Marine Algae from Hirota Bay on the Pacific Coast of Northeastern Honshu, Japan(Applied Aquatic Bio-Sciences Marine Plant Ecology)

Monthly collection of marine algae from the intertidal to subtidal zones in Hirota Bay (38°56\u27 N, 141°42\u27 E) on the Pacific coast of northeastern Honshu, Japan, was carried out from August 2005 to July 2006. A total of 95 species were listed, 12 of which belong to Chlorophyta, 24 to Phaeophyta, 58 to Rhodophyta, and one to sea grass. In these algae, the 10 species, Urospora penicilliformis, Pachydictyon coriaceum, Chordaria flagelliformis, Myagropsis myagroides, Bangia gloiopeltidicola, Lithophyllum okamurae, Titanoderma tumidulum, Chondracanthus tenellus, Polysiphonia abscissa and P. sphaerocarpa, were newly recorded to the marine algae from the coasts adjacent to Hirota Bay. The floral index of I/H value in Hirota Bay was 1.1, suggesting that the marine algal flora in Hirota Bay belongs to the typical subarctic zone

Estrogenic Activities of Fatty Acids and a Sterol Isolated from Royal Jelly

We have previously reported that royal jelly (RJ) from honeybees (Apis mellifera) has weak estrogenic activity mediated by interaction with estrogen receptors that leads to changes in gene expression and cell proliferation. In this study, we isolated four compounds from RJ that exhibit estrogenic activity as evaluated by a ligand-binding assay for the estrogen receptor (ER) β. These compounds were identified as 10-hydroxy-trans-2-decenoic acid, 10-hydroxydecanoic acid, trans-2-decenoic acid and 24-methylenecholesterol. All these compounds inhibited binding of 17β-estradiol to ERβ, although more weakly than diethylstilbestrol or phytoestrogens. However, these compounds had little or no effect on the binding of 17β-estradiol to ERα. Expression assays suggested that these compounds activated ER, as evidenced by enhanced transcription of a reporter gene containing an estrogen-responsive element. Treatment of MCF-7 cells with these compounds enhanced their proliferation, but concomitant treatment with tamoxifen blocked this effect. Exposure of immature rats to these compounds by subcutaneous injection induced mild hypertrophy of the luminal epithelium of the uterus, but was not associated with an increase in uterine weight. These findings provide evidence that these compounds contribute to the estrogenic effect of RJ

Reproduction and population structure of the sea urchin Heliocidaris crassispina in its newly extended range: The Oga Peninsula in the Sea of Japan, northeastern Japan.

Ocean warming has facilitated the range expansion of commercially important sea urchin species to higher latitudes. Heliocidaris crassispina was recorded to extend northward to Toga Bay along the Oga Peninsula, Japan following an increase in seawater temperatures, and replacement of local sea urchin species Mesocentrotus nudus. In order to identify evidence of adaptation occurring in response to a range extension of H. crassispina to the newly extended environments, we randomly collected 106 H. crassispina in August 2014 in Toga Bay, determined the growth and age composition and examined gonad traits (size, color and development). To confirm the gonad development, 30 H. crassispina with > 30 mm diameter were collected in July, August and September 2017. We found slower growth in the extended range than the central range. More delayed gonad development of males than those of females and a large variety of developmental stages in the acini of testis indicated that the spawning of both sexes of the sea urchins were asynchronous. In terms of gonad color, L* (lightness) values increased with increasing GI, while b* (yellowness) values decreased with increasing age. The population consisted of seven year-classes from 2006 to 2012, suggesting persistent juvenile recruitment. Long-term water temperature data indicated that the range extension of H. crassispina was due to ocean warming, in particular during the summer spawning season