Primary Lymphangiosarcoma of the Urinary Bladder in a Dog.

Abdominal ultrasonographical and computed tomography examinations of a 12-year-old neutered female toy poodle revealed a protruding mass, approximately 2 cm in diameter, at the apex of the bladder. The mass was firm and haemorrhagic with a homogeneously brownish-yellow cut surface. Microscopically, it was unencapsulated and located in the muscle layer with invasion of the extra-muscular layer. It was composed of spindloid to oval neoplastic cells that formed irregular clefts and diffuse sheets that dissected bundles of collagen. Immunohistochemically, the neoplastic cells were positive for vimentin and lymphatic vessel endothelial hyaluronan receptor 1 antigens, but negative for cytokeratin AE1/AE3, factor VIII-related antigen, CD31, CD34, Prox-1, S100, desmin, α-smooth muscle actin and MyoD1. Negative immunolabelling for laminin antigen supported the absence of evidence of a basal lamina on ultrastructural examination. Based on these findings, this tumour was identified as a lymphangiosarcoma. To the best of our knowledge, this case is the first report of lymphangiosarcoma arising from the bladder in a dog.

Momilactones A and B in Rice Straw Harvested at Different Growth Stages.

Momilactones A and B in rice straw harvested at different growth stages were quantified by HPLC-MS-MS. They increased to their maximal levels at the heading stage and then gradually decreased. In addition, these phytotoxins were found to be relatively easily extracted with water.

Effect of Jasmonates and Related Compounds on Seed Germination of Orobanche minor Smith and Striga hermonthica (Del.) Benth.

Jasmonates and related compounds were found to elicit the seed germination of the important root parasites, clover broomrape (Orobanche minor Smith) and witchweed [Striga hermonthica (Del.) Benth]. The stimulation of seed germination by the esters was more effective than by the corresponding free acids, and methyl jasmonate (MJA) was the most active stimulant among the compounds tested.

Effects of Plant Growth Regulators on Shoot Growth and Flowering of a Perennia Paddy Weed, Sagittaria pygmaea Miq.

Plant growth regulators (PGRs) including gibberellins (GAs) were examined for their effects on shoot growth and flowering of a perennial paddy weed, Sagittaria pygmaea Miq. Among PGRs tested, only GAs (A1 A3, A4, and A5), AC-94377 [1-(4-chloro-1,3-dihydro-1,3-dioxo-2H-isoindol-2-yl)cyclohexanecarbox-amide] and 2,6-diisopropylphenoxyacetic acid (DIPA) promoted both shoot growth and flowering. Structural requirements of GAs for promotion of flowering seemed to be different from those for shoot growth of the weed. In addition, since the course of flowering induced by DIPA was clearly different from that observed in plots treated with GA3 or AC-94377, different mechanisms may be involved in promotion of flowering.

New Physiological Effects of 5-Aminolevulinic Acid in Plants: The Increase of Photosynthesis, Chlorophyll Content, and Plant Growth.

5-Aminolevulinic acid (ALA) promoted the growth and yield of several crops and vegetables at concentrations lower than those eliciting herbicidal responses, i.e., less than 1.8 mm by foliar spray and 60 µm by root soaking. To evaluate the physiological action of ALA, the effects of ALA on plants were examined by several bioassay systems at 0.0006-600 µm. ALA at 0.06-6 µm by root soaking increased the growth of rice seedlings in light, but did not affect this in darkness. In horseradish shoot primordia, promotion by ALA was not proportional among total chlorophyll content, chlorophyll concentration, and fresh weight. In the test using pothos, ALA at 0.06 µm elicited the accumulation of chlorophyll, but the photosynthesis of the plants was promoted by treatment together with ALA and nutrients. These results suggest that ALA have a variety of plant physiological effects on chlorophyll synthesis, photosynthesis, and plant growth, and ALA acts as a growth regulator in plants at low concentrations. These effects of ALA were also assumed to be linked to light irradiation and an uptake of fertilizer by plants. However, excess ALA suppressed these effects.

Promotion of Flowering in Sagittaria pygmaea Miq. by 2,6-Diisopropylphenoxyacetic Acid.

The flowering of Sagittaria pygmaea Miq. was promoted by 2,6-diisopropylphenoxyacetic acid, as well as by gibberellic acid (GA3). Uniconazole canceled the promotive effect of the phenoxy-acetic acid, while prohexadione shortened the period required for flowering. Endogenous GAs seem to play an important role in the flowering of S. pygmaea, and 2,6-diisopropylphenoxyacetic acid might affect GA biosynthesis or metabolism.