Utsunomiya University

About: Utsunomiya University is a education organization based out in Utsunomiya, Japan. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Laser & Holography. The organization has 4139 authors who have published 6812 publications receiving 91975 citations. The organization is also known as: Utsunomiya daigaku.

Watermelon mosaic virus.

Abstract: Potyviruses have been badly affecting crop yields in most parts of the world, with Zucchini yellow mosaic virus (ZYMV), Watermelon mosaic virus (WMV) and Papaya ringspot virus (PRSV) being of particular economic importance. Watermelon mosaic virus (WMV) causes severe economic losses in cucurbitaceous, leguminous, malvaceous and chenopodiaceous plants in temperate and Mediterranean regions. It produces chlorosis, mottling, blisters on leaves and fruits, leaf distortion and stunting in watermelon, muskmelon, squash, pumpkin and cucumber. WMV has been shown to infect experimentally, more than 170 plant species belonging to 27 plant families. The biological variability of WMV has been well-documented. Serologically, it is close to Soybean mosaic virus (SMV) and Papaya ringspot virus (PRSV), but distantly related to Potato virus Y (PVY) and Bean yellow mosaic virus (BYMV). The genome of the reported WMV isolates is more than 10kb, flanked by untranslated regions at both the ends. The large open reading frame (ORF) encodes a putative polyprotein of 3217 aa, with a calculated Mr. of 366,904. Sequence analyses of WMV isolates revealed close relationship with the reported isolates of SMV (84.7% to 85.8% aa identity). However, the N-terminal P1 protein encoding region was substantially different, presenting less than 35% identity. SimPlot analysis revealed that WMV arose through an ancestral event of interspecific recombination between SMV and Bean common mosaic virus (BCMV)/ Peanut stripe virus (PSV)-related potyviruses. Very little genetic material resistant to WMV-2 is available. Cultural practices, crop rotation, cross-protection and genetic resistance have effectively been used against WMV. Coat protein transgenic resistance to WMV has also been reported in squash and cantaloupe.

Postnatal changes of steroid receptor coactivator-1 immunoreactivity in rat cerebellar cortex.

Abstract: Steroid receptor coactivator-1 (SRC-1) interacts with nuclear hormone receptors (NRs) to mediate their action in a ligand-dependent manner. Among such ligands, thyroid hormone (TH) is particularly crucial for brain development. The expression of many TH target genes is regulated by TH only for a limited critical period, although TH receptor (TR) expression is not greatly altered after such period. To alter TH sensitivity, other factors may be involved. We thus examined the changes in SRC-1 expression during postnatal development in the rat cerebellum by immunohistochemistry and Western blotting. Strong SRC-1 immunoreactivity (IR) was constantly seen in Purkinje cell from postnatal days (P) 2 to P30. SRC-1 IR was also constantly observed in the internal granule cell layer. However, it was negative in the external granule cell layer at P2 and P7, whereas a weak IR was detected in the premigratory zone at P15. SRC-1 IR was detected in the molecular layer after P15. These results indicate that although TR is almost ubiquitously expressed in the developing cerebellum, the TH sensitivity could vary in each subset of cells. By Western blotting, SRC-1 protein level was greatest at P15, at which time TH action may be obvious. Taken together, the differential expression of SRC-1 may be crucial in mediating TH action during cerebellar development.

Number, distribution and size of retinal ganglion cells in the jungle crow (Corvus macrorhynchos).

Abstract: A retinal ganglion cell density map was generated using Nissl-stained retinal whole mounts from the jungle crow (Corvus macrorhynchos) The total number, distribution and size of these cells were determined in the area centralis, as well as in temporal, nasal, dorsal and ventral retinal regions The mean total number of ganglion cells was estimated to be 36 × 106 The highest densities were found in the area centralis (25 600 /mm2) and the dorso-temporal part of the retina, suggesting the highest quality of vision This density diminished nearly concentrically from the central area towards the retinal periphery The number of ganglion cells was highest in the temporal retina followed, in order, by the nasal, dorsal and ventral retinal regions Based on ganglion cell size, the retina seemed to consist of the following five regions: central, temporal, nasal, dorsal and ventral Ganglion cell size ranged from 16 to 288 μm2, with smaller cells predominating in central regions above the optic disc and larger cells comprising more of the peripheral regions The present study showed two highly populated areas of ganglion cells in the crow retina and it is expected that the crow retina provides well-developed monocular and binocular vision