Gametes of semelparous salmon are repeatedly produced by surrogate rainbow trout.

Most Pacific salmon species grow in the ocean, return to their native rivers to reproduce, and then die (semelparous type). However, rainbow trout survive after spawning and reproduce repeatedly until the end of their lives (iteroparous type). Little is known about how germline stem cells behave during gametogenesis in the two types of Pacific salmon. In this study, we show that all germline stem cells disappear after the first gametogenesis in Chinook and Kokanee salmon, whereas germline stem cells are maintained in rainbow trout. However, the germline stem cells of Chinook and Kokanee salmon transplanted into rainbow trout survive even after their spawning seasons and supply salmon gametes for multiple years. These results indicate that the behavior of the germline stem cells is mainly regulated by the somatic environment.

Production of Germ Cell-Less Rainbow Trout by dead end Gene Knockout and their Use as Recipients for Germ Cell Transplantation.

In germ cell transplantation experiments, the use of sterile recipients that do not produce their own gametes is an important prerequisite. Triploidization and dnd gene knockdown (KD) methods have been widely used to produce sterile fish. However, triploidization does not produce complete sterility in some fish species, and gene KD is labor and time intensive since it requires microinjection into individual fertilized eggs. To overcome these problems, in this study, we generated homozygous mutants of the dead end (dnd) gene in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) using the clustered regulatory interspaced short palindromic repeats/CRISPR-associated protein 9 (CRISPR/Cas9) system, analyzed their reproductive capacity, and evaluated their suitability as recipients for germ cell transplantation. By crossing F1 heterozygous mutants produced from founders subjected to genome editing, an F2 generation consisting of approximately 1/4 homozygous knockout mutants (dnd KO) was obtained. The dnd KO hatchlings retained the same number of primordial germ cells (PGCs) as the wild-type (WT) individuals, after which the number gradually decreased. At 1 year of age, germ cells were completely absent in all analyzed individuals. To evaluate the dnd KO individuals as recipients for germ cell transplantation, germ cells prepared from donor individuals were transplanted into the abdominal cavity of dnd KO hatchlings. These cells migrated to the recipient gonads, where they initiated gametogenesis. The mature recipient individuals produced only donor-derived sperm and eggs in equivalent numbers to WT rainbow trout. These results indicate that dnd KO rainbow trout are suitable recipient candidates possessing a high capacity to nurse donor-derived germ cells.

Disrupted eye and head development in rainbow trout with reduced ultraviolet (sws1) opsin expression.

Visual opsins are proteins expressed by retinal photoreceptors that capture light to begin the process of phototransduction. In vertebrates, the two types of photoreceptors (rods and cones) express one or multiple opsins and are distributed in variable patterns across the retina. Some cones form opsin retinal gradients, as in the mouse, whereas others form more demarcated opsin domains, as in the lattice-like mosaic retinas of teleost fishes. Reduced rod opsin (rh1) expression in mouse, zebrafish, and African clawed frog results in lack of photoreceptor outer segments (i.e., the cilium that houses the opsins) and, in the case of the mouse, to retinal degeneration. The effects of diminished cone opsin expression have only been studied in the mouse where knockout of the short-wavelength sensitive 1 (sws1) opsin leads to ventral retinal cones lacking outer segments, but no retinal degeneration. Here we show that, following CRISPR/Cas9 injections that targeted knockout of the sws1 opsin in rainbow trout, fish with diminished sws1 opsin expression exhibited a variety of developmental defects including head and eye malformations, underdeveloped outer retina, mislocalized opsin expression, cone degeneration, and mosaic irregularity. All photoreceptor types were affected even though sws1 is only expressed in the single cones of wild fish. Our results reveal unprecedented developmental defects associated with diminished cone opsin expression and suggest that visual opsin genes are involved in regulatory processes that precede photoreceptor differentiation.

Production of functional eggs and sperm from in vitro-expanded type A spermatogonia in rainbow trout.

