Opioid receptors have been pharmacologically classified as µ, δ, κ and ε. We have recently reported that the antinociceptive effect of morphine (a µ-opioid receptor agonist), but not that of β-endorphin (a novel µ/ε-opioid receptor agonist), is attenuated by whole body irradiation (WBI). It is unclear at present whether WBI has differential effects on the antinociceptive effects of µ-, δ-, κ- and ε-opioid receptor agonists. In our current experiments, male ICR mice were exposed to WBI (5Gy) from a 60 Co gamma-source and the antinociceptive effects of opioid receptor agonists were assessed two hours later using the hot water (52℃) tail-immersion test. Morphine and D-Ala2,N-Me-Phe4,Gly-ol-enkephalin (DAMGO), [D-Pen2-D-Pen5]enkephalin (DPDPE), trans-3,4-Dichloro-N-methyl-N-[2-(1-pyrrolidinyl)- cyclohexyl]¬benzeneacetamide (U50,488H), and β-endorphin were tested as agonists for µ, δ, κ, and ε-opioid receptors, respectively. WBI significantly attenuated the antinociceptive effects of morphine and DAMGO, but increased those of β-endorphin. The antinociceptive effects of DPDPE and U50,488H were not affected by WBI. In addition, to more preciously understand the differential effects of WBI on µ- and ε¬opioid receptor agonists, we assessed pretreatment effects of β-funaltrexamine (β-FNA, a µ-opioid receptor antagonist) or β-endorphin1-27 (β-EP1-27, an ε-opioid receptor antagonist), and found that pretreatment with β-FNA significantly attenuated the antinociceptive effects of morphine and β endorphin by WBI. significantly reversed the β-EP1-27 attenuation of morphine by WBI and significantly attenuated the increased effects of β-endorphin by WBI. The results demonstrate differential sensitivities of opioid receptors to WBI, especially for µ- and ε-opioid receptors.

This study was undertaken to evaluate the relationship between in vitro maturation and plasminogen activators (PAs) activity on porcine cumulus-oocytes complexes (COCs) exposed to oxidative stress. When COCs were cultured in maturation medium with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), the proportion of the germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD) and oocytes maturation were decreased with addition of H2O2, and were significantly (p<0.05) lower in medium with 0.1 mM H2O2 than control group. Also, the rate of degenerated oocytes was increased in as H2O2 concentration increased. When COCs were cultured for 48 h, three plasminogen-dependent lytic bands were observed: tissue-type PA (tPA); urokinase-type PA (uPA); and tPA-PA inhibitor (tPA-PAI). PA activity was quantified using SDS-PAGE and zymography. When H2O2 concentration was increased, tPA and tPA-PAI activities also increased in porcine oocytes cultured for 48 h, but not uPA. In other experiment, embryos were divided into three groups and cultured in (1) control medium, (2) control medium with 1.0 mM H2O2 and (3) control medium with 1.0 mM H2O2 along with catalase in concentrations of 0.01, 0.1, and 1.0 mg/ml, respectively. H2O2 decreased the rate of GVBD and maturation in porcine COCs but catalase revealed protective activity against oxidative stress caused by H2O2. In this experiment, tPA and tPA-PAI activities were higher in media with 1.0 mM H2O2 alone. Increasing concentration of catalase decreased tPA and tPA-PAI activities in porcine oocytes. These results indicate that the exposure of porcine follicular oocytes to ROS inhibits oocytes maturation to metaphase-II stage and increase the oocytes degeneration. Also, we speculated that increased ROS level may trigger tPA and tPA-PAI activities in porcine oocytes matured in vitro.

