Response of integrated biomarkers of fish (Lateolabrax japonicus) exposed to benzo[a]pyrene and sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate

Fish Lateolabrax japonicus were exposed to 0.1 and 1 mg/L of anion surfactant sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate (SDBS) and to 2 and 20 mu g/L of benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) for 6, 12, and 18 days, with control and solvent control groups. Liver antioxidant enzymes, including superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), reduced glutathione (GSH), and glutathione S-transferase (GST), were determined; brain acetyleholinesterase (AChE) and liver inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) activities were also measured. The results indicated that (1) L. japonicus avoided oxidative damage through antioxidant systems; (2) SOD, GPx, and GSH were induced, and GST was inhibited and then induced by B[a]P exposure; and (3) CAT, GPx, and AChE were induced while NOS was inhibited, and GST was induced and then inhibited by SDBS stress in experimental period. (c) 2005 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

The seeds of lotus japonicus lines transformed with sense, antisense, and sense/antisense galactomannan galactosyltransferase constructs have structually altered galactomannan in their endosperm cell walls

Galactomannan biosynthesis in legume seed endosperms involves two Golgi membrane-bound glycosyltransferases, mannan synthase and galactomannan galactosyltransferase (GMGT). GMGT specificity is an important factor regulating the distribution and amount of (1-->6)-alpha-galactose (Gal) substitution of the (1-->4)-beta-linked mannan backbone. The model legume Lotus japonicus is shown now to have endospermic seeds with endosperm cell walls that contain a high-Gal galactomannan (mannose [Man]/Gal = 1.2-1.3). Galactomannan biosynthesis in developing L. japonicus endosperms has been mapped, and a cDNA encoding a functional GMGT has been obtained from L. japonicus endosperms during galactomannan deposition. L. japonicus has been transformed with sense, antisense, and sense/antisense ("hairpin loop") constructs of the GMGT cDNA. Some of the sense, antisense, and sense/antisense transgenic lines exhibited galactomannans with altered (higher) Man/Gal values in their (T-1 generation) seeds, at frequencies that were consistent with posttranscriptional silencing of GMGT. For T-1 generation individuals, transgene inheritance was correlated with galactomannan composition and amount in the endosperm. All the azygous individuals had unchanged galactomannans, whereas those that had inherited a GMGT transgene exhibited a range of Man/Gal values, up to about 6 in some lines. For Man/Gal values up to 4, the results were consistent with lowered Gal substitution of a constant amount of mannan backbone. Further lowering of Gal substitution was accompanied by a slight decrease in the amount of mannan backbone. Microsomal membranes prepared from the developing T-2 generation endosperms of transgenic lines showed reduced GMGT activity relative to mannan synthase. The results demonstrate structural modification of a plant cell wall polysaccharide by designed regulation of a Golgi-bound glycosyltransferase.

Short root mutant of Lotus japonicus with a dramatically altered symbiotic phenotype

Legume plants carefully control the extent of nodulation in response to rhizobial infection. To examine the mechanism underlying this process we conducted a detailed analysis of the Lotus japonicus hypernodulating mutants, har1-1, 2 and 3 that define a new locus, HYPERNODULATION ABERRANT ROOT FORMATION (Har1), involved in root and symbiotic development. Mutations in the Har1 locus alter root architecture by inhibiting root elongation, diminishing root diameter and stimulating lateral root initiation. At the cellular level these developmental alterations are associated with changes in the position and duration of root cell growth and result in a premature differentiation of har1-1 mutant root. No significant differences between har1-1 mutant and wild-type plants were detected with respect to root growth responses to 1-aminocyclopropane1-carboxylic acid, the immediate precursor of ethylene, and auxin; however, cytokinin in the presence of AVG (aminoetoxyvinylglycine) was found to stimulate root elongation of the har1-1 mutant but not the wild-type. After inoculation with Mesorhizobium loti, the har1 mutant lines display an unusual hypernodulation (HNR) response, characterized by unrestricted nodulation (hypernodulation), and a concomitant drastic inhibition of root and shoot growth. These observations implicate a role for the Har1 locus in both symbiotic and non-symbiotic development of L. japonicus, and suggest that regulatory processes controlling nodule organogenesis and nodule number are integrated in an overall mechanism governing root growth and development.

