半滑舌鳎Shh基因的克隆与表达及甲基化分析

通过RACE方法获得半滑舌鳎(Cynoglossus semilaevis)Hh基因家族的Shh基因,该基因全长1 922 bp,其中5′UTR 266 bp,3′UTR 360 bp,ORF1 296 bp,编码431个氨基酸,经预测该多肽的相对分子质量为47.28 k D,理论等电点6.95,具有Hh基因家族特有的保守结构域。氨基酸序列分析表明,半滑舌鳎Shh与牙鲆的同源性最高,为82%,与其他鱼类同源性为74%~81%,与非洲爪蟾的同源性为61%,与人和鼠的同源性为63%~64%。甲基化结果显示,Shh基因在1龄卵巢中的甲基化程度普遍低于雄鱼与伪雄鱼精巢。基因表达分析显示,Shh基因在胚胎期的囊胚期表达显著高于其它时期(P0.05),在雌雄成鱼8个组织器官均表达,在雌性性腺分化的关键期孵化后50 d,雌性性腺中表达量较前期升高,且显著高于同时期雄性性腺中的表达(P0.05),在雄性性腺分化的关键期80~95 d,Shh基因在雄性中的表达水平显著升高(P0.05),在8月龄、1龄及2龄雌鱼性腺中表达显著高于雄鱼与伪雄鱼。本研究表明,半滑舌鳎Shh基因在进化中高度保守,与胚胎分化、组织器官形成、雌雄性腺分化及性腺发育密切相关。     

半滑舌鳎StAR基因克隆及其在不同组织的时空表达分析

利用半滑舌鳎性腺转录组测序获得的StAR基因部分序列,设计RACE引物,克隆了半滑舌鳎StAR基因的cDNA序列,全长为1 294 bp,5'端UTR为132 bp,3'端UTR为310 bp,开放阅读框(ORF)为852 bp,共编码283个氨基酸。将半滑舌鳎StAR基因与其他物种StAR基因进行氨基酸同源性分析,结果显示,半滑舌鳎StAR与塞内加尔鳎、大口黑鲈、花鲈、金头鲷的同源性都达到了85%,与虹鳟、斜带石斑鱼及日本鳗鲡的同源性分别为81%、83%和76%。雌、雄鱼不同组织StAR基因的表达分析表明,StAR基因在雄鱼性腺中高表达,在雄鱼的肝脏、脑及心脏中表达量较低,而在雄鱼的其他组织中不表达;在雌鱼肠中不表达,在其他组织(卵巢、肝脏、脾脏、脑、垂体、肌肉、心脏、肾脏)中微量表达。荧光定量PCR分析不同组织与不同时期性腺表达谱表明,雄鱼性腺中StAR基因的表达量显著高于雌、雄鱼其他各组织(P0.05),提示StAR基因对雄鱼精巢发育起重要作用。雄鱼不同时期表达谱分析结果显示,StAR基因在66天前的精巢中不表达,在150天时表达量急剧增加,至2龄时表达量最高,3龄时表达量下降,说明该基因在精巢发育成熟过程中起重要作用。原位杂交结果显示,StAR基因主要在雄鱼精巢的精子细胞中表达,而在雌鱼的卵巢中不表达。研究表明,StAR基因在半滑舌鳎精巢发育中发挥作用,且可能在精子形成中发挥重要作用。     

