To investigate genetic factors that affect fatty acid composition in beef carcass, we previously investigated genetic profiles of stearoyl-CoA desaturase (SCD) and their effect on fatty acid composition in fat tissue of cattle. It has been known that sterol regulatory element binding protein (SREBP) is a transcription factor that regulates gene expression levels of SCD and other genes relevant to lipid and fatty acid metabolism in tissue. Therefore, we determined the full-length sequence of bovine SREBP-1 cDNA and then surveyed polymorphisms in whole exons and introns in the bovine genome. Large 84-bp insertion (long type: L) and deletion (short type: S) were found in intron 5 of bovine SREBP-1 in Japanese Black cattle, although there was no notable mutation in exon regions. The associations between the SREBP-1 genotypes and fatty acid compositions/fat melting points were analyzed by using genomic DNA with carcass trait information from 606 Japanese Black cattle. The S type contributed to 1.3% higher monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) proportion and 1.6 degrees C lower melting point in intramuscular fat. Genotyping of bovine SREBP-1 is considered to reflect a genetic variation which is associated with physiologic characteristics of fat tissue in Japanese black cattle.

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BackgroundPreviously, we showed that fragmented Lactobacillus amylovorus CP1563 (CP1563) functions as a dual agonist of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α and γ in vitro and in vivo.ObjectiveHere, we examined the safety and effect of CP1563 ingestion on body fat in obese class I participants in a double-blinded, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial (RCT).DesignIn the RCT, 200 participants with a body mass index (BMI) of 25–30 kg/m2 consumed test beverages with or without 200 mg of CP1563 daily for 12 weeks. In total, 197 subjects completed the study without any adverse effects.ResultsBody fat percentage, whole body fat, and visceral fat were significantly decreased in the test group compared with the placebo group (p<0.001, p<0.001, and p<0.001, respectively). Triglycerides, total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, and diastolic blood pressure showed significant reductions in the test group compared with the placebo group (p<0.001, p<0.001, p<0.001, and p<0.001, respectively). Additionally, significant differences in the changes in blood glucose, insulin, homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), and uric acid were observed between the two groups (p<0.001, p=0.004, p<0.001, and p<0.001, respectively). Improvements in anthropometric measurements and markers were observed in obese class I subjects in the test group.ConclusionsDaily consumption of beverages containing fragmented CP1563 for 12 weeks by obese class I subjects improved anthropometric measurements and markers related to lipid and glucose metabolism without any adverse effects. These results suggest that the consumption of foods containing fragmented CP1563 reduces body fat and prevents metabolic syndrome.

The antiviral effects of both a live and non-live Lactobacillus acidophilus strain L-92 (L-92) were investigated by oral administration (10 mg/mouse per d) daily for 21 d in a mouse model infected intranasally with influenza virus (H1N1). Virus titres in the lung of mice administered either live or non-live L-92 cells daily for 15 d were repressed 6 d after virus infection compared with the control group. Natural killer (NK) activity in the orally administered non-live L-92 group was higher compared with that of the control group before virus infection and on day 6. In contrast, NK activity in the live L-92 group compared with the control group was not significantly changed on both days, but was significantly higher on day 1. In contrast, live L-92 showed a greater repression of virus proliferation compared with non-live L-92, 6 d after the infection. Live L-92 decreased the number of neutrophils in the lung and suppressed lung weight, leading to the consequent deterioration of consolidation scores of the lung. These results indicated that pretreatment of live or non-live L-92 cells had protective effects against influenza virus infection. Among the measured cytokines and chemokines, eotaxin, macrophage colony-stimulating factor, IL-1b, RANTES (regulated on activation, normal T cell expressed and secreted) and interferon-a were significantly increased in the lung: IL-17 was significantly increased in Peyer's patch of the live L-92 group compared with the control group. A mechanistic study suggested that the enhancement of NK activity in the lung caused by stimulating various antiviral cytokines and chemokines after the oral administration of L-92 cells might be important in protecting against virus infection.

Recent studies suggest that peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) activation ameliorates metabolic disorders, including dyslipidemia. To identify an effective PPAR agonist, we screened the in vitro PPARα/γ activation ability of organic solvent extracts from food-oriented bacterial strains belonging to 5 genera and 32 species, including lactic acid bacteria, and of these, Lactobacillus amylovorus CP1563 demonstrated the highest PPARα/γ agonist activity. We also found that physical fragmentation of the strain could substitute organic solvent extraction for the expression of CP1563 activity in vitro. For functional food manufacturing, we selected the fragmented CP1563 and conducted subsequent animal experiments. In an obese mouse model, we found that treatment with fragmented CP1563 for 12 weeks decreased the levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol and triglyceride in plasma, significantly decreased the atherosclerosis index, and increased the plasma high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol level. Thus, we conclude that fragmented CP1563 may be a candidate for the prevention and treatment of dyslipidemia.

Abstract. We have cloned a gene which is specifically expressed at the stage of sexual maturation in the rat testis by means of differential display, and have named it spermatogenesis-related factor-2 (SRF-2). Testicular expression was first detected at 5 weeks of age, and its level of the expression increased up to 7 weeks, and was maintained even at 63 weeks. Its cDNA was 2,789 bp in length and encoded an open reading frame of 718 amino acids. This gene was mainly expressed in the spermatocyte, judging from the result of in situ hybridization. The hypothetical gene product had a motif highly homologous with RabGAP/TBC protein. Taken together, this gene is considered to have some important functions for meiosis. The gene expression was significantly decreased by treatment with TCDD, a candidate endocrine disruptor, when administered to male rats of the nursling period. Body weight and testis weight were decreased by the treatment, but even then the sperm concentration in cauda epididymis was not changed significantly. SRF-2 gene may be a promising biomarker to construct a detection system of uncertain endocrine disruptors.

Among the reported probiotic Bacillus strains, B. subtilis C-3102 has the unique potential to improve feed uptake under stress conditions in the broilers, piglets, and cows. In this study, we sought to evaluate the protective effect of feed additive probiotic Bacillus subtilis C-3102 against Salmonella enterica infection of specific pathogen-free (SPF) chicks in floor pens in two experiments. In the experiment-1, the chicks in the control group ( n =32) were fed a basal diet and those in the C-3102 group ( n =32) were fed a basal diet supplemented with 1×10 6 CFU/g of feed for 28 days. On day 7 post-challenge with S. enterica , there was no significant change in the body weight between both the groups throughout the test period, whereas detection rates of S. enterica in the C-3102 group were significantly lower in the cecum and liver on days 21 and 14 post-challenge, respectively. In the experiment-2, minimum dosage of C-3102 cells required to protect Salmonella infection was evaluated using 3 dosages. Chicks were divided into four groups, fed with different dosages of C-3102 (1×10 6 , 5×10 5 , 3×10 5 , and 0 CFU/g of feed), and challenged with S. enterica (2.8×10 8 CFU/chicken). S. enterica infection was completed within 7 days post- challenge and was almost excluded from the liver and spleen on day 21 post- challenge in the control group. Average values showed a trend for higher infection rates in the control group >3×10 5 >5×10 5 >1×10 6 CFU/g on days 14 and 21 post-challenge. These results suggest that B. subtilis C-3102 supplementation has the potential to reduce S. enterica infection rates and/or to accelerate the exclusion of S. enterica from the chicks.

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