草鱼生长性状的遗传参数和育种值估计

利用草鱼(Ctenopharyngodon idellus)生长性状选育核心群亲本,采用人工授精方式构建21个全同胞家系,并选用动物模型对16月龄草鱼生长性状进行遗传参数和育种值估计。结果显示,草鱼选育种群的生长性状存在丰富变异。采用约束极大似然法估计方差组分,发现草鱼体重、体长和体高性状的遗传力分别为0.39,0.47,0.21,属于中高遗传力;肥满度性状遗传力为0.11,属于低遗传力;4个性状的共同环境效应值相近且较小,范围为0.07~0.17。采用两性状动物模型分析相关性,发现体重、体长和体高性状间表型和遗传相关系数均达到高度正相关(r=0.88~0.97),而肥满度性状与三者间相关系数接近零,只与体高性状存在一定遗传正相关(r=0.43)。结合各性状遗传变异系数和相对遗传进度,分析表明,以体重为目标性状可便捷有效地改良草鱼生长性能。采用最佳线性无偏估计法预测个体育种值,发现4个性状育种值与表型值的相关系数范围为0.77~0.93。基于单性状育种值和表型值分别进行个体选择,按10%留种率,各性状选留个体相同率为68.75%~81.82%,秩相关系数范围为0.19~0.81,两种选择方式显示出较大差异,且差异大小与性状遗传力成反比例。本研究为草鱼生长性状选择育种提供了理论依据和技术支撑。     

鳜鱼生长性状遗传参数的估计

为深入了解选育过程中鳜鱼(Siniperca chuatsi)生长性状的遗传变化规律,本研究以来自湖南、江苏、广东的翘嘴鳜为基础群体,构建了21个同胞半同胞家系,利用动物模型对不同家系进行了遗传分析:鳜鱼210日龄体重、体长的遗传力为0.40、0.45,属于高遗传力;体高的遗传力为0.29,属于中遗传力。相关分析表明,鳜鱼体重?体长间的遗传相关为0.96;体长?体高间的遗传相关为0.92,体重?体高间的遗传相关为0.94,因此进一步选育采用个体选育或者个体选育与家系选择法相结合的方法都能获得较好的结果;对某一生长性状进行选育时,其他两个相关性状也会得到间接选育。经过选育鳜鱼F2群体平均体重遗传进展为7.5 g,较第一代增加7.5%,F3群体平均体重的遗传进展为9.75 g,较第二代增加9.0%。F3群体平均体长与F1比较无显著提高。F3群体平均体高的遗传进展为0.22 cm,较第一代增加9.9%。本研究旨在为提高鳜鱼育种效率提供重要参数,加速育种进程。     

建鲤和黑龙江野鲤自交以及正反交子代生长比较

以建鲤和黑龙江野鲤为亲本,建立黑龙江野鲤自交群体(HH)、建鲤自交群体(JJ)、黑龙江野鲤♀×建鲤♂群体(HJ)以及建鲤♀×黑龙江野鲤♂群体(JH)。于养殖198 d和588 d时测量体重、体长、体高和体厚4个生长参数。对生长性状、增重率、肥满度以及生长指数进行方差分析和LSD多重比较。结果表明,不同交配组合在这些指标上均有极显著差异(P0.01)。养殖198 d和588 d时,4个群体体重和体长大小顺序均为JHHHHJJJ。4个群体的绝对增重率和特定增重率均随养殖时间而减小。4个群体中,HJ在不同养殖时间内,特定增重率均为最大,JJ群体均为最小;而JH在不同养殖时间内,绝对增重率均为最大,198 d时JJ群体最小,588 d时HH群体最小,说明杂种群体生长性能优于自交群体。在不同的养殖时间内,JJ群体的肥满度均大于其他群体,随养殖时间增加,HH、JJ及HJ群体肥满度不断增大,而JH群体恰恰相反。4个群体的生长指数随养殖时间而增大,并均以JH群体生长指数最大。杂种优势分析表明,HJ群体体型介于黑龙江野鲤和建鲤中间,并随着养殖时间的增加,体型逐渐接近黑龙江野鲤。JH群体在养殖第588天时体高和体厚超黑龙江野鲤杂种优势出现了负值,其余数值均为正值,表现出显著的杂种优势。不同养殖时间,4个群体588 d与198 d体重间的相关系数均达到极显著水平(P0.01),JH群体558 d体长和198 d体长、558 d体高和198 d体高;HH群体558 d体厚和198 d体厚间的相关系数也达到了极显著水平(P0.01)。     