半滑舌鳎骨形态发生蛋白4基因的克隆和表达分析

本研究克隆了半滑舌鳎(Cynoglossus semilaevis)骨形态发生蛋白4(BMP4)基因的c DNA序列,并分析其在半滑舌鳎成鱼的组织表达分布及其在早期发育阶段的定位和表达变化趋势。结果表明,半滑舌鳎BMP4基因c DNA全长为1680 bp,包括了419 bp的5′非翻译区(5′UTR)、编码403个氨基酸的1212 bp的开放阅读框(ORF)以及49 bp的3′非翻译区(3′UTR)。同源性分析和分子进化聚类分析结果显示,半滑舌鳎与已报道慈鲷科(Cichlidae)各鱼种的同源性最高,并与之共同聚为鱼类BMP4分支。BMP4 m RNA在半滑舌鳎成鱼的13个组织中具有广泛的分布,并在鳃组织中表达量最高,其次在背鳍、软骨等组织具有中等水平的表达。此外,BMP4基因在早期胚胎发育阶段(卵裂期和原肠期)具有极高水平的表达,此后其表达水平逐渐降低;但在后期仔鱼期(孵化后3日龄和4日龄),其表达水平再次升高。整体原位杂交检测结果表明,BMP4 m RNA在早期仔鱼期主要在头部及躯干前部表达;后期仔鱼BMP4基因主要在冠状幼鳍、上下颌及胸鳍处表达;进入稚鱼期后在鳃盖骨及各鳍均有表达。上述研究结果揭示了BMP4在半滑舌鳎早期骨骼发育中的重要作用,为揭示海水硬骨鱼类骨骼发生、发育的调控机制奠定了理论基础。     

半滑舌鳎HIRA基因部分cDNA序列克隆及表达分析

为研究HIRA基因在半滑舌鳎胚胎发育中的作用及其组织差异表达，以半滑舌鳎为研究对象，采用同源克隆策略从其精巢中分离了长度为764bp的HIRA部分cDNA序列，该片段编码254个氨基酸，具有5个wD结构域。对氨基酸进行比较发现，半滑舌鳎HIRA与比较物种的氨基酸序列具有很高的同源性，与红鳍东方纯亲缘关系最近。实时定量PCR分析发现，HIRA mRNA在多细胞期到原肠胚期的表达量较高，表明HIRA对胚胎发育起重要作用；HIRA在不同组织中表达差异显著，其中在性腺中表达最高，推测HIRA在维持性腺的功能方面有一定作用。     

半滑舌鳎RasGRP3基因的克隆和免疫应答分析

RasGRP3(Ras Guanyl nucleotide Releasing Protein 3)是一种鸟苷酸交换蛋白,差异表达的Ras GRP3蛋白在疾病发生和固有免疫中发挥着重要作用。为了探究半滑舌鳎(Cynoglossus semilaevis)Ras GRP3基因组成、组织表达及免疫应答特征,根据本实验室半滑舌鳎转录组数据获得的部分Ras GRP3序列,采用RACE(Rapid-Amplification of c DNA Ends)技术,克隆了Ras GRP3基因的全长,将测序结果进行氨基酸序列比对和同源性分析:半滑舌鳎Ras GRP3基因全长2756 bp,ORF(Open Reading Frame)长度为2244 bp,编码747个氨基酸;推导的半滑舌鳎Ras GRP3氨基酸序列与其他鱼类的Ras GRP3氨基酸序列相似性较高,是同源基因。采用q RT-PCR(Quantitative Real-Time PCR)方法对Ras GRP3基因在健康半滑舌鳎13种组织、鳗弧菌(Vibro anguillarum)感染后不同时间点的6种免疫组织及LPS、PGN、WGP和poly I:C 4种病原模拟物处理的半滑舌鳎外周血淋巴细胞不同时间点中的表达特征进行分析:Ras GRP3基因在健康半滑舌鳎13种组织中均有表达,其中在性腺中表达量最高,其次是肝、脑和脾,在血液中表达量最低;Ras GRP3基因在鳗弧菌感染后半滑舌鳎6种免疫组织中都表现出不同的表达趋势,其中肝和鳃中上调趋势明显,6 h比0 h上调表达倍数分别为3倍和30倍,在肠、脾、头肾和血液中6 h都出现了下调表达;Ras GRP3在4种病原模拟物处理的半滑舌鳎外周血淋巴细胞中整体上调表达,在PGN和poly I:C这2种病原模拟物刺激后表达趋势出现明显上调,在PGN刺激后24 h比0 h上调表达倍数为13倍,在poly I:C刺激后6 h比0 h上调表达8倍。结果表明,Ras GRP3基因参与了半滑舌鳎的免疫应答过程,可能在免疫调控中发挥着重要的作用。     

