近江牡蛎和长牡蛎的配子兼容性及合子育性

为了评估长牡蛎(GG)和近江牡蛎(AA)的配子兼容性和合子育性,本实验探究了盐度(16、20、24、28和32)、温度(18、21、24、27和30 ℃)和精子浓度(10⁰、10¹、10²、10³和10⁴个/μL)对受精率、胚胎畸形率和孵化率的影响。结果显示,随盐度的增加,GG组的受精率和孵化率逐渐上升,而AA组和AG组的受精率和孵化率先上升后下降;GA组和AG组分别在盐度28和24时具有较优的配子兼容性和合子育性,受精率、畸形率、孵化率分别为7.45%±5.05%、2.00%±0.90%、63.60%±9.88%和14.26%±9.26%、1.74%±0.93%、66.16%±9.43%。随温度上升,AA、GA和GG组的受精率和孵化率先升高后下降,而畸形率先下降后上升;GA组和AG组均在27 ℃时表现出较优的配子兼容性和合子育性,此时GA组和AG组的受精率、畸形率、孵化率分别为7.95%±4.04%、1.79%±1.04%、57.11%±9.95%和14.70%±7.27%、1.66%±0.85%、67.25%±15.19%。随精子浓度的增加,GG组的受精率逐渐上升,孵化率逐渐下降,GA组和AG组的受精率逐渐上升;GA组和AG组均在10⁴个/μL时表现出较优的配子兼容性和合子育性,此时二者的受精率、畸形率、孵化率分别为9.09%±7.53%、1.59%±0.48%、67.97%±19.96%和14.30%±6.04%、1.06%±0.68%、67.33%±12.65%。研究表明,温度、盐度和精子浓度对长牡蛎和近江牡蛎种间配子兼容性影响较小,但对合子育性影响较大。     

长牡蛎闭壳肌肌纤维的组织学特性

分别利用石蜡切片苏木精-伊红染色法、冷冻切片烟酰胺腺嘌呤二核苷酸四唑氧化还原酶(NADH-TR)组化染色法、肌球蛋白ATP酶染色法对长牡蛎闭壳肌平滑肌和横纹肌进行了组织学特性研究,并比较平滑肌和横纹肌肌纤维组成的差异。石蜡切片结果显示,闭壳肌中平滑肌和横纹肌肌纤维形态结构不同,肌纤维直径、肌纤维密度和横截面积存在显著差异,其中平滑肌肌纤维直径为(5.97±0.631)μm,肌纤维密度为(25 485.65±3917.807)根/mm~2,肌纤维横截面积为(26.25±5.365)μm~2;横纹肌肌纤维直径为(7.41±0.847)μm,肌纤维密度为(16 908.25±3917.807)根/mm~2,横截面积为(40.45±10.083)μm~2。NADH-TR染色结果显示,平滑肌中富含NADH,肌纤维染色较深,呈现深蓝紫色,主要是I型肌纤维,为氧化代谢的慢速收缩型肌纤维;横纹肌染色较浅或者基本不着色,主要是II型肌纤维,为糖酵解代谢的快速收缩肌纤维。ATPase酶染色结果显示,横纹肌ATPase活性强,染色较深,呈现黑色,主要是II型肌纤维;平滑肌中ATPase活性弱,着色浅或基本不着色,主要是I型肌纤维。ATPase酶染色结果与NADH-TR染色结果一致。研究阐明了长牡蛎闭壳肌中平滑肌和横纹肌肌纤维的组织学特性及收缩、代谢特性差异,为深入研究长牡蛎肌纤维生物学特性提供了重要的基础资料,为提高我国贝类肉质品质提供理论依据。     

