Lactate dehydrogenase isozymes in the trunk and cardiac muscles of an antarctic teleost fish,Notothenia neglecta Nybelin

The distribution and kinetics of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) isozymes in the red and white trunk muscles, and cardiac muscle of an antarctic teleost fish (Notothenia neglecta Nybelin) have been studied. Pyruvate inhibition of LDH in all three muscle types is very low, being less than 50% even at a concentration of 60mM pyruvate. Activity versus pyruvate concentration profiles are not significantly different for LDH in all three muscle types. The Michaelis constant (Km) for pyruvate was not significantly different for all three LDH's. Raising the assay temperature caused an increase in Km of similar form in all three muscle types, while Km was lowest at the lowest assay temperature (–1°C). When samples were run on a polyacrylamide gel, the bands stained specifically for LDH activity appeared at identical positions as those of the H2M2 band of the standards.It would appear therefore that the LDH isozyme found in the red and white trunk muscle ofN. neglecta is identical to that in cardiac muscle. This fact is discussed in relation to the physiological ecology of antaretic fishes, and the metabolic constraints imposed by their habitat, including their apparent low capacity for utilising glycolytic fuels.     

Fatty acid composition of the ingested food only slightly affects physicochemical properties of liver total phospholipids and plasma membranes in cold-adapted freshwater fish

The fatty acid content, fatty acid molecular species composition, and fluidity of phospholipid vesicles and plasma membranes of livers of fish feeding on phytoplankton (silver carp, Hypophthalmichtys molitrix), zooplankton, (big head carp, Hypophtalmitrix nobilis), higher plants, (grass carp, Ctenopharyngodon idella), and omnivorous fish, (common carp, Cyprinus carpio), adapted to reduced temperatures, was determined. Levels of long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) were highest in silver and big head carp and lowest in common carp. Differences in long chain PUFAs were poorly reflected in fluidity, determined either by fluorescence anizotropy of 1,6-diphenyl 1,3,5-hexatriene or rotational correlation time of 16-doxyl- stearic acid, of phospholipid vesicles. Phospholipid vesicles of C. caripo and C. idella proved to be slightly more rigid than of H. molitrix and H. nobilis below ca. 15 °C. These differences were not seen with isolated plasma membranes assessed with 1,6-diphenyl 1,3,5-hexatriene. Using electron spin resonance spectroscopy plasma membranes from H. molitrix proved to be more fluid than those from C. carpio below ca. 15 °C. Phosphatidylethanolamines were abundant in 1-monounsaturated, 2-polyunsaturated (18:1/22:6, 18:1/20:4) species with H. molitrix and H. nobilis more rich in these species than C. carpio and C. idella. It is suggested that differences in fluidities of phospholipid vesicles below 15 °C is due to differences in levels of the above molecular species. In native membranes these differences may be masked by proteins and other membrane components. It is also suggested that it is not the fatty acid composition of the ingested food but the specific response of the fish to temperature that is the most important factor controlling the physicochemical properties of membranes during thermal adaptation.     

Developmental changes in structure and polypeptide profile of the androgenic gland of the freshwater prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii

Although the mechanism of sex-differentiation in crustaceans has yet to be defined, the androgenic gland (AG) is thought to be the exclusive organ that produces the androgenic hormone (AH) which induces male sexual development. This paper presents results of light and transmission electron microscopy and total protein analysis of androgenic glands from three male morphotypes (orange-claw, orange-blue-claw and blue-claw) of the freshwater prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii. Highest protein content (76 µg//AG) was found in the blue-claw morphotype as compared to the orange-blue-claw (45 µg/AG) and the orange-claw morphotype (19 µg/AG). Sodiumdodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-page) analysis of the cell free extract of the AG from the three morphotypes revealed four polypeptides (16, 18, 23 and 26 Kd) which quantitatively increase from the sexually immature orange-claw to the sexually mature blue-claw morphotype. The 16 and 18 Kd polypeptides could be the AHs.     

Effect of gelatinized wheat and maize in diets for large Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) on glycogen retention, plasma glucose and fish health

This publication reports on analytical data from a large-scale experiment, using 3360 Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., distributed into 12 sea cages. Salmon were grown from an average 600 g to an average 3.5 kg. Samples for analyses were taken when fish were in the range of 1.8 and 3.5 kg. Dietary changes between groups were increased starch from 24 to 230 g kg^?1 and balanced with protein. The diets were isolipic. All salmon showed small stores of glycogen in all analysed organs, and only in heart, gills and kidney of large fish (3.5 kg) were the levels correlated with dietary starch. Minor differences between groups were found in liver NADPH production, but with substantially decreased NADPH production per g protein as the fish grew from 1.8 to 3.5 kg, indicating that increasing dietary starch did not lead to induction of liver hexokinase, and that the activity of this enzyme may decline as fish size increases. An increase in plasma glucose concentrations was found as dietary starch increased, but all levels were moderate and ranged within reference values. Plasma total protein concentrations did not, however, vary according to decreased dietary protein, but increased substantially in all groups as the fish grew from 1.8 to 3.5 kg. Dietary treatments had no influence on haematological parameters, except for decreased haemoglobin concentrations as dietary starch increased in large fish (3.5 kg). No impared liver function was detected, evaluated by activities of ASAT, ALAT and LDH, and by histological analyses. Low serum lysozyme activities were recorded in all groups, and were not correlated with plasma glucose or liver glycogen concentrations.     

秋季东海北部和黄海南部沙海蜇资源分布及其与底层温盐度的关系

根据2006～2009年秋季在东海北部和黄海南部对沙海蜇(Nemopilema nomurai)和温盐度的同步监测数据,对秋季沙海蜇的资源分布特点及其和底层温盐度的关系进行了研究。结果表明:秋季东海北部和黄海南部沙海蜇的高生物分布区主要集中在以下3个海域:(1)南黄海西侧浅水海域;(2)南黄海中央深水区(32°30'N～34°00'N、123°00'E～124°30'E);(3)大沙和长江口外海水域。前2个高生物量分布区某些年份会连成一片,第二个高生物量区基本上每年都会出现,第三个高生物量区某些年份可能不会出现。结合底层温盐度的分布特征,可以看出:沙海蜇高生物量区主要出现在黄海冷水团的前缘或冷暖水团的交汇处,且在冷暖水团的交汇处,更易形成高生物量聚集。而在暖水团控制的海域内,其生物量较低,在垂直分布上,沙海蜇可能主要活动区域在30 m以深的水温相对较低(低于15℃)且变化幅度较小、盐度处于中盐水平(32.0～33.5)的水体内。