Occurrence of gangliosides in the common squid and pacific octopus among protostomia

AbstractAcidic lipids from tissues of the common squid Todarodes pacificus and the pacific octopus Octopus vulgaris were characterized. Hepatopancreatic tissues of both animals had complex compositions of resorcinol-positive acidic lipids, many of which became reactive with cholera toxin B subunit and anti-GM1 antibody after in situ treatment with sialidase on TLC. One of the major acidic lipids in squid tissue was isolated and examined for its structure. This acidic lipid was identified to be the ganglioside GD1a based upon the susceptibility to sialidases of different substrate specificity, characterization of reaction products, and electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry of the lipid. Hepatopancreatic tissues of squid and octopus also contained acidic lipids that reacted with A2B5, a monoclonal antibody specific to c-series gangliosides. Cerebral ganglia of both animals expressed resorcinol-positive acidic lipids, though their compositional patterns differed from the hepatopancreatic tissues. N-Acetylneuraminic acid was identified as the main species in lipid-bound sialic acid in both tissues. The contents of lipid-bound sialic acid in cerebral ganglia were significantly lower than those of hepatopancreatic tissues in both animals. The present study presents the first evidence for the occurrence of gangliosides in protostomia

Palynomorphs from the Santonian Uge Member of the Taneichi Formation, Northeast Japan

The basal Uge Member of the Taneichi Formation consisting mainly of terrigenous sediments, viz. basal conglomerate, rhyolitic tuff, sandstones, coaly shales etc, was palynologically studied. A total of 303 species of palynomorphs which consist of 115 spores, 90 gymnospermic pollen, 3 gymnospem-angiosperm incertae sedis, 85 angiospermic pollen, 7 phytoplankton and 3 incertae sedis were described and illustrated. The following forms are new : Appendicisporites gigantiformis n. sp., A. kanukaensis n. sp., Baculatisporites giganticus n. sp., Balmeisporites nipponicus n. sp., Camarozonosporites (Camarozonosporites) similis n. sp., Cicatricosisporites minuticanaliculatus n. sp., C. senonicus n. sp., Cingulatisporites iwatensis n. sp., Foveosporites perfossus n. sp., Gleicheniidites verrucatus n. sp., Laevigatosporites longus n. sp., L. nitidulus n. sp., Leiotriletes giganticus n. sp., Lycopodiacidites circularis n. sp., Lygodiidites tohokuensis n. sp., Punctatisporites granulatus n. sp., Todisporites grandiformis n. sp., Toroisporis (Duplotoroisporis) triangulus n. sp., Trachysporites microverrucatus n. sp., Trilites pulchellus n. sp., T. pustulosus n. sp., Triplanosporites giganteus n. sp., T. rikuchuensis n. sp., T. taneichiensis n. sp., Undulatisporites flexuosus n. sp., Verrucatosporites verruculosus n. sp., Abiespollenites minus n. sp., Alisporites enormis n. sp., Callialasporites ugensis n. sp., Cedripites sanrikuensis n. sp., Classopollis grandissimus n. sp., C. taneichiensis n. sp., Cycadopites mirus n. sp., Ephedripites (Spiralipites) elongatus n. sp., Inaperturopollenites rugatus n. sp., Phyllocladidites globulosus n. sp., Piceapollis grandiformis n. sp., Pityosporites cretaceus n. sp., Podocarpidites senonicus n. sp., Rugubivesiculites japonicus n. sp., R. sphaericus n. sp., Clavatipollenites variabilis n. sp., Cupuliferoidaepollenites lanceolatus n. sp., Foveotricolpites fastidiosus n. sp., F. globosus n. sp., Foveotricolporites gloriosus n. sp., F. grandiformis n. sp., Ilexpollenites minus n. sp., Potamogetonacidites senonicus n. sp., Retitrescolpites pseudoazemae n. sp., Rousea elegantula n. sp., R. reticosa n. sp., R. triangulata n. sp., R. ugensis n. sp., Satishia pomposa n. sp., S. triformis n. sp., S. uniformis n. sp., Symplocacites microreticulatus n. sp., Tricolpites ellipsoideus n. sp., T. oviformis n. sp., T. sphaeroides n. sp., and Tricolpopollenites baculatus n. sp. Furthermore, new combinations are proposed : Appendicisporites aurifer Verbizkaja n. comb., A. cf. bellus Markova n. comb., A. macrorhyzus Maljavkina n. comb., A. cf. pseudomacrorhyzus Markova n. comb., Ephedripites (Spiralipites) longus Song & Zheng n. comb., E. (S.) perlatus Wang & Zhao n. comb., E. (S.) praeclarus Chlonova n. comb., Pityosporites alatipollenites Rouse n. comb., P. microsibiricus Zaklinskaja n. comb., P. cf. piniformis Zaklinskaja n. comb., Ilexpollenites claviger Takahashi n. comb, and Tricolpites rudis Takahashi n. comb. The middle Okonai Member consists mostly of brown to greenish gray sandstone with Crassostrea fossil bank in the lower part and fine sandstone which yields Sphenoceramus sanrikuensis Matsumoto & Sugiyama together with other fossils in the upper part. Formerly the Taneichi Formation was considered as the Neogene, but later revised by Terui et al.(1975) to the middle Upper Cretaceous (Santonian) on the evidence of ammonoids and inoceramid. The Uge Member resembles lithologically the basal Tamagawa Formation of the Kuji Group. Crassostrea fossil bank in the lower horizon of the Okonai Member is closely similar to that of the Tamagawa Formation. Accordingly, the Uge Member and the lower part of the Okonai Member are correlated with the Tamagawa Formation. The upper part of the Okonai Member is like to the Kunitan Formation of the Kuji Group in which Inoceramus (Platyceramus) japonicus Nagao & Matsumoto occurs in yielding Sphenoceramus sanrikuensis Matsumoto & Sugiyama which is an effective member of the Platyceramus japonicus zone and indicates the lowest Campanian in age. The Santonian Uge playnoflora is characterized by the following spores and pollen grains : Aequitriradites verrucosus, Appendicisporites spp., Balmeisporites nipponicus, Camarozonosporites spp., Cicatricosisporites spp., Cyathidites spp., Gleicheniidites senonicus, Jimboisporites senonicus, Lygodiidites spp., Patellasporites spp., Trilites spp., Zlivisporis novomexicanus, Araucariacites australis, Callialasporites ugensis, Classopollis spp., Cupressacites spp., Ephedripites spp., Phyllocladidites spp., Pristinuspollenites microsaccus, Rugubivesiculites spp., Vitreisporites pallidus, Clavatipollenites variabilis, Asteropollis clavatus, Callistopollenites radiatostriatus, Fibulapollis spp., Rousea spp. , Satishia spp., and Tricolpites spp