半滑舌鳎促性腺激素α亚基cDNA的克隆及组织表达特征

采用同源克隆和末端快速扩增（RACE）方法,从半滑舌鳎脑垂体中克隆了促性腺激素α亚基（CGα）全长cDNA（GenBank序列登录号：JQ364953）.半滑舌鳎CGα基因全长685bp,其开放阅读框384bp,编码含127个氨基酸的蛋白,N端33个氨基酸为信号肽.半滑舌鳎CGα成熟肽与其他脊椎动物CGα成熟肽结构特征相似,具有10个半胱氨酸残基和两个N-糖基化位点.CGα成熟肽序列分析表明,半滑舌鳎CGα与鲽形目和鲈形目鱼类CGα同源性为60％～70％,与鲤形目鱼类CGα同源性为55％～60％.实时荧光定量RT-PCR结果表明,半滑舌鳎CGα mRNA在被检测的12个组织中均有表达,除头肾和脾脏、脾脏和肝脏间表达量差异不显著外,其他组织间表达量差异显著（P＜0.05）;CGα mRNA在垂体组织中大量表达,其次是鳃、肾脏、肌肉、卵巢和脑组织,而在心脏、头肾、肝和脾等组织中表达量很低.本研究为进一步探讨促性腺激素在半滑舌鳎繁殖生理中的作用机制奠定基础.     

半滑舌鳎的性腺分化和温度对性别决定的影响

半滑舌鳎(Cynoglossus semilaevisGünther)是近年来新开发的一种理想的增养殖对象,雌性个体生长速度比雄性快2～3倍。由于温度可影响多种鱼类的性腺分化,因而探索温度对该鱼的性别决定和性腺分化的影响,获得性逆转雄性亲本,用于培育全雌后代,具有重要的应用前景和经济效益。通过石蜡组织切片,对半滑舌鳎早期性腺分化进行组织学观察。发现在24℃饲养条件下,孵化后30 d半滑舌鳎性腺开始分化,其中具有裂隙的性腺原基未来发育为卵巢,而不具裂隙的原基未来发育为精巢。在孵化后25～100 d对半滑舌鳎进行不同温度(16℃、20℃、24℃、28℃、32℃)处理,在9月龄时利用石蜡组织切片鉴定表型性别,观察温度对性腺分化的影响,结果表明,28℃和32℃高温能显著提高群体中的雄性比例,使其分别达到69.2%和66.7%;而低温16℃和20℃对性腺分化影响不大,群体中雄性比例分别为56.5%和57.1%;24℃处理群体中雌雄个体比例接近1∶1。半滑舌鳎雌性特异的遗传性别鉴定技术也检测到高温和低温处理组出现了由基因型雌性向表型雄性逆转的雄性个体。这些结果表明温度影响了半滑舌鳎性腺分化方向。     

半滑舌鳎促滤泡激素基因全长cDNA的克隆与组织表达分析

从半滑舌鳎Cynoglossus semilaevis Günther脑垂体中提取总RNA，利用RT-PCR和RACE技术首次克隆得到半滑舌鳎促滤泡激素（FSH）基因全长cDNA序列。半滑舌鳎FSHcDNA全长为541bp，开放阅读框为393bp，编码130个氨基酸（GenBank序列登录号：JQ277933）。发现一个N-糖基化位点：24～27NTT。与其他脊椎动物的FSH成熟肽氨基酸序列同源性比较表明，半滑舌鳎FSH与鲽形目和鲈形目鱼类FSH同源性为42％～49％，与鲤形目和高等脊椎动物FSH同源性为27％～319/5。用MEGA4．0软件构建了NJ树，获得的进化树表明，半滑舌鳎FSH与其他鱼类FSH聚类，亲缘关系较近。实时荧光定量组织表达分析表明，FSHmRNA除在垂体中大量表达外，其他组织也有表达，尤以脑、性腺表达量较高。半滑舌鳎FSHmRNA在垂体以外组织中的广泛表达，暗示FSH可能具有广泛的生理功能。     