We investigated the effects of temperature changes on the oxygen consumption rhythm in Japanese eels, Anguilla japonica, using an automatic intermittent flow respirometer (AIFR). The endogenous rhythm of the oxygen consumption rate (OCR) in the eels (n = 18; 44-74 cm, 145-690 g), freshly collected by bag net from estuaries, was nearly synchronous with the tidal pattern of the estuarine collection site. The magnitude of mean OCR (mOCR) of eels showed variable range of 82.2 - 116.5 ml O2 kg-1 ww h-1 under constant conditions. In case of increasing temperature from 25 to 38℃, the OCR of eels exhibited a gradually increasing trend with a rhythmic pattern until 36℃. Above 36℃, the rhythms of the OCR dampened and the OCR decreased rapidly at around 36 - 37℃. The OCR of the eels exhibited the maximum value at 38℃, and then it sharply decreased. The results suggested that the critical thermal maximum (CTM) regarding the endogenous rhythms of the eels was at around 36 - 37℃ when water temperature increased at 0.5℃/14 h following the acclimation at 25℃. In case of decreasing temperature (0.5℃/14 h) from 25 to 0℃, the OCR of the eels displayed a abrupt decrease up to 23℃, and between at 23 and 20℃, there was an agitation which showed a slight increase in the OCR with a duration of 1-2 days. Below 9℃, the OCR rhythm of the eels showed a constant state regardless of temperature decreasing. These results suggest that the Japanese eel has an upper incipient lethal temperature at 36℃, with a lower thermal limit at 9℃. The biochemical aspects of the eels influenced by water temperature need to be further studied.

To investigate the application of biochemical markers' and small-sample methods using whole-wheat flours for screening in early generation in Korean wheat breeding system, 74 Korean wheats, including cultivars, local breeding lines and experimental lines, were analyzed. Seed storage protein and amylose contents of grains were evaluated. Biochemical makers, including granule bound starch synthase (GBSS), high molecular weigh glutenin subunits (HMW-GS) and friabilin were also evaluated by using one-dimensional sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacryla-mide gel electrophoresis with a single kernel. The small­sample methods, including modified SDS-sedimentation test (MST), micro-alkaline water retention capacity (AWRC) and whole-wheat flour swelling volume (WSV) were also tested in this study. Protein content, MST and AWRC was 11.0 - 15.8~% , 2.7 - 26.2 ml and 71.9 - 109.7~% , respectively. Apparent and total amylose content and WSV was 20.6 - 25.0~% , 26.1 - 32.4~% and 9.0 - 16.9 ml, respectively. There were highly significant correlations between MST and AWRC (r=0.592, P<0.001), but Korean wheats showed no significant difference in protein content, amylose content and small-sample methods. In the biochemical markers, Korean wheats contained all three GBSS encoded by Wx loci, except for Suwon 252. Korean wheats showed the high frequency (58.1~% ) of 1Dx2.2 + 1Dy12 subunits of HMW-GS. Friabilin band was present in 46 lines (62.2~% ) and absent in 28 lines (37.8~% ). Friabilin-absence lines showed the higher MST (14.9 ml) and AWRC (92.1~% ) value than friabilin-presence lines (8.5 ml and 82.4~% , respectively).

We have developed and tested a new method for nondestructive estimation of chlorophyll- and nitrogen-contents in rye leaf. It was found that the relation-ships among nitrogen, chlorophyll content and fresh weight were significantly positive correlated. Nitrogen and chlorophyll content were positively correlated whereas correlation coefficients among R, G, R-B and G-B on the basis of photo-numerical values were negative. We have found that R/(R-B) obtained from data of digital camera is the best criterion to estimate the chlorophyll content of leaves. The regression curves of the relation between R/(R-B) and chlorophyll content were also calculated from the data collected on cloudy days. The coefficients of determination (~textrmr2 ) were ranged from 0.33 to 0.99. In this study, the accuracy in estimating chlorophyll content from the color data of digital camera image could be improved by correcting with R, G, and B values. It is suggested that, for practical purposes, the image values estimated with sufficient accuracy using a portable digital camera can be applied for determining chlorophyll content and nitrogen status in plant leaves.