Effect of probiotic on reproductive performance in female livebearing ornamental fish

A probiotic bacterial strain, Bacillus subtilis, isolated from the intestine of Cirrhinus mrigala (Hamilton), was incorporated in fish feed at four different concentrations (5 × 10⁸ cells g⁻², 5 × 10⁷ cells g⁻², 5 × 10⁶cells g⁻¹ and 5 × 10⁵ cells g⁻¹) and fed to four species of livebearing ornamental fish, Poecilia reticulata (Peters), Poecilia sphenops (Valenciennes), Xiphophorus helleri (Heckel) and Xiphophorus maculatus (Gunther) for one year duration to observe the effect of dietary probiotic supplementation on their reproductive performance. Sixty virgin females of each species were stocked separately in circular FRP tanks (350 L) and fed diets with varying levels of probiotic cells and control feed. Broodstock performance was evaluated based on gonadosomatic index (GSI), fecundity and fry production of female broodstock. The results showed that supplementation of feed with probiotics increased significantly (P<0.05) the GSI, fecundity and fry production of spawning females and length and weight of fry in all the four species of fish. The number of dead and deformed fry were also significantly lower (P<0.05) in fish fed with the probiotic feeds. The use of higher concentration of the probiont in diet did not always lead to significantly improved reproductive performance of the spawners. Collectively, this study showed that female livebearers benefit from inclusion of probiotics in diet during their reproductive stages.     

In vitro steroidogenesis by gonads of the Russian sturgeon, Acipenser gueldenstaedti Brandt

Ovaries and testes from the Russian sturgeon at different stages of sexual maturity were incubated with ;sup3;H-androstenedione or ³H-pregnenolone. The major metabolites of androstenedione in both sexes were testosterone and 5- and 5ß-androstanediols, but no evidence was found for the gonadal production of 11-oxygenated androgens. Pregnenolone was converted to 17-hydroxyprogesterone, androstenedione and testosterone together with reduced metabolites. 11-Oxygenated androgens were found in female serum by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), in serum of both sexes by radioimmunoassay (RIA), and was detectable by RIA in interrenal but not gonadal tissue. The results suggest that sturgeon may differ from teleosts in that 11-oxygenation may take place in extragonadal tissues.     

In vitro steroidogenesis by testicular fragments and ovarian follicles in a hybrid sturgeon, Bester

In this study, developmental changes in the steroidogenic capacity of testicular fragments and isolated ovarian follicles of a hybrid sturgeon, Bester, at a variety stage of developments were examined. Testicular fragments or isolated ovarian follicles were incubated in L-15 medium in the presence or absence of different concentrations of five preparations; forskolin, human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG), pregnenolone (P₅), 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17OHP) and testosterone (T) for 18 h at 15 °C. After incubation, concentrations of 11-ketotestosterone (11 KT) (testis) and, 17-estradiol (E₂) (ovarian follicles) and 17,20-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one (DHP) (testis and ovarian follicles) were measured. 11KT was detected in the media following incubation with P₅, 17OHP and T. Its concentration was higher during late spermatogenesis and prespermiation and lower at the degeneration stage. Both P₅ and 17OHP were converted to DHP during the prespermiation stage. Forskolin had little stimulatory effect on the synthesis of 11KT and DHP and HCG did not induce the production of these steroids.E₂ was detected in the medium following incubation of follicles with P₅, 17OHP and T at all stages of oocyte development. The concentration of E₂ in the medium increased during vitellogenesis with the peak production occurring at the tertiary yolk stage. In contrast, the potencies of follicles to produce steroids shifted to the production of DHP during migratory nucleus stage. Forskolin and HCG had little effect on the synthesis of E₂ and DHP. These results demonstrated that the failure of spontaneous spermiation or ovulation is not due to the insufficient synthesis of DHP, but may due to the lack of availability of precursors.     

Melatonin, but not somatostatin-14 influences in vitro steroidogenesis by ovarian follicles of rainbow trout

Ovarian follicles taken from sexually maturing rainbow trout at the mid-vitellogenic stage of ovarian development were incubated in vitro in the presence or absence of melatonin or somatostatin-14 (SRIF-14) to determine whether there is evidence of a direct action of these factors on gonadal steroidogenesis in fishes. The steroidogenic capacity of the ovarian follicles was assessed by measuring testosterone (T) and 17-estradiol (E₂) release into the incubation medium, and by examining the steroid metabolites produced following incubation of follicles with radiolabelled steroid precursors.Melatonin appears to elicit a biphasic effect on steroidogenesis by in vitro rainbow trout ovarian follicles; at a concentration of 1 × 10^–3 M, melatonin stimulated basal T and E₂ production, but at a concentration of 1 × 10^–2 M there was an inhibition of basal and sGtH-stimulated T and E₂ Melatonin may act to reduce the activity of specific steroidogenic enzymes, since there was evidence of melatonin at 1 × 10^–2 M enhancing the accumulation of [³H]17-hydroxyprogesterone in the medium following incubation with [³H]pregnenolone, possibly suggesting the inhibition of C_17,20-lyase activity. In contrast, SRIF-14, used at concentrations of 1 × 10^–8 M and 1 × 10^–6 M, had no effect on basal or sGtH-stimulated E₂ or T production by ovarian follicles, incubated in vitro.     

