开敞性滩涂海区坛紫菜品系引进试验

引进“杂交重组1号”与HMY2个坛紫菜品系，以本地龙沙种系为对照组，通过苗种培育、壳孢子采苗、海上栽培及采收试验，综合评估藻体生长、采收量、经济性状及柔韧性等因素，认为：HMY坛紫菜品系综合效果较好，可作为西湾滩涂坛紫菜栽培的主推品系之一。     

坛紫菜杂交品系优势的初步评价

通过坛紫菜诱变选育品系和野生选育品系间杂交,筛选出了4个经济性状优良的杂交品系(Ⅱ、Ⅲ、Ⅳ和Ⅴ);杂交品系的子代表现出较大的杂交优势,既具有亲本优势,又具有超亲优势;品系Ⅱ、Ⅲ、Ⅳ和Ⅴ的3～5cm幼苗经过10d培育,平均日增重量的超标优势分别达12.35%、139.78%、107.57%和173.52%;杂种优势指数达99.83%、213.07%、184.44%和243.05%;品系Ⅱ耐高温能力较强,在29℃水温中可正常生存10d以上;品系Ⅲ在4个杂交品系中生长最快,培育20d时藻体的平均长度是父本的1.29倍,总藻胆蛋白含量最高,达(103.83±0.49)mg/g干品;品系Ⅳ和Ⅴ藻体宽而薄,不易腐烂和老化,其中品系Ⅳ叶绿素含量高达(9.79±0.48)mg/g干品,比母本高46.21;从杂交品系的性状稳定性来看,品系Ⅱ的F2和F3叶状体长度生长相对稳定,品系Ⅲ的F3叶状体经过选育后,生长性能比F2叶状体更加突出。和F2叶状体相比,品系Ⅳ的F3各项指标表现出较大的稳定性。本研究为坛紫菜杂交育种的应用积累了有用资料。     

坛紫菜品系间杂交分离色素突变体及其特性的初步研究

以野生选育的坛紫菜(Porphyra haitanensis)为母本,诱变选育全棕红的品系为父本进行杂交实验,从杂交子代大量叶片中,筛选出1株褐黄色素突变体、1株翠绿色与野生色相嵌的嵌合体和1株褐绿色与野生色相嵌的嵌合体。通过酶法分离突变体的营养细胞,单性生殖获得丝状体;分别使丝状体成熟并放散壳孢子,然后单株培养和筛选获得褐黄、翠绿和褐绿色子代叶状体。实验进行50 d。结果:(1)褐黄色突变体藻蓝蛋白和别藻蓝蛋白含量低;孢子囊枝的细胞较小,且大量形成时间比亲本晚15 d;幼苗培养初期日平均生长量仅为(1.22±0.28)cm,当叶片长到60 cm左右时生长优势逐步凸显,日平均生长量可达(7.50±1.18)cm;(2)翠绿色丝状体容易成熟,发育方式特殊,营养藻丝不经过藻丝加粗阶段,直接由球形细胞发育成孢子囊枝和壳孢子囊;翠绿色叶状体藻红蛋白含量低,仅有(5.513 0±1.049 6)mg/g(干品);叶状体生长快速,60 cm长的藻体日平均生长量高达(11.95±2.33)cm;(3)褐绿色突变体藻蓝蛋白、别藻蓝蛋白和藻红蛋白这3种色素蛋白和叶绿素的含量均较低;藻丝细胞短且细,叶状体生长速度较慢。     

坛紫菜种质品系表型性状的变异规律分析

坛紫菜(Pyropia haitanensis)的表型性状是遗传育种的主要考察指标。研究以福建省坛紫菜种质资源库保存的73份种质品系为实验材料,对藻体的5个形态特征和14个数量性状数据进行了统计分析,以探讨坛紫菜表型性状的遗传变异规律。结果表明,坛紫菜藻体的形状、颜色、锯齿大小和扭曲程度4个形态特征与藻体长度、宽度、重量和厚度4个数量性状极显著相关(P0.01),叶片基部形状与藻体长度、宽度、鲜重和厚度显著相关(P0.05);比较不同性状均值发现,线形藻体的平均长度增长速度最快,基部为心脏形的藻体平均重量增长速度最快,无锯齿的藻体厚度最薄。巢式方差分析结果显示,坛紫菜品系间的遗传变异(72.79%)远大于品系内(21.46%),说明品系间的变异是坛紫菜表型变异的主要来源。坛紫菜藻体各表型性状的变异系数为7.14%~35.99%,其中藻体厚度变异系数最低,而单株藻体重量的变异系数最高,说明藻体厚度的选择潜力相对较小,而重量的选择潜力则较大。这些数据为后续坛紫菜的遗传育种提供了基本资料。     

