Presence and ontogeny of intestinal and pancreatic phospholipase A2-like proteins in the Red Sea bream,Pagrus major. An immunocytochemical study

We have studied the location and the ontogeny of the digestive enzyme, phospholipase A₂ (PLA₂) immunohistochemically in the adult and larvae/juvenile of the red sea breamPagrus major by using an antiserum against theNaja naja venom PLA₂. The antiserum reacts with at least one enzyme among the PLA₂s purified from the fish hepatopancreas or intestine. Although the reactivities were comparatively low, it labelled zymogen granules of the pancreatic acinar cells and secretory materials of certain epithelial cells in the depths of epithelial crypts in the pyloric caeca of the adult. The immunoreactivities of PLA₂s were investigated in the viscera of larvae and juveniles of the 0 to 85^th day after hatch. In the larvae of the 13^th day, accumulation of PLA₂-positive zymogen granules in the pancreatic acinar cells were first recognized by the immunostaining. The intensity of the labelling subsequently became stronger and dramatically increased between the 20^th and 30^th day. This increase appeared to be one of the physiological changes associated with the transition to a new benthic life as juveniles. Lack of PLA₂ in the pancreas before the 13^th day may suggest the possibility that larvae utilized exogenous PLA₂, inherent in their prey, to digest the phospholipids. On the other hand, no reactivity was found in the intestine until the 85^th day.     

Studies on the green liver in cultured red sea bream fed low level and non-fish meal diets: Relationship between hepatic taurine and biliverdin levels

SUMMARY: The aim of this study was to investigate the cause of green liver in red sea bream fed substitute protein diets. Red sea bream Pagrus major was given either of the following diets for 28 weeks: (1) control diet (50% fish meal), (2) low level fish meal diet (15% fish meal), and (3) non-fish meal diet (0% fish meal). The green liver was observed in all groups tested, but the incidence was much higher in the experimental diet groups. The feeding of substitute protein diets reduced plasma triglyceride and cholesterol levels. However, there was no significant difference in plasma hepatic enzyme activities and plasma bile salts concentration among the treatments. Fish fed the substitute protein diets showed low hepatic taurine levels with an appearance of a biliverdin in the liver. Moreover, the proportion of ditaurobilirubin to total biliary bile pigments was significantly lower in fish fed the substitute protein diets. These data indicate that feeding of substitute protein diets did not induce any cholestatic hepatobiliary obstructions and that the low hepatic taurine level was one of the probable factors responsible for the occurrence of green liver in red sea bream fed substitute protein diets.     

Observations on the reproductive performance of three mouth-brooding tilapia species in low-salinity underground water

The reproductive performance and seed production of three mouth‐brooding tilapia species, Oreochromis spilurus (Günther), Oreochromis aureus (Steindachner) and Taiwanese red tilapia hybrid, were compared in low‐salinity underground water (3–5 g L^?1) to select species with the highest reproductive rate. Two‐year‐old males and females having average body weights of 454 and 259 g, respectively, were stocked in 2‐m³ fibreglass breeding tanks (two tanks per species) at 1:3 male to female sex ratio and at average density of three fish m^?2. Seeds (unhatched eggs; yolk‐sac fry and the swim‐up fry) were collected weekly for 112 days. The results showed O. spilurus to have significantly higher (P<0.05) mean spawning parameters expressed as total seed tank^?1 (84 154), seed kg female^?1 day^?1 (284), seed m^?2 day^?1 (190.3) and seed female^?1 day^?1 (76.3), than O. aureus and red tilapia. Monthly seed production in O. spilurus and red tilapia gradually increased from May, peaked in July and declined in August, while in O. aureus, it continued to decrease from May to August. In this study, the observed production levels of seed in O. spilurus were among the highest levels reported for tilapia; therefore, O. spilurus could be selected as a potential candidate for mass seed production in commercial tilapia hatcheries.     