Transfer of paralytic shellfish toxins via marine food chains: A simulated experiment

Objective To study the transfer of paralytic shellfish toxins (PST) using four simulated marine food chains: dinoflagellate Alexandrium tamarense -> Arterriia Artemia salina -> Mysid shrimp Neomysis awatschensis; A. tamarense-N. awatschensis: A. taniarense A. salina -> Perch Lateolabrax japonicus; and A. tamarense -> L. japonicus. Methods The ingestion of A. tamarense, a producer of PST, by L. japonicus, N. awatschensis, and A. salina was first confirmed by microscopic observation of A. tamarense cells in the intestine samples of the three different organisms, and by the analysis of Chl.a levels iii the samples. Toxin accumulation in L. japonicus and N. awatschensis directly from the feeding on A. tamarense or indirectly ibrough the vector of A. salina was then studied. The toxicity of samples was measured using the AOAC mouse bioassay method, and the toxin content and profile of A. tamarense were analyzed by the HPLC method. Results Both A. salina and N. awatschensis could ingest A. tamarense cells. However, the ingestion capability of A. salina exceeded that of N. awatschensis. After the exposure to the culture of A. tamarense (2 000 cells(.)mL(-1)) for 70 minutes, the content of ChLa in A. salina and N. awatschensis reached 0.87 and 0.024 mu g-mg(-1), respectively. Besides, A. tamarense cells existed in the intestines of L. japonicus, N. awatschensis and A. salina by microscopic observation. Therefore, the three organisms could ingest A. tamarense cells directly. A. salina could accumulate high content of PST, and the toxicity of A. salina in samples collected on days 1, 4, and 5 of the experiment was 2.18, 2.6, and 2.1 MU(.)g(-1), respectively. All extracts from the samples could lead to death of tested mice within 7 minutes, and the toxin content in arternia sample collected on the 1st day was estimated to be 1.65x10(-5) pg STX equa Vindividual. Toxin accumulation in L. japonicus and N. awatschensis directly from the feeding on A. tamarense or indirectly froin the vector of A. salina was also studied. The mice injected with extracts from L. japonicus and N. awatschensis samples that accumulated PST either directly or indirectly showed PST intoxication symptoms, indicating that low levels of PST existed in these samples. Conclusion Paralytic shellfish toxins can be transferred to L. japonicus, N. awatschensis, and A. salina from A. taniarense directly or indirectly via the food chains.

Marine diatoms in deep sea sediments

Long-term evolution is thought to take opportunities that arise as a consequence of mass extinction (as argued, for example, by Gould, 2002) and the following biotic recovery, but there is absolutely no evidence for this being the case. However, our study shows that eutrophication by oceanic mixing also played a part in the enhancement of several evolutionary events amongst marine organisms, and these results could indicate that the rates of oceanic biodiversification may be slowed if upwelling becomes weakened by future global warming. This paper defines three distinct evolutionary events of resting spores of the marine diatom genus Chaetoceros, to reconstruct past upwelling through the analysis of several DSDP, ODP and land-based successions from the North, South and equatorial Pacific as well as the Atlantic Ocean during the past 40 million years. The Atlantic Chaetoceros Explosion (ACE) event occurred across the E/O boundary in the North Atlantic, and is characterized by resting spore diversification that occurred as a consequence of the onset of upwelling following changes in thermohaline circulation through global cooling in the early Oligocene. Pacific Chaetoceros Explosion events-1 and -2 (PACE-1 and PACE-2) are characterized by relatively higher occurrences of iron input following the Himalayan uplift and aridification at 8.5 Ma and ca. 2.5 Ma in the North Pacific region. These events not only enhanced the diversification and increased abundance of primary producers, including that of Chaetoceros, other diatoms and seaweeds, but also stimulated the evolution of zooplankton and larger predators, such as copepods and marine mammals, which ate these phytoplankton and plants. Current thinking suggests new evolutionary niches open up after a mass extinction, but our study finds that eutrophication can also stimulate evolutionary diversification. Moreover, in the opposite fashion, our results show that as thermohaline circulation abates, global warming progresses and the ocean surface becomes warmer, many marine organisms will be affected by the environmental degradation.