盐度对中华绒螯蟹雌性亲蟹渗透压调节和酶活性的影响

设置2个盐度组(盐度12与25)和1个对照组(盐度为0),分别于第3、6、12、24、48、72、96和144小时取样,研究盐度对中华绒螯蟹(Eriocheir sinensis)雌性亲蟹渗透压调节和酶活性的影响,探讨亲蟹在长江口生殖洄游期间对盐度的适应性。结果表明,随着实验时间延长,盐度组亲蟹血清渗透压总体上呈现逐渐上升趋势;Na+与Cl-浓度总体表现为先上升后下降;盐度组亲蟹Na+-K+-ATPase活性先显著降低而后显著升高,第96小时升至较高水平,随后活性下降至对照组相近水平;碱性磷酸酶活性在肝胰腺中先下降后上升,而在血清中则先上升后下降。综合表明,亲蟹渗透压和离子水平总体上呈现先上升而后下降趋势,实验后期盐度组的亲蟹酶活性与对照组相近,揭示雌性亲蟹在短期内能较好地适应长江口盐度变化,其机体代谢回归相对平衡状态。     

Dietary fish oil replacement by soybean oil: Effect on plasma vitellogenin,sex steroids and ovarian steroidogenesis in Chinese strip‐necked turtles (Mauremys sinensis)

In order to investigate the effects of dietary fish oil replacement, the turtles (Mauremys sinensis) were fed four experimental diets for 10 months: FO (100% fish oil), FSO (70% fish oil and 30% soybean oil), SFO (30% fish oil and 70% soybean oil) and SO (100% soybean oil), sampled at pre‐vitellogenesis, vitellogenesis and post‐vitellogenesis. The results showed that plasma gonadotropin‐releasing hormone (GnRH) levels were the highest at pre‐vitellogenesis, which promoted the secretion of gonadotropin and sex steroids. Therefore, plasma luteinizing hormone (LH) and estrogen (E₂) levels were significantly increased at post‐vitellogenesis (p < 0.05), while follicle‐stimulating hormone (FSH) levels increased at vitellogenesis (p < 0.05). The FO and FSO groups had significantly higher GnRH and E₂ levels than the other two groups (p < 0.05). In addition, plasma vitellogenin (Vtg) levels significantly increased at vitellogenesis and post‐vitellogenesis (p < 0.05), which were significantly higher in the groups of FO and FSO than SO (p < 0.05). Moreover, the expression levels of hepatic estrogen receptor α (Erα) mRNA were significantly increased at vitellogenesis and post‐vitellogenesis while ovarian Cyp19α1α mRNA were significantly increased at post‐vitellogenesis (p < 0.05), and both were the lowest in SO. Taken together, the replacement of fish oil with 66.7% soybean oil is feasible.     

Changes in blood gonadotropin level in mature female carp following hypophysial homogenate injections

A hypophysial homogenate injection increased blood gonadotropin level in adult female carp and maintained it at that level for three days after injection.The blood gonadotropin level in adult female carp seems to be dependent on the physiological condition of the ovary expressed by the relation of old oocytes with a completed vitellogenesis process to the new ones, and the relation of the oocytes with the nucleus shifted to the periphery to those with a centrally placed nucleus.     

Effect of fish species combinations on water chemistry and plankton composition in earthen fish ponds

Fish-environment relationships in ponds with several different combinations of fish species are analysed. The study was carried out in 18 earthen fish ponds in a farm at Lohamei HaGetaot, Israel, during the 1986 fish culture season. Water was analysed for temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, ammonium, nitrite, nitrate, and phyto- and zooplankton. Factor analysis was applied to the physico-chemical and plankton datasets to identify respectively the main ecological processes and species groups in the ponds. The general linear model was applied to analyse the effect of fish species combination and month on the ecological and plankton factors identified. The main source of water quality variability was accounted for by three factors: pond loading (CHF1), oxygenation of the water (CHF2), and pH effect on the second step of nitrification (CHF3). The main source of variability in the plankton composition was due to presence or absence of a blue-green algal bloom (PLF1). Another four plankton factors were identified. Each factor was differently affected by the fish species combination in the pond and the month. The complex nets of interactions between common carp, tilapia and mullet, and how these fish in different cominations affect pond water quality and food webs are discussed.     

鱼饲料中添加鱼油的作用

鱼饲料中添加鱼油的作用夏传武（湖北省职工医学院,荆州市４３４０００）顾贫（湖北农学院,４３４１０３）油脂是饲料中的能量和维生素及必须脂肪酸的重要来源。发达国家普遍在饲料中添加油脂特别是鱼油来提高饲料效率。鱼油的价格与棕榈油、豆油、牛油近似,但使用效果...     

Further evidence of the equivocal effects of cortisol on in vitro steroidogenesis by ovarian follicles of rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss

Previous studies on salmonids have yielded equivocal results as to the role of cortisol in directly inhibiting ovarian steroidogenesis. In an effort to determine why this might be so, isolated ovarian follicles of rainbow trout were incubated with and without cortisol under varying conditions of gonadotropin or steroid precursor stimulation, incubation time and temperature. Cortisol at concentrations of 