Relation of reproductive performances and rectal palpation for luteum function of heifers 7 days after estrus     

Tatsuyuki YOSHIDA  Makoto SEKI  Norio WATANABE  Hiroki FURUTA  Itaru YOSHIMURA  Masahiro OSADA  Koji CHIBA  Konosuke OKADA  Koh KAWASUMI  Hitoshi USHIJIMA 《Animal Science Journal》2012,83(3):207-212

Diagnosis of corpus luteum (CL) function by rectal palpation (RP) has been widely used for recipient selection of embryo transfer (ET), a technology essential for genetic improvements in cattle. To examine the accuracy of RP diagnosis method, the relationship between RP‐based CL function and reproductive performance was compared in this study. In Experiment 1, CL of Holstein heifers on day 7 after estrus was classified into functional or hypoplastic by RP, and the results were compared with ultrasonographic (US) images and plasma progesterone (P4) levels. As a result, heifers with functional CL judged by RP had a mean maximum CL diameter of 20.1 ± 3.1 mm on US and a mean P4 concentration of 8.1 ± 2.3 ng/mL. These values were significantly greater than those of heifers with hypoplastic CL (12.4 ± 5.4 mm, 4.0 ± 2.8 ng/mL) (P < 0.001). In Experiment 2, the length of the estrus cycle was examined between functional CL and hypoplastic CL. The rate of heifers with a normal estrus cycle length with 18–25 days was significantly lower with hypoplastic CL than with functional CL (16/24 vs. 43/46, P < 0.01). In Experiment 3, 543 inseminated heifers were similarly classified by CL function by RP 7 days after estrus. The heifers with functional CL showed higher pregnancy rate compared with the heifers with hypoplastic CL (75.2 vs. 47.9%, P < 0.0001). Finally, the CL function of 66 heifers was examined by RP on day 7 post‐estrus, and ET was performed in 49 (74.2%) heifers with functional CL. As a result, 27 (55.1%) of them became pregnant. Taken together, these results reconfirm that RP on day 7 after estrus is useful for selection of heifers with functional CL.  相似文献   

Effect of stand density and humus removal on regeneration of Pinus densiflora seedlings in a mixed conifer and broad-leaved forest     

Makoto ANDO 《中国林学(英文版)》2012,14(2):85-91

We studied the impact of stand density and forest floor humus removal on regeneration of Pinus densiflora in a mixed conifer and broad-leaved forest on the Daimonji-Yama Mountain,Kyoto,Japan.Three levels of stand density were set,i.e.,a clear-cut site,a heavily thinned site and a lightly thinned site.In each density treatment,comparisons were carried out between humus removal (A 0 -free)and humus intact(A 0 -intact)subplots.We counted the emergence of sown pine seeds and measured survival and growth of pine seedlings over the next four years.In addition,light conditions and the recovery of understory were monitored.Results show that thinning intensity and humus removal promoted the establishment and growth of seedlings.One exception,however,was that seedling growth was minimal in the heavily thinned A 0 -intact subplots.This was due to a strong response of understory vegetation growth on the treatment combination,which hindered the pine seedling growth.Furthermore,we found that the canopy openness measured at 1.3-m height remained at least 35%for the heavily thinned site in 2008.The results suggest that the removal of the A 0 layer after heavy thinning is the most effective and labor-saving operation for P.densiflora regeneration.  相似文献   

Risk assessment of ozone impact on <Emphasis Type="Italic">Fagus crenata</Emphasis> in Japan: consideration of atmospheric nitrogen deposition     

Makoto?Watanabe  Masahiro?Yamaguchi  Hideyuki?Matsumura  Yoshihisa?Kohno  Takeshi?IzutaEmail author 《European Journal of Forest Research》2012,131(2):475-484

Tropospheric ozone (O₃) is considered to be the air pollutant relating to the decline of Fagus crenata forest in Japan. In the present study, we assessed a risk of O₃ impact on the growth of F. crenata in Japan, giving consideration to the effects associated with atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition based on the experimental study, national monitoring data for oxidant concentration and atmospheric N deposition, and a national vegetation survey. The average and maximum O₃-induced relative growth reduction (RG_red) of F. crenata across Japan were estimated to be 3.2 and 9.7%, respectively. Current levels of atmospheric N deposition were found to significantly affect the sensitivity of F. crenata to O₃. When the N deposition was assumed as zero, the estimated average and maximum RG_red were 2.3% and 5.7%, respectively. The inclusion of atmospheric N deposition data thus increased the estimated values for average and maximum RG_red (by 38% and 71%, respectively). Our results demonstrate that a change in the sensitivity to O₃ associated with atmospheric N deposition is an important consideration in the risk assessment of O₃ impact on the growth of F. crenata in Japan.  相似文献   

