中国对虾肝胰腺_卵巢及血淋巴中的_省略_雌二醇含量的生殖周期变化

首次证实了孕酮和雌二醇这两种类固醇激素在中国对虾体内的存在.在性腺未发育阶段,肝胰腺、卵巢和血液中两种激素的含量均很低氐,难以检测到.而在卵黄发生前期(核仁周边期),三种组织中孕酮和雌二醇含量迅速上升,卵巢的雌二醇含量达到高峰(450.1±86.7).进入初级卵黄发生阶段,三种组织中,两种激素均具较高含量,卵巢和肝胰腺的孕酮含量(分别为1975 1±175.2和902.6±130.5pg/g)以及血淋巴中的雌二醇含量(451.3±73.7)达到高峰.到了次级卵黄发生阶段,孕酮和雌二醇的含量迅速下降,肝胰腺等组织中儿乎检测不到.对虾性腺指数(GSl)的增长既显著且有规律性,每一期增长幅度都达到或超过l00%.肝胰腺指数(HSI)从性腺未发育期(3.4±04)到卵黄发生前期(4.9±0 7)以及从卵黄发生前期到初级卵H黄发生期(6.3±1.0)有显著的增长,而从初级卵黄发生期到次级卵黄发生期HSI增长不显著(6.7±1.2).肝胰腺指数的增长与两种类固醇激素含量的变化具相似的趋势.上述结果显示,孕酮和雌二醇可能具有刺激和凋控中国对虾性腺发育的作用,肝胰腺可能是卵黄蛋白原的合成场所.     

野生斑节对虾卵巢发育过程中不同组织的氨基酸组成

测定了海南岛南部海域野生斑节对虾（Penaeus mofbodon）亲虾在卵巢发育不同阶段的全虾、肝胰腺和卵巢的氨基酸组成。结果表明,在卵巢发育初级阶段（含I期和Ⅵ期）、中级阶段（含Ⅱ期、Ⅲ期和Ⅳ期）和高级阶段（V期）斑节对虾全虾样品中,牛磺酸（Tau）质量分数差异显著（P〈0．05）,由高到低为中级阶段〉高级阶段〉初级阶段;而其他的氨基酸质量分数、氨基酸总量和必需氨基酸总量略有变化,但差异不显著（P〉0．05）。肝胰腺和卵巢氨基酸总量随着性腺发育逐渐上升,临产时（V期）下降,但差异不显著（P〉0．05）。中级阶段卵巢中的天门冬氨酸（Asp）、谷氨酸（Glu）、脯氨酸（Pro）、酪氨酸（Tyr）和赖氨酸（Lys）等5种氨基酸质量分数处于峰值。     

克氏原螯虾卵巢发育时期组织脂肪含量及脂肪酸组成

为了研究组织脂肪含量及脂肪酸组成在克氏原螯虾(Procambrus clarkii)卵巢发育过程中的变化,采用粗脂抽提及气相色谱分析法对卵巢发育5个不同时期肝胰腺和卵巢组织中脂肪含量及脂肪酸组成进行测定和分析,结果表明:(1)随着卵巢发育,卵巢指数由0.12%显著(P≤0.05)增加到6.64%,而肝胰腺指数由7.95%降至5.31%.(2)卵巢干重百分含量从Ⅰ期的22.29%增至Ⅴ期的55.16%,而干物质中的脂肪含量仅在Ⅱ期(32.38%)到Ⅲ期(41.90%)有一个显著增加过程,后期没有增加.(3)肝胰腺和卵巢中主要脂肪酸都有C16:0、C16:1n7、C18:0、C18:1n9、C18:1n7、C18:2n6和C18:3n3等,不同的是卵巢中的C20:4n6及C20:5n3含量也较高.在主要脂肪酸中,C16:0、C18:1n9和C18:2n63种脂肪酸占绝大比例.(4)在卵巢发育过程中,卵巢中的3种高不饱和脂肪酸C20:4n6、C20:5n3及C22:6n3含量呈显著降低趋势(P≤0.05),而C18:2n6含量一直在增加.由此可见,在克氏原螫虾卵巢发育过程中肝胰腺中脂肪有转运到卵巢的可能,在卵巢发育后期各营养物质按一定比例积累,相比于高不饱和脂肪酸,C18:2n6可能在克氏原螯虾卵巢发育及胚胎发育过程中的作用更加重要.本研究旨在通过了解克氏原螯虾组织中脂肪含量及脂肪酸组成与卵巢发育之间的关系,深入探讨亲虾在繁殖期的脂肪代谢机制.     