半滑舌鳎抗缪勒氏管激素(AMH)基因的克隆及组织表达分析

本研究克隆了半滑舌鳎(Cynoglossus semilaevis)AMH基因并对其进行表达分析。该基因cDNA序列开放阅读框长为1 563 bp,编码蛋白含520个氨基酸。该蛋白含有TGF-β超家族的特征序列,包含1个AMH-N区域和TGF-β结构域,并在C端生物活性区含有9个保守的半胱氨酸残基。系统进化分析表明,半滑舌鳎AMH和所有鱼类AMH聚为一簇,与鲽形目相似性最高。实时定量结果表明,AMH基因在半滑舌鳎不同组织中有差异表达,在正常雄鱼和伪雄鱼性腺中表达量最高。胚后不同时期性腺的实时定量结果表明,性腺分化之前AMH在精巢中相对表达量较低,70 dph(days post hatching)达到最高峰,而在卵巢中呈现先升高后下降的趋势,预示AMH基因可能在半滑舌鳎性腺发育中起重要作用。较正常雄鱼后代而言,AMH基因在伪雄鱼后代的雄鱼和伪雄鱼性腺中的表达都有升高的趋势,而在雌鱼中无明显差异,也预示其可能参与半滑舌鳎的性反转过程。     

Association between the interannual variation in the oceanic environment and catch rates of bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus) in the Atlantic Ocean

The environmental processes associated with variability in the catch rates of bigeye tuna in the Atlantic Ocean are largely unexplored. This study used generalized additive models (GAMs) fitted to Taiwanese longline fishery data from 1990 to 2009 and investigated the association between environmental variables and catch rates to identify the processes influencing bigeye tuna distribution in the Atlantic Ocean. The present findings reveal that the year (temporal factor), latitude and longitude (spatial factors), and major regular longline target species of albacore catches are significant for the standardization of bigeye tuna catch rates in the Atlantic Ocean. The standardized catch rates and distribution of bigeye tuna were found to be related to environmental and climatic variation. The model selection processes showed that the selected GAMs explained 70% of the cumulative deviance in the entire Atlantic Ocean. Regarding environmental factors, the depth of the 20 degree isotherm (D20) substantially contributed to the explained deviance; other important factors were sea surface temperature (SST) and sea surface height deviation (SSHD). The potential fishing grounds were observed with SSTs of 22–28°C, a D20 shallower than 150 m and negative SSHDs in the Atlantic Ocean. The higher predicted catch rates were increased in the positive northern tropical Atlantic and negative North Atlantic Oscillation events with a higher SST and shallow D20, suggesting that climatic oscillations affect the population abundance and distribution of bigeye tuna.     

Growth performance,digestive enzyme activity and immune response of Japanese sea bass,Lateolabrax japonicus fed with fructooligosaccharide

In this experiment, a feeding trial was performed to determine the effects of fructooligosaccharide (FOS) on growth performance, digestive enzyme activity and immune response of Japanese sea bass, Lateolabrax japonicus juveniles (initial weight 38.3 ± 0.5 g), and the fish were examined following feeding with six levels of FOS (0, 0.5, 1, 2, 4 and 6 g/kg) for 28 days. Significant enhancement of weight gain (WG) and specific growth rate (SGR) was found in fish fed 1 g/kg FOS incorporated diets (p < .05), while the feed conversion ratio (FCR) in the 1, 2 g/kg FOS groups reduced significantly compared with the control (p < .05). Besides, the crude lipid in the 4, 6 g/kg FOS groups increased significantly compared with the control (p < .05). On the other hand, the erepsin and lipase activities significantly elevated in intestine of fish fed 2 g/kg FOS (p < .05) and the lysozyme activity in serum of fish fed 2 g/kg FOS were significantly higher than that in the control (p < .05). Moreover, the alkaline phosphatase activities in serum of fish fed 0.5, 1, 2 g/kg FOS were significantly higher than in control (p < .05). Regression analysis showed that the relationships between dietary FOS levels and either SGR, FCR, erepsin or lysozyme activities were best expressed by regression equations, and the optimal inclusion levels are 1.37, 1.80, 3.06, 3.11, 1.93 and 1.80 g/kg for SGR, FCR, erepsin, lipase, lysozyme and total superoxide dismutase activities, respectively. Overall, this study revealed that FOS incorporated diets could beneficial for L. japonicus culture in terms of increasing the growth, digestion and immune activities. Under the present experimental condition, the optimal supplementary level of FOS in the diet of L. japonicus is 1–3 g/kg.     