不同模型估计牙鲆家系间生长性状遗传参数的比较分析

利用中国水产科学研究院北戴河中心实验站2006~2009年间牙鲆选育家系240日龄生长性状的测定记录,对4种不同动物模型估计的生长性状遗传参数进行了比较分析。不同模型分别包括了加性遗传效应、母体遗传效应和全同胞效应。利用MTDFREML程序采用非求导约束极大似然法(DFREML)估计各模型中的方差组分。用似然比检验对不同模型的差异进行检验。结果显示,对于牙鲆240日龄体重、体长和体高,母体遗传效应和全同胞效应都有显著的影响,应用模型Ⅳ进行分析,体重、体长和体高的遗传力分别为0.30、0.32和0.39。体重与体长、体高的正向遗传相关分别为0.93和0.95;体长与体高的正向遗传相关为0.90。     

凡纳滨对虾生长与高氨氮耐受性的遗传力及选择反应研究

基于选择指数法对凡纳滨对虾(Litopenaeus vannamei)生长和高氨氮耐受性进行选择,用3种方法评估选择效果:Ⅰ)比较选择系和对照系相关性状的育种值;Ⅱ)比较选择家系和对照家系的最小二乘均值;Ⅲ)比较选择系与对照系表型值,计算相关性状的现实遗传力、遗传获得,并采用BLUP法估算相关性状的遗传力及遗传相关。结果显示,生长性状的选择反应为0.493~1.039,高氨氮耐受存活的选择反应为0.028~0.046;凡纳滨对虾生长性状的现实遗传力为0.288~0.315,遗传获得为6.45%~20.16%,高氨氮耐受成活率的现实遗传力为0.016,遗传获得为2.09%;BLUP法估算生长性状遗传力为0.216~0.284,且显著(P0.05),高氨氮耐受性遗传力为0.028±0.026,生长性状间呈高度遗传正相关为0.871~0.948,体质量与高氨氮耐受性间的正遗传相关为0.180±0.032,且显著(P0.05)。研究表明,采用选择指数法选育一代后,生长性状提高明显,高氨氮耐受性提高较小;选育群体生长性状具有较大遗传改良潜力,如何快速提高选育群体的高氨氮耐受性有待进一步研究。     

2个大黄鱼群体选育世代F2生长性状研究

对2个选育群体(XY2012-JC-F2和XY2012-XP-F2)和未选育群体(YS2012-F1)的大黄鱼(Larimichthys crocea)子代养殖过程中的生长性状进行测量,比较其选育效果。结果显示,拟合4-13月龄选育群体F2代和未经选育F1代体重与体长的关系表明,3个群体间存在差异;2个选育群体在后期生长高于未选育群体;分析其体长和体重参数,10-13月龄XY2012-JC-F2体长现实遗传力为0.228~0.364、体重现实遗传力为0.131~0.243,XY2012-XP-F2体长现实遗传力为0.193~0.265、体重现实遗传力为0.126~0.134;体长和体重的相关系数在0.857~0.981,13月龄的相关系数最大达0.997,说明选育作用明显,应结合家系选择和家系内选择进行。     

海捕野生大黄鱼选育子代生长性能及现实遗传力分析

以海捕野生大黄鱼为基础群体进行选择育种,其子代与网箱养殖选育群体子代进行比较分析。研究结果显示,野生群体的受精率虽小于对照群体,但孵化率却显著高于对照群体(P0.05);野生群体的质量绝对增加率[(0.02±0.004)g/d~(0.26±0.081)g/d]、绝对增长率[(0.02±0.008)cm/d~(0.11±0.009)cm/d]、增积量(0.007±0.005~0.153±0.015)和肥满度(1.66±0.18~1.97±0.29)等生长性能均优于对照群体。野生群体的生长性状一开始就显现出现实遗传力,体长和体质量的现实遗传力分别为0.027~0.185和0.001~0.040。对野生群体进行良种群体选育时可以提早根据体长和体质量进行苗种选择淘汰,将节省大量的选育时间和避免后期操作的不便,但野生群体现实遗传力较低,选育应该结合家系选择和家系内选择进行。     