近交对长牡蛎幼虫和稚贝生长与存活的影响

分别以2010年通过2个野生个体进行交配获得的A01全同胞家系和2011年通过A01家系子代进行交配获得A02全同胞家系为亲本,在2013年6月采用同时建立全同胞交配子一代F1(F=0.250)、全同胞交配子二代F2(F=0.375)及设置对照组(F=0)的方法,研究在相同环境条件下,不同实验组的受精率与孵化率以及近交对长牡蛎幼虫期、稚贝期生长和存活的影响,并初步探讨近交代数与近交衰退的关系。结果发现,各组的受精率均在90%以上,除F2组外其余2组的孵化率也在90%以上;幼虫阶段,F1组和F2组的壳高与壳长均从12日龄出现衰退(近交衰退系数,inbreeding depression coefficient,IDC0),且F2组壳高的近交衰退系数均小于同日龄F1组壳高的近交衰退系数;F1组和F2组的存活率在整个幼虫期间均出现衰退,且F1组和F2组存活率的近交衰退系数均随着幼虫日龄的增加而逐渐减小。稚贝阶段,F1组和F2组的平均壳高在各日龄均表现出近交衰退(IDC0),且F2组壳高的近交衰退系数均小于相同日龄F1组壳高的近交衰退系数;3个实验组的平均壳长在整个稚贝阶段无显著性差异;F1组和F2组存活率的衰退在不同日龄始终存在(IDC0),且随着稚贝日龄的增加其衰退程度逐渐加大。研究结果为长牡蛎选择育种和遗传改良提供了基础资料。     

Autumn conditioning of the oyster Crassostrea gigas: a new approach

Gametogenesis, emitted gametes and larval yield (D larvae) of the oyster, Crassostrea gigas (Thunberg), were simultaneously examined in laboratory under two different conditions of temperature and photoperiod. One batch (“natural” cycle, NC) followed the equivalent cycle of average conditions of these parameters measured in La Tremblade (Charente-Maritime, France) during the last 15 years. The second batch (“accelerated” cycle, AC) was maintained under a variation two times faster of these parameters. Three conditioning experiences were performed during October, November and December 1998 with oysters from both NC and AC conditions. “Accelerated individuals” produced oocytes in growing stage from October and mature oocytes were noticed from December. In contrast, oysters from NC produced growing oocytes until January. Animals in AC produced 42% (October), 56% (November) and 96% (December) of mature oocytes after conditioning. Only the “natural” lot conditioned in December showed growing (23%) and mature oocytes (8%). Higher Walne–Mann index (WMI) values were recorded for “accelerated oysters” and significant differences (P<0.05) between treatments were noticed during October and November, suggesting nutrient accumulation before conditioning in the “accelerated” condition. Gamete emission and D larval yield results were equivalent to those reported in literature during early spring for the same species. The effect of temperature and photoperiod is discussed in order to understand their relationship with gametogenesis under these particular experimental conditions. It was demonstrated that internal clocks regulating gametogenesis can be change if stimulating factors (environmental cues) also change.     

长牡蛎壳黑选育品系和野生群体在摄食和代谢方面的比较

为探究长牡蛎壳黑选育品系优良性状的生理学基础,采用实验生态学方法比较研究了长牡蛎壳黑选育品系和野生群体在不同温度和盐度下的摄食和代谢差异。结果显示,在16~32 ℃范围内,温度对长牡蛎滤水率、耗氧率和排氨率均有显著影响。随温度升高,两群体滤水率先增加后降低。野生群体滤水率在24 ℃达到最大值,壳黑品系在28 ℃达到最大值。两群体耗氧率和排氨率均随温度升高呈增加趋势,并未发现显著性转折点。长牡蛎壳黑选育品系和野生群体间滤水率和排氨率差异显著,壳黑品系滤水率均高于野生群体,耗氧率均低于野生群体,且在32 ℃壳黑品系排氨率显著低于野生群体。在盐度15~35范围内,盐度对长牡蛎滤水率、耗氧率和排氨率均有显著影响。随盐度升高,两群体的滤水率、耗氧率和排氨率总体均呈先增加后降低的趋势。长牡蛎壳黑选育品系和野生群体间滤水率差异显著,壳黑品系滤水率均高于野生群体,且在盐度15~25条件下壳黑品系排氨率均低于野生群体。两群体O:N值均在16 ℃和盐度35组最大,温度升高或盐度降低均会致使两群体O:N值下降。温度实验中,在32 ℃时,野生群体O:N最低值为7.57,壳黑品系O:N值变化范围为10.52~29.31。盐度实验中,在盐度20时,野生群体O:N最低值为9.10,壳黑品系O:N值变化范围为11.51~22.98。研究表明,相较于野生群体,长牡蛎壳黑选育品系更能适应高温和低盐环境,而较高的摄食率和较低的代谢率可为其提供更多的能量用于生长。     

