锯缘青蟹蜕皮抑制激素cDNA的分子克隆及其表达分析

根据近缘种类同源序列设计简并引物,采用逆转录聚合酶链式反应(RT—PCR)技术,首次扩增获得锯缘青蟹(Scylla serrata)眼柄组织中编码蜕皮抑制激素(MIH)成熟肽全长cDNA序列及部分信号肽序列。将该序列克隆到pUCm—T载体上进行序列测定。结果表明,编码锯缘青蟹MIH成熟肽的cDNA由234个碱基组成,由此推测MIH成熟肽含78个氨基酸残基。该序列不仅与其它短尾类甲壳动物的MIH氨基酸序列具有高度的同源性(79％～9l％),还与该激素同一家族的性腺抑制激素、大颚器抑制激素的氨基酸序列具有较高的相似性。RNA斑点杂交结果显示,MIH基因在眼柄神经节及脑组织中均有表达,而在肌肉、中肠腺中不表达。     

螯虾免疫相关基因的检出及丝氨酸蛋白酶抑制物基因分析

通过对抑制性差减杂交和cDNA芯片技术分离的 2 0 1个阳性克隆的测序 ,得到螯虾 (Procambarusclarkii)免疫相关基因 4 8个 ,其中正向克隆中 4 2个 ,反向克隆 6个 ,除正向克隆中SNAP - 2 5 (synatosome-associatedproteinof2 5ku)已报道外 ,其余均为新基因 ,均在GenBank登录。正向克隆中的同源基因有微管蛋白、超氧化物歧化酶前体、丝氨酸蛋白酶抑制物Ⅰ、精氨酸激酶、70kD伴侣蛋白同类物等。进一步用DotNorthernblot对克隆号PCI188进行鉴定 ,结果攻毒组的杂交信号是对照组的 3.2 4倍 ,与cDNA芯片结果相符。用快速扩增cDNA末端技术扩增克隆号PCI188基因的 5’端片段和 3’端片段 ,全长共 112 8bp ,编码的蛋白质有 2 77个氨基酸 ,分子量为 30 .2 7kD。与GenBank序列号X795 12软尾太平剌蛄 (P .le niusculus)的蛋白酶抑制物Ⅰ (为丝氨酸蛋白酶抑制物 )的基因同源性为 5 8.7% ,氨基酸同源性为 6 9.7%。该蛋白质有 5个重复的结构域 ,与丝氨酸蛋白酶抑制物Kazal家族的结构域相似     

中国明对虾(Fenneropenaeus chinensis)coat-ε基因全长cDNA克隆及组织分布

coat-ε基因表达的蛋白是组成COPⅠ的coatomer复合体的一个亚基,为获得中国明对虾(Fenneropenaeus chinensis)coat-ε基因全长序列,采用cDNA末端快速扩增(Rapid amplification of cDNA end,RACE)技术,扩增出coat-ε基因的3端和5端,测序结果经DNAMAN比对拼接得出coat-ε基因全长,基因全长1402 bp,5非编码区(UTR)84 bp,3'非编码区(UTR)310 bp,开放阅读框1008 bp,预测编码335个氨基酸,其中,第230–300的氨基酸属于TPR超家族,Signal P 3.0 Server预测氨基酸序列没有信号肽,TMHMM Server v.2.0分析此氨基酸不存在跨膜结构,PSORTⅡPrediction预测该蛋白位于线粒体、细胞质、内质网中,属胞内蛋白。系统进化树显示,中国明对虾的coat-ε基因与节肢动物门的动物亲缘关系相近。采用实时荧光定量方法分析该基因在鳃、上皮、胃、肌肉、肝胰腺等不同组织中的相对表达,结果显示,coat-ε在肌肉中的相对转录表达量最高,在鳃和附肢的表达次之。本研究获得的中国明对虾coat-ε全长序列,可为该基因功能研究提供基础。     