坛紫菜诱变及F1代叶状体表型性状分析

突变体是开展坛紫菜(Neoporphyra haitanensis)良种选育和性状遗传调控机理研究的重要材料。为获得坛紫菜突变体，本研究利用不同强度的γ射线辐照(辐射剂量梯度：700、900、1100、1300、1500 Gy)处理野生品系NSD35的幼苗，恢复培养结果显示，γ射线照射导致叶状体部分细胞死亡，且藻体细胞的死亡量随着诱变剂量的增加而升高；同时，突变的细胞数量随着辐射剂量增加呈先增后降的趋势。其中，经1300 Gy处理后藻体的突变细胞最多。之后利用体细胞酶解技术和单克隆技术获得了突变体的纯系藻体，从中初步筛选出性状各异的株系67个，并利用14个表型性状对其中21个株系的F1代进行相关性分析和聚类分析。结果显示，相较于对照组，突变体F1代群体中大部分性状的变异系数增加。突变体的多个性状间存在显著相关性，其中，藻体长度与宽度、鲜重没有显著相关性(P>0.05)；宽度与鲜重、叶形态呈极显著正相关(P<0.01)；鲜重与颜色呈显著负相关(P<0.05)；藻体不同部位的厚度之间存在极显著正相关；叶型与藻体中部、尖端的厚度呈显著负相关。进一步采用系统聚类的方法(遗传距离为20)，将21份材料分成4个主要类群，分别为颜色偏红的藻体组、宽而生物量大的藻体组、薄而日均增长快的藻体组和长而窄的藻体组。综上所述，γ射线对坛紫菜叶状体具有良好的诱变效果，本研究为开展坛紫菜经济性状的遗传调控机理研究以及优良新品种选育提供了基础材料。     

坛紫菜诱变育种的初步研究

近十几年来,坛紫菜品种退化、产量降低、质量下降,本实验通过诱变处理,筛选和培育优质高产的坛紫菜新品系.坛紫菜野生丝状体经一定剂量60Co-γ射线辐照后,子代叶状体发生了变异,经大量培养后筛选出紫色突变体(3号Ⅰ)和经济性状优良的个体(7号Ⅰ和7号Ⅱ),通过体细胞酶解和单克隆技术快速获得诱变选育纯系,并对其主要经济性状进行了研究.其主要特征:[1]7号Ⅰ:叶片宽[(2.99±0.61)cm]、生长快(30cm以上的藻体长度平均日增长量可达6.51cm,比对照组快55.3%)、耐高温(29℃正常生长,比对照组高2℃以上)、总藻胆蛋白含量高(104.86mg·g-1干品,比对照组高39.0%);[2]7号Ⅱ:藻体窄、生长快(30cm以上的藻体长度平均日增长量可达4.26cm,比对照组快58.7%)、叶片薄(藻体中部厚度仅为22.5～27.5μm,比对照组薄29.6%)、总藻胆蛋白含量高达104.24 mg·g-1干品,比对照组高39.4%);[3]3号Ⅰ:藻体紫色,叶片薄,藻体中部厚25.0～32.5μm;[4]7号Ⅰ和7号Ⅱ在生产上应用,产量分别达309.6kg·666.6m-2和291.5kg·666.6m-2,比对照组高37%和29%.     

坛紫菜优质新品系（Q-1）主要经济性状的研究

对杂交选育的坛紫菜优质品系（Q-1）和人工养殖的坛紫菜（对照组）进行叶状体生长、藻体厚度、4种色素含量、粗蛋白、氨基酸含量的测定以及丝状体的生长发育等实验。结果表明，（1）（Q-1）F2、F3叶状体生长迅速，不易成熟；3～4cm的F。叶状体经过10～15d的培养，平均日增长量高达（8．33±1．01）cm，分别为父、母本的1．4和2．7倍；（2）F3叶状体在第1次剪收时藻体厚度为（21．0±1.5）μm，仅为对照组厚度的52％，第2次剪收时为（25．6±1．9）μm，为对照组的56％；F2剪收1次后藻体的长度、宽度和鲜重平均日增长量分别为对照组的2．1、2．4和2．2倍；（3）F2叶状体的总藻胆蛋白含量为（109．52±0．94）mg／g，为对照组的1．6倍；粗蛋白的含量高达（41．71±．11）g／100g，比对照组高27％；F。叶状体第1次剪收时叶绿素a的含量高达（7．66±0．19）mg／g，比对照组高13％；（4）F3叶状体第1次剪收时呈味氨基酸中鲜味氨基酸与甜味氨基酸的总量为2．49g／100g，为对照组的1．8倍；必需氨基酸含量为15．66g／100g，比对照组高13％；（5）（Q-1）和对照组的丝状体在29℃分别培养30～40d时，90％的营养藻丝发育成孢子囊枝。     