长牡蛎性腺中调控型非编码RNA的生物信息学

本研究以日照海域同一家系的2龄长牡蛎性腺为研究对象,通过small RNA-seq和RNA-seq技术筛选和鉴定出大量的非编码微小RNA(mi RNA)、长链非编码RNA(lnc RNA)和环状RNA(circRNA),并对其进行了生物学特征分析。结果显示,以斑马鱼为参考序列,获得25～30个已知miRNA成熟体和51～63个已知miRNA前体,预测到53～71个新miRNA成熟体和53～77个新miRNA前体;长牡蛎miRNA长度分布为18～26个核苷酸(nt),其中分布在20～22 nt长度的miRNA数量最多,且miRNA首位碱基多为U。测序分析获得2 302～2 349个注释lncRNA转录本,预测到20 083～24 114个新lncRNA转录本,其中基因间型lncRNA(lincRNA)、内含子lncRNA(intronic lncRNA)、反义lncRNA(anti-sense lncRNA)分别占29.0%、62.1%和8.9%;长牡蛎lncRNA的基因组特征与其他真核生物的lncRNA基因组特征相似,与mRNA相比,外显子(exon)个数少,转录本长度较短,表达水平低...     

长牡蛎MITF基因表达及与壳色的关联

为了解长牡蛎MITF基因的表达及其与壳色的关联,验证了长牡蛎中的4个MITF基因,对长牡蛎MITF氨基酸序列进行了序列分析和多序列比对,分析了长牡蛎幼体发育各时期的转录组,采用荧光定量PCR的方法研究长牡蛎各组织及黑壳、白壳牡蛎特定部位mRNA表达情况。4个MITF基因中有3个基因可能为假基因,有表达的长牡蛎MITF基因共编码448个氨基酸,为亲水性不稳定蛋白,含有N端结构域(MITF_TFEB_C3N superfamily)和高度保守的功能性结构域HLH结构域。转录组分析发现MITF在长牡蛎个体发育的各个时期均有表达,在稚贝期达到最高。组织表达结果显示MITF在外套膜中的表达水平显著高于其他组织。MITF在黑壳牡蛎闭壳肌中的表达量显著低于白壳牡蛎,而在黑壳牡蛎外套膜中的表达量高于白壳牡蛎,但不显著。在黑壳、白壳牡蛎外套膜边缘的表达量都显著高于内侧。研究表明,长牡蛎MITF基因可能在牡蛎壳形成早期就参与了黑色素的生成调控和个体的生长发育,可调控牡蛎酪氨酸酶Tyr2基因,参与外套膜和贝壳中黑色素的形成。...     