牙鲆SRF基因的克隆及真核表达载体的构建

采用RACE-PCR技术,从牙鲆(Paralichthys olivaceus)组织中克隆了血清应答因子(SRF)基因全长序列,该序列全长2 477 bp,开放阅读框1 503 bp,编码500个氨基酸。通过氨基酸同源序列比对,牙鲆SRF与其它物种的同源性较高,在氨基酸序列的N端具有NLS结构域和高度保守的MADS结构域。用PCR方法扩增SRF基因的编码区片段,克隆到p EGFP-N1载体中,构建真核表达载体p EGFP-N1-SRF,将重组质粒转染牙鲆胚胎细胞,在荧光显微镜下观察转染细胞有绿色荧光蛋白表达。荧光定量PCR和Western blot实验进一步证实,SRF在转染细胞中高表达。说明真核表达载体p EGFP-N1-SRF构建成功,为进一步研究SRF在牙鲆变态发育中的作用奠定了实验基础。     

异育银鲫Toll样受体3的cDNA序列分析与蛋白质高级结构预测

利用RT-PCR、RACE及克隆等方法获得了异育银鲫Toll样受体3(cagTLR3)基因全长cDNA序列.该cDNA全长3170 bp,5'端非编码区181 bp;3'端非编码区283 bp;开放阅读框(ORF)2706 bp,编码901个氨基酸.经序列同源性分析显示,其编码的氨基酸序列与金鱼、斑马鱼、斑点叉尾鲴、虹鳟和红鳍东方鲍有较高的相似性,其相似性分别为92%、88%、79%、75%和72%,说明TLR3在长期的进化中具有较高保守性.TLR3全长序列起始21个氨基酸残基为信号肽;50至695个氨基酸残基间包含15个富含亮氨酸的重复序列(LRR);704至726个氨基酸残基为跨膜区(TM);754至897个氨基酸残基为与白介素-1受体高度同源的区域(TIR).将异育银鲫TLR3与人和斑马鱼胞内TIR结构的氨基酸比对后发现,Phe728、Leu738、Tyr756与Arg736在TLR3的信号转导及胞内定位过程中起到关键作用.异育银鲫TLR3胞外配体结合域的三维结构呈U型,与人TLR3的相应结构十分相似,在N端具有1个二硫键,C端有2个.因LRRs上的插入序列和14个糖基化位点,异育银鲫TLR3胞外配体结合域内表面的大量β-折叠结构呈平坦的平面.     

黄鳝ghrelin基因的克隆及分子特征分析

Ghrelin是联系生殖和能量代谢的重要桥梁信号分子,通过克隆黄鳝(Monopterus albus)的ghrelin基因并对其基因结构和功能进行了初步分析;运用c DNA末端快速扩增技术获得了黄鳝ghrelin基因的c DNA序列和DNA序列全长。结果表明,黄鳝ghrelin基因c DNA全长552 bp(Gen Bank accession no.JX122807),包括115 bp的5'端非编码区、324 bp的完整开放阅读框以及113 bp的3'端非编码区;DNA序列全长1323 bp,由3个内含子和4个外显子构成,内含子剪切位点具有典型识别核苷酸GT/AG,3个内含子分别为594 bp、84 bp和93 bp,4个外显子长度分别为229 bp、78 bp、112 bp和133 bp。氨基酸序列分析显示,ghrelin基因推导的Ghrelin蛋白前体原(propreghrelin)序列由26 aa的信号肽、19 aa的成熟肽以及C端氨基酸残基等构成;其中,成熟肽第3位为丝氨酸(Ser3),是Ghrelin的酰基化位点;C端氨基酸残基序列极可能包括与Ghrelin成熟肽功能相互拮抗的肥胖抑制素(Obestatin)。氨基酸的同源性及进化关系分析表明,黄鳝与某些鲈形目鱼类的蛋白前体原存在高度相似性,且在进化上黄鳝与较高级的鲈形目、鲽形目鱼类聚为一支。ghrelin基因结构及其蛋白质某些氨基酸残基序列的高度保守,预示着Ghrelin在脊椎动物中有着重要的生理功能与类似的作用机制。     

