Tadashi Oishi

Variations in the photoperiodic cloacal response of Japanese quail: Association with testes weight and feather color

The size of the cloacal gland was found to be a reliable indicator of testicular activity of Japanese quail. Six experiments were performed to examine the effects of alternating long and short photoperiod on the size of the cloacal gland of male Japanese quail. Three types of photoperiodic cloacal responses were distinguished. Type I birds became refractory to short photoperiods after they had experienced 5 weeks or more of short days. They maintained large cloacal glands under subsequent condition of alternating long and short photoperiod. Type II birds were intermediate types I and III birds did not become refractory to short photoperiods after experiencing 5 weeks or more of short days. The cloacal glands responded to conditions of alternating long and short photoperiods with increases or decreases in size. Feather color on the throat was found to correspond to the type of cloacal response. Type I birds had brick-red throat feathers. Type II birds had white feathers intermingled with brick-red feathers. Type III had white throat feathers. The percentages of types I, II, and III observed in the experimental population was 67, 18, and 15%, respectively. Type III birds were used to study the effects of blinding on the cloacal response to short photoperiod. Five out of eight blinded type III birds did not lose the responsiveness to short photoperiod. These results are consistent with the view that extraocular photoreceptors participate in the photoperiodic gonadal response of Japanese quail.

Visual pigments in the pineal complex of the Japanese quail, Japanese grass lizard and bullfrog: Immunocytochemistry and HPLC analysis

We investigated localization of visual pigments in the pineal complex of Japanese quail, Japanese grass lizards and bullfrogs immunocytochemically by use of the antiserum against bovine rhodopsin (Rh-As) and monoclonal antibodies against chicken iodopsin (Io-mAb). We also analyzed retinoids, chromophores of visual pigments, by a high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The outer segments and cell membranes of some photoreceptor cells in the pineal organ of the Japanese quail exhibited immunoreactivity to Rh-As, but there are also many immunonegative cells. The number of immunoreactive cells among individuals varied. Immunoreactivity to Io-mAb was weak or did not exist. The HPLC analysis revealed peaks of 11-cis and all-trans isomers of retinal in the oxime extracts of the pineal organ of Japanese quail and chickens. In the pineal of Japanese grass lizards, the outer segments of some cells were immunopositive to Io-mAb, but there were no cells immunoreactive to Rh-As. The parietal eye exhibited a well-developed lens and photoreceptor cells, but the outer segments of photoreceptor cells were immunonegative to both Rh-As and Io-mAb. In bullfrogs, three types of cells were identified in both the pineal and frontal organ; (1) immunopositive to Rh-As, (2) immunopositive to Io-mAb and (3) immunonegative to either of the antibodies. In the pineal organ of bullfrogs, 11-cis and all-trans retinal and 11-cis 3-dehydroretinal were detected, and 11-cis and all-trans retinal were also detected in the frontal organ. We detected 11-cis and all-trans retinal in the ventral part of diencephalon including the hypothalamus. Thus, the chromophore is the same between the retinal and pineal visual pigments, but the expression of opsins is different between the retina and pineal complex, which probably reflects the different function of each organ.

Effects of castration and testosterone treatment on the development and involution of the bursa of Fabricius and the thymus in the Japanese quail

We investigated the effects of castration on the development of lymphoid organs (bursa of Fabricius, thymus, and spleen) in the Japanese quail during 4-8 weeks of age under a long photoperiod (16L:8D) and the effect of testosterone implantation on the involution of the lymphoid organs under long (16L:8D) and short (8L:16D) photoperiods. Under 16L:8D, the bursa of Fabricius and thymus in intact quail grew rapidly and reached a peak at 6 weeks of age and regressed thereafter. In contrast, development of the lymphoid organs in castrated quail was well correlated with the body growth. Testosterone treatment induced a significant reduction in relative bursal weight to body weight at 6 weeks of age under 16L:8D and 8 weeks of age under 16L:8D and 8L:16D, in relative thymus weight at 6 weeks of age under 16L:8D and 8L:16D, and in relative spleen weight at 6 weeks of age under 8L:16D. Thus, we conclude that gonadal hormones play an important role in the development and involution of lymphoid organs.

