Apterichtus keramanus, a new snake-eel from Okinawa, southern Japan (Ophichthinae, Ophichthidae)

A new snake-eel,Apterichtus keramanus, is described on the basis of a single 276-mm TL specimen trawled from the coast of Kerama Islands, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan. The species is unique in the genus in having the posterior nostril opening entirely inside the mouth and a dark band running from the anteroventral margin of the eye to the upper lip.     

Partial purification and characterization of a factor which stimulates an increase in ornithine decarboxylase activity in the liver from tumor cell-free ascites fluid

A factor responsible for stimulating an increase in ornithine decarboxylase activity in the liver of mice was found in tumor cell-free ascites fluid of mice 3 days after inoculation of tumor cells. The factor was purified about 70-fold in 25% yield from tumor cell-free ascites fluid. As little as 1 μg of protein of purified fraction, injected intraperitoneally into normal mice, significantly increased the activity of ornithine decarboxylase in the liver. The most active preparation of the factor formed two major protein bands on analytical polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and both these bands stained with periodic acid-Schiff's reagent. The factor was a heat-labile, alkaline-stable, acidic protein with a molecular weight of more than 300 000. It was inactivated by treatment with 10 mM dithiothreitol, 5M urea, pronase or mixed glycosidase, but was stable on treatment with DNAase, RNAase or neuraminidase.     

Distribution of Clostridium botulinum in Japan and in Shinkiang district of China

Soil specimens obtained from several areas of Japan, which are closely located to or facing the Continental land of China, were examined for the distribution of Clostridium botulinum, especially pertaining to types A and B. A total of 266 specimens of Japan, when cultured, showed no type A or B toxicity, although 30 (11.3%), 4 (1.5%), and 10 (3.8%) of the specimens showed C1, C2, and type E toxicities, respectively. On the contrary, types A and/or B toxicities were shown, by the same method, in 14 of 20 specimens of Shinkiang district, China. The highest number of C. botulinum cells found in one gram of soil specimen was 25 for type A and 10 for type B.     

Clostridium absonum from gas gangrene

A Clostridium perfringens-like strain was isolated from a case of gas gangrene. The morphological properties and the lecithinase reaction of the isolate were very similar to those of C. perfringens; however, the lecithinase reaction was only slightly suppressed by C. perfringens alpha-antitoxin serum and the organism was identified as Clostridium absonum from its biochemical properties.     

Sexing of half-embryos produced by microsurgical bisection of mouse morulae and production of chimeric mouse of defined sex composition by aggregating two sexed half-embryos

Using the halved morulae of mice obtained with microsurgical technique, the following two experiments were performed. 1) Sexing of half-embryos by chromosomal analysis and transfer of the half-embryos after determining the sex of the other monozygotic half. One half of the bisected embryo was cultured in Colcemid solution (0.04 micrograms/ml) to be ensured for chromosomal preparation. More than 50% (152/270) of the blastulated embryos from the halves could be sexed by direct sex chromosome analysis. Thirty-nine of the half-embryos of which the co-twin halves were sexed, were transplanted in to the uterine horns of 18 pseudopregnant mice, and twelve became pregnant. The autopsies of them on Day 18 to 20 of pregnancy, revealed the presence of 16 fetuses. The morphological sex of these fetuses thus obtained coincided completely with the previous judgement based on the chromosomal sexing. 2) Production of chimeras of defined sex composition by aggregating two half-morulae of defined sex. Out of 147 pairs of half-morulae of two different strains (ICR and C3H/He), which were replaced in pairs into empty zona pellucidae, 107 (72.8%) were aggregated successfully and developed in vitro into full expanding blastocysts of typical form. Among the 107 aggregate blastocysts, 31 were sexed for both component embryos by chromosomal analysis on the co-twin half-embryos. When these 31 blastocysts were transferred, 11 living offspring including 4 chimeras were obtained. Transfer of 12 male-male and 5 female-female aggregate blastocysts resulted in 8 males and 1 female, respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Serum and tissue coenzyme Q9 in rats with thyroid dysfunctions

Serum and tissue CoQ9 levels were determined in hypothyroid, euthyroid and hyperthyroid rats. A significant negative correlation was demonstrated between serum FT4 or T3 and CoQ9 in rats with various states of thyroid functions. Liver CoQ9 was significantly increased in rats rendered mildly hyperthyroid. There was a significant positive correlation between serum FT4 or T3 and liver CoQ9. While liver CoQ9 did not significantly change in severely hyperthyroid animals, liver mitochondrial CoQ9 showed a significant positive correlation with serum T3. Kidney and heart CoQ9 levels did not significantly change in hyperthyroid rats, but those in hypothyroid rats showed a tendency to increase. It was suggested that the synthesis of CoQ9 was increased in the liver in hyperthyroidism.