坛紫菜两种小分子热激蛋白(sHSP)基因的克隆及表达特征分析

小分子热激蛋白(sHSP)不仅在应激条件下高效表达,而且在正常状态的细胞中也广泛存在,参与一些重要细胞生理活动的调节。为研究坛紫菜应答高温和失水等逆境胁迫的分子机制,本研究以坛紫菜(Pyropia haitanensis)转录组测序获得的unigene序列为基础,采用RACE或直接PCR扩增,克隆获得了坛紫菜两种sHsp的全长基因：PhHsp22和PhDnaJ。序列分析结果表明,PhHsp22序列全长857 bp,包含一个519 bp的开放阅读框,所编码的多肽包含172个氨基酸,分子量为19.1 kDa,等电点为5.24(收录号：KM102540)；PhDnaJ序列全长1616 bp,包含一个1290 bp的开放阅读框,所编码的多肽包含429个氨基酸,分子量为46.1 kDa,等电点为6.43,属于Hsp40亚家族(收录号：KM102541)。基因表达水平的定量分析结果表明两个基因在高温胁迫不同时间水平和不同失水胁迫程度下的表达均呈现出一致的表达模式,即在胁迫初期表达水平显著上调,但随着胁迫的持续,这两个基因的表达水平开始逐渐下调。说明这两个基因在逆境胁迫下的表达可能存在一个反馈调节机制。     

脊尾白虾(Exopalaemon carinicauda)α2-巨球蛋白cDNA全长的克隆和表达分析

根据本实验室前期获得的脊尾白虾(Exopalaemon carinicauda)α2-巨球蛋白基因EST序列,采用cDNA末端快速扩增(Rapid amplification of cDNA end, RACE)技术克隆获得脊尾白虾α2-巨球蛋白基因cDNA全长,命名为Ecα2M基因.该基因全长4823 bp,由4413 bp的开放阅读框、64 bp的5'端非编码区以及346 bp的3'端非编码区组成.开放阅读框编码1470个氨基酸,分子量为163.0 kDa,理论等电点为5.03.序列分析显示,Ecα2M序列N端含有23个氨基酸组成的信号肽.同源性分析显示,脊尾白虾Ecα2M氨基酸序列与罗氏沼虾(Macrobrachium rosenbergii)α2M的同源性最高,达到80%.荧光定量PCR分析结果显示,Ecα2M基因在血细胞、肝胰腺、肌肉、鳃、卵巢、眼柄、胃及肠中均有表达,其中在血细胞中的相对表达量最高.感染鳗弧菌和WSSV后,脊尾白虾血细胞中Ecα2M的相对表达量于6 h达到最大值且显著高于对照组(P＜0.05),肝胰腺中Ecα2M的相对表达量于3 h达到最大值且显著高于对照组(P＜0.05),相对表达量变化具有明显的时间差异性.     

剑尾鱼卵黄蛋白原C(Vg C)全长cDNA的克隆及表达

利用逆转录聚合酶链式反应(RT-PCR)和cDNA末端快速扩增(RACE)等方法,克隆获得剑尾鱼卵黄蛋白原C(Vg C)基因的全长cDNA序列。剑尾鱼Vg C基因cDNA序列全长4 011 bp,其5′非编码区包含12 bp和3′非编码区包含246 bp;含有一个3 753 bp的开放阅读框(ORF),编码1 250个氨基酸,推测其编码氨基酸分子量大小为141.7 ku,编码氨基酸序列与其他鱼类卵黄白原C编码氨基酸序列相似性在44%～85%。荧光定量PCR结果显示,Vg C在剑尾鱼肝脏中表达量最高,脾、肾、卵巢中有微量表达,脑、肌肉、鳃中几乎没有检测到表达;对不同时间暴露在雌激素中剑尾鱼肝脏进行实时荧光定量PCR表达分析的结果表明,Vg C在剑尾鱼肝脏中第5天表达量最高,随后降低,第9天后维持相对较低的表达量。研究首次克隆了剑尾鱼Vg C基因全长cDNA序列,并对Vg C在剑尾鱼体内表达组织器官分布及雌激素诱导后不同时间表达谱进行了初步研究,为剑尾鱼生殖生理及环境污染物监测应用等不同领域研究打下重要基础。     