Clinical effect of Resina Draconis capsules on primary dysmenorrhoea

Purpose: To examine the effectiveness of Resina Draconis capsules in the treatment of primary dysmenorrhoea. Methods: In total, 324 patients with primary dysmenorrhoea were randomly allocated to three groups based on treatment with capsules containing Resina Draconis, Leonurus japonicus Houtt., or a placebo for 3 months. The patients’ visual analogue scale (VAS) scores and dysmenorrhoea symptoms were evaluated. Results: VAS scores of the Resina Draconis, L. japonicus, and placebo groups decreased from 7.31 ± 1.36, 7.12 ± 1.65, and 7.25 ± 1.47 to 3.35 ± 1.43, 5.27 ± 1.24, and 7.08 ± 2.10, respectively. The change was greatest for the Resina Draconis group (p < 0.01). The incidence of symptoms associated with dysmenorrhoea decreased in all three groups, but the change was greatest for Resina Draconis group (p < 0.01). Overall, Resina Draconis was more effective than L. japonicus (94.40 vs. 72.20 %) (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Resina Draconis capsules are effective in relieving primary dysmenorrhoea and lowering the incidence of symptoms associated with dysmenorrhoea.

麦冬（Ophiopogon japonicus (L.f)Ker Gawl���花粉的发育、精子结构及绒毡层的变化

麦冬的花粉发育自小孢子母细胞开始，经连续型减数分裂，产生游离的单细胞小孢子;小孢子进一步发育，经两次有丝分裂，最终发育为包含有二个精细胞和一个营养核的成熟花粉。在此发育过程中，内质网、线粒体、高尔基体和脂体含量丰富。 麦冬的精子细胞为伸长的细胞，具有椭圆形的头部和长长的尾部细胞质突起，细胞器较少，是线粒体，但缺乏质体，没有明显的二型性;其精细胞伸长的尾部细胞质突起是在生殖细胞有丝分裂时产生，而不是以后由精子细胞本身发育;两个精子细胞之间除了头部的联结外，还有尾部的联接，但没有任何结构上的联结;一个精子细胞的头部常与营养核十分靠近;另外，在精子与精子之间或精子与营养核之间的贴近点上，常可见到多层膜的结构，根据精细胞之间的联结和精细胞与营养核之间的靠近，推测麦冬的成熟花粉中存在雄性生殖单位。 麦冬的花粉壁发育在四分体后期开始，首先产生纤维状的原外壁，由原外壁上依次发育出原基柱层、原覆盖层和原基足层，当四分体分离时，花粉外壁外层已发育完全;在单细胞小孢子时期，外壁内层发育，为极薄的一层，同时内壁－1开始发育;到了二细胞花粉时期，内壁－1开始发育;到了二细胞花粉时期，内壁－1发育完全，并在萌发孔处发育特殊的蜂窝状结构;紧接内壁－1层，发育出内壁－2层。在其壁发育过程中，花粉中大量沿周围平行于花粉壁排列的内质网可能与花粉壁的形成有关。 麦冬的绒毡层发育属分泌型。在小孢子母细胞时期，绒毡层细胞达到了发育的顶峰，此时，细胞器非常丰富，大量的线粒体、高尔基体和质体，尤为内质网含量最为丰富;原乌氏体出现较早，小孢子母细胞时期绒毡层细胞中就已出现;四分体时期，大量乌氏体被排入内切向面的质膜和纤维素壁之间;到了小孢子早期，绒毡层细胞失去细胞壁，原乌氏体分布在质膜的凹陷处，孢粉素物质开始在其上沉积，发育为乌氏体，乌氏体有单个和复合两种类型;到花粉成熟时，绒毡层细胞彻底解体。

Comportamiento de seis cepas de Bradyrhizobium japonicum en el cultivo de la soya (Glycine max (L.) Merr. var. "Cristalina")

Con el objetivo de determinar la infectividad y eficiencia de las cepas introductorias al país de Bradyrhyzobium japonicus comparándolas entre si y con so testigos uno de ellos con nitrógeno y potro no tratado, se realizó el presente trabajo en el Centro Experimental del algodón, durante los meses de agosto a diciembre de 1987. Se utilizó un diseño de bloques completos al azar con ocho tratamientos y cinco repeticiones. Los tratamiento fueron: las cepas E-45 E-97,E-104, E111, FA-3 y U8-1 y dos testigos, al primero son 80-kg/ha de nitrógeno-Urea 46% y al segundo sin nitrógeno y sin inoculante, Se determinó que la cepa FA-3 difiere significativamente de los otros tratamientos siendo éstos tanto infectivos como oficiante.