Protein and amino acid composition from the mantle of juvenile O ctopus vulgaris exposed to prolonged starvation

Protein and amino acid composition of the mantle of juvenile O ctopus vulgaris (Cuvier, 1797) during fasting for 27 days were determined. Average protein content of octopus mantle was of 711.19 ± 46.80 g kg^?1 DW, and it decreased with increasing fasting days. The non‐essential amino acids content was higher (486.18 ± 11.08 g kg^?1 protein) than essential amino acids (425.82 ± 9.15 g kg^?1 protein) at the start of the experiment (unstarved animals). The results suggest that the amino acid profile of the mantle where the most abundant amino acids are Arg, His, Lys, Gly, Leu and Pro could indicate a prolonged fasting condition (>20 days) or poor nutrition of O . vulgaris. This study supports the idea of using mantle for metabolic needs of starved O . vulgaris suggesting that the degradation pathway of amino acids to pyruvate and tricarboxylic acid cycle intermediates was favoured contrary to the degradation pathway of ketogenic amino acids. Special considerations should be taken concerning Thr, Ile, Ser, Ala, Asx (Asp, Asn), Glx (Glu, Gln) (because of their fast intake) and Lys and His (due to their stable contents) during a prolonged period of fasting.     

Involvement of gonadal steroids in final oocyte maturation of white perch (Morone americana) and white bass (M. chrysops): in vivo and in vitro studies

Plasma estradiol-17 (E₂), testosterone (T), 17,20-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one (DHP) and 17,20,21-tri-hydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one (20-S) levels were measured by radioimmunoassay (RIA) in white perch (Morone americana) and white bass (M. chrysops) that were induced to undergo final oocyte maturation (FOM) with human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). Plasma DHP levels increased in females of both species in association with oocyte germinal vesicle migration (GVM) and germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD) and decreased thereafter. Plasma 20-S levels also increased with oocyte GVM in white bass, but were several-fold lower than DHP levels. Circulating E₂ and T levels were greatest during GVM and GVBD in both species and decreased to low levels during oocyte hydration and ovulation. Follicles from white perch and white bass which received a priming injection of hCG in vivo, produced both DHP and 20-S in vitro after exposure to hCG and their oocytes underwent GVBD. Ovarian incubates from unprimed fish of either species produced only E₂ and T and their oocytes did not complete GVBD. Oocytes from unprimed bass, but not perch, matured when follicles were exposed to hCG in vitro. Both trilostane and cycloheximide blocked in vitro production of DHP and 20-S and oocyte GVBD by white perch follices. DHP and 20-S were equipotent inducers of FOM in the GVBD bioassay. None of several other structurally-related steroids tested were effective within a physiological range of concentrations. These results indicate a role for DHP and 20-S in the control of FOM in white perch and white bass.     

Cardiac,ventilatory and metabolic responses of two ecologically dissimilar species of fish to waterborne cyanide