俄罗斯鲟早期生长性状遗传参数的估计

采用人工授精技术和家系标准化培育技术构建了30个俄罗斯鲟(Acipenser gueldenstaedtii)父系全同胞家系(包含6个母系半同胞组),培育至150日龄和410日龄时,分别从每个家系中随机测量50尾个体的体长和体重。利用ASReml软件进行方差组分的估计,应用多性状动物模型进行俄罗斯鲟生长性状遗传参数的估计。结果表明,150日龄俄罗斯鲟体长和体重的遗传力分别为0.16±0.055、0.18±0.058,410日龄俄罗斯鲟体长和体重的遗传力分别为0.18±0.070、0.094±0.049,不同日龄生长性状的遗传力均为低遗传力,表明俄罗斯鲟更适合大规模家系的育种方法;150日龄和410日龄俄罗斯鲟体长和体重2个生长性状的表型相关和遗传相关均为高度正相关,其中表型相关系数分别为0.91、0.85,遗传相关系数分别为0.62、0.57,说明对体重或体长进行选育,均能实现改良生长性状的目标;不同日龄俄罗斯鲟家系平均体重的平均变异系数高于平均体长,前者为29.09%、29.46%,后者为10.16%、8.43%,表明俄罗斯鲟体重性状更具选育潜力。本研究估测了俄罗斯鲟不同时期生长性状的遗传参数,旨在为下一步合理制定该物种育种方案提供参考依据。     

虹鳟生长性状的随机回归分析

生长和抗逆是水产动物遗传育种工作中最重要的农艺性状,虹鳟的生长性状关乎虹鳟规模化养殖的生产经济效益,为了从遗传上精细解析虹鳟的生长性状,我们从渤海、丹麦、挪威、唐纳森和加利福尼亚5个虹鳟(Oncorhynchus mykiss)种系间的双列杂交开始,进行了连续4代的继代选育。本研究测量了第4代总共4368个实验个体在516日龄、608日龄、668日龄、883日龄和1036日龄5个时间点的生长数据。采用随机回归测定日模型,对虹鳟生长性状进行了动态遗传分析。根据贝叶斯信息准则,确定3阶勒让德多项式为拟合体重和体长的加性遗传效应和永久环境效应变化的最优子模型。利用双变量随机回归模型同时分析体重和体长两个生长性状。它们的遗传力在400～1000日龄之间呈现递减趋势,分别从0.288下降到0.164和从0.469下降到0.186,并且在该生长区间内体长的遗传力始终高于体重的遗传力。无论体重还是体长性状,在不同日龄之间的遗传相关都随着生长间隔的增大而降低,但是两个性状在生长初期和后期之间的遗传相关较高(遗传相关系数0.75以上),尤其是体重(遗传相关系数0.85以上),该研究结果为虹鳟早期的遗传选育提供了理论支撑。两个性状之间在相同日龄之间的遗传相关均在0.75以上,在不同日龄之间的遗传相关随着生长间隔的增大由0.83下降到0.63。以上的研究结论为虹鳟生长性状(主要是体长和体重)的遗传选育提供了理论基础,同时也为虹鳟的体长和体重两个性状的联合选育提供了精确的遗传分析结果,由于两性状在前期有较高的遗传相关,因此建议在虹鳟生长前期(400日龄)进行联合选择。     

凡纳滨对虾在氯化物型盐碱水养殖环境下不同家系间生长、存活性能分析

本研究以凡纳滨对虾(Litopenaeus vannamei)61个家系为材料,开展了为期50 d的氯化物型盐碱水混合养殖测试,分析了各个家系的生长和存活性能。研究结果显示,凡纳滨对虾家系在氯化物型盐碱水养殖环境下的体重和存活率均存在显著差异,且家系间体重和存活率差异较大,变异系数分别高达36.26%和46.82%;凡纳滨对虾家系的绝对增重率均值和特定增重率均值分别为0.09g/d和1.82%/d,绝对增重最快的家系比绝对增重率均值高7.54个百分点,比增重最慢家系高12.95个百分点;凡纳滨对虾家系存活率范围为1.00%~63.33%,家系平均存活率为26.61%,家系最高存活率比家系最低存活率高了62.33个百分点,比家系存活率均值高了36.72个百分点。本研究结果表明:凡纳滨对虾家系在氯化物型盐碱水养殖条件下生长、存活存在较大差异,具有较大的遗传改良空间和选育潜力,本研究结果可为下一步的凡纳滨对虾盐碱水选育工作提供数据支持。     

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.     

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.     

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.     

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.     

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.     

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.     

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.