栉孔扇贝Cf-dmrt4-like基因的克隆、序列特征及表达分析

DMRT家族是一类转录因子,在性别决定与分化、器官形成等早期胚胎发育中起重要的作用。本研究采用简并PCR扩增和cDNA末端快速扩增技术(RACE),从栉孔扇贝(Chlamys farreri)精巢中克隆得到1个全长为2312bp的dmrtcDNA序列,其开放阅读框(Open reading frame,ORF)1110bp,编码369个氨基酸,具有dmrt基因家族共有的DM保守结构域。同源比对和系统进化分析结果显示,其为Cf-dmrt4-like基因。半定量RT-PCR结果显示,该基因从受精卵至匍匐幼虫各发育时期均有表达,卵裂期表达量较高;在雄性成体的鳃和精巢以及雌性成体的外套膜、鳃、肾和闭壳肌中表达,但卵巢中未见表达。qRT-PCR检测不同发育时期的精卵巢,以成熟期精巢表达量最高。由此推测,栉孔扇贝Cf-dmrt4-like基因参与个体的早期发育,并在两性成体中发挥着不同的作用。     

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.     

美人鱼发光杆菌对凡纳滨对虾非特异性 免疫功能及抗病力的影响

在基础饲料中分别添加0.1%和1%美人鱼发光杆菌灭活菌、0.1%美人鱼发光杆菌活菌配制成3种免疫实验饲料,以基础饲料为空白对照组饲料,每组设3个平行样。对个体质量为(4.83±0.36)g的凡纳滨对虾进行为期20 d的饲养实验,分别在0、5、10、15和20d进行取样,以血清中的酚氧化酶(PO)、酸性磷酸酶(ACP)、碱性磷酸酶(AKP)、超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)和溶菌酶(UL)活性为免疫指标,探讨了美人鱼发光杆菌作为免疫制剂对凡纳滨对虾非特异性免疫效应的影响;在投喂免疫饲料后的第22天,按0.004 2 kg/kg体重的剂量,直接投喂对虾白斑综合征病毒(WSSV)病料,并记录累积死亡率。结果表明,美人鱼发光杆菌免疫实验组对凡纳滨对虾血清中PO、ACP、AKP、UL和SOD活性影响明显高于对照组,并且在饲料中添加美人鱼发光杆菌后,明显提高了对虾抵御WSSV感染的能力。其中0.1%美人鱼发光杆菌活菌实验组的抗病毒感染能力最强,WSSV感染14d内累计死亡率为63.3%±5.8%;而对照组为96.7%±3.3%。研究表明,美人鱼发光杆菌添加在对虾饲料中能提高凡纳滨对虾非特异性免疫水平,增强抵抗疾病的能力,将其作为对虾免疫增强剂具有良好的应用前景。     

Effects of Spirulina platensis as a feed additive on growth and coloration of blue dolphin cichlids (Cyrtocara moorii Boulunger, 1902)

This study was carried out to investigate the effects of replacing fish meal with dietary Spirulina as a feed supplement on the growth performance and coloration of blue dolphin cichlids (Cyrtocara moorii). Five isonitrogenous (47% crude protein) and isocaloric (17.36 kJ/g digestible energy) diets were for formulated to replace FM with 0, 5, 10, 15 and 20% Spirulina (designated as Control, SP5, SP10, SP15 and SP20 respectively) and fed to the fish (initial body weight, 3.15 ± 0.01 g). Fish were randomly distributed into fifteen 120 L aquariums (26.5 ± 1.00°C), 15 fish per aquarium. The diets were tested in triplicate for 12 weeks. Experimental groups were fed twice daily (09:00 and 17:00) by hand to satiation. At the end of the feeding trial, significantly (p < 0.05) higher weight gain (WG), specific growth rate (SGR), protein efficiency ratio (PER) and lower feed conversion ratio (FCR) were observed in fish fed the SP10 diet when compared to the SP20 diet. There was no significant difference in these parameters between the other groups. The skin coloration of blue dolphin cichlid fed a diet containing Spirulina meal was enhanced. The best coloration was observed in the SP15 group. These impressions were objectively validated by chemical determinations of carotenoids extracted from fish skins and passed statistical tests of significance. The study findings show that Spirulina meal does not diminish growth rates except at very high levels.     