Changes in heart rate, ventilatory activity and oxygen consumption were determined in trout (Salmo gairdneri) and brown bullhead catfish (Ictalurus nebulosus) during exposure to a steadily increasing concentration of waterborne cyanide selected to produce death in 8–9 hours for each species. The lethal cyanide concentration for the bullheads was an order of magnitude higher than for trout. Trout developed an immediate and gradually increasing bradycardia throughout the exposure period. Cyanide produced tachycardia in the bullhead followed by a gradual onset of bradycardia as the concentration of cyanide was raised. Pericardial injection of atropine (a muscarinic cholinergic antagonist) indicated that bradycardia in the trout was due initially to increased vagal tone but later due to the direct effect of cyanide on the heart. Hyperventilation in the trout persisted throughout the exposure period, although the rate and amplitude fluctuated and was variable between individual fish. During the last hour of exposure (highest cyanide concentration), ventilation was characterized by rapid, shallow breaths followed by a sudden respiratory arrest. The bullheads exhibited hyperventilation during the first 3 hours of exposure followed by a gradual, linear drop in ventilation rate and amplitude until death occurred. Cardiac and ventilatory responses in both species were attributed to stimulation of central and peripheral chemoreceptors by cyanide. Evidence is presented which suggests the initial response in the bullheads was due, at least in part, to gustatory stimulation by the cyanide. Oxygen consumption of the trout remained above pre-exposure levels for the majority of the test period. Oxygen consumption in the bullhead paralleled the changes in heart and ventilatory rates. Whole-body lactate levels of fingerlings of both species during cyanide exposure were measured to estimate the extent of anaerobiosis. Whole-body lactate levels were much greater in the bullheads than the trout, indicating a higher capacity for anaerobiosis, possibly due to a greater fuel supply. Overall, the trout responded to cyanide in a manner similar to that produced by environmental hypoxia whereas the bullheads experienced a gustatory stimulus which masked the hypoxia-like response.     

An overview of stress physiology of fish transport: changes in water quality as a function of transport duration

This study brings an integrated analysis about the relationship between water deterioration and its physiological consequences in live fish transport. The analysis was focused on the transport water and its deterioration, and physiological challenges imposed on the fish. Usual commercial handling procedures employed to mitigate fish stress during transport were discussed. Future topics of research for the establishment of safer fish transport protocols were proposed. Transport was classified into short (≤8 h) or long transport (>8 h). The main issue in short transports should be the prevention of water pH reduction, while in long transports it is the increase in ammonia. Plasma cortisol is the most employed marker for stress and is acutely elevated upon short episodes of transport, but remains elevated even in long‐transport events. Plasma glucose is perhaps a better marker for handling stress. Plasma lactate, pH, osmolality CO₂ and ions should be more often evaluated. Plasma Na⁺ and Cl^‐ are very useful markers of acidosis, due to their respective exchange for H⁺ and , for acid–base regulation. The establishment of species‐specific transport protocols should be preceded by such combined analyses of water and physiological parameters.     

Are hatchery‐reared abalone naïve of predators? Comparing the behaviours of wild and hatchery‐reared northern abalone,Haliotis kamtschatkana (Jonas, 1845)

Abalone populations have declined worldwide, generating interest in enhancement using hatchery‐reared individuals. In many cases, such restoration efforts have met with limited success due to high predator‐induced mortality rates. Furthermore, the mortality rates of outplanted hatchery abalone are often considerably higher than for wild individuals. This study uses northern abalone (Haliotis kamtschatkana) as a case study to determine whether hatchery‐reared abalone behave differently than their wild counterparts. In the field, outplanted hatchery‐reared abalone were significantly less responsive than wild abalone, in terms of number of abalone responding and intensity of response, to nearby movement and to physical contact with an inert probe. Also, when encountering a cue to which all abalone responded (a seastar predator), hatchery‐reared individuals remained subdued. Anti‐predator behavioural deficits in hatchery‐reared abalone were more pronounced in 4‐year‐old individuals than in 1‐year‐old individuals, suggesting an influence of either age or amount of time spent in the hatchery environment. These behavioural differences are expected to increase the vulnerability of hatchery‐reared abalone to predators, and are likely a major cause of their elevated predator‐induced mortality when outplanted.     

Effects of cadmium on the kinetics of calcium uptake in developing tilapia larvae, Oreochromis mossambicus