Supplemental description of Pityosporites from the Uge Member of the Taneichi Formation, Northeast Japan

Pityosporites tohokuensis n. sp. from the Santonian Uge Member of the Taneichi Formation at Taneichi is described and re-illustrated supplementally in this paper

THE IMPROVEMENT OF SKILL BY SNOWBOADING CLASS OF THE UNIVERSITY GENERAL EDUCATION ATHLETICS

本研究はスノーボード集中授業により初心者の滑走スキルがどの程度向上したかを検討したものである｡実技試験を実施した結果､以下の如くの結果が得られた｡即ち､転倒者の割合は女子班では55.6%､男子班では50.0%と約半数が転倒する状態であった｡男子班は全員､連続ターンが出来ていたが女子班 では出来ないかほとんど出来ない者が約4割であった｡平均ターン回数は男子班が9.8回,女子班が2.9回で女子班の値が小さかった(P<0.1)｡その理由については､男女の体力差や指導方法の違いなどが考えられる｡試技の平均所要時間は男子班が33.0秒で女子班が41.0秒であった｡経験者班を基準にする と男子班は12.6%,女子班は40.0%余分に時間を要している状態であった｡事前のスケートボード練習の有効性は確認できなかった｡理由としては､練習の回数と時間が少な過ぎたことと参加者数が少なかったことによると推察される｡This study is a report on the run skill of beginners of snowboarding intensive class. The skill test brought the following results.A ratio of the students who fell down at this test was 55.6% in the female group, and was 50.0% in the male group. All of the male group could do turns of the right and left alternation. However, about 40% of the female group could not do such turn at all or could not do without great difficulty. The average of the turn of the group of male was 9.8 times, and it of the group of female was 2.9 times. The numerical value of the female group was small (p<0.1). As a reason, it seems that the difference of physical resources between male and female. And next, it seems that the reason is in a variety of teaching methods of each coach. The group of the male needed time of 33.0 seconds on average for run and it of the group of female was 41.0 seconds. In comparison with the group of the experienced students, the male group spent time more 12.6%, and the surplus time of female group is 40.0%. The effectiveness of the skateboarding exercise before the class was not confirmed. As reasons it seemed that too few times of practice and too few students who belong to group of training were guessed

