Methionine Requirement of Juvenile Japanese Flounder Paralichthys olivaceus

Abstract.— Growth studies were conducted to determine the dietary methionine requirement of juvenile Japanese flounder Paralichthys olivaceus . A basal diet was formulated to contain 50% crude protein from casein and gelatin, as intact protein sources, supplemented with crystalline L-amino acids (CAA), to correspond to the amino acid pattern found in the whole body protein of the juvenile Japanese flounder, except methionine. Test diets contained six graded levels of L-methionine 0.53, 0.83, 1.13, 1.43, 1.73, and 2.03% of diet (dry matter basis) or 1.06, 1.66, 2.26, 2.86, 3.46 and 4.06% of protein. To prevent leaching losses of water-soluble amino acids, CAA were pre-coated with carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), and diets were further bound with both CMC and κ-carrageenan after addition of the pre-coated CAA. Weighing about 2.80 g, each triplicate group of the juvenile flounder were fed test diets twice a day (5% of body weight) for 40 d. Survival rate, specific growth rate, feed conversion efficiency and apparent protein retention were significantly ( P < 0.05) affected by dietary methionine concentrations. The optimum dietary level of methionine in the presence of 0.06% of dietary cystine for Japanese flounder juvenile was estimated by using break point analysis. The values determined based on weight gain and feed efficiency were 1.49% of diet (or 2.98% of protein) and 1.44% of diet (or 2.88% of protein), respectively. These requirement values are close to the methionine level of flounder whole body protein.     

Optimum Dietary Level of L-ascorbic Acid for Japanese Eel, Anguilla japonica

A feeding experiment was conducted to determine the optimum dietary level of ascorbic acid (AsA) for Japanese eel juveniles using L-ascorbic acid Ca based on growth, AsA content in tissues, hematology, and bactericidal activity of serum with Escherichia coli . Test diets with six levels of AsA (3, 10, 27,126, 645, and 3,135-mg/kg diet) as Ca ascorbate were fed to juvenile Japanese eels (11.0 ± 0.2 g) once a day for 8 wk. High survival rates (> 80%) were observed among all dietary treatment groups. The specific growth rates of the fish fed diets containing 3 and 10-mg AsA/kg were significantly (P < 0.05) lower than those of other groups. Liver and brain AsA contents of the fish fed diets containing 3, 10, and 27-mg AsA/kg were significantly (P < 0.05) lower than those of the fish fed diets containing 645 and 3,135-mg AsA/kg. Hemoglobin content tended to be higher in the fish fed diets containing 645 and 3,135-mg AsA/kg than those of the fish fed other diets. Hematocrit value and total serum protein content of the fish fed diets containing 645 and 3135 mg AsA/kg were significantly (P < 0.05) higher than those of the other groups. The fish fed diets containing more than 27-mg AsAlkg showed a higher bactericidal activity of serum than the fish fed the diets containing 3-mg and 10-mg AsA/kg. The optimum dietary level of AsA for the Japanese eel juveniles growth was estimated to be more than 27-mg AsA/kg. Furthermore, the inclusion of 645-mg AsA/kg or more also increased the hematocrit, hemoglobin, total serum protein value, and liver and brain vitamin C concentrations.     

Distribution of photoperiod-insensitive alleles Ppd-B1a and Ppd-D1a and their effect on heading time in Japanese wheat cultivars

The genotypes of photoperiod response genes Ppd-B1 and Ppd-D1 in Japanese wheat cultivars were determined by a PCR-based method, and heading times were compared among genotypes. Most of the Japanese wheat cultivars, except those from the Hokkaido region, carried the photoperiod-insensitive allele Ppd-D1a, and heading was accelerated 10.3 days compared with the Ppd-D1b genotype. Early cultivars with Ppd-D1a may have been selected to avoid damage from preharvest rain. In the Hokkaido region, Ppd-D1a frequency was lower and heading date was late regardless of Ppd-D1 genotype, suggesting another genetic mechanism for late heading in Hokkaido cultivars. In this study, only 11 cultivars proved to carry Ppd-B1a, and all of them carried another photoperiod-insensitive allele, Ppd-D1a. The Ppd-B1a/Ppd-D1a genotype headed 6.7 days earlier than the Ppd-B1b/Ppd-D1a genotype, indicating a significant effect of Ppd-B1a in the genetic background with Ppd-D1a. Early-maturity breeding in Japan is believed to be accelerated by the introduction of the Ppd-B1a allele into medium-heading cultivars carrying Ppd-D1a. Pedigree analysis showed that Ppd-B1a in three extra-early commercial cultivars was inherited from ‘Shiroboro 21’ by early-heading Chugoku lines bred at the Chugoku Agriculture Experimental Station.     