Unique viral capsid assembly protein gene (g20) of cyanophages in the floodwater of a Japanese paddy field     

Guanghua Wang  Jun Murase  Susumu Asakawa  Makoto Kimura 《Biology and Fertility of Soils》2010,46(2):93-102

In order to evaluate the genetic diversity of cyanophage communities of rice fields, viral capsid assembly protein gene (g20) was amplified with primers CPS1 and CPS8. The DNA was extracted three times from viral concentrates obtained from floodwater samples collected in each of four different plots (no fertilizer; P and K chemical fertilizers; N, P, and K chemical fertilizers; and chemical fertilizers with compost). Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) gave different g20 clones. The sequencing of DGGE bands revealed that the g20 genes of the floodwater were divergent and that the majority of clones formed several unique groups. However, they were more closely related to g20 sequences from freshwaters than to those from marine waters, suggesting that g20 genes in terrestrial aquatic environments are different from those in marine environments.  相似文献   

Evaluation of sugarcane smut resistance in wild sugarcane (Saccharum spontaneum L.) accessions collected in Japan     

Takeo Sakaigaichi  Yoshifumi Terajima  Makoto Matsuoka  Shin Irei  Seiji Fukuhara  Takayuki Mitsunaga 《Plant Production Science》2013,16(2):327-332

ABSTRACT

Sugarcane smut, caused by Sporisorium scitamineum, is one of the most important sugarcane diseases in Japan. Wild sugarcane, Saccharum spontaneum, is known to be a key breeding material to obtain high-yielding clones. In this study, we sought to identify Japanese wild sugarcane accessions with high resistance to smut. Thirty wild sugarcanes and three sugarcane cultivars were tested by the pinprick method. The results of the inoculation tests aided in identifying wild sugarcanes with high resistance to smut disease, namely JW90, Iriomote8, and Iriomote15. After screening the germplasm, progeny distribution of smut resistance from the inoculation test and dry matter productivity in the smut disease-free field were compared. The highly resistant wild sugarcane accession had a much better impact on progeny distribution of smut resistance compared with the susceptible accession. No relationship was found between smut resistance and dry matter productivity in both populations.  相似文献   

Effects of AI protocol and time interval from onset of estrus to AI on conception rate in Japanese Black cows     

Koichiro HEMMI  Ikuo KOBAYASHI  Makoto KAJISA  Go KITAHARA  Kiichi FUKUYAMA  Hiroshi HARADA  Shunichi KAMIMURA 《Animal Science Journal》2013,84(1):23-27

Two different artificial insemination (AI) protocols were investigated to determine the effect of the time interval from the onset of estrus (as detected by a pedometer) to the AI on the conception rate in Japanese Black cows. Seventy‐three cows were divided into two groups that received AI either after the induction of synchronized ovulation (synchronized AI group; n = 26) or at the time of observed estrus (control AI group; n = 47). Each group was further divided into two subgroups, which were artificially inseminated either 0–12 h (early AI group; n = 21) or 12–24 h (late AI group; n = 52) after the onset of estrus. There was no significant difference in the conception rate between the synchronized AI and control AI groups. The AI protocol and the detection of estrus using a threshold of counted steps (as measured by a pedometer) in this study could be effective for planned reproduction management without the observation of standing estrus in Japanese Black cows.  相似文献   

Assessment of the decay risk of airborne wood-decay fungi III: decay risks at different sampling sites     

Ikuo Momohara  Yuko Ota  Takehiro Yamaguchi  Makoto Ishihara  Yoshihiro Takahata  Hajime Kosaka 《Journal of Wood Science》2013,59(5):442-447

The decay risk of airborne wood-decay fungi in the same volume of air was investigated by using an air sampler over the course of a year at three different sampling sites. Japanese cedar disks measuring 7.8 cm in diameter and about 3 mm in thickness, and with a moisture content of about 100 % were placed in a “BIOSAMP” air sampler and then exposed to 1000 l of air in the northern, central, and southwest parts of Japan. The exposed disks were incubated for 20 weeks in a damp container maintained at 26 ± 2 °C and degraded by fungi trapped on the disks. The decay risk was calculated from the mass loss during incubation, and the factors affecting the said risk were explored. The results showed that sampling sites apparently do not affect decay risk, even though the Scheffer’s climate indexes of the sites were quite different. The relation between the sampling month and decay risk reveals that decay risk remains virtually the same year-round. Relative humidity on a sampling day is one of the key factors affecting decay risk in sampling conducted at the central or southwest site. In contrast, no weather factors influenced decay risk at the northern sampling site.  相似文献   