The Inhibition of Lipase and Glucosidase Activities by Acacia Polyphenol

Acacia polyphenol (AP) extracted from the bark of the black wattle tree (Acacia mearnsii) is rich in unique catechin-like flavan-3-ols, such as robinetinidol and fisetinidol. In an in vitro study, we measured the inhibitory activity of AP on lipase and glucosidase. In addition, we evaluated the effects of AP on absorption of orally administered olive oil, glucose, maltose, sucrose and starch solution in mice. We found that AP concentration-dependently inhibited the activity of lipase, maltase and sucrase with an IC50 of 0.95, 0.22 and 0.60 mg ml−1, respectively. In ICR mice, olive oil was administered orally immediately after oral administration of AP solution, and plasma triglyceride concentration was measured. We found that AP significantly inhibited the rise in plasma triglyceride concentration after olive oil loading. AP also significantly inhibited the rise in plasma glucose concentration after maltose and sucrose loading, and this effect was more potent against maltose. AP also inhibited the rise in plasma glucose concentration after glucose loading and slightly inhibited it after starch loading. Our results suggest that AP inhibits lipase and glucosidase activities, which leads to a reduction in the intestinal absorption of lipids and carbohydrates

Studies on the host-mediated action of the streptococcal preparation, OK-432, in cancer chemotherapy

The streptococcal preparation, OK.432, with predominant host-mediated mode of action, was studied. By giving OK-432 to mice intraperitoneally prior to transplantation of Ehrlich carcinoma, a host-mediated action to increase life-span was clearly confirmed. Pretreatment with OK-432 was also effective against the development of Rauscher leukemia. The host-mediated action of OK-432 varied with the interval between its pretreatment and the inoculation of tumor cells. The effect was most marked when the transplant was performed immediatedly after the pretreatment, and became less marked when the transplant was made one week and two weeks after pretreatment. The host-mediated action can be observed even with a single dose of pretreatment, and becomes more potent as pretreatment was given repeatedly. The host-mediated action was weakened by concomitant pretreatment with cyclophosphamide or roentgen irradiation, and the mechanisms of such action was supposed to be associated with the function of the reticulo-endothelial system.</p

Anti-Obesity and Anti-Diabetic Effects of Acacia Polyphenol in Obese Diabetic KKAy Mice Fed High-Fat Diet

Acacia polyphenol (AP) extracted from the bark of the black wattle tree (Acacia meansii) is rich in unique catechin-like flavan-3-ols, such as robinetinidol and fisetinidol. The present study investigated the anti-obesity/anti-diabetic effects of AP using obese diabetic KKAy mice. KKAy mice received either normal diet, high-fat diet or high-fat diet with additional AP for 7 weeks. After the end of administration, body weight, plasma glucose and insulin were measured. Furthermore, mRNA and protein expression of obesity/diabetic suppression-related genes were measured in skeletal muscle, liver and white adipose tissue. As a result, compared to the high-fat diet group, increases in body weight, plasma glucose and insulin were significantly suppressed for AP groups. Furthermore, compared to the high-fat diet group, mRNA expression of energy expenditure-related genes (PPARα, PPARδ, CPT1, ACO and UCP3) was significantly higher for AP groups in skeletal muscle. Protein expressions of CPT1, ACO and UCP3 for AP groups were also significantly higher when compared to the high-fat diet group. Moreover, AP lowered the expression of fat acid synthesis-related genes (SREBP-1c, ACC and FAS) in the liver. AP also increased mRNA expression of adiponectin and decreased expression of TNF-α in white adipose tissue. In conclusion, the anti-obesity actions of AP are considered attributable to increased expression of energy expenditure-related genes in skeletal muscle, and decreased fatty acid synthesis and fat intake in the liver. These results suggest that AP is expected to be a useful plant extract for alleviating metabolic syndrome