长牡蛎17个fosmid-SSR标记的开发与分析

研究所用序列由长牡蛎fosmid文库末端测序获得。首先用TRF程序扫描序列获得一批重复单元为2碱基的候选SSR位点,然后在部分SSR序列两侧的保守区设计50对引物,对取自山东青岛的一个长牡蛎野生群体进行基因型分析。结果显示,共有17个SSR位点显示多态性,等位基因数(N_a)平均为4,有效等位基因数(N_e)平均为2.82,平均杂合度观测值(H_o)和期望值(H_e)分别为0.395 9 和0.628 8。其中,11个位点的多态信息含量(PIC)值均大于0.5,共有49个等位基因,适合对长牡蛎群体遗传结构的分析;6个位点 0.25<PIC<0.5,为中度多态位点。χ₂检验估计Hardy-Weinberg平衡,经Sequential Bonferroni校正后,除DEC_1以外,其他位点仍偏离平衡。将SSR附近10 000 bp内基因组预测的编码蛋白通过与NCBI的nr库blastp分析,共有13条微卫星序列获得连锁的相关基因功能注释。     

微卫星标记在长牡蛎三倍体鉴定中的应用

为开发一种简单有效的倍性检测方法对长牡蛎三倍体诱导结果进行准确评估,本实验采用细胞松弛素B抑制第二极体释放诱导产生长牡蛎三倍体,选用7个微卫星位点扩增基因组DNA,通过亲子代基因分型进行倍性检测,检测结果采用流式细胞仪加以验证,以评估微卫星标记倍性检测的准确性。另外,本研究探讨了准确鉴定倍性所需的微卫星标记数量与微卫星—着丝粒重组率(y)之间的关系,以期为其他物种采用分子标记进行倍性检测提供理论依据。结果显示,细胞松弛素B诱导产生的115个长牡蛎子代经7个微卫星位点鉴定得到40个三倍体,与流式细胞仪检测结果一致,准确率达到100%,7个微卫星位点的(1-y)的乘积为0.005。随机挑选6个位点,也可鉴定出所有三倍体,(1-y)的乘积为0.005~0.042。研究表明,本研究中开发的微卫星标记可以简单高效地鉴定长牡蛎三倍体,微卫星位点的(1-y)的乘积小于0.005,倍性检测的准确率可达100%,采用微卫星标记进行倍性检测对于加速长牡蛎三倍体育种进程具有十分重要的意义。     

长牡蛎壳金选育群体生长性状的选择效应

长牡蛎是一种世界性的养殖贝类,同时是我国最重要的经济贝类之一,壳色美观和快速生长是目前长牡蛎遗传育种的2个重要目标。2010年通过长牡蛎壳色性状的家系选育,获得了壳白、壳黑、壳金和壳紫4种壳色品系。实验以第二代壳金品系为基础群体,对长牡蛎壳金群体的生长性状进行定向选育,分析了长牡蛎壳金选育群体壳高性状的选择反应、遗传获得和现实遗传力。结果显示,养成阶段选择组的壳高均大于对照组,350日龄后表现出显著的生长优势;幼虫期,壳高性状的平均选择反应、遗传获得和现实遗传力分别为0.549±0.277、3.717%±2.611%和0.339±0.171,养成期分别为0.436±0.138、8.253%±1.014%和0.270±0.086。选择组的贝壳金黄色和外套膜金黄色比例分别提高了22%和10%。研究结果为长牡蛎壳金优良品系培育提供了重要基础资料。     

长牡蛎中I84蛋白酶抑制因子家族的扩张和功能分化

蛋白酶抑制因子是极其多样的蛋白质或多肽,能抑制蛋白酶的水解活性。研究发现蛋白酶抑制因子能通过抑制病原蛋白酶活性,从而抑制病原的入侵。I84蛋白酶抑制因子家族是MEROPS数据库中新增的一个家族,其部分成员在免疫防御过程中的作用得到了一定的揭示。为探究I84蛋白酶抑制因子家族在长牡蛎中的分布和功能状况,实验鉴定了长牡蛎中23个潜在的I84家族基因,根据系统进化树分析,挑选了5个同源基因进行时空表达和功能分析。首先,利用克隆技术验证了长牡蛎中5个I84家族同源基因CgSi3、CgSi5、CgSi6、CgSi16和CgSi19可表达性。结果显示,5个基因在外套膜、闭壳肌、性腺、血淋巴细胞、肝胰腺和鳃等6个组织中均表达,但肝胰腺中表达量显著高于其他组织。同时,5个基因在长牡蛎幼体不同发育阶段表达模式不同,其中各基因在受精卵时期均不表达,CgSi3表达量则在眼点幼虫期显著上升后下降,而CgSi6在壳顶幼虫期开始表达后,表达量随长牡蛎发育而持续增加。另外,对牡蛎进行病原相关模式分子(PAMPs)注射后,5个基因也表现出不同的表达模式,其中LPS和PGN注射后CgSi6表达量变化明显,而poly (...     