Detection of Bovine Group A Rotavirus Using Rapid Antigen Detection Kits, RT-PCR and Next-Generation DNA Sequencing     

Fujiko MINAMI-FUKUDA  Makoto NAGAI  Hikaru TAKAI  Toshiaki MURAKAMI  Tadashi OZAWA  Shinobu TSUCHIAKA  Sachiko OKAZAKI  Yukie KATAYAMA  Mami OBA  Naomi NISHIURA  Yukiko SASSA  Tsutomu OMATSU  Tetsuya FURUYA  Satoshi KOYAMA  Junsuke SHIRAI  Hiroshi TSUNEMITSU  Yoshiki FUJII  Kazuhiko KATAYAMA  Tetsuya MIZUTANI 《The Journal of veterinary medical science / the Japanese Society of Veterinary Science》2013,75(12):1651-1655

  相似文献   

The Effects of Frequent Electroejaculation on the Semen Characteristics of a Captive Siberian Tiger (Panthera tigris altaica)     

Daisuke FUKUI  Masashi NAGANO  Ryohei NAKAMURA  Gen BANDO  Shinichi NAKATA  Masao KOSUGE  Hideyuki SAKAMOTO  Motozumi MATSUI  Yojiro YANAGAWA  Yoshiyuki TAKAHASHI 《The Journal of reproduction and development》2013,59(5):491-495

Artificial insemination (AI) can help to avoid inbreeding and genetic degeneration for sustaining genetically healthy populations of endangered species in captivity. Collection of a sufficient quantity of viable sperm is an essential first step in the AI process. In the present study, we examined the effects of frequent electroejaculation on semen characteristics in a Siberian tiger. We collected semen in all 17 trials during 6 breeding seasons (6 years). The mean number of sperm and the percentage of motile sperm were 294.3 ± 250.2×10⁶/ejaculate and 82.4 ± 11.4%, respectively. The number of motile sperm tended to increase during frequent electroejaculation in the same breeding season. Semen collection by electroejaculation can be performed effectively up to the fourth sequential ejaculate, which contained the most sperm in the study. In conclusion, frequent collection of sperm by electroejaculation from tigers may be effective for collection of a large number of motile sperm.  相似文献   

Insulin-like Growth Factor 1 mRNA Expression in the Uterus of Streptozotocin-treated Diabetic Mice     

Yoshie MANABE  Makoto TOCHIGI  Akiyoshi MORIWAKI  Sakae TAKEUCHI  Sumio TAKAHASHI 《The Journal of reproduction and development》2013,59(4):398-404

Reproductive functions decline with the onset of diabetes in female mice. Diabetic mice have smaller uteri with an underdeveloped endometrium, suggesting diminished estrogen-induced growth. We aimed to clarify the changes in the estrous cycle and in insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) expression in the uteri of streptozotocin (STZ)-treated diabetic mice, because IGF1 is one of the main growth factors involved in estrogen-induced uterine growth. ICR female mice were intraperitoneally administered STZ (10 mg/100 g BW), and blood glucose levels were determined. Mice with blood glucose levels > 200 mg/dl were classified as diabetic mice. The onset of diabetes was associated with acyclic estrous cycles. Diabetes was also induced with STZ in ovariectomized mice. Uterine Igf1 mRNA levels were reduced in ovariectomized STZ-treated diabetic mice. Estrogen is known to stimulate Igf1 mRNA expression in the uterus, but estrogen action was abolished in the uteri of STZ-treated diabetic mice. mRNA expressions of estrogen receptor α (ERα) and steroid hormone receptor coactivators (SRC-1/Ncoa1, SRC-2/Ncoa2, SRC-3/Ncoa3 and CBP/p300/Crebbp) were reduced in the uteri of ovariectomized STZ-treated diabetic mice. The present study demonstrates that diabetes induces a decline in female reproductive functions in mice. Igf1 expression in ovariectomized diabetic female mice was decreased, and decreased responsiveness to estrogen in the uteri of diabetic mice is probably associated with a reduction in ERα and steroid receptor coactivator mRNA expression.  相似文献