Correction to: Herding mechanisms to maintain the cohesion of a harem group: two interaction phases during herding

Journal of Ethology - The article Herding mechanisms to maintain the cohesion of a harem group.     

Postnatal changes in sublobular distribution of NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase in rat liver

Summary Immunohistochemical distribution of NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase (NADPH-ferrihaemoprotein reductase; EC 1.6.2.4.) in the liver lobule was examined during development of the rat. From the 19th day of gestation to 4 days after birth, the enzyme was distributed uniformly throughout the lobule. The immunostaining for the enzyme was weak before birth, and became slightly stronger after birth. A slightly uneven distribution of immunoreactivity, stronger in perivenular zones, appeared at 5 days after birth. Then, the staining intensity in perivenular zones became progressively stronger with age, except for a slight increase between 10 and 20 days of age. The intensity in periportal zones also increased gradually, although it remained weaker than that in perivenular zones. Around 30 days of age, the distribution of the immunostaining, stronger in perivenular than in periportal zones, was similar to that seen in the lobules of adult animals. thus, heterogeneity among hepatocytes with respect to the enzyme content is not present in fetal and newborn rats but develops gradually during postnatal development; the postnatal growth of the liver is accompanied by a change in the pattern of the distribution of this enzyme within the lobule.     

Interleukin-6 Deficiency Does Not Affect Motor Neuron Disease Caused by Superoxide Dismutase 1 Mutation

MethodsMice with mutant SOD1 (G93A) transgene, a model for familial ALS, were used in this study. The expression of the major inflammatory cytokines, IL-6, IL-1β and TNF-α, in spinal cords of these SOD1 transgenic (TG) mice were assessed by real time PCR. Mice were then crossed with IL-6(-/-) mice to generate SOD1TG/IL-6(-/-) mice. SOD1 TG/IL-6(-/-) mice (n = 17) were compared with SOD1 TG/IL-6(+/-) mice (n = 18), SOD1 TG/IL-6(+/+) mice (n = 11), WT mice (n = 15), IL-6(+/-) mice (n = 5) and IL-6(-/-) mice (n = 8), with respect to neurological disease severity score, body weight and the survival. We also histologically compared the motor neuron loss in lumber spinal cords and the atrophy of hamstring muscles between these mouse groups.ResultsLevels of IL-6, IL-1β and TNF-α in spinal cords of SOD1 TG mice was increased compared to WT mice. However, SOD1 TG/IL-6(-/-) mice exhibited weight loss, deterioration in motor function and shortened lifespan (167.55 ± 11.52 days), similarly to SOD1 TG /IL-6(+/+) mice (164.31±12.16 days). Motor neuron numbers and IL-1β and TNF-α levels in spinal cords were not significantly different in SOD1 TG /IL-6(-/-) mice and SOD1 TG /IL-6 (+/+) mice.ConclusionThese results provide compelling preclinical evidence indicating that IL-6 does not directly contribute to motor neuron disease caused by SOD1 mutations.     

Reduced generation time of apple seedlings to within a year by means of a plant virus vector: a new plant‐breeding technique with no transmission of genetic modification to the next generation

Fruit trees have a long juvenile phase. For example, the juvenile phase of apple (Malus × domestica) generally lasts for 5–12 years and is a serious constraint for genetic analysis and for creating new apple cultivars through cross‐breeding. If modification of the genes involved in the transition from the juvenile phase to the adult phase can enable apple to complete its life cycle within 1 year, as seen in herbaceous plants, a significant enhancement in apple breeding will be realized. Here, we report a novel technology that simultaneously promotes expression of Arabidopsis FLOWERING LOCUS T gene (AtFT) and silencing of apple TERMINAL FLOWER 1 gene (MdTFL1‐1) using an Apple latent spherical virus (ALSV) vector (ALSV‐AtFT/MdTFL1) to accelerate flowering time and life cycle in apple seedlings. When apple cotyledons were inoculated with ALSV‐AtFT/MdTFL1 immediately after germination, more than 90% of infected seedlings started flowering within 1.5–3 months, and almost all early‐flowering seedlings continuously produced flower buds on the lateral and axillary shoots. Cross‐pollination between early‐flowering apple plants produced fruits with seeds, indicating that ALSV‐AtFT/MdTFL1 inoculation successfully reduced the time required for completion of the apple life cycle to 1 year or less. Apple latent spherical virus was not transmitted via seeds to successive progenies in most cases, and thus, this method will serve as a new breeding technique that does not pass genetic modification to the next generation.     

Neurokinin A-like immunoreactivity in feline dental pulp: its distribution,origin and coexistence with substance P-like immunoreactivity

Summary The distribution and origin of neurokinin A (NKA)-like immunoreactivity were investigated in feline dental pulp by an indirect immunofluorescence method. NKA-containing nerve fibres with varicosities, which entered the dental pulp via apical foramen, were distributed throughout this tissue. Many NKA-containing nerve fibres were localized around blood vessels, but some were observed apart therefrom. At the odontoblastic layer, thin NKA-containing nerve fibres were observed running straight toward the pulp-predentinal border between odontoblasts. After inferior alveolar nerve section, all NKA-containing nerve fibres disappeared in the dental pulp, while the removal of the superior cervial ganglion resulted in no change in the distribution of these fibres. The correlation of NKA-like immunoreactivity and substance P (SP)-like immunoreactivity was also investigated by double-immunofluorescence technique. The distribution of NKA-containing nerve fibres was very similar to that of SP-containing nerve fibres; it appeared that all NKA-containing nerve fibres contained SP.     

Effect of Vitamin A and Estradiol on the Cystine and Hydroxyproline Content in Skin of Rats

In the previous paper the authors reported the increase of cystine content by vitamin A in the skin of rats fed vitamin A depleted ration. It is known that both depletion of vitamin A and administration of estrogens in massive dose have the keratinizing action on the epithelium of rats. The present studies were initiated to compare the action of vitamin A with estrogens on the cystine and hydroxyproline content in the skin of rats, and the authors reported the increase of these amino acids by supplementation of this vitamin and hormone.