Effects of water-soluble and fat-soluble choline sources on the performances of juvenile kuruma shrimp, Marsupenaeus japonicus Bate

The present study was undertaken to clarify the effect and interaction of choline chloride (CC) and phosphatidylcholine (PC), the water‐ and fat‐soluble sources of choline, on the performances of kuruma shrimp, Marsupenaeus japonicus juveniles using as response variables such as percent weight gain (%WG), specific growth rate (SGR), survival (SR%), feed efficiency ratio (FER), protein efficiency ratio (PER), proximate composition, fatty acids profile and free choline and PC contents in the whole body of kuruma shrimp. A 40‐day feeding trial was conducted as a 2 × 3 factorial experiment with six test diets containing three levels of CC (0.3, 0.6 and 1.2 g kg^?1) and two levels of soybean PC (SPC; 2 and 4 g kg^?1). Both of the choline sources (CC and SPC) showed a significant interaction (P<0.05) regarding all the evaluated response variables except for the proximate and fatty acid contents. Interestingly, there was a positive effect (P<0.05) of CC observed with increasing its level at the low level of SPC and vice versa. However, the magnitudes of the beneficial effect of CC in terms of the evaluated parameters were changed with the different dietary levels of SPC. Also, the inclusion of higher levels of SPC (4 g kg^?1) or CC (0.6 and 1.2 g kg^?1) diminished the effect of the other source.     

Growth, stress tolerance and non-specific immune response of Japanese flounder Paralichthys olivaceus to probiotics in a closed recirculating system

ABSTRACT:   Effects of probiotics on growth, stress tolerance and non-specific immune response in Japanese flounder Paralichthys olivaceus were evaluated in a closed recirculating system. Survival and growth of flounder treated by supplying commercial probiotics either in the diet (the probiotic diet group), or into the rearing water (the water supply group), were higher compared to the untreated group (the control group). Water quality parameters, pH, NH₄-N, NO₂-N and PO₄-P showed lower concentration in the probiotic diet group compared with the control group and the supply group. Plasma lysozyme activity in the probiotic diet group and the water supply group was significantly higher ( P  < 0.05) than that in the control group. In heat shock stress tests, flounder in the probiotics-treated groups showed greater heat tolerance (measured by 50% lethal time, LT50) than the control group. Pathogen challenge tests with Vibrio anguillarum (2 × 10⁷ c.f.u./mL) resulted in significantly higher survival in the probiotics-treated groups than the control group. Results indicated that probiotics supplied in the rearing water and the diet of fish enhanced the stress tolerance and the non-specific immune system of Japanese flounder, providing them a higher resistance against stress conditions and pathogens.     

Comparative studies on lipid profiles and amino acid composition of wild and cultured Dojo loach Misgurnus anguillicaudatus obtained from southern Japan

The aim of this study was to determine the differences in the nutritional properties of wild and cultured loach Misgurnus anguillicaudatus obtained from southern Japan. Major parameters, such as whole-body proximate composition, lipid classes, and fatty acid and amino acid composition, were investigated. The whole-body total lipid content of cultured loach was twofold higher than that of wild loach and the proportion of neutral lipids was significantly higher in cultured loach than in wild loach. However, the polar lipid content was two- to threefold lower in cultured loach than in wild loach. Compared to the wild loach, higher contents of 20:5n-3 and 22:6n-3 were detected in cultured loach, but much lower contents of 20:4n-6. In terms of whole-body amino acid composition, wild and cultured loach showed similar profiles. In conclusion, the consumption of cultured loach will contribute to dietary n-3 highly unsaturated fatty acids intake, with a benefit to human health.     

