Assessment of anti-Müllerian hormone levels as a reproductive indicator in Japanese Black cattle.

The size of the ovarian reserve, an indicator of the number of primordial follicles, varies widely among individuals, and declines with age. However, the association between the ovarian reserve and fertility remains unclear. Therefore, in the present study, we analyzed the relationship between plasma concentrations of anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), a marker of ovarian reserve, and reproductive outcomes in Japanese Black cattle.

Expression and localization of anti-Müllerian hormone and its receptors in bovine corpus luteum.

Although anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) is involved in the regulation of granulosa cell function in female animals, its role in tissues other than ovarian follicles remains poorly understood. It has also been suggested that cows with high circulating AMH concentrations have increased fertility; however, the mechanism has not been elucidated. This study was conducted to identify the presence of the AMH-signaling system and its target cells in the bovine corpus luteum formed from an ovulated follicle.

Calving prediction with continuous measurement of subcutaneous tissue glucose concentration in pregnant cows.

To reduce losses of dams and calves due to unfortunate events, such as dystocia and freezing to death, identifying the onset of calving and providing necessary assistance are crucial. Prepartum increase in blood glucose concentration is a known indicator to detect labor in pregnant cows. However, some issues, including the need for frequent blood sampling and stress on cows, must be resolved before establishing a method for anticipating calving using changes in blood glucose concentrations.

Data on chemical compositions and fermentation quality of silages made from low-market-value vegetables supplemented with potato protein concentrate, a byproduct of starch production.

This data article reports the chemical compositions (protein, fat, fiber, ash, lactic acid, acetic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid and valeric acid) and fermentation quality, represented by V-value determined from the proportion of ammonia nitrogen in total nitrogen and volatile fatty acid contents, in silages prepared from low-market-value vegetables (carrot roots, cabbage leaves, and radish leaves). Potato protein concentrate, a byproduct of starch production from potato tuber, was used to supplement the protein contents in the silages. The first type of silage was produced by fermentation of a mixture of wheat bran and either carrot, cabbage, or radish without supplemental potato protein.

Detection of hydrolytic activity of trypsin with a fluorescence-chymotryptic peptide on a TLC plate.

To find a new trypsin-like enzyme, a simple assay method of the hydrolysis activity for trypsin has been found. We used 6-aminoquinolyl-N-hydroxysuccinimidyl carbamate (AQC) in the peptide labeling as a substrate for the trypsin-like peptidase in this study. The peptidase activity of trypsin was detected by using an AQC-chymotryptic peptide (AHP1) obtained from bovine hemoglobin.

Isolation and characterization of a cysteine protease of freesia corms.

A protease, freesia protease (FP)-A, was purified to electrophoretic homogeneity from regular freesia (Freesia reflacta) corms in harvest time. The Mr of FP-A was estimated to be 24 k by SDS-PAGE. The optimum pH of the enzyme was 8.