洪湖碘泡虫PCR检测方法的建立与初步应用

为建立一种灵敏、特异的快速检测异育银鲫寄生洪湖碘泡虫(Myxobolus honghuensis)的方法,本研究根据洪湖碘泡虫ITS-5.8S r DNA基因序列筛选出一对特异性引物Mh F/R,建立PCR检测方法,对反应条件进行优化,并通过特异性试验、灵敏性试验与临床检测验证其可行性。结果显示,建立的PCR检测方法能特异性扩增洪湖碘泡虫相应的基因片段,长度为479 bp,而对试验中其他9种粘孢子虫的扩增结果均为阴性;最低能检测0.1 pg的虫体基因组DNA。通过临床样品检测,PCR方法比显微镜检测的检出率提高了19.5%。结果表明,该PCR方法特异、灵敏,适用于洪湖碘泡虫的快速检测。     

洪湖碘泡虫在发病和隐性感染异育银鲫组织器官中的分布

为探究洪湖碘泡虫在被感染异育银鲫不同组织器官中的分布及不同感染阶段的差异，实验采用显微镜镜检、PCR检测及组织病理切片相结合手段，对发病及隐性感染异育银鲫的肌肉、伪鳃、鳃、头肾等11个组织器官进行了广泛检测分析。显微镜镜检发现，在发病鱼的咽、伪鳃和鳃能观察到孢囊或成熟孢子；在隐性感染异育银鲫的咽上壁与副蝶骨间结缔组织、伪鳃及其血管周边观察到大量棕黄色结节，并含有洪湖碘泡虫的成熟孢子。不同组织器官DNA样品PCR检测发现，在发病鱼除肌肉外的其他10个组织器官中均检测到洪湖碘泡虫存在，其中伪鳃检出率最高(100%)；隐性感染异育银鲫在咽上壁组织、伪鳃、头肾、体肾、脾脏及卵巢中检出洪湖碘泡虫，伪鳃检出率也为最高(26.7%)。组织病理切片显示，发病鱼咽上壁内分布着大量蜂巢状孢囊及成熟孢子，伪鳃被严重侵占和破坏；残存伪鳃鳃丝周边能观察到增殖和发育阶段的孢子生成细胞。综上所述，本研究首次报道了洪湖碘泡虫在发病和隐性感染异育银鲫不同组织器官中的分布差异，发现伪鳃可能是洪湖碘泡虫寄生和发育成熟的重要器官。结果为洪湖碘泡虫病的准确检验检疫和进一步开展致病机制研究奠定基础。     

异育银鲫寄生洪湖碘泡虫的鱼卵传播途径

洪湖碘泡虫(Myxobolus honghuensis)是引起异育银鲫(Carassius auratus gibelio Bloch)“喉孢子病”的重要病原, 每年导致养殖苗种和成鱼大量死亡。本研究通过隐性感染异育银鲫母本人工受精、实验室条件下受精卵孵化和幼鱼培育, 采用单管半巢式 PCR、荧光定量 PCR 和寡核苷酸荧光原位杂交等检测手段进行亲本、卵和幼鱼等环节的检测分析, 探究异育银鲫寄生洪湖碘泡虫是否存在经卵传播途径。结果表明, 所采用的 34 尾异育银鲫母本(A1~A22, B1~B12)的洪湖碘泡虫隐性感染率达 50%~75%, 其中, 卵和伪鳃检出率高于卵巢组织样品; 特异性寡核苷酸探针荧光原位杂交在隐性感染母本的卵巢、伪鳃、肾、脾组织检测到洪湖碘泡虫前孢子生成阶段营养体; 实验室条件下阳性母本所产的卵经孵化和培育出的幼鱼 15 dph 和 30 dph 样品可以检出阳性(A1、A18、B8 和 B9); 荧光原位杂交显示 15 dph 幼鱼在伪鳃、鳃和肾脏组织检测出阳性信号。本研究进一步揭示了异育银鲫寄生洪湖碘泡虫存在经鱼卵传播途径; 研究结果可为相关疾病制定防控措施奠定重要的理论基础。     