Immunohistochemical localization of iodopsin in the retina of the chicken and Japanese quail

SummaryLocalization of iodopsin in the retina of the chicken and Japanese quail was investigated immunohistochemically with the use of monoclonal antibodies (R1-R4) highly specific for R-photopsin (protein moiety of iodopsin). In paraffin sections of the retina, the outer segments of double cones (principal and accessory cones) and of one particular type of single cones were labeled with the antibodies. In addition, reticular cytoplasmic structures, probably representing the Golgi apparatus in a position close to the vitreous pole of the paraboloid and to the outer limiting membrane were intensely stained in the cone cells bearing an immunoreactive outer segment. In whole-mount preparations, 5 types of cone cells were identified according to the color of oil droplets, i.e., red, yellow, pale-green (principal member of double cones), pale-blue and clear, in addition to a sixth type devoid of an oil droplet (accessory member of double cones). The immunohistochemical analysis of the preparations revealed that R-photopsin (suggesting the presence of iodopsin) is localized in the outer segments of both the principal and accessory members of double cones, and the population of single cones displaying a red oil droplet. Other cones endowed with a yellow, blue or clear oil droplet were not labeled with the antibodies used. Similar results were obtained in the retina of the Japanese quail.

Association Between Moringness‐Eveningness Preference and Mental/Physical Premenstrual Symptoms in Japanese Females 12 to 31 Years of Age

This study investigates the relationship between circadian typology, i.e., morningness‐eveningness (M‐E) preference, and the occurrence and severity of premenstrual mental and physical symptoms among 154 young Japanese female university students (range, 18 to 31 yrs; mean±S.D., 20.69±3.69 yrs) and 417 junior high school students (range, 12 to 15 yrs; mean±S.D., 14.29±0.67 yrs) living in an urban or suburban area of Kochi prefecture. Female university students experienced melancholy mood more frequently than did males, and the female university students who frequently became melancholy were more evening‐typed than those who did not experience melancholy. Female university students who experienced frequent fluctuations in mood and/or menstrual pain were more evening‐typed than those who were not so affected. M‐E preference of junior high school students was not correlated with stability of mood or frequency of menstrual pain. In urban areas, however junior high school students who had very stable menstrual cycles were significantly more morning‐typed than those whose menstrual cycles were not stable. In suburban areas, the bedtimes of female junior high students who had stable menstrual cycles were significantly earlier than those whose menstrual cycle duration was not stable. A physiological relationship between the circadian system, M‐E, and attributes of the menstrual cycle seems to be present in adolescent female Japanese junior high school students.

Vitellogenin-immunohistochemistry in the Liver and the Testis of the Medaka, Oryzias latipes, Exposed to 17β-estradiol and p-nonylphenol

Abstract Vitellogenin (VTG) produced in male fish has been used for a biomarker to study endocrine disrupters. However, the characteristics of VTG produced in male fish have not been studied well. In this study, we investigated the localization of VTG in the liver and the testis of male medaka (Oryzias latipes) treated with 17β-estradiol (E2) and p-nonylphenol (NP). The male fish were exposed to 1 μg/L E2 and 500 μg/L NP for 1–12 days. Control groups were kept in water including only vehicle. The frozen sections of the liver and the testis were stained with immunohistochemical methods using an antiserum against medaka VTG as the first antibody. In the E2 and NP treated liver, the hepatocytes showed immunoreactivity. In particular, the cytoplasm close to the cell membrane surrounding the sinusoids was strongly immunopositive. In the testis of both treatments, the interstitial tissues and the cells (spermatocytes) in the seminiferous tubules were immunopositive. The concentration of VTG became gradually higher in both tissues with longer treatments. These results suggest that germ cells in the testis treated with E2 and NP are able to incorporate and accumulate VTG.

PHOTORECEPTOR CELL TYPES IN THE RETINA OF VARIOUS VERTEBRATE SPECIES: IMMUNOCYTOCHEMISTRY WITH ANTIBODIES AGAINST RHODOPSIN AND IODOPSIN