尼罗罗非鱼卵巢发育过程中性类固醇激素与卵黄蛋白原含量变化及Vtg mRNA 表达特征

通过组织切片、酶联免疫吸附及荧光定量PCR等方法,研究了尼罗罗非鱼(Oreochromis niloticus)卵巢发育过程中性类固醇激素(雌二醇E2、孕酮P)、卵黄蛋白原(Vtg)含量及Vtg mRNA相对表达水平变化规律。结果表明,尼罗罗非鱼性腺指数(GSI)与卵巢成熟发育间呈同步性变化,Ⅴ期达到峰值。血清中E2含量自卵巢Ⅱ期开始显著升高,Ⅳ期达到峰值,Ⅴ期后显著下降;血清P含量自卵巢Ⅱ期开始不断升高,Ⅴ期达到峰值,Ⅵ期显著下降;E2、P分别在卵巢成熟发育前期与后期发挥作用。肝中Vtg含量先升、后降,Ⅳ期达峰值;血清、卵巢中Vtg含量均自Ⅱ期开始增加,Ⅴ期达峰值,Ⅵ期显著降低;不同组织中Vtg含量变化与卵巢成熟发育间存在密切关联。肝中Vtg mRNA表达水平在Ⅲ期达到峰值,Ⅳ期后持续下调;卵巢中Vtg mRNA表达水平相对较低,Ⅴ期达到峰值;初步推测肝、卵巢同是尼罗罗非鱼Vtg合成部位,肝是Vtg合成的主要器官,在卵黄积累阶段最为活跃,而卵巢Vtg合成水平相对较低。     

不同生长时期中国对虾蛋白酶、脂肪酶活性变化的研究

本文对中国对虾生长各阶段的蛋白酶和脂肪酶活性变化进行了分析，探讨了蛋白质和脂肪的消化利用。结果表明，从中国对虾生长与消化酶活性的关系可将其分为两个生长阶段。第一阶段，体长在２．５５─１０．１１ｃｍ间（饲养时间为６月８日至８月２７日），在这一时期随着个体增大蛋白酶，脂肪酶活性不断升高。９月份对虾消化酶活性趋于下降，构成了在养殖后期消化功能趋于减弱的第二阶段。进入繁殖期的对虾与个体大小相似的生长期对虾相比较，不同组织的蛋白酶和脂肪酶活性差别情况不同，但总趋势是性腺发育的对虾蛋白酶、脂肪酶活性强于生长期对虾，海捕越冬亲虾蛋白酶、脂肪酶活性高于人工养殖越冬亲虾。     

克氏原螯虾不同发育时期5-HT与DA在卵巢和肝胰腺中的分布

为了研究5-HT与DA阳性物质在克氏原螯虾(Procambrus clarkii)不同发育时期的卵巢细胞和肝胰腺细胞中的分布特征,运用免疫组化法对卵巢发育4个不同时期的卵巢与肝胰腺进行观察。结果表明,各期卵巢卵细胞和肝胰腺细胞中均存在5-HT与DA阳性物质。Ⅰ期卵巢5-HT阳性物质分布于卵母细胞胞核,胞质未出现阳性;Ⅱ期～Ⅳ期5-HT阳性物质主要集中在卵母细胞胞质以及胞核。在发育各期的肝胰腺中5-HT的免疫物质均呈阳性。Ⅰ～Ⅳ期卵巢中,DA阳性物质主要分布于卵母细胞的胞核以及肝胰腺细胞,其强度呈递减趋势。结果提示5-HT具有促进卵巢发育作用,而DA则抑制卵巢发育。     

人工诱导日本鳗鲡性腺发育组织学研究

从人工诱导日本鳗鲡(Anguill japonica)性腺成熟的角度,采用对亲鳗群体外形和解剖观察,以及性腺组织切片的方法,对日本鳗鲡从下海鳗到性腺发育成熟的全过程进行了组织学和细胞学研究。结果表明,人工诱导的日本鳗鲡精巢发育仍可分为5个时相,即精原细胞前增殖期(Ⅰ);精原细胞后增殖期(Ⅱ),精母细胞生长期(Ⅲ),精子出现期(Ⅳ)和精子成熟期(Ⅴ)。除日本鳗鲡下海鳗的精巢有73.3%的个体处在第Ⅰ时相外,其整个精巢的发育过程和细胞学特征与以前的研究无太大差异。在下海鳗群体中未观察到第Ⅰ时相的卵巢。因此,人工诱导日本鳗鲡的卵巢发育只有卵母细胞单层滤泡期(Ⅱ);脂肪泡出现期(Ⅲ);卵黄充满期(Ⅳ)和卵母细胞最后成熟期(Ⅴ)。本研究除对人工诱导下日本鳗鲡性腺发育各时相的组织学和细胞学特征进行了观察外,还探讨了人工诱导日本鳗鲡性腺发育的时间、下海鳗群体的组成、以及脂肪泡的形成和变化过程等问题,为以后的日本鳗鲡人工育苗技术提供了参考依据。     