金鱼(Carassius auratus)咽部寄生洪湖碘泡虫(Myxobolus honghuensis)的分子鉴定和系统发育分析

在福州地区开展金鱼病害监测调查中,发现一种寄生于金鱼(Carassius auratus)咽部的粘孢子虫。为了明确虫株,本文以该粘孢子虫为研究对象,使用18S rDNA和ITS-5.8S基因对其进行分子鉴定及系统发育树的构建和分析。结果表明,虫株形态与洪湖碘泡虫(Myxobolus honghuensis)相似,18S rDNA基因测序结果与已报道的洪湖碘泡虫对应基因序列相似性为98.08%,使用洪湖碘泡虫特异性检测引物可扩增该碘泡虫ITS-5.8S基因片段,结合虫株寄生部位、形态和2个基因的系统发育树分析,可鉴定本文碘泡虫为洪湖碘泡虫。本研究首次发现洪湖碘泡虫除了会危害异育银鲫[C. auratus gibelio(Bloch)]外,还可寄生于金鱼咽部,丰富了对洪湖碘泡虫寄主和寄生部位的认识,对该碘泡虫病害的早期诊断具有一定的参考价值。     

荧光定量PCR检测洪湖碘泡虫寄生异育银鲫组织器官的偏好

为了阐明洪湖碘泡虫(Myxobolus honghuensis)在隐性感染异育银鲫(Carassius auratus gibelio, Bloch)不同组织器官中的分布情况, 本研究采集曾发生过喉孢子虫病养殖池塘的 2 龄健康异育银鲫的鳃(丝)、伪鳃、中肾、头肾、 肌肉、脾脏、肝脏、卵巢、血液等 9 个组织器官, 采用荧光定量 PCR 检测分析了不同组织器官的感染率和相对感染强度。结果显示, 所采集的 30 尾异育银鲫都没有明显临床症状, 但鱼体的洪湖碘泡虫感染率为 100%, 均为隐性感染个体; 各组织器官间的感染率存在较大差异, 除肌肉未检出外, 感染率从高到低依次为: 伪鳃(100.0%)、卵巢 (83.3%)、鳃(73.3%)、脾脏(70.0%)、中肾(36.7%)、头肾(23.3%)、肝脏(10.0%)、血液(6.7%)、肌肉(0)。不同组织器官的相对感染强度由高到低依次为: 伪鳃(14.4349±70.0529)、卵巢(0.9556±1.5627)、脾脏(0.3644±0.7854)、鳃 (0.3339±0.2682)、头肾(0.2722±0.3761)、中肾(0.0379±0.1055)、肝脏(0.0019±0.0022)、血液(0.0012±0.0011)。研究表明, 洪湖碘泡虫可系统感染异育银鲫多个组织器官, 其中, 伪鳃感染率和感染强度最高, 可以作为该病早期检测和疫病监测的首选组织器官。     

虾肝肠胞虫实时荧光定量PCR检测方法的建立及应用

近年来，虾肝肠胞虫(Enterocytozoon hepatopenaei,EHP)流行区域不断扩大，已经成为我国南美白对虾(Litopenaeus vannamei)养殖重要病原之一。本研究根据Gen Bank中虾肝肠胞虫18S r RNA保守区域设计一套特异性引物和荧光探针，通过优化反应条件，建立检测EHP的TaqMan探针实时荧光定量PCR(Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction,qPCR)检测方法。建立的方法呈良好的线性关系(R²=0.998)，灵敏度是巢式PCR的10倍。特异性试验表明：检测其他常见病原均为阴性，特异性好；重复性试验显示：批内批间变异系数均小于1.5%，重复性良好；对临床样品检测，与巢式PCR的符合率为97.81%。使用该方法对中山市、江门市和珠海市珠三角部分地区南美白对虾开展EHP流行病学调查，其中虾苗检出率为10.75%，成虾检出率为54.07%，部分区域检出率较高，要防范爆发风险。本研究建立的实时荧光定量PCR灵敏度高、特异性和重复性良好，具有较好的应用前景。     

