Efficiency of immunocastration with an anti-gonadotropin-releasing hormone vaccine on cryptorchid bulls.

Cryptorchid bulls have low economic value owing to the effects of masculinization. Moreover, surgical removal of an ectopic testis is difficult in certain clinical cases. Recently, immunocastration has garnered popularity as a nonsurgical castration method in pig farming; however, the effects of immunocastration on cryptorchid bulls are yet to be yet. Herein, we investigated endocrine changes due to immunocastration in cryptorchid bulls and studied its effectiveness. This study included 13 Holstein bulls diagnosed with cryptorchidism and classified into two groups based on pubertal period: <8 months of age (pregroup) and ≥8 months of age (postgroup). Antigonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) vaccine was used for immunocastration, and two vaccine doses were administered. Blood testosterone and anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) levels were measured and analyzed for endocrine evaluation. The testosterone levels significantly decreased following the start of immunocastration in both groups, thereby confirming the efficacy of antiGnRH vaccination in cryptorchid bulls. The AMH levels significantly increased in the pregroup with two antiGnRH vaccination, suggesting a compensatory response via the neutralization of GnRH antibodies. The AMH levels did not significantly change in the postgroup, indicating the partial suppression of AMH secretion in Sertoli cells during sexual maturation and failure of Sertoli cell maturation. Thus, we successfully restrained the serum testosterone levels in cryptorchid bulls using antiGnRH vaccine. The testosterone levels are a useful indicator of the immunocastration effect on cryptorchid bulls. Hereafter, a vaccine program that can sustain the castration effect on cryptorchid bulls is necessary.

Crystal structure of ethyl 8-chloro-4-oxo-1,4-di-hydro-quinoline-3-carboxyl-ate.

In the title compound, C12H10ClNO3, the asymmetric unit comprises two independent mol-ecules, and the dihedral angle between the least-square planes of the quinoline ring systems of these mol-ecules is 73.30 (5)°. In the crystal, N-H⋯O hydrogen bonds between the independent mol-ecules lead to supra-molecular layers parallel to (-1-10); both N-H H atoms are bifurcated.

Ethyl 8-meth-oxy-4-oxo-1,4-di-hydro-quinoline-3-carboxyl-ate.

In the title compound, C13H13NO4, the asymmetric unit contains four independent mol-ecules, each exhibiting an intra-molecular N-H⋯O hydrogen bond. The ethyl group in one of the four mol-ecules is disordered, with a refined occupancy ratio of 0.295 (16):0.705 (16). A face-to-face stacking inter-action is found between the benzene rings of the quinoline units of two of the mol-ecules [centroid-centroid distance = 3.541 (2) Å], which are sandwiched by the other two mol-ecules through N-H⋯O hydrogen bonding. In the crystal, the sandwiched mol-ecules are assembled via stacking inter-actions along the b-axis direction with their translation-symmetry equivalents [centroid-centroid distance = 3.529 (2) Å], and are further linked through N-H⋯O hydrogen bonding. The other two mol-ecules are linked via stacking inter-actions with their inversion-symmetry equivalents [centroid-centroid distances = 3.512 (3) and 3.716 (4) Å] and via N-H⋯O hydrogen bonding.

Diethyl 4-oxo-4H-[1,4'-bi-quinoline]-3,3'-di-carboxyl-ate.

In the title mol-ecule, C24H20N2O5, the quinoline and quinolinone moieties are practically perpendicular to each other, forming a dihedral angle of 89.06 (3)°. In the crystal, each moiety forms coplanar π-stacked couples with the respective inversion equivalents. The quinolinone moieties overlap with their benzene rings with a centroid-centroid separation of 3.641 (2) Å, whereas the quinoline moieties overlap with their pyridine rings with a separation of 3.592 (2) Å. The resulting supra-molecular chains propargate along [101].

3-Acetyl-2-fluoro-6H-benzo[c]chromen-6-one.

The title compound, C15H9FO3, was obtained in a one-pot synthesis by Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling and nucleophilic substitution reaction of 4'-chloro-2',5'-di-fluoro-aceto-phenone with o-(meth-oxy-carbon-yl)phenyl-boronic acid. The asymmetric unit contains two crystallographically independent mol-ecules related by a non-crystallographic inversion centre. There are face-to-face stacking inter-actions between the aromatic rings of the benzoate and aceto-phenone units of the symmetry-independent mol-ecules [centroid-centroid distances = 3.870 (3) and 3.986 (3) Å]. In the crystal, mol-ecules are further assembled via stacking inter-actions along the a-axis direction. One of the mol-ecules inter-acts with its inversion equivalent [centroid-centroid distance between the aromatic rings of the benzoate and aceto-phenone units = 3.932 (3) Å], and the other inter-acts with its twofold axis equivalent [centroid-centroid distance between the aromatic rings of aceto-phenone units = 3.634 (3) Å].

4'-Acetyl-3''-carbamoyl-[1,1':3',1''-terphen-yl]-2-carb-oxy-lic acid.

In the title m-terphenyl derivative, C22H17NO4, the dihedral angles between the aromatic rings of the benzoic acid-acetophenone, acetophenone-benzamide and benzoic acid-benzamide units are 45.39 (8), 48.02 (8) and 42.93 (8)°, respectively. The carbamoyl and carboxyl groups are disordered with a refined occupancy ratio of 0.558 (15):0.442 (15). In the crystal, mol-ecules are linked through O-H⋯O and N-H⋯O hydrogen bonds between terminal carboxyl and carbamoyl groups in a bidentate manner, and anti-parallel helices are formed which extend along the b-axis direction.

Isolation of Staphylococcus aureus from raw fish in relation to culture methods.

Five hundred and fifty fish samples from various stages in the course of distribution in Hyogo Prefecture (209 retailed in super markets, 173 obtained from fishery cooperatives at a harbor, 91 caught by trawling and 77 caught by rod fishing) were examined for contamination with Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). S. aureus was detected in 41 (19.6%) of the retail fish samples and 46 (26.6%) of the samples from the fishery cooperatives. No S. aureus was isolated from the live fish (91 trawled and 77 fished by rod). With regard to the retail fish, the contamination rate of processed fish (26.0%) was significantly higher than that of unprocessed fish (14.2%). For 88 samples, the efficacy of the selective medium was compared using Baird-Parker agar and mannitol salt agar supplemented with egg yolk (MSEY agar) by the direct plate and enrichment culture methods. Using the direct culture method, the S. aureus positive rate with the Baird-Parker agar (30.7%) was significantly higher (P<0.01) than that with the MSEY agar (6.8%). The enrichment culture method remarkably raised the S. aureus detection rate. Seventy-eight (85.7%) of 91 isolates belonged to the human ecovar. Sixty-two (68.1%) of the 91 isolates had some enterotoxin genes, including 44 (48.4%) with the sea gene. These data showed that the fish were contaminated with S. aureus after landing and that Baird-Parker agar had an advantage in detecting S. aureus with a direct plate culture.