Yields of cultured Pacific oysters Crassostrea gigas Thunberg improved after one generation of selection

Parental families (G₀) in three lines of Pacific oysters were selected based on live weight and meat yields at harvest. The average live weight yield of progeny (G₁) from crossing G₀-selected lines in seven trials was 9.5% greater than that of nonselected control families and live weight yields were significantly greater (ANOVA, P<0.001) in four out of seven trials. The response to selection was greater if G₁ families were tested at the same site as their parents' selection site rather than at a different site, although this effect was only significant for G₁ families of cohort 5 (P<0.01) but not cohort 7 (P>0.05). A significant genotype×environment interaction affected yields in both cohort 5 and cohort 7 (ANOVA; P<0.001). In addition, correlation between the yields of the same families planted at both intertidal and subtidal sites was positive but weak (cohort 5, r=0.30; cohort 7, r=0.35), indicating that selection for high yield in one environment would likely result in a low correlated response in a different environment. Nonetheless, it was possible to identify six families in cohort 5 and four families in cohort 7 that were among the top 10 families at both sites. Further evaluation of families across a wider range of environments is needed to determine if it is possible to substantially improve yields by selecting “generalist” families that perform well along the whole Pacific coast, or whether it will be necessary to select lines that are suited to particular sites.     

盐度胁迫对不同发育时期菲律宾蛤仔生长和存活的影响

盐度是影响海洋贝类存活、生长、发育、繁殖等生命活动的关键因素,其生命活动时刻受到海洋局部环境中盐度变化的影响。对海洋贝类适应盐度胁迫机制的研究是学术界长期关注的问题。大量研究表明,盐度胁迫会对海洋贝类的生长、渗透调节、能量代谢和免疫反应等生物学过程产生影响。近年来,随着基因组、转录组等组学技术的发展和广泛应用,许多研究从分子水平来探讨海洋贝类适应盐度胁迫的机制。本文综述了海洋贝类在盐度胁迫过程中的调控机制,包括渗透调节、能量代谢、免疫反应,以及转录组和基因组在海洋贝类盐度胁迫机制研究中的应用,提出了广盐性海洋贝类在盐碱水领域中的开发潜力,为海洋贝类抗逆品种选育以及绿色养殖提供重要参考。

     

In vitro modulation of reactive oxygen and nitrogen intermediate (ROI/RNI) production in Crassostrea gigas hemocytes

Bivalve hemocyte competence has been measured by quantifying functional characteristics, including reactive oxygen intermediate (ROI) production after activation with zymosan or phorbol myristate acetate (PMA). However, untreated oyster hemocytes also produce ROI and RNI (reactive nitrogen intermediates) after bleeding even if not stimulated by zymosan or PMA. Extensive investigation of this parameter by flow cytometry showed that, in vitro, ROI/RNI production by untreated hemocytes maintained in seawater appeared to be independent of both bacterial burden in the serum and non-self particle phagocytosis. ROI/RNI production in granulocytes was higher than in hyalinocytes and could be intensified when activated by zymosan but not by PMA. Both cell types used NADPH-oxidase- and NO-synthase-like pathways to produce these molecules; the NO-synthase pathway seemed relatively more dominant in hyalinocytes and NADPH-oxidase appeared more effective in granulocytes. These results provide new insights for interpreting the modulation of ROI/RNI production by untreated hemocytes shown by other studies, relative to environmental conditions or physiological status of the oysters.     