The toxic effects of Cd²⁺ on Ca²⁺ influx kinetics in developing tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus) larvae were evaluated. Addition of 20 µg l^-1 of Cd²⁺ to the environment of 0 and 3 day-old larvae competitively inhibited the Ca²⁺ uptake within 4h resulting in a great increase in K_m values for Ca²⁺ influx (19.3 and 17.4 fold, respectively) as compared with their respective controls. Consequently, the actual Ca²⁺ influx of larvae in solutions of 0.2 mM Ca²⁺ are suppressed by 32–45%. Also, 3 day-old larvae were more sensitive to internally accumulated Cd²⁺ than 0 day-old larvae. Although the Ca²⁺ influx in 0 and 3 day-old larvae may be restored to the levels of their respective controls with 24h of being transferred to a 20 µg l^-1 Cd²⁺ solution, total body Ca²⁺ content was significantly reduced in 3 day-old larvae. Increased Ca²⁺ uptake efficiency ensures sufficient Ca²⁺ for normal growth. However, rapid increase in Ca²⁺ influx after hatching also leads to higher Cd²⁺ uptake. Exposure to Cd²⁺ will lead to a drop in body Ca²⁺ content resulting in retardation of larval growth. Therefore, we conclude that if Ca²⁺ uptake is interfered with at this critical stage of development, larvae will not be able to maintain normal levels of body Ca²⁺ and will show signs of Cd²⁺ poisoning.     

Migratory dynamics of stream-spawning longnose gar (Lepisosteus osseus)

Abstract– Literature evidence suggests that lake-dwelling longnose gar (Lepisosteus osseus) enter tributary streams to spawn, Until the present study, the dynamics of this breeding migration had never been investigated quantitatively. During the summers of 1991 and 1992, longnose gar were captured as they entered Weaubleau Creek, Missouri, a tributary of Harry S. Truman Reservoir. The in-stream spawning migration began in early April and ended in late May, and was positively correlated with stream flow and water level, and negatively correlated with water temperature. In-stream residence times ranged from 15 to 94 days, with males exhibiting longer residence times than females. Once in-stream, longnose gar travelled as far as 10 km upstream and occupied certain pools at greater relative frequencies. Although the reason for this preferential utilization is not completely understood, it may relate to pool depth and riffle proximity. Longnose gar disperse from the spawning stream great distances, with gar captured in Weaubleau Creek being recaptured up to 48 km away. This information should provide fisheries biologists the means to consider the reproductive ecology of this species in their conservation and management decisions.     

Nutritional regulation of hepatocyte fatty acid desaturation and polyunsaturated fatty acid composition in zebrafish (Danio rerio) and tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)

The desaturation and elongation of [1-¹⁴C]18:3n-3 was investigated in hepatocytes of the tropical warm freshwater species, zebrafish (Danio rerio) and Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). The hepatocyte fatty acid desaturation/elongation pathway was assayed before and after the fish were fed two experimental diets, a control diet containing fish oil (FO) and a diet containing vegetable oil (VO; a blend of olive, linseed and high oleic acid sunflower oils) for 10 weeks. The VO diet was formulated to provide 1% each of 18:2n-6 and 18:3n-3, and so satisfy the possible EFA requirements of zebrafish and tilapia. At the end of the dietary trial, the lipid and fatty acid composition was determined in whole zebrafish, and liver, white muscle and brain of tilapia. Both zebrafish and tilapia expressed a hepatocyte fatty acid desaturation/elongation pattern consistent with them being freshwater and planktonivorous fish. The data also showed that hepatic fatty acid desaturation/elongation was nutritionally regulated with the activities being higher in fish fed the VO diet compared to fish fed the FO diet. In zebrafish, the main effect of the VO diet was increased fatty acid Δ6 desaturase activity resulting in the production of significantly more 18:4n-3 compared to fish fed the FO diet. In tilapia, all activities in the pathway were greater in fish fed the VO diet resulting in increased amounts of all fatty acids in the pathway, but primarily eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA; 20:5n-3) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA; 22:6n-3). However, the fatty acid compositional data indicated that despite increased activity, desaturation of 18:3n-3 was insufficient to maintain tissue proportions of EPA and DHA in fish fed the VO diet at the same level as in fish fed the FO diet. Practically, these results indicate that manipulation of tilapia diets in commercial culture in response to the declining global fish oil market would have important consequences for fish fatty acid composition and the health of consumers. Scientifically, zebrafish and tilapia, both the subject of active genome mapping projects, could be useful models for studies of lipid and fatty acid metabolism at a molecular biological and genetic level. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.