Combining cryopreservation of germline stem cells (GSCs) with their subsequent transplantation into recipient fish is a powerful tool for long-term preservation of genetic resources of endangered fishes. However, application of this technique has been limited because endangered species sometimes have small gonads and do not supply enough GSCs to be used for transplantation. This limitation could be overcome by expanding GSCs in vitro, though this has been difficult due to the complexity of reconstructing the gonadal microenvironment that surrounds GSCs. Here, we describe a novel method of in vitro expansion of rainbow trout GSCs using a feeder layer derived from Sertoli cells and a culture medium containing trout plasma. A transplantation assay demonstrated that the in vitro-expanded GSCs exhibited stem cell activity and potency to produce functional eggs, sperm, and eventually healthy offspring. In vitro expansion of GSCs can aid in rescuing fishes that are on the verge of extinction.

Enrichment of transplantable germ cells in salmonids using a novel monoclonal antibody by magnetic-activated cell sorting.

In the fish germ cell transplantation system, only type A spermatogonia (ASGs) and oogonia are known to be incorporated into the recipient genital ridges, where they undergo gametogenesis. Therefore, high colonization efficiency can be achieved by enriching undifferentiated germ cells out of whole testicular cells. In this study, we used magnetic-activated cell sorting (MACS) for enriching undifferentiated germ cells of rainbow trout using a monoclonal antibody that recognizes a specific antigen located on the germ cell membrane. We screened the antibodies to be used for MACS by performing immunohistochemistry on rainbow trout gonads. Two antibodies, nos. 172 and 189, showed strong signals for ASGs and oogonia. Next, we performed MACS with antibody no. 172 using gonadal cells isolated from vasa-gfp rainbow trout showing GFP in undifferentiated germ cells. We found that GFP-positive cells are highly enriched in antibody no. 172-positive fractions. Finally, to examine the transplantability of MACS-enriched cells, we intraperitoneally transplanted sorted or unsorted cells into recipient larvae. We observed that transplantability of sorted cells, particularly ovarian cells, were significantly higher than that of unsorted cells. Therefore, MACS with antibody no. 172 could enrich ASGs and oogonia and become a powerful tool to improve transplantation efficiency in salmonids.

Exploiting the Invariant Structure for Controlling Multiple Muscles in Anthropomorphic Legs: III. Reproducing Hemiparetic Walking from Equilibrium Point- Based Synergies.

In the development of a robotic therapy system, tests must be first run to guarantee safety and performance of the system before actual human trials. Lower-limb robotic therapy system has an inherit injury risk and a human-like stunt robot is desirable. This study proposes such an alternative: anthropomorphic legs with a bio-inspired control method affording a human-like test bench for the robotic therapy system. Electromyography (EMG) of a mildly hemiparetic stroke patient was measured during body-weight-supported treadmill walking. The motor strategy of the hemiparetic gait was extracted from the EMG data and applied to the control of the anthropomorphic legs. We employed the concept of equilibrium point (EP) to extract motor synergies and strategy. The EP- based synergies expressed by the composites of muscle mechanical impedance clarified motor strategy including aspects related to the impedance and virtual trajectory. Results show that the EP-based synergies were able to characterize neuromuscular patterns of pathological gait. The anthropomorphic legs were able to reproduce patient's gait by mimicking the EP-based synergies.

Establishment of novel monoclonal antibodies for identification of type A spermatogonia in teleosts†.

We recently established a germ cell transplantation system in salmonids. Donor germ cells transplanted into the body cavity of recipient embryos migrate toward and are incorporated into the recipient gonad, where they undergo gametogenesis. Among the various types of testicular germ cells, only type A spermatogonia (A-SG) can be incorporated into the recipient gonads. Enriching for A-SG is therefore important for improving the efficiency of germ cell transplantation. To enrich for A-SG, an antibody against a cell surface marker is a convenient and powerful approach used in mammals; however, little is known about cell surface markers for A-SG in fish. To that end, we have produced novel monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against cell-surface molecules of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) A-SG. We inoculated mice with living A-SG isolated from pvasa-GFP transgenic rainbow trout using GFP-dependent flow cytometry. By fusing lymph node cells of the inoculated mice with myeloma cells, we generated 576 hybridomas. To identify hybridomas that produce mAbs capable of labeling A-SG preferentially and effectively, we screened them using cell ELISA, fluorescence microscopy, and flow cytometry. We thereby identified two mAbs that can label A-SG. By using flow cytometry with these two antibodies, we could enrich for A-SG with transplantability to recipient gonads from amongst total testicular cells. Furthermore, one of these mAbs could also label zebrafish (Danio rerio) spermatogonia. Thus, we expect these monoclonal antibodies to be powerful tools for germ cell biology and biotechnology.