香港巨牡蛎与长牡蛎种间杂交及早期杂种优势分析

为测定香港巨牡蛎(Crassostrea hongkongensis♀×C.hongkongensis♂)、长牡蛎自繁家系(C.gigas♀×C.gigas♂)及其两者种间杂交家系(C.hongkongensis♀×C.gigas♂)子代的早期表型性状,评估种间杂种潜力,分析早期种间杂种优势,实验于2010年7月,采用1雄对3雌的巢式设计建立了9个香港巨牡蛎自繁家系(Crassostrea hongkongensis♀×C.hongkongensis♂)(HH11、HH12、HH13……HH33)、9个长牡蛎自繁家系(C.gigas♀×C.gigas♂)(GG11、GG12、GG13……GG33)及45个种间杂交家系(C.hongkongensis♀×C.gigas♂)(HG11、HG12、HG13……HG153)。结果发现,种间杂交家系受精率及孵化率平均水平的杂种潜力hp<-1,表现出显著的杂种劣势;出现了一定程度的种间配子不兼容现象,而且存在着显著的个体间差异。从其总体水平上看,幼虫生长性状的杂种潜力hp<-1,表现出显著的杂种劣势,出现了远交衰退现象;幼虫存活性状的杂种潜力hp在-1～1之间,虽然具有正向优势,但达不到显著标准;幼虫变态率的杂种潜力hp>1,表现出显著的杂种优势。     

太平洋牡蛎(Crassostrea gigas)类FUT2基因的克隆与组织表达

通过同源克隆的方法获得太平洋牡蛎(Crassostrea gigas)类FUT2基因的c DNA序列,分析其在牡蛎中的组织表达差异。研究结果表明,太平洋牡蛎类FUT2基因c DNA全长为1941 bp,包含180 bp的5'非翻译区、1086 bp的编码361个氨基酸的开放阅读框及675 bp的3'非翻译区。分子进化聚类分析结果显示,太平洋牡蛎类FUT2基因与家鼠(Mus musculus)等哺乳动物的FUT2基因聚为1个分支。此外,类FUT2基因m RNA在太平洋牡蛎成贝的肝胰脏、闭壳肌、外套膜、唇瓣、鳃等5个组织中均有分布,其中在唇瓣中的表达量最低,在其余4个组织中的表达量差异不显著。本研究表明,牡蛎中类A型组织血型抗原HBGA很可能存在与人A型HBGA相似的合成途径,可为进一步探索牡蛎特异性富集诺如病毒No V的分子机制奠定研究基础。     

牡蛎糖原的研究 (II)——牡蛎糖原的分子结构

该研究以新鲜近江牡蛎 (Crassostrea ariakensis) 软体组织为实验材料,通过比较分析不同蒽酮硫酸比例、不同反应时间的吸光值确定最优反应条件,并对方法的最低检出限、重复性、稳定性和精确性进行评价,最终建立了牡蛎糖原含量的微量检测体系。建立的微量反应体系体积为300 μL,主要包括0.2%蒽酮硫酸溶液200 μL,样品待测液100 μL;沸水浴反应时间为10 min。该方法的葡萄糖最低检出限为0.001 5 mg·mL⁻¹,标准曲线变异系数小于4%,证实该方法具有较高的检测灵敏度;显色反应完成后,室温条件下120 min内其吸光值基本不变,稳定性较高;测定牡蛎外套膜、鳃、唇瓣、性腺、肝胰腺、闭壳肌的加标回收率介于95.3%~105.8%,说明该法具有较高的准确性。因此,该研究建立的微量反应体系测定牡蛎糖原的方法具有试剂用量小、操作简单、单样品成本低等优势,同时重复性、稳定性、精确性均较高,适用于大批样品批量测定。该研究为快速、高效完成牡蛎样品糖原的检测提供了有效的技术方法。     

