Food Habits of Raccoon Dogs at An Agricultural Area in Shikoku, Western Japan
Zoolog Sci. 2024 Apr;41(2):185-191. doi: 10.2108/zs230051.ABSTRACTThe diet of raccoon dogs, which live in close proximity to agricultural fields in Matsuyama, western Japan, was studied throughout the year by the fecal analysis method (n = 114). Fruits were most important, accounting for 30-40% of the diet except in winter. Crops were next in importance, accounting for 10-30%. It was characteristic that the proportion of crops was greater and more stable than in other "satoyama" or rural areas in Japan. Crops included rice (Oryza sativa), wheat, sesame (Sesamum indicum), strawberries (Fragaria × ananassa), kiwi fruit (Act...
Source: Zoological Science - April 8, 2024 Category: Zoology Authors: Seiki Takatsuki Masakazu Inaba Source Type: research
Consistent Negative Correlations between Parasite Infection and Host Body Condition Across Seasons Suggest Potential Harmful Impacts of < em > Salmincola markewitschi < /em > on Wild White-Spotted Charr, < em > Salvelinus leucomaenis < /em >
In this study, we investigated the potential impacts of mouth-attaching Salmincola markewitschi on white-spotted charr (Salvelinus leucomaenis) through intensive field surveys across four seasons using host body condition as an indicator of harmful effects. The prevalence and parasite abundance were highest in winter and gradually decreased in summer and autumn, which might be due to host breeding and/or wintering aggregations that help parasite transmissions. Despite seasonal differences in prevalence and parasite abundance, consistent negative correlations between parasite abundance and host body condition were observed ...
Source: Zoological Science - April 8, 2024 Category: Zoology Authors: Ryota Hasegawa Itsuro Koizumi Source Type: research
Genetic Analysis Reveals Dispersal Patterns of Japanese Serow in Two Different Habitats of a Mountainous Region
Zoolog Sci. 2024 Apr;41(2):201-209. doi: 10.2108/zs230055.ABSTRACTDispersal increases the costs of feeding and predation risk in the new environment and is reported to be biased toward habitats similar to the natal region in some mammals. The benefits and costs of dispersal often differ between sexes, and most mammals show male-biased dispersal in relation to a polygamous mating system. Japanese serow is generally a solitary and monogamous species. However, recent studies have shown that the sociality of serows on Mt. Asama differs between habitat types. In the mountain forests with low forage availability, solitary habits...
Source: Zoological Science - April 8, 2024 Category: Zoology Authors: Maiko Hori Hayato Takada Yuki Nakane Masato Minami Eiji Inoue Source Type: research
A New Species of the Blind Cave Loach Genus < em > Protocobitis < /em > (Cypriniformes: Cobitidae), < em > Protocobitis longicostatus < /em > sp. nov., from Guangxi, China
Zoolog Sci. 2024 Apr;41(2):210-215. doi: 10.2108/zs230104.ABSTRACTProtocobitis species are typical cave-dwelling fish, exhibiting distinctive morphological adaptations such as colorless body, lack of eyes, and reduced scales and ribs in response to their extreme cave habitats. Distinct from the recorded species, P. anteroventris, P. polylepis, and P. typhlops, a new species, Protocobitis longicostatus sp. nov., is described from Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China. Protocobitis longicostatus sp. nov. can easily be distinguished from all known congeners by the following characteristics: whole body covered by scales exce...
Source: Zoological Science - April 8, 2024 Category: Zoology Authors: Jia-Jun Zhou Zhi-Xian Qin Li-Na Du Hong-Ying Wu Source Type: research
Phylogenetics and Population Genetics of the Asian House Shrew, < em > Suncus murinus-S. montanus < /em > Species Complex, Inferred From Whole-Genome and Mitochondrial DNA Sequences, with Special Reference to the Ryukyu Archipelago, Japan
In this study, we conducted phylogenetic and population genetic analyses based on both nuclear and mitochondrial genome sequences of house shrews. Phylogenetic analyses based on mitochondrial cytochrome b (cytb) sequences revealed that shrews from the Ryukyu Archipelago showed strong genetic affinity to Vietnamese and southern Chinese shrews. Demographic analyses of cytb sequences indicated a rapid population expansion event affecting the haplotype group in Vietnam, southern China, and the Ryukyu Archipelago 3300-7900 years ago. Furthermore, gene flow between Ryukyu (Yonaguni Island) and Taiwan and between Ryukyu and Vietn...