Evaluation of the hydrophilic property of sodium ion-pair complexes with 3m-crown-m ethers (m = 5, 6) and their benzo-derivatives by solvent extraction.

The ion-pair formation constants {K(j)(0): j = MA (metal salt), MLA} of NaO(2)CCF(3) (Na(+)tfa(-)) and its ion-pair complexes (MLA) in water (w) were determined potentiometrically at 25 degrees C and an ionic strength (I) of zero. 15-Crown-5 (15C5), 18-crown-6 ethers (18C6), and their mono-benzo derivatives were used as crown ethers (L). The extraction of Natfa by these four L from w into 1,2-dichloroethane was done at 25 degrees C, and then the extraction constants (K(ex)) for NaLtfa were calculated by using the K(j) values, which were estimated from the corresponding K(j)(0) ones at I of the w-phases, and other equilibrium constants. Also, the distribution constants (K(D,MLA)) of NaLtfa between the two phases were obtained from a thermodynamic cycle expressing K(ex). An interaction of w-molecules with NaLA was considered using a relation of log K(D,MLA) with log K(D,L), derived from the Scatchard-Hildebrand equation, where K(D,L) denotes the distribution constant of L between the two phases. The interaction increased in the order of NaL (picrate) < free L

Hydration effect on the ion-pair extraction of lithium picrate by hydrophobic benzo-15-crown-5 ether into various less-polar diluents.

The ion-pair formation constant (K(MLA)(0) in mol(-1) dm(3)) for Li(B15C5)(+) with a picrate ion (Pic(-)) in water was determined by potentiometry with a K(+)-selective electrode at 25 degrees C and an ionic strength of 0, where B15C5 denotes benzo-15-crown-5 ether. Using the concentration equilibrium constants, K(MLA), estimated from this value, the extraction constants (mol(-2) dm(6) unit) of about ten diluents were re-calculated from previously reported extraction data. Also, the distribution constants of an ion-pair complex, Li(B15C5)Pic, between water and the diluents were re-estimated. A disagreement in the determined K(MLA) value between a solvent-extraction method and potentiometry was explained in terms of the Scatchard-Hildebrand equation; it came from the fact that the hydration of Li(I) in Li(B15C5)Pic was larger than that of free B15C5 in water. Then, the previously determined value by the former method was re-estimated using the potentiometric K(MLA) value.

Solvent extraction of sodium perrhenate by 3m-crown-m ethers (m=5, 6) and their mono-benzo-derivatives into 1,2-dichloroethane: Elucidation of an overall extraction equilibrium based on component equilibria containing an ion-pair formation in water.

Equilibrium constants (K(MLA)(0)/mol(-1)dm(3)) for the ion-pair formation of a complex ion NaL(+) with ReO(4)(-) in water were determined potentiometrically at 25 degrees C and the ionic strength (I) of 0mol dm(-3) using a Na(+)-selective electrode. Here, crown ethers, L, were 15-crown-5 ether (15C5), benzo-15C5, 18-crown-6 ether (18C6) and benzo-18C6. Also, NaReO(4) was extracted by the L into 1,2-dichloroethane and then extraction constants (K(ex)/mol(-2)dm(6)) for the species, NaLReO(4), were determined at 25 degrees C by AAS. These K(ex) values were resolved into four component equilibrium constants containing K(MLA) calculated at given I values. Based on these data, extraction-abilities of the L against the perrhenate were discussed in comparison with those of sodium picrate-L systems reported previously.