凡纳滨对虾WSSV、IHHNV和CMNV多重PCR检测方法的建立

根据偷死野田村病毒(CMNV)的保守基因序列,设计筛选出1对特异性引物CMN279,利用已公布的凡纳滨对虾白斑综合征病毒(WSSV)和传染性皮下及造血器官坏死病毒(IHHNV)特异性引物WSS235和IHHN356,建立了一种同时检测WSSV、IHHNV和CMNV的多重PCR检测方法。收集18种病原、健康对虾组织及WSSV、IHHNV、CMNV阳性病料,开展特异性测试,该方法可以特异性扩增出WSSV、IHHNV、CMNV基因片段,健康对虾肌肉组织、其他18种病原均未扩增出任何片段,特异性强。应用克隆方法制备目的基因质粒,应用连续稀释质粒方法开展灵敏度测试,测定该方法检测灵敏度分别为WSSV 9.74fg、IHHNV7.65fg、CMNV 10fg;与已报道的多重PCR检测灵敏度相比较,检测灵敏度提高10倍。应用本研究建立的多重PCR检测方法与实验室标准检验方法同时进行22个样品检验,多重PCR检验方法的检验结果与实验室标准方法检验结果符合率为100%。上述实验结果表明:本研究建立的多重PCR检验方法具有特异性强、灵敏度高、检验时间短、检验结果准确度高的特点,可用于WSSV、IHHNV和CMNV三种病原的快速检测诊断。     

食品中牛源性成分荧光PCR检测方法的建立

目的:建立荧光PCR方法检测食品中牛源性成分。方法:本研究以牛线粒体保守基因序列设计特异性引物和探针,建立牛源性成分荧光PCR检测方法;并对方法特异性、灵敏度和稳定性进行评估。结果:该方法能够有效对牛源性成分进行快速检测,具有较的特异性强,灵敏度较高(检出限为0.0001%)。结论:该方法特异性强,灵敏度高,可以快速、准确检测畜肉食品中含有的牛源性成分。     

贝类派琴虫PCR检测方法的建立及初步应用

根据派琴虫的基因保守序列设计了特异性引物,对派琴虫的DNA进行PCR扩增并将产物克隆到pMD18-T载体后测序.结果表明,扩增大小为596bp,与预期扩增序列同源性为99.8%.该PCR方法检测灵敏度高,最低可检测1pg的派琴虫DNA;特异性强,对荧光假单胞菌、嗜水气单胞菌、大肠杆菌、葡萄球菌、副溶血孤菌、沙门氏菌、诺瓦克样病毒等贝类病原体的扩增均为阴性.用该PCR技术对广西沿海的104份牡蛎、49份贻贝和20份文蛤病料进行检测,阳性率分别为14.6%、10.6%和15.0%.结果显示,派琴虫广泛存在于中国南方沿海的养殖贝类中,建立的PCR方法可用于贝类派琴虫的临床快速检测.     

养殖沉积环境中气单胞菌属细菌的实时荧光定量PCR检测方法的建立

利用GyrB基因的特异性引物建立沉积环境中气单胞菌属细菌的实时荧光定量PCR检测方法。将已知浓度的气单胞菌菌液加入灭菌的沉积物样品中,作为模拟沉积物样品。通过选择和优化沉积物DNA提取方法、特异性引物、标准曲线模板,建立沉积环境中气单胞菌属细菌准确检验的实时荧光定量PCR方法,同时验证该方法的特异性、灵敏性、重复性。结果表明,采用改进的溶菌酶-SDS温和裂解法提取沉积物DNA,以扩增GyrB基因片段的IAF和IAR为特异性引物,并直接以模拟沉积物样品DNA为标准品构建标准曲线,可以建立适用于定量检测沉积环境中气单胞菌属细菌的实时荧光定量PCR方法。该方法可灵敏、特异、准确地定量检测刺参养殖池塘底泥中气单胞菌属中不同种的细菌,检出效率可达103CFU/g。统计分析显示,变异系数为0.21%-0.80%,均小于5%,表明重复性良好。     

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.