Length-based estimates of vital statistics in threadfin bream (Nemipterus japonicus) from Bay of Bengal, Bangladesh

ELEFAN 0, ELEFAN I and ELEFAN II were used to estimate vital statistics of Nemipterus japonicus from length-frequency data sampled along the coast of Bangladesh. The parameters L and K were estimated at 24.5 cm and 0.94 year super(-1). The values of M and F were found to be 1.81 and 1.58 year super(-1), respectively. The fish recruit to the fishery during May-June and September-October.

Studies on maturity, spawning and fecundity of Nemipterus japonicus (Bloch) off Bombay coast

Studies indicated spawning season of Nemipterus japonicus off Bombay coast (Maharashtra, India), to be during July to December with peak breeding during November to December. Females attained first maturity at the length range 110-120 mm; 50% maturity and spawning occurred at 135 mm within one year of its age. Overall male: female ratio for the entire period of study was 1:1.01. Relationships of fecundity with total length of fish, total ovary weight and per g. fish weight were worked out as F=(-72674.33) L super(739.73); F =65.44 W super(807.33); F=3112.57 W super(22383.27) and F=467.85 W super(4.96) with coefficient of correlation values (r) 0.9090, 0.9443, 0.9911 and 0.8843 respectively.

Biological characteristics and determination of population dynamics parameters of Nemipterus japonicus in the coastal waters of Province Bushehr, Persian Gulf

This study was conducted to determine biological characteristics and population dynamics parameters of threadfin bream (Nemipterus japonicus) in Persian Gulf (Bushehr Province), during November 2006 and October 2007. The minimum and maximum specimens were 75-273 mm FL and their weight was 7.6 - 351.9 g. Based on the exponential relationship between fork length and weight, slope (b) for individuals, males and females was 2.987321, 2.992546 and 3.007314, respectively. The emptiness value (V) was 45.6% and it shows that N. japonicus is a moderate feeder. The results of Fp indicates that crustacean with 78.2% are main foods, mollusca (27.7%), fishes (20.7%), polychaeta (19.2%) and Foraminifera (11.7%) were identified as minor foods and phytoplanktons (9.9%), nematoda(8.0%), echinodermata (2.3%) and sea weeds (0.3%) were random foods. The reproduction studies showed the spawning season extended within 2 peaks, from April- May and September and main spawning occurs in spring season.The mean absolute and relative fecundities were 472388±42633 and 3817±293 (X±SE), respectively. The maximum, minimum and mean of oocyte diameter were 0.448, 0.022 and 0.221mm (SE=0.071), respectively.The fork length at 50% maturity estimated to be 20.25 cm for females. The growth coefficient (K) , length infinity (L��� ) and ɸ' was estimated 0.42/yr , 34.17 cm and 2.69, respectively. The coefficient of total mortality, fishing mortality, natural mortality and E was 1.37, 0.43, 0.94 and 0.31, respectively.

The complete mitochondrial genome sequence of the cutlassfish Trichiurus japonicus (Perciformes: Trichiuridae) : Genome characterization and phylogenetic considerations

Mitochondrial genome sequence and structure analysis has become a powerful tool for studying molecular evolution and phylogenetic relationships. To understand the systematic status of Trichiurus japonicus in suborder Scombroidei, we determined the complete mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) sequence using the long-polymerase chain reaction (long-PCR) and shotgun sequencing method. The entire mitogenome is 16,796 by in length and has three unusual features, including (1) the absence of tRNA(Pro) gene, (2) the possibly nonfunctional light-strand replication origin (O-L) showing a shorter loop in secondary structure and no conserved motif (5'-GCCGG-3'), (3) two sets of the tandem repeats at the 5' and 3' ends of the control region. The three features seem common for Trichiurus mitogenomes, as we have confirmed them in other three T. japonicus individuals and in T nanhaiensis. Phylogenetic analysis does not support the monophyly of Trichiuridae, which is against the morphological result. T. japonicus is most closely related to those species of family Scombridae; they in turn have a sister relationship with Perciformes members including suborders Acanthuroidei, Caproidei, Notothenioidei, Zoarcoidei, Trachinoidei, and some species of Labroidei, based on the current dataset of complete mitogenome. T japonicus together with T. brevis, T lepturus and Aphanopus carbo form a clade distinct from Lepidopus caudatus in terms of the complete Cyt b sequences. T. japonicus mitogenome, as the first discovered complete mitogenome of Trichiuridae, should provide important information on both genomics and phylogenetics of Trichiuridae. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