中国对虾卵巢发育过程中脂肪酸组成的分析及比较研究

通过分析中国对虾亲虾在卵巢发育的不同阶段的卵巢、肝胰脏和肌肉的脂肪酸组成来评估中国对虾在性腺成熟过程中对脂质的需要。从中国对虾亲虾不同组织的脂肪酸组成可见,棕榈酸(16:0)、棕榈油酸(16:1ω7)、油酸(18:1ω9)、二十碳五烯酸(20:5ω3,EPA)及二十二碳六烯酸(22:6ω3,DHA)占主要比例,这与其它海洋甲壳类的脂肪酸组成相类似。中国对虾亲虾的主要脂肪酸组成比例与日本对虾亲虾的主妥脂肪酸组成比例相近似。中国对虾亲虾在不同的卵巢成熟期同一器官中的主要脂肪酸组成比例没有明显的差别,而不同组织的主要脂肪酸组成中都含有大量的ω-3系列的高度不饱和脂肪酸。从成熟卵巢的脂肪酸组成中含有高比例的EPA、DHA含量可见,EPA、DHA在亲虾性腺发育过程中的必需性。     

池塘养殖黄斑篮子鱼初次性成熟性腺发育研究

研究池养黄斑篮子鱼(Siganus oramin)初次性成熟的性腺发育及季节性变化,可为其全人工繁殖提供基础数据。2019年1—7月,每月取1~+龄黄斑篮子鱼进行解剖取性腺切片,计算性腺成熟系数(GSI)和肝体指数(HSI)。结果显示,实验期间性腺发育可分为Ⅱ、Ⅲ、Ⅳ、Ⅴ、Ⅵ5个时期,未发现Ⅰ期性腺。1月全部为Ⅱ期;2月卵巢仍为Ⅱ期,部分精巢达Ⅲ期;3月卵巢约一半发育至Ⅲ期,个别Ⅳ期,精巢主要为Ⅳ期,部分Ⅴ期,能挤出精液;4月GSI最大,精巢基本都为Ⅴ期,卵巢少部分发育成熟,绝大部分停留在Ⅲ、Ⅳ期,少量为Ⅱ期;5月繁殖个体性腺短暂进入Ⅵ期后迅速退化,未成熟个体性腺停止发育并退化;6月性腺退化至Ⅱ期;7月保持Ⅱ期,GSI进一步降低。池养黄斑篮子鱼初次性成熟雌性GSI为1.74‰～133.44‰,雄性GSI为1.06‰～138.51‰,均在3—5月出现一次高峰,HSI与GSI的变化趋势一致,但提前1个月左右达到峰值。黄斑篮子鱼卵巢发育是完全同步型,为一次产卵鱼类,繁殖期为3月底至5月初。     

基于卵黄蛋白原基因表达的水丝蚓促熟南美白对虾研究

针对传统海产亲虾饵料易感染或携带与对虾共患病毒,给育种和苗种繁育工作带来巨大生物安全隐患的问题,以淡水品种水丝蚓作为替代饵料进行南美白对虾亲虾催熟试验,并以卵黄蛋白原基因的表达水平变化验证饵料的催熟效果。设水丝蚓、水丝蚓组合饵料、商业亲虾饲料及传统沙蚕组合饵料等4个饵料组合,分别投喂南美白对虾后备亲虾,测定繁殖性能相关参数,并通过荧光定量PCR技术对各亲虾肝胰腺和卵巢中VTG的表达水平的变化进行了追踪研究。结果显示,水丝蚓组的性腺增重最高,达1 475%,连续产卵率最大,平均为72.08%,与传统沙蚕组合饵料组无显著差异性(P0.05)。南美白对虾肝胰腺和卵巢组织中均存在VTG mRNA,在肝胰腺和卵巢中均呈先上升后下降的表达模式;VTG mRNA的表达量能够一定程度上反映对虾的繁殖性能,有希望发展成为亲虾繁殖性能选育指标;水丝蚓在促进亲虾性腺发育方面效果较传统沙蚕饵料组合好,在改善亲虾产卵效果方面基本与沙蚕组合相当,可作为沙蚕替代饵料用于南美白对虾的亲虾强化培育和催熟。     

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.