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Mammalian sperm motion relies on adenosine triphosphate (ATP) to produce energy for dynein slide-motion via hydrolysis. To clarify the relationship between mammalian sperm motility and ATP production/consumption, semen ATP concentration was examined using a paper-based bioluminescence assay (luciferase) due to its higher sensitivity, reduced detection time, and minimal reagent requirements compared to fluorometry or colorimetry. ATP concentration in the form of sperm sample signal intensity was then correlated to motile sperm count and sperm motility, with higher ATP concentrations indicating the presence of lower-motility sperm and lower ATP concentrations indicating higher ATP consumption and higher-motility sperm. Employing the described paper-based bioluminescence methodology and selective inhibition of glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS), porcine sperm was found to produce more ATP through OXPHOS than glycolysis. The results of our analyses support the notion that bioluminescence-based ATP detection on a paper-based device can be employed to examine the contribution of these two metabolic systems to sperm motility and fertilization. Paper-based ATP analysis by bioluminescence improves sperm motility estimation.
We present independent polarimetric observations of the interstellar object 3I/ATLAS, including the first near-infrared polarimetric measurements. Using imaging polarimeters, we measured the degree of linear polarization from the visible RC band (0.64 mu m) to the near-infrared Ks band (2.25 mu m), and investigated its dependence on solar phase angle (polarization phase curve, PPC) and wavelength (polarization color curve, PCC). We confirm that the PPC of 3I/ATLAS differs significantly from those of typical solar system comets, showing an unusually large polarization amplitude. This PPC shows no significant change in the RC band across perihelion passage, despite the perihelion lying within the water snow line. This indicates that the unusual polarimetric behavior of 3I/ATLAS is unlikely to be driven by transient volatile activity, but instead reflects intrinsic optical properties of refractory dust particles. The PCC increases with wavelength over 0.6-1.2 mu m and peaks at 1.5-2.0 mu m, suggesting that the dominant scattering units are dust aggregates composed of submicron-sized monomers, broadly consistent with interstellar dust and solar-system cometary aggregates. Taken together, our results indicate that 3I/ATLAS preserves polarimetric properties characteristic of a primitive cometary planetesimal formed in another planetary system, with a refractory dust composition that differs from that typically observed among solar system comets, despite sharing a similar size scale of the aggregate building blocks.
The goldfish, a member of the Cyprinidae (minnow family) is an important and relevant model for understanding how fish function and reproduce and can be better managed. Here, we review recent studies of this species and its strengths as a model system. First, we review current understanding of how its neuroendocrine system regulates gonadotropin release, and then steroidogenesis and finally gonadal maturation in both males and females. Endocrine determinants of gender and sexual plasticity are described. Effects of the fish androgen, 11-ketotestosterone, on sexual and spawning behavior of males and females are reviewed. We also describe how several hormones (androstenedione, 17,20β-dihydroxy-4-pregen-3-one, prostaglandin F2α) and their metabolites function as "hormonal pheromones" to synchronize male-female spawning behavior and physiology. Insight provided by the goldfish has enhanced understanding of the neurobiology, toxicology, and comparative physiology of other fishes and provided lessons applicable to the culture of commercial carp and the control of invasive species, as well as conservation.
Despite the growing concern over per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) exposure in companion animals, dietary intake through commercial pet food remains poorly characterized. In this study, we conducted a comprehensive analysis of 100 commercially available pet food products for dogs and cats in Japan, encompassing both dry and wet types, to quantify 34 target PFAS compounds. PFAS were frequently detected, with concentrations varying by food type, ingredients, and country of origin. Fish-based products contained elevated levels of perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUnDA), and perfluorotridecanoic acid (PFTrDA), and regional patterns suggested the influence of Asian-specific PFAS sources such as F-53B. Hazard quotient (HQ) assessments based on EFSA tolerable weekly intakes indicated that average HQs exceeded 1 for both dogs and cats in several products, signaling potential health risks. However, due to the lack of species-specific toxicokinetic information for dogs and cats, the EFSA-based risk characterization presented here should be interpreted as a preliminary assessment. Although dry food had higher PFAS concentrations when converted to feeding amounts, estimated exposure was higher for wet food due to higher consumption. These findings provide the first evidence of ingredient-driven and country-of-origin-dependent PFAS contamination in pet food. Fish used as ingredients are a significant source of exposure to PFAS. They also highlight the urgent need for regulatory oversight and toxicological evaluations specific to companion animals. These animals serve as vulnerable populations and as sentinels of human co-exposure in domestic environments.
Advances in perinatal and neonatal medicine have dramatically improved the survival rates of infants with perinatal vulnerabilities of preterm birth (PTB), low birth weight (LBW) or small for gestational age (SGA), by rescuing these infants from immediate postnatal complications. Despite improved survival from such problems, it has in turn highlighted long-term complications, including psychiatric, neurological, respiratory, cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. In the oral and craniofacial regions, perinatal vulnerability is associated with an increased risk of developmental complications, including bone deformities, malocclusion and tooth malformations. These anomalies are often tangible and can be recognized earlier than extracranial sequelae; thus, they may serve as accessible indicators for predicting extracranial sequelae that remain latent. Oral and craniofacial sequelae are considered consequences of changes in nutritional status and oxygen saturation before and after birth, which are related to epigenetic changes. Additionally, the development of oral and craniofacial tissues is controlled by mechanical forces. The underlying mechanisms have not been fully elucidated, and future studies elucidating these mechanisms will enhance diagnostic and therapeutic strategies, as well as prognostic accuracy, ultimately improving long-term outcomes for infants born with perinatal vulnerabilities.