Source: Zoological Science - April 8, 2024 Category: Zoology Authors: Satoshi D Ohdachi Kazumichi Fujiwara Chandra Shekhar Nguyn Tr ưng Sơn Hitoshi Suzuki Naoki Osada Source Type: research
Creation of Knock-In Alleles of Insulin Receptor Tagged by Fluorescent Proteins mCherry or EYFP in Fruit Fly < em > Drosophila melanogaster < /em >
In this study, we employed CRISPR-mediated mutagenesis in the fruit fly Drosophila to create knock-in alleles of InR tagged with fluorescent proteins (InR::mCherry or InR::EYFP). By inserting the coding sequence of the fluorescent proteins mCherry or EYFP near the end of the coding sequence of the endogenous InR gene, we could trace the natural InR protein through their fluorescence. As an example, we investigated epithelial cells of the male accessory gland (AG), an internal reproductive organ, and identified two distinct patterns of InR::mCherry localization. In young AG, InR::mCherry accumulated on the basal plasma memb...
Source: Zoological Science - April 8, 2024 Category: Zoology Authors: Ayano Moriya Kei Otsuka Riku Naoi Mayu Terahata Koji Takeda Shu Kondo Takashi Adachi-Yamada Source Type: research
Recent Advances in Endocrine and Neuroendocrine Systems
Zoolog Sci. 2024 Feb;41(1):1-3. doi: 10.2108/zsj.41.1.ABSTRACTThe endocrine and neuroendocrine systems exert powerful and broad control over the regulation of homeostasis in animals. Secreted hormones play significant roles in lifetime-related events such as germ cell development, sexual maturation, development, metamorphosis, aging, feeding, and energy metabolism. Additionally, hormones, particularly sex steroid hormones, are involved in reproduction, including sexual behavior and dimorphism. Changes in body color protect against external enemies, and circadian rhythms direct physiology and behaviors in synchrony with lig...
Source: Zoological Science - April 8, 2024 Category: Zoology Authors: Kazuyoshi Ukena Reiko Okada Source Type: research
Endocrine Regulation of Aging in the Fruit Fly < em > Drosophila melanogaster < /em >
Zoolog Sci. 2024 Feb;41(1):4-13. doi: 10.2108/zs230056.ABSTRACTThe past few decades have witnessed increasing research clarifying the role of endocrine signaling in the regulation of aging in both vertebrates and invertebrates. Studies using the model organism fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster have largely advanced our understanding of evolutionarily conserved mechanisms in the endocrinology of aging and anti-aging. Mutations in single genes involved in endocrine signaling modify lifespan, as do alterations of endocrine signaling in a tissue- or cell-specific manner, highlighting a central role of endocrine signaling in co...
Source: Zoological Science - April 8, 2024 Category: Zoology Authors: Qingyin Qian Ryusuke Niwa Source Type: research
Identification and Physiological Assays of Crustacean Hyperglycemic Hormones in the Japanese Spiny Lobster, < em > Panulirus japonicus < /em >
In this study, we identified two CHHs from the sinus glands of P. japonicus using reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography in order to elucidate their physiological function for the first time.PMID:38587513 | DOI:10.2108/zs230041 (Source: Zoological Science)
Source: Zoological Science - April 8, 2024 Category: Zoology Authors: Kenji Toyota Yuki Kamio Tsuyoshi Ohira Source Type: research
Cellular Energy Sensor Sirt1 Augments Mapk Signaling to Promote Hypoxia/Reoxygenation-Induced Catch-up Growth in Zebrafish Embryo
Zoolog Sci. 2024 Feb;41(1):21-31. doi: 10.2108/zs230059.ABSTRACTAnimal growth is blunted in adverse environments where catabolic metabolism dominates; however, when the adversity disappears, stunted animals rapidly catch up to age-equivalent body size. This phenomenon is called catch-up growth, which we observe in various animals. Since growth retardation and catch-up growth are sequential processes, catabolism or stress response molecules may remain active, especially immediately after growth resumes. Sirtuins (Sirt1-7) deacetylate target proteins in a nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide-dependent manner, and these enzymes ...