虾夷扇贝Patinopecten yessoensis (Jay)和仿刺参Apostichopus japonicus (Seienka)多倍体诱导研究

本文采用化学方法诱导了虾夷扇贝Patinopecten yessoensis (Jay)和仿刺参Apostichopus japonicus (Selenka)的多倍体。采用6－二甲基氨基嘌呤（6－dimethylaminopurine）抑制虾夷扇贝极体释放，研究了诱导三倍体的实验条件、技术工艺以及三倍体虾夷扇贝幼虫的生长和培育方法。结果表明，使用6－二甲基氨基嘌呤（6－DMAP）可诱导17.3%-100.0%的三倍体虾夷扇贝面盘幼虫。筛选并优化了生产中操作简便、高效、成活率高的诱导条件，并研究出在扇贝三倍体诱导中批量获得受精卵、处理及培育的技术工艺，对扇贝三倍体的规模化诱导及培育等生产性应用具有较高的参考价值。报道了采用细胞松弛素B（cytochalasin B）、秋水仙素（colchicine）、6－DMAP以及咖啡因（coffeine）等药物抑制虾夷扇贝第一极体（PB_1）释放、PB_1和第二极体（PB_2）释放以及抑制第一次卵裂等方法诱导四倍体的结果。结果表明，CB、6－DMAP和秋水仙素抑制扇贝第一次有丝分裂诱发四倍体的比例低于25%，而采用CB抑制PB_1可有效地诱导产生四倍体，从授精后42min提前到15-22min开始处理，抑制PB_1的放出有助于提高四倍体的比例，在12 ℃，处理开始和终上时间分别在授精后20－22min和60－62min时，面盘幼虫四倍体率最高，为56.5%。对CB处理抑制受精卵PB_1释放的处理组胚胎的染色体分离状况进行了观察研究。对照组受精卵具有19条四分体染色体，经过减数分裂I期（meiosis I）和减数分裂II期（meiosis II），放出PB_1和PB_2，受精卵的发育具有不同步性。处理组受精卵在第二次减数分裂中出现了“三级分离“、“联合二级分离“和“独立二级分离“等特殊的分离类型，初步分析了CB抑制第一极体放出的机理。对三倍体虾夷扇贝的繁殖潜力和卵子的大小进行了观察研究，三倍体扇贝具一定的繁殖能力，三倍体雌贝平均产卵3.26 * 10~6个，而相同壳长二倍体贝为1.45 * 10~7，三倍体产卵量仅为二倍体产卵量的22.5%。三倍体卵子产出后，形状不规则，卵子平均直径为87.25μm，比二倍体大11.7%，卵子体积比二倍体大39.4%。利用CB抑制第一极体释放诱导了虾夷扇贝的四倍体，诱导率为41.5%。首次报道了仿刺参Apostichopus japanicus (Selenka)多倍体诱导的结果。采用紫外线照射的海水成功地使海参分别单独产卵、排精，从而准确地控制了海参的人工授精后处理的时间。采用0.2、0.4mg/L CB 抑制受精卵第一极体释放以及10、20、30和40mg/L 的6－DMAP 分别抑制PB_1、PB_2放出的方法诱导了仿刺参的多倍体。研究了诱导的药物浓度、处理时间以及处理开始时间等，同时对幼体的成活率等进行了探讨。结果表明，2种药物均可诱导仿刺参产生三倍体和四倍体，从效果上看，采用CB抑制PB_1诱导，到达小耳幼体时，可产生9.7%-21.3%的四倍体。6－DMAP抑制PB_2放出诱导三倍体，三倍体诱导率介于7.5%-25.8%之间。