A Minchinia mercenariae‐like parasite infects cockles Cerastoderma edule in Galicia (NW Spain)

The cockle Cerastoderma edule fishery has traditionally been the most important shellfish species in terms of biomass in Galicia (NW Spain). In the course of a survey of the histopathological conditions affecting this species in the Ria of Arousa, a haplosporidan parasite that had not been observed in Galicia was detected in one of the most productive cockle beds of Galicia. Uni‐ and binucleate cells and multinucleate plasmodia were observed in the connective tissue mainly in the digestive area, gills and gonad. The parasite showed low prevalence, and it was not associated with abnormal cockle mortality. Molecular identification showed that this parasite was closely related to the haplosporidan Minchinia mercenariae that had been reported infecting hard clams Mercenaria mercenaria from the Atlantic coast of the United States. The molecular characterization of its SSU rDNA region allowed obtaining a fragment of 1,796 bp showing 98% homology with M. mercenariae parasite. Phylogenetic analysis supported this identification as this parasite was clustered in the same clade as M. mercenariae from the United States and other M. mercenariae‐like sequences from the UK, with bootstrap value of 99%. The occurrence of M. mercenariae‐like parasites infecting molluscs outside the United States is confirmed.     

Dietary thiamin and pyridoxine requirements of fingerling Indian major carp,Cirrhinus mrigala (Hamilton)

Two experiments were conducted to quantify the dietary thiamin (experiment I) and pyridoxine (experiment II) requirements of fingerling Cirrhinus mrigala for 16 weeks. In experiment I, dietary thiamin requirement was determined by feeding seven casein–gelatin‐based diets (400 g kg^?1 CP; 18.69 kJ g^?1 GE) with graded levels of thiamin (0, 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 8 and 16 mg kg^?1 diet) to triplicate groups of fish (6.15 ± 0.37 cm; 1.89 ± 0.12 g). Fish fed diet with 2 mg kg^?1 thiamin had highest specific growth rate (SGR), protein retention (PR), RNA/DNA ratio, haemoglobin (Hb), haematocrit (Hct), RBCs and best feed conversion ratio (FCR). However, highest liver thiamin concentration was recorded in fish fed 4 mg thiamin kg^?1 diet. Broken‐line analysis of SGR, PR and liver thiamin concentrations exhibited the thiamin requirement in the range of 1.79–3.34 mg kg^?1 diet (0.096–0.179 μg thiamin kJ^?1 gross energy). In experiment II, six casein–gelatin‐based diets (400 g kg^?1 CP; 18.69 kJ g^?1 GE) containing graded levels of pyridoxine (0, 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 mg kg^?1 diet) were fed to triplicate groups of fish (6.35 ± 0.37 cm; 1.97 ± 0.12 g). Fish fed diet containing 6 mg kg^?1 pyridoxine showed best SGR, FCR, PR, RNA/DNA ratio, Hb, Hct and RBCs, whereas maximum liver pyridoxine concentration was recorded in fish fed 8 mg kg^?1 dietary pyridoxine. Broken‐line analysis of SGR, PR and liver pyridoxine concentrations reflected the pyridoxine requirement from 5.63 to 8.61 mg kg^?1 diet. Data generated during this study would be useful in formulating thiamin‐ and pyridoxine‐balanced feeds for the intensive culture of this fish.     

Sea bream culture in Egypt; status, constraints and potential

Marine fish farming in Egypt began in 1976 with the culture of gilthead sea bream, (Sparus aurata) as this fish was notably adaptable to brackish and marine pond conditions. Today, marine fish and shrimp farms amount to about 19,000 ha, out of which 42% is already in production while the rest, i.e., 58% is still under construction. In 1997, cultured gilthead sea bream production of 2,250 tons made up 3% of the 75,000 tons total aquaculture catch. In polyculture, usually with the grey mullet and sea bass, gilthead sea bream contributed 440 kg ha^–1 to the total yield of 1,700 kg ha^–1 (26%) over a period of 16 months. For the same period, the yield of monoculture ponds averaged 100 kg ha^–1, while in marine cages, yields ranged from 4–10 kg m³. In 1996–1997, fry of 0.25–1 g and fingerlings 1–10 g with a total of 3 million, were collected from the wild and 1 million fry were produced in the three marine hatcheries out of the four existing ones. The development of sea bream culture in Egypt is now severely inhibited by the shortage of seeds and adequate feeds. Exports of both sea bream and sea bass, during 1994–1996 averaged 1,300 tons per year.     