Abstract— Types of photoreceptor cells in the retinas of 36 species of vertebrates (5 classes, 14 orders) were investigated immunocytochemically with monoclonal antibodies against chicken iodopsin (Io‐mAb) and antiserum against bovine rhodopsin (Rh‐As). In mammals, Rh‐As labeled the outer segments of some photoreceptor cells in striped squirrels (a diurnal mammal) and those of most photoreceptor cells in mice (a nocturnal mammal), while Io‐mAb did not label any photoreceptor cells in either of them. In all species of birds studied, Io‐mAb labeled the principal and accessory members of double cones and single cones with a red oil droplet. Rh‐As labeled single cones with a yellow or clear oil droplet in addition to rods. In turtles, both Rh‐As and Io‐mAb labeled single cones with a red or clear oil droplet and the principal (with a yellow oil droplet) and accessory members of double cones. This suggests that the visual pigments in these cones of turtles have common epitopes with bovine rhodopsin and chicken iodopsin. In Japanese grass lizards, single cones with a yellow oil droplet and double cones were immunoreactive to both Rh‐As and Io‐mAb. In snakes, rods and cones could not be distinguished but both positively and negatively stained cells were observed by the use of each antibody. In geckos, however, all photoreceptor cells were immunonegative to Io‐mAb. In all species studied in amphibians, Rh‐As labeled rods but not cones. Neither rods nor cones reacted with Io‐mAb. In fishes, almost all species studied had well developed cones, and some of these cones were labeled by Rh‐As. However, Io‐mAb labeled the outer segments of some cones only in loaches. Rh‐As labeled photoreceptor cells in all species of fishes studied. Thus, Rh‐As recognized the outer segments of rods in all species studied from fishes to mammals, whereas the epitope recognized by Io‐mAb is conserved in some species of fishes, most species of reptiles and all species of birds studied.

Ocular responses of genetically blind chicks to the light environment and to lid suture

Blind rc chicks were examined as to growth characteristics of the developing eye. We also explored the relationship between hereditary blindness and two environmental interventions affecting eye development, light-induced avian glaucoma (LIAG) and the axial lengthening associated with lid-suture. Genetically blind rc chicks could be identified by their behavior even during the first hours after hatching. However, they retained the pupillary reflex, at least to 5 weeks of age. Blind chicks reared under a diurnal lighting schedule had eyes 18% larger (by eye weight) than sighted hatchmates, with corresponding increases in globe diameters. Of the anterior segment parameters, neither corneal diameter, anterior chamber depth nor corneal curvature was demonstrably different from sighted controls. When rc chicks were reared under continuous light, the environmental condition which brings on LIAG, their already enlarged eyes showed no superimposed increases in either eye weight or globe dimensions. The corneas showed some characteristic LIAG effects: small anterior chamber depth and increased corneal radius of curvature (flat cornea), as compared with diurnal rc birds. Some birds were subjected to unilateral eyelid-suture, a protocol which usually induces axial lengthening and corneal bulging. Blind rc birds did not respond to this surgical intervention: in comparison by paired t-test between sutured and contralateral eye, there was little or no difference in eye weight, globe diameters or anterior segment parameters. Thus vision, or at least an intact retina/RPE, seems to be necessary for development of the characteristic axial lengthening in response to eyelid suture. The globe enlargement of LIAG also appears to be vision-dependent, although the anterior segment manifestations of LIAG are systemic effects.

Seasonal change in the locomotor activity rhythm of the medaka, Oryzias latipes

A group of the medaka,Oryzias latipes (Cyprinodontidae, orange-red variety, 25 males and 25 females), was kept in an aquarium, which was placed outdoors under natural conditions from December 1984 to January 1986. Locomotor activity at three layers (upper, middle, and lower layers) was recorded with a phototransistor system in each season. In summer, the fish showed typical diurnal activity at all three layers and the activity was greater than in other seasons. However, in autumn and winter, the fish became less active and showed relatively high activity at night at the upper or middle layer and diurnal activity at the lower layer. Nocturnal activity seemed to appear when the water temperature was decreased and the photoperiod was shortened. A free-running activity rhythm was also recorded under continuous darkness (DD) in each season; however, the fish showed clear free-running activity rhythms under DD only in summer.

Effects of photoperiod, temperature and testosterone-treatment on plasma T3 and T4 levels in the Djungarian hamster, Phodopus sungorus.

The effects of photoperiod, temperature and testosterone treatment on plasma T3 and T4 levels were investigated in the Djungarian hamster. Plasma T3 level was affected by temperature (25°C<7°C) but not by photoperiod. Plasma T4 level was affected by photoperiod (short day < long day) at 25°C. Administration of testosterone increased plasma T4 level under short photoperiod at 25°C. Thus, higher plasma T4 level under long photoperiod at 25°C might be induced by testosterone.