环境因子对大黄鱼耳石锶元素富积的影响

通过设计3个温度(18℃、22℃、26℃)×3个盐度(17、25、34)×3个锶元素组(1x、2x、3x)来研究环境因子对大黄鱼(Larimichthys crocea)耳石中锶元素沉积的影响。结果表明:不同温度条件下,耳石中Sr/Ca值与海水中的Sr/Ca值均呈线性关系;温度和盐度对耳石锶分配系数均具有显著的促进作用;锶元素浓度对耳石锶分配系数具有显著的抑制作用;影响耳石Sr/Ca值的环境因子中,海水Sr/Ca值的影响最大,温度的影响其次,盐度的影响最小;温度、盐度和锶元素浓度差异较大时,对耳石锶分配系数都具有显著的交互作用;在没有添加锶元素的实验组(低锶组)中,温度(18℃和26℃)和盐度(17和34)对耳石锶分配系数具有显著的交互作用;水温较高(26℃)时,锶元素浓度和盐度对耳石锶分配系数具有显著的交互作用。     

大黄鱼耳石锶标志技术

利用六水合氯化锶进行大黄鱼(Larimichthys crocea)幼鱼耳石的标记,探讨了锶元素对大黄鱼幼鱼耳石的元素指纹标记效果,分析了锶元素标记对大黄鱼幼鱼生长和存活的影响。结果表明:(1)阶段性倍增饲养水体中锶离子浓度可使标记组个体在特定耳石区段的Sr/Ca比值显著提升,形成与对照组个体和野生个体在该耳石区段Sr/Ca比值的显著差异(P0.01),标记组、对照组和野生个体在该耳石区段的Sr/Ca比值分别为(3.58±1.09)mmol/mol、(1.73±0.08)mmol/mol和(1.09±0.35)mmol/mol。此区段形成的Sr/Ca比值峰值可视作标记组个体的耳石锶元素人工标记。(2)标志组和对照组大黄鱼幼鱼的生长速率和存活率均无显著性差异(P0.05),表明此项标记技术对受标个体的生长和存活状况不会产生显著负面影响,可用作大黄鱼增殖放流鱼苗的规模化标记手段。     

富锶水体处理对大黄鱼耳石和肌体中锶含量的影响

利用富锶水体处理的大黄鱼(Larimichthy scrocea)耳石元素标记是小规格鱼体规模化标记的一种技术手段,而标记完成后鱼体中的锶残留量是否符合食品食用安全是增殖放流评估中重要一环。通过开展富锶水体对大黄鱼鱼苗的浸泡标记实验,探究受试鱼苗耳石Sr/Ca值对富锶水体标记过程的响应方式,研究耳石元素指纹标记稳定性,分析标记过程对受试鱼苗肌体和主要脏器中锶含量的影响。结果表明:经为期7d、锶浓度含量3倍于天然海水的富锶水体的浸泡标记,受试鱼苗在特定耳石区段的Sr/Ca值显著增大,形成了与对照组个体在该耳石区段Sr/Ca值上的极显著差异(P<0.01);该差异不随时间的推移而减弱,可视做上述处理过程所产生的耳石元素指纹标识。浸泡标记处理后,受试鱼苗肌肉、鳃、肝脏和肾中的锶含量均显著高于对照组(P<0.05)。但随着时间的推移,锶含量逐渐下降;在天然海水中暂养59d后受试鱼苗肌肉和上述脏器中的锶含量均可衰减至对照组的水平。     

盐度对大黄鱼成活、生长和耳石金属元素的影响

为解决大黄鱼（Larimichthys crocea）面临着海水养殖病虫害感染加剧、海岸带土地局限性和水环境污染等问题,最终实现内陆工厂化低盐养殖,采用缓慢降盐法,将大黄鱼在室内不同盐度中养殖,研究不同盐度对大黄鱼成活率与温度、生长性能和耳石金属元素组成的变化的影响。试验周期6个月（180 d）,每个试验组设置3个重复,每组2万尾;海水盐度由24直接降至8,再以日均2的幅度将盐度降至6和4,然后以日均1的幅度继续将盐度降至2,最终将大黄鱼养殖在盐度分别为2、4、6、8、24的环境中;每天投喂2次颗粒饲料,每次投喂量为鱼体重的2%～5%,并视摄食情况酌情调整。结果显示,大黄鱼室内养殖成活率随着水温的升高而降低,水温28℃时,盐度24的海水养殖组全部死亡,水温30℃时,盐度2养殖组成活率（68.8±2.89）%极显著高于其他养殖组（P<0.01）;低盐养殖组的质量绝对增加率、绝对增长率、增积量和肥满度等生长指标在后期均优于盐度24养殖组;耳石金属元素锰（Mn）、钙（Ca）和锶（Sr）及Sr/Ca与盐度呈现正相关关系（P<0.05）,而Fe、Co和Ba元素变化者没有规律性。     