坛紫菜单个体细胞克隆的丝状体途径

用海螺酶酶解挑选出的具有优良性状的坛紫菜(Porphyra haitanensis)叶状体制备游离的营养细胞,在显微镜下选取单个细胞放入96孔板中进行隔离培养。一部分细胞通过2种发育途径形成了丝状体:一种途径是单细胞生长一段时间产生突起后发育形成丝状体;另一种途径是单细胞先形成愈伤组织,愈伤组织解体放散出类似"孢子"的细胞,"孢子"再发育形成丝状体。将获得的丝状体扩大培养作为纯系并下海养殖。同普通品系相比,选育的品系在产量和质量上表现出一定的优势。在纯系培育方面,由单倍的叶状体细胞发育形成的二倍丝状体,遗传物质一步纯合,后代叶状体个体遗传性状高度一致,可以保证优良经济性状不丢失。这种紫菜纯系培育方法大幅度缩短了纯系培育周期。     

高温静水胁迫培养对坛紫菜品质的影响

以坛紫菜耐高温型品系Z-61 F4代叶状体为实验材料,野生型坛紫菜（WT）叶状体为对照,研究了常温（21℃）静水和高温（30℃）静水培养不同天数（0、2、4、6、8、10 d）后,坛紫菜藻体中光合色素含量、粗蛋白含量、总氨基酸含量和4种主要呈味游离氨基酸含量等品质指标的变化情况。结果表明,常温静水培养对坛紫菜耐高温型品系的品质没有显著影响,甚至短时间的常温静水培养还有利于提高野生型品系藻体的品质;但高温静水培养会显著降低耐高温型品系和野生型品系的品质,只是耐高温型品系的品质下降速度要慢于野生型。此外,本研究还发现,耐高温型坛紫菜品系还可以通过调节藻体细胞内别藻蓝蛋白（APC）和游离氨基酸的含量来增强自身对高温胁迫的抵抗能力。本研究结果为全面认识坛紫菜的抗逆性机理提供了基础资料,同时也为后续坛紫菜抗逆新品种的选育提供了理论指导。     

坛紫菜杂交重组品系的选育与特性分析

坛紫菜选育品系(HR-6)具有叶状体快速生长期的前期生长较快,色素蛋白含量高,但成熟较早,生长期短,丝状体的壳孢子放散量较少等特性;坛紫菜另一个选育品系(HR-5)具有叶状体快速生长期的前期生长较慢,色素蛋白含量高,但成熟晚,生长期较长,丝状体的壳孢子放散量多等特性。为改善HR-6品系叶状体成熟较早,壳孢子放散量较少的弱点,本文以HR-6品系为父本,HR-5品系为母本进行种内杂交,从杂合丝状体产生的F1叶状体中选育出了综合性状更加优良的品系(WD-7)。在叶状体的快速生长前期(日龄30~45d),父本品系的绝对生长率为6.68cm/d,母本品系为3.63cm/d, WD-7品系为6.67cm/d;在叶状体的快速生长中后期(日龄46~60d),父本品系的绝对生长率降至5.15cm/d,母本品系则升至7.27cm/d,而WD-7品系高达11.54cm/d。父本品系的叶状体成熟最早,培养35d左右,大部分个体已成熟;WD-7品系遗传了母本品系成熟较晚的优点,日龄55d之后,大部分个体才出现成熟。日龄35d的叶状体平均厚度,WD-7品系为29.87μm,分别比父、母本品系增加了10%和16%,藻体的韧性明显增强。WD-7品系的壳孢子放散总量为183.42万个/壳,分别是父、母本品系的1.17倍和0.57倍。上述结果证实,WD-7品系不仅遗传了父本品系叶状体快速生长期的前期生长较快的特性,同时又遗传了母本品系叶状体成熟晚、生长期长、中后期生长快的优点,壳孢子放散量也比父本品系有所增加,此品系有望被培育成适宜大规模栽培的新品种。     

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.