Effects of palm oil blended with oxidized fish oil on growth performances, hematology, and several immune parameters in juvenile Japanese sea bass, Lateolabrax japonicas

A 60-day feeding trial was conducted to determine the effects of palm oil blended with oxidized and non-oxidized fish oil on growth performances, hematology, and non-specific immune response in juvenile Japanese sea bass, Lateolabrax japonicas. Japanese sea bass (1.73 ± 0.01 g) were fed seven experimental diets containing 100 g/kg of dietary lipid in forms of palm oil (10P), fish oil (10F), fish oil blended with palm oil at different ratios, 6:4 (6F4P) and 4:6 (4F6P), oxidized fish oil (10OF), and oxidized fish oil blended with palm oil at different ratios, 6:4 (6OF4P) and 4:6 (4OF6P). After the feeding trial, the following results were illustrated. No significant effects were observed in survival, feed conversion ratio, condition factor, and hematocrit after feeding with experimental diets for 60 days. The relatively higher specific growth rate and hematology were observed in 6F4P. Furthermore, both palm oil and oxidized fish oil acted as a negatively on serum lysozyme activity (P < 0.05). This study suggested that a ration of 6F4P is recommended as an innocuous ratio for Japanese sea bass. Furthermore, according to the present investigation, palm oil seems to have the ability to improve the protein efficiency when added to oxidized fish diets as well as a positive trend to the growth performance (P > 0.05).     

Optimization model for cropping-plan placement in paddy fields considering agricultural profit and nitrogen load management in Japan

An optimization model for cropping-plan placement on field plots is presented for supporting decision-making on agricultural management by a farming organization. The mixed 0?C1 programming technique is employed to select the next planting crop at each field plot in a holistic manner. Reduction of total nitrogen discharged from field plots to the downstream end of the drainage canals is expressed as an objective function of the model to balance an achievement of economic goal and environmental conservation. Some Japanese governmental policies on regulating rice cropping areas and on promoting production of particular upland field crops can be formulated in the model. A computational example of cropping-plan placement on field plots managed under integrated policies is given by operating the optimization model with various weights associated with the objectives. The procured trade-off curve and corresponding patterns of cropping-plan could be useful in the decision-making by the farming organization.     

Radiotherapy-induced tumor lysis syndrome in a dog with thymoma

A 13-year-old, female, mixed-breed dog with a huge cranial mediastinal mass underwent radiotherapy (RT). On the following day, the dog presented with lethargy and anorexia. Hematological examination revealed elevated levels of blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, inorganic phosphorus, potassium, lactate dehydrogenase, creatine phosphokinase and aspartate aminotransferase, decreased calcium level, and metabolic acidosis. Urine output markedly decreased. The patient recovered with fluid therapy and diuretic therapy; however, died suddenly from an unknown cause 11 days after RT completion. Histopathological examination after necropsy showed thymoma in the cranial mediastinum and extensive tubular necrosis of both kidneys which may be due to RT-induced tumor lysis syndrome (TLS). This report suggests that the risk of TLS should be evaluated in dogs with thymoma who undergo RT.     

Effect of dietary lipid oxidation with vitamin C and E supplementation on fillet quality of red sea bream,Pagrus major (Temminck & Schlegel) during storage

An experiment was conducted to determine the effects of different levels of dietary vitamin C (VC) and E (VE) supplementation on fillet quality of red sea bream fed oxidized fish oil (OFO). Fish with an average body weight of 205.0 g were fed four test diets for 9 weeks. Control diet contained fresh fish oil (FFO) with 100 mg kg^?1 of VE and 500 mg kg^?1 of VC (FFO100E/500C). The other three diets contained OFO with varying levels of VE (mg kg^?1) and VC (mg kg^?1) (OFO100E/500C, OFO200E/500C and OFO200E/1000C). After feeding trial, two fillets from each fish by hand filleting were stored in a refrigerator at 4°C for 96 h during analyses. Results showed that fish fed OFO increased fillet thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and K‐value, and decreased fillet VC and VE concentrations during storage time. Supplementation of VC did not have any detectable effect on fillet quality. Increasing dietary VE supplementation increased fillet VE concentrations, reduced fillet TBARS and K‐value values of red sea bream. Therefore, we suggest that dietary supplementation of 200 mg kg^?1 of vitamin E could improve fillet oxidative stability of red sea bream fed OFO.