Source: Zoological Science - April 8, 2024 Category: Zoology Authors: Oki Hayasaka Mukaze Shibukawa Hiroyasu Kamei Source Type: research
Analyses of mRNA Expression Levels of Pituitary Hormones, Their Hypothalamic Regulating Factors, and Receptors Involved in Metamorphosis with Special Reference to the Summer and Winter Seasons
Zoolog Sci. 2024 Feb;41(1):32-38. doi: 10.2108/zs230080.ABSTRACTBullfrog (Rana catesbeiana) larvae inhabiting the main island of Japan overwinter as preclimax animals, whereas the larvae that reached climax in summer complete metamorphosis. We analyzed the mRNA expression levels of the adenohypophyseal hormones, hypothalamic hormones, and their receptors that are involved in controlling metamorphosis in tadpoles at various developmental stages available in summer and winter in order to understand the hormonal mechanism regulating metamorphosis progression. Corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) and thyrotropin β-subunit (TS...
Source: Zoological Science - April 8, 2024 Category: Zoology Authors: Yuki Matsumoto Natsuno Kowata Sakae Kikuyama Reiko Okada Source Type: research
Update on Feeding Regulation by Ghrelin in Birds: Focused on Brain Network
Zoolog Sci. 2024 Feb;41(1):39-49. doi: 10.2108/zs230071.ABSTRACTGhrelin is known to be a feeding stimulatory hormone in mammals, but in birds, in contrast to mammals, the feeding behavior is regulated in inhibitory manners. This is because the neuropeptides associated with the regulation in the brain are different from those in mammals, i.e., it has been shown that, in chickens, a corticotropin-releasing hormone family peptide, urocortin, which is a feeding-inhibitory peptide, is mainly involved in the inhibitory mechanism. However, feeding is also regulated by various neurotransmitters in the brain, and recently, their in...
Source: Zoological Science - April 8, 2024 Category: Zoology Authors: Hiroyuki Kaiya Source Type: research
Expression of mRNAs Encoding Hypothalamic Small Proteins, Neurosecretory Protein GL and Neurosecretory Protein GM, in the Japanese Quail, < em > Coturnix japonica < /em >
Zoolog Sci. 2024 Feb;41(1):50-59. doi: 10.2108/zs230070.ABSTRACTNeurosecretory protein GL (NPGL) and neurosecretory protein GM (NPGM) are novel neuropeptides that have been discovered in the hypothalamic infundibulum of chickens. NPGL and NPGM play important roles in lipid metabolism in juvenile chickens. The physiological functions of NPGL and NPGM in sexually mature birds remain unknown. The Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) seems to be an appropriate model for analyzing NPGL and NPGM during sexual maturity. However, studies on NPGL or NPGM have yet to be reported in the Japanese quail. In the present study, we identifi...
Source: Zoological Science - April 8, 2024 Category: Zoology Authors: Masaki Kato Eiko Iwakoshi-Ukena Yuki Narimatsu Megumi Furumitsu Kazuyoshi Ukena Source Type: research
Ovarian Follicle Development in Ascidians
Zoolog Sci. 2024 Feb;41(1):60-67. doi: 10.2108/zs230054.ABSTRACTOvarian follicle development is an essential process for continuation of sexually reproductive animals, and is controlled by a wide variety of regulatory factors such as neuropeptides and peptide hormones in the endocrine, neuroendocrine, and nervous systems. Moreover, while some molecular mechanisms underlying follicle development are conserved, others vary among species. Consequently, follicle development processes are closely related to the evolution and diversity of species. Ciona intestinalis type A (Ciona rubusta) is a cosmopolitan species of ascidians, ...
Source: Zoological Science - April 8, 2024 Category: Zoology Authors: Honoo Satake Tsuyoshi Kawada Tomohiro Osugi Tsubasa Sakai Akira Shiraishi Tatsuya Yamamoto Shin Matsubara Source Type: research
Gene Duplication of Androgen Receptor As An Evolutionary Driving Force Underlying the Diversity of Sexual Characteristics in Teleost Fishes
Zoolog Sci. 2024 Feb;41(1):68-76. doi: 10.2108/zs230098.ABSTRACTSexual dimorphism allows species to meet their fitness optima based on the physiological availability of each sex. Although intralocus sexual conflict appears to be a genetic constraint for the evolution of sex-specific traits, sex-linked genes and the regulation of sex steroid hormones contribute to resolving this conflict by allowing sex-specific developments. Androgens and their receptor, androgen receptor (Ar), regulate male-biased phenotypes. In teleost fish, ar ohnologs have emerged as a result of teleost-specific whole genome duplication (TSGD). Recent ...
Source: Zoological Science - April 8, 2024 Category: Zoology Authors: Tsukasa Ryu Keigo Okamoto Satoshi Ansai Miki Nakao Anu Kumar Taisen Iguchi Yukiko Ogino Source Type: research