Fertilization by refrigerator stored sperm of the Indian major carp, Labeo calbasu (Hamilton, 1822)

This study reports on the spermatological properties, and on the development of a protocol for refrigerator storage (4°C) of Labeo calbasu (Hamilton, 1822) sperm for artificial breeding. Volume, motility, concentration and pH of the freshly collected sperm were 2.21 ± 0.53 (μL g^?1 of fish weight) (mean ± SD), 95 ± 1 (%), 1.93 ± 0.44 × 10⁹ (cells mL^?1) and 7.56 ± 0.17 respectively. Sperm activation was evaluated at different osmolalities of NaCl solution, and motility ceased completely when osmolality of the extender was ≥287 mOsmol kg^?1. Sperm retained motility for 24, 72 and 108 h, after refrigerator storage when sperm were undiluted, suspended in Alsever's solution and suspended in Alsever's solution containing 5% methanol respectively. Fertilization rate of fresh eggs with sperm stored at 4°C in Alsever's solution and Alsever's solution containing 5% methanol was 77% and 60% with a hatching rate of 60% and 43% respectively. The fertilization and hatching success of the stored sperm suggests potential to use refrigeration for transporting genetic material to hatcheries for artificial breeding of L. calbasu in Bangladesh.     

A novel approach to denitrification processes in a zero-discharge recirculating system for small-scale urban aquaculture

This paper presents an innovative process to solve the nitrate build-up problem in recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS). The novel aspects of the process lie in a denitrification bioreactor system that uses solid cotton wool as the primary carbon source and a unique degassing chamber. In the latter, the water is physically stripped of dissolved gaseous O₂ (by means of a Venturi vacuum tube), and the subsequent denitrification becomes more efficient due to elimination of the problems of oxygen inhibition of denitrification and aerobic consumption of cotton wool. The cotton wool medium also serves as a physical barrier that traps organic particles, which, in turn, act as an additional carbon source for denitrification. Operation in the proposed system gives an extremely low C/N ratio of 0.82 g of cotton wool/g of nitrate N, which contributes to a significant reduction of biofilter volume. The additional advantage of using solid cotton wool as the carbon source is that it does not release organic residuals into the liquid to be recycled. Operation of the system over a long period consistently produced effluents with low nitrate levels (below 10 mg N/l), and there was only a very small need to replace system water. The overall treatment scheme, also incorporating an aerobic nitrification biofilter and a granular filtration device, produced water of excellent quality, i.e., with near-zero levels of nitrite and ammonia, a sufficiently high pH for aquaculture, and low turbidity. The proposed system thus provides a solution for sustainable small-scale, urban aquaculture operation with a very high recovery of water (over 99%) and minimal waste disposal.     

Effects of metomidate anaesthesia or transfer to pur sea water on plasma parameters in ammonia-exposed Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L) in sea water

Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L) postsmolts weighing 150 ± 53 g were exposed to 14–15 mg l^–1 TA-N (total ammonia-N) in sea water in 1 m³ tanks for 24h. Blood samples were then taken A) immediately after the fish were netted from the exposure tanks and stunned by a blow to the head; B) 2–20 min after the fish were transferred to 15 l of an anaesthetic solution of metomidate in ammonia-free sea water; or C) 2–20 min after the fish were transferred to 15 l of ammonia-free sea water. Plasma TA-N level was 18% lower in the anaesthetised fish compared to in the fish sampled directly from the exposure tanks (p 0.05), and accordingly 16% lower in the fish transferred to pure sea water although this difference was not significant (p = 0.07). Plasma glucose level was higher in the fish transferred to pure sea water than in the fish receiving the two other treatments (p 0.05), but plasma urea, osmolality, Na^{+, Cl–, Ca2+ or Mg2+} levels did not vary significantly between the different treatments. Plasma TA-N level increased with time in the fish in the metomidate solution (p 0.02).