correlated with AGM. Our study indicated that lack of positive relationship between species diversity and AGM which may be attributable to high AGM of the dominant species (H. fomes) and may have a considerable consequence in AGM of the study area. Thus, maintaining large trees (DBH and height) rather than species diversity in the Sundarbans mangrove forest might be an effective approach for increasing aboveground mass.