自発的高運動ラットの安静時遺伝子発現パターンと野生型ラット運動時遺伝子発現パターンの違い

The Spontaneously-Running Tokushima Shikoku (SPORTS) strain is an original line derived from Wistar rats, which spontaneously runs >6 km/day on wheels, and has better glucose tolerance and less fat than Wistar rats. However, the molecular mechanism that contributes to the increased metabolic activity in SPORTS rats is unknown. The present study aimed to characterize the gene expression profiles of skeletal muscles in SPORTS rats housed under sedentary (SED) conditions. We found that the expression levels of genes encoding mitochondrial respiratory chain enzymes such as ATP synthase 6 (mt-Atp6) and cytochrome c oxidase subunit 6c (Cox 6c), were higher in the soleus (SOL) muscles of SED SPORTS than in SED Wistar rats. The ratio of type IIa myofibers was higher and glucose tolerance was better in SED SPORTS than in Wistar rats that were sedentary and trained daily on treadmills, respectively. We then investigated candidate genes that might contribute to the better glucose tolerance of SED SPORTS rats using DNA microarray analysis. Among 116 upregulated genes in the SOL muscles of SED SPORTS rats, only 19 were also increased in trained Wistar rats. We focused on v-erb-b2 erythroblastic leukemia viral oncogene homolog 3 (Erbb3), which was associated with glucose transport in myocytes, and found higher expression levels in the SOL muscles of SED SPORTS than in SED Wistar rats. The SOL muscles of SED SPORTS rats also contained more activity of β-hydroxy-acylCoA dehydrogenase, a key enzyme of β-oxidation, indicating enhanced lipid oxidation. These findings suggest that increased metabolic activity in skeletal muscle (especially the SOL muscle) of SPORTS rats is congenital and that gene expression profiles of SPORTS rats and Trained Wistar rats are different

First report of Magnificent Bryozoan Pectinatella magnifica（LEIDY） in Wakayama Prefecture and its distribution at Kinokawa and Iwade Cities

[要旨]北アメリカを原産地とするオオマリコケムシPectinatella magnifica はわが国では1972年に山梨県の河口湖で初めて確認され、翌1973年には同県精進湖で多数の群体塊が出現し、世間の注目を集めるところとなった。その後は日本各地に分布を広げ、水中に生息する大きな塊をした奇妙な外来種として知られるようになったが、和歌山県内での発見報告は今までなかった。2012年8月、近畿大学生物理工学部キャンパスの西端に位置する池で本種と思われる群体塊を発見し、大きさ、形態を詳しく観察してオオマリコケムシと同定し、和歌山県での初確認とした。さらにこの周辺の湖沼における分布を調査した。2012年8 月から2013年1月までの間、紀の川市・岩出市の湖沼56 か所の水面、水中を目視のみで群体塊の有無を確認した。2013 年8月から2014 年1月までの間は、同地域の湖沼110 か所（前年に調査した56か所すべてを含む）を目視に加えて、水面上をネットですくい取りし、浮遊する直径約１㎜大のスタトブラストの存在を確認する方法も併用して行った。その結果、24 か所で本種の分布が確認された。 [Abstract] The freshwater Magnificent Bryozoan, Pectinatella magnifica, a confirmed native invertebrate of North America, was identified in Lake Kawaguchiko, Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan in 1972. A large number of Magnificent Bryozoan colonies appeared in Lake Shojinko in 1973, and as a result, came to attract attention. It spread widely in various regions of Japan and this strange, large, lumpy, naturalized water species came to be widely known. There had been no reported discoveries in Wakayama to date. In August, 2012, we discovered a group of colonies, which we believe to be bryozoans, in a pond located at the west end of the Wakayama Campus of Kinki University and we observed their size and form, and identified them as the first Pectinatella magnifica in Wakayama Prefecture. Furthermore, we investigated the distribution in neighboring ponds. We visually confirmed the surface of the water of 56 spots in ponds in Kinokawa and Iwade cities, and confirmed the existence of these colonies from August, 2012 to January, 2013. We confirmed sightings at 110 spots（including 56 which we had investigated last year）in the area in which we visually confirmed from August, 2013 to January, 2014 and caught some on the surface of the water using a plankton net and used this method to confirm the existence of statoblasts, of approximately 1mm diameter in size, floating together. As a result, the distribution of Magnificent Bryozoans was confirmed in 24 out of 110 spots of ponds that we investigated.近畿大学先端技術総合研究所紀要編集委員