长牡蛎酪氨酸酶基因(CgTyr1)SNP多态性与壳色性状的关联

黑色素是一种广泛存在于动物界的生物色素,而酪氨酸酶被认为是一种重要的调控黑色素合成的关键酶。实验以3种壳色的长牡蛎选育品系为材料,使用PCR-SSCP的方法对长牡蛎酪氨酸酶基因CgTyr1进行SNP分型筛选,将突变位点与不同壳色性状进行关联分析。结果显示,酪氨酸酶基因的外显子上存在23个SNP位点,其中11个SNP位点与壳色性状极显著相关;在这11个SNP位点中,检测到有3个SNP位点为有义突变(c.591C/T、c.632G/A和c.1155T/C),分别导致不同的氨基酸突变(Ala122Val、Gly136Ser和Phe310Ser);利用极显著关联的11个SNP位点,为每种壳色群体建立了1种单倍型,并在验证组中得到了确认。研究表明,长牡蛎酪氨酸酶基因的单个碱基突变和以此构建的单倍型与壳色性状存在显著的关联。本研究筛选出的SNP位点和构建的单倍型为长牡蛎壳色品系选育提供了重要的参考资料。     

Hemocyte characteristics in families of oysters, Crassostrea gigas, selected for differential survival during summer and reared in three sites

High variability among individuals is often encountered when hemocyte characteristics are measured in bivalves. Such variability is suspected to result partly from genetic factors. In this study, hemocyte characteristics of six families of Crassostrea gigas were compared by flow cytometry at one sampling date in October 2001. These families were obtained from a nested, half-sibling cross design, and reared from July to October 2001 at three sites distributed along the French Atlantic coast from north to south: Baie des Veys (Normandy), Rivière d'Auray (Brittany) and Ronce (Marennes-oléron Basin, Poitou Charentes).

Among the 15 measured hemocyte characteristics, production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) of untreated hemocytes (maintained in filtered sterile seawater) and treated hemocytes (zymosan at 20 particles per hemocyte, and with Vibrio sp. S322 at 50 bacteria per hemocyte) was the most notable differences between families. This supports the existence of a genetic basis, at least partly, for the hemocyte characteristics of oysters, and especially for ROS production.

Among the six families analyzed, three have shown high survival during summer (named as “resistant”, mean mortality 5.2%) and three experienced high mortality during summer (named as “susceptible”, 30.6% mean mortality). Families showing high or low survival to summer mortality had similar hemocyte characteristics, regardless of the environmental conditions or reproductive state. Resistant families were observed to have higher total hemocyte counts and lower production of ROS than susceptible families. Moreover, ROS production of hemocytes from susceptible families was diminished significantly more by pathogenic Vibrio than that of resistant families. However, this study demonstrates also that rearing site strongly affected the hemocyte characteristics of all families of oysters, most notably hemocyte concentration and morphology (size and granularity), production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and susceptibility to the cytotoxic activity of the pathogenic Vibrio sp. S322 (50 bacteria/hemocyte). Food availability and reproductive state are the most probable explanations for the site differences observed. Finally, it appeared difficult to link oyster survival during summer mortality to hemocyte profiles evaluated at one sampling date; other relevant indicators would probably help explaining oyster survival during summer mortality events.     

Growth, fatness and gross biochemical composition of the Japanese oyster, Crassostrea gigas, in Stanway cylinders in the Bay of Arcachon, France

A new method of oyster cultivation, the Stanway oyster cylinder, has been investigated in the Bay of Arcachon since 1989. A comparative study was carried out between the growth of spat and 18-month-old Crassostrea gigas oysters, in cylinders and in traditional bags. The growth in height and in whole weight was lower in cylinders. In contrast, the tests showed a better quality of the meat, with higher condition index and higher carbohydrate content, and a better quality of the shell, with higher density and better shape. Therefore, because of the improvement in oyster quality, the use of the cylinder seems to be advantageous for the Arcachon oyster industry.