Aerobic muscle function during steady swimming in fish

Axial swimming in fish varies across a range of body forms and swimming modes. Swimming by eels, tunas, mackerels, scup, rainbow trout and bass span this range from high curvature anguilliform swimmers to rigid body thunniform swimmers. Recent work on these and other species has elucidated an impressive array of solutions to the problem of how to use the red (aerobic, slow‐twitch) muscle to power steady or sustained swimming. This review will use a comparative approach to understand the generalities of aerobic muscle function during steady swimming in fish and determine possible rules for the relationships between muscle contractile kinetics, in vivo muscle activity and power output during swimming. Beyond an exploration of the diversity in muscle activity and swimming kinematics, I suggest that analysis of the molecular basis for longitudinal variations in muscle function is needed to complement morphological and physiological research on fish muscle. This will permit both a general understanding of the integrative function of the fish myotome and, perhaps, predictive tools for muscle activity and swimming performance in fish.     

Effects of prolonged epinephrine infusion on blood respiratory and acid-base states in the rainbow trout: Alpha and beta effects

Rainbow trout were infused continuously for 12h with epinephrine in the presence or absence of alpha-and/or beta-adrenergic blockade to characterize the specific adrenergic mechanisms involved in the control of blood acid-base status and oxygen transport capacity. Infusion of epinephrine, alone, produced a transient respiratory acidosis, as indicated by an increase in carbon dioxide tension and a decrease in whole blood pH, yet arterial oxygen tension was elevated. Red blood cell pH increased by approximately 0.2 pH units during epinephrine infusion and this increase as well as the increase in oxygen tension were prevented by pretreatment with propranolol (a beta-adrenergic antagonist). Epinephrine infusion during alpha-adrenergic blockade caused a prolonged elevation of blood carbon dioxide tension and abolished the increases in hematocrit and hemoglobin concentrations observed during epinephrine infusion alone. Infusion of the alpha-adrenergic agonists phenylephrine (an alpha₁ agonist) or clonidine (an alpha₂ agonist) caused respiratory acidosis (decreased pH, increased CO₂ tension) and a reduction in oxygen tension. Infusion of isoprenaline (a non-specific beta agonist) caused delayed increases in carbon dioxide and oxygen tensions. We speculate that the increased carbon dioxide tension observed during epinephrine infusion is a result of beta-adrenoceptor mediated inhibition of red blood cell bicarbonate dehydration and not branchial convective or diffusive adjustments. The effects of epinephrine on blood O₂ tension, content and carrying capacity are discussed with reference to the participation of alpha- and beta-adrenergic mechanisms at the gill, spleen and red blood cell.     

不同水温下虹鳟血液红细胞数及血清中血糖与矿质元素含量测定

采用显微记数法和使用日立7170A全自动生化分析仪与贝克曼CX-3电解质分析仪,测定水温14℃、19℃、23℃时虹鳟(Salmoirideus Gibbons)血液中红细胞数量和血清中血糖与矿质元素含量。结果表明:水温从14℃升至23℃,虹鳟血液红细胞数量显著减少;血清中血糖含量在水温19℃时表现为增加、在23℃时又表现为减少;铜元素含量在水温23℃时较14℃时增加84.06%,钾、磷、钙、镁、钠、氯、铁元素含量在水温23℃时较14℃时增幅为1.65%～33.66%。     

Characterization of a cDNA encoding a homolog of actin-related protein 4 from a marine red alga Porphyra yezoensis

ABSTRACT:   A cDNA ( PyARP4 ) containing an open reading frame for a protein of 573 amino acids was identified in the marine red alga Porphyra yezoensis . The conceptual PyARP4 protein exhibits significant similarity to actin-related protein (ARP) 4 in the terrestrial plant Arabidopsis . Comparison of the deduced amino acid sequence showed moderate sequence identity (30%) to a conventional actin in P. yezoensis , as seen in comparisons between ARP and conventional actins of other organisms. A putative bipartite nuclear localization signal and an actin motif were found within the PyARP4 amino acid sequence. In a phylogenetic analysis, the PyARP4 was found to cluster with the ARP4 of other organisms. The expression level of PyARP4 did not change significantly among four developmental stages of life cycle and was lower than that of a conventional actin. This cDNA therefore may serve as a useful internal standard in gene expression analyses of differentially expressed genes in P. yezoensis .     

橡胶树红根病病原菌rDNA-ITS序列鉴定

为了更好地对橡胶树红根病病原菌进行鉴定,从海南省和云南省发病严重的胶园采集病害样本、分离得到12个灵芝属菌株,并对其rDNA-ITS序列绘制Ganoderma属系统发育树。结果表明,采集得到的12个菌株中有11个鉴定为Ganoderma philippii、1个鉴定为G.gibbosum。