南海鸢乌贼耳石微量元素差异性分析

文章通过激光剥蚀电感耦合等离子体质谱法(laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry,LA-ICP-MS)测量南海鸢乌贼(Sthenoteuthis oualaniensis)耳石微量元素浓度,分析鸢乌贼耳石微量元素组成及与钙(Ca)元素比值的变化,探讨其存在的差异和与栖息环境之间的关系。结果表明,鸢乌贼耳石主要微量元素为Ca、锶(Sr)、钠(Na)、铁(Fe)、钡(Ba)、锰(Mn)。方差分析表明,鸢乌贼中型群和微型群及其性别间耳石微量元素浓度差异不显著(P0.05)。除Fe/Ca外,不同耳石区域微量元素浓度与Ca比值存在显著性差异(P0.01)。核心区Sr/Ca最高,随后逐渐降低,不同产卵群体和地理区域耳石Sr/Ca无显著差异(P0.05)。幼体期Sr/Ca与温度呈正相关性,与盐度呈负相关性,可以作为良好的温度指标。Na/Ca先增大后减小,暗区最高,核心区和后核心区Na/Ca在不同产卵群体间差异显著(P0.01)。Mn/Ca和Ba/Ca先减小后增大,暗区最低,随后分别在边缘区和外围区增大。成体期耳石Ba/Ca与盐度呈正相关,可以作为垂直移动的指标。Fe/Ca在不同产卵群体和地理区域中差异显著(P0.01)。分析认为,Na/Ca和Fe/Ca较为适合研究南海鸢乌贼不同群体的划分,Sr/Ca和Ba/Ca可用于推测鸢乌贼的栖息环境。     

温度和元素浓度对Sr在褐牙鲆仔稚鱼耳石中的沉积影响

科学认识鱼类耳石中微量元素沉积与主要水环境因子的关系是基于耳石微化学方法重新构建鱼类生活史及反演其环境履历的重要前提。本研究以环境与耳石中重要元素Sr为例,研究在不同水温(16℃、19℃和22℃)和不同元素浓度(1×、2×和3×Sr)下Sr在褐牙鲆(Paralichthys olivaceus)仔稚鱼耳石形成生长过程中(孵化后15~93 d)的沉积(Sr∶Ca比)特征。结果显示,在不同水温下,耳石中Sr∶Ca比随水体中Sr浓度的升高呈线性增长,而元素分配系数(DSr)随元素浓度的升高先降低然后趋于稳定。在不同Sr浓度下,耳石中Sr∶Ca比及DSr均随水温升高呈增长趋势,二者在22℃时的值均显著高于在其他水温时的值。耳石中Sr沉积能够表征褐牙鲆仔稚鱼所经历的水环境中Sr浓度和水温的变化,可作为元素指纹应用于褐牙鲆早期生活史的重建和环境履历的反演。     

智利外海茎柔鱼耳石微量元素研究

茎柔鱼(Dosidicus gigas)是东太平洋海域重要的经济头足类,分布很广,群体结构和生活史过程复杂。头足类耳石生态信息丰富,多被用于生活史重建、群体划分等领域的研究。本研究根据我国鱿钓船2007和2008年在智利外海采集的茎柔鱼样本,利用激光剥蚀电感等离子质谱法(Laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry,LA-ICP-MS)分析了18枚茎柔鱼耳石的微量元素组成及其分布特性。分析表明,茎柔鱼耳石主要由48种元素组成,含量最多的前10位元素分别为钙(Ca)、锶(Sr)、钠(Na)、硅(Si)、钾(K)、镁(Mg)、钡(Ba)、锌(Zn)、锰(Mn)和锂(Li)。方差分析表明,不同性别间茎柔鱼耳石的Ca、Sr、K、Mg、Ba、Zn、Mn和Li含量不存在显著性差异,而Na和Si差异性明显;不同孵化群体间,除Zn和Mn不存在显著性差异外,其余元素的含量均存在显著性差异;茎柔鱼耳石的不同部位间,Sr、Na、K、Mg、Ba、Zn、Mn和Li的含量都存在显著性差异,而Ca和Si不存在显著性差异。研究表明,Sr、Ba、Mg、K和Li比较适合用于研究茎柔鱼群体的划分、洄游分布等方面的研究。     

水体钙离子质量浓度对褐牙鲆幼鱼鱼体和耳石元素成分的影响

在盐度30和水温20 ℃条件下,分别配制钙离子ρ（Ca2＋）质量浓度为200 mg·L-1（A组）、400 mg·L-1（B组,对照）、800 mg·L-1（C组）、1 600 mg·L-1（D组）和3 000 mg·L-1（E组）的人工海水,研究了水体ρ（Ca2＋）对褐牙鲆（Paralichthys olivaceus）幼鱼鱼体和耳石元素成分的影响。经60 d养殖发现褐牙鲆鱼体中仅钙（Ca）、锌（Zn）和铜（Cu）质量分数差异不显著（P〉0.05）;鱼体中磷（P）、钠（Na）、镁（Mg）、锶（Sr）、铁（Fe）、锰（Mn）和镍（Ni）质量分数随水体ρ（Ca2＋）的增加而下降。不同ρ（Ca2＋）对褐牙鲆幼鱼耳石长、宽、长宽比和耳石质量影响显著（P〈0.05）。低浓度A组耳石长和耳石宽显著低于B组和C组,A组耳石长宽比（L/W）显著低于D组,A组的耳石质量显著低于B组和D组（P〈0.05）。其中w（Sr）随ρ（Ca2＋）的增加显著下降,锶/钙（Sr/Ca）比、镁/钙（Mg/Ca）比随ρ（Ca2＋）增加而下降。结果表明,水体ρ（Ca2＋）对褐牙鲆鱼体成分、耳石形成及组分产生明显影响,ρ（Ca2＋）能够影响鱼体和耳石元素的累积。     

哥斯达黎加外海茎柔鱼耳石的微量元素

实验通过激光剥蚀电感等离子质谱法分析哥斯达黎加外海茎柔鱼耳石的微量元素,了解其微量元素组成及其与表温关系,推测其不同生活史阶段的栖息环境.结果表明,茎柔鱼耳石含有54种元素,其中Ca、Na和Sr为主要元素.总体耳石Sr/Ca大于太平洋褶柔鱼、巴塔哥尼亚枪乌贼和黵乌贼.胚胎期耳石Sr/Ca最高,随着年龄增加而下降.Sr/Ca与表温呈反比例关系.不同孵化月份的茎柔鱼在不同生长阶段的耳石Sr/Ca差异不明显.Ba/Ca可看做茎柔鱼垂直移动的指标元素,茎柔鱼仔鱼至成鱼期耳石Ba/Ca呈“U”型变化,与其幼体生活在海水表层,成体生活在较深层海水相对应.茎柔鱼耳石Mg/Ca核心高外围低,可能与耳石生长率逐渐减小有关,Mg/Ca与表温呈正相关.此外,研究认为茎柔鱼胚胎期是以自身携带的卵黄囊为营养物质,此时耳石的微量元素与亲体的遗传因素相关,与外界水环境无关.     

中国南海南沙群岛海域鸢乌贼耳石微量元素组成特性

耳石是头足类重要的硬组织之一,存储了大量微化学信息,能够反映其栖息环境变化,是研究头足类生活史的重要材料。本文根据2017年3月—5月我国灯光罩网渔船于中国南海南沙群岛海域采集的1002尾鸢乌贼样本,利用激光剥蚀电感耦合等离子质谱法(LA-ICP-MS)分析了17枚鸢乌贼耳石微量元素的组成及分布。结果表明：南沙群岛海域的鸢乌贼耳石主要由56种微量元素组成,含量最多的前10种元素依次为钙(Ca)、锶(Sr)、钠(Na)、磷(P)、硅(Si)、钾(K)、镁(Mg)、铁(Fe)、钡(Ba)和硼(B)。方差分析表明,不同性别间Ca、Sr、Na、P、Si、K、Mg、Fe、Ba、B的分布均无显著性差异；不同孵化期的群体间Ca、Sr、Na、P、Si、K、Mg、Fe、Ba、B的分布也无显著性差异；不同耳石部位间Si、K、Fe无显著性差异,而Ca、Sr、Na、P、Mg、Ba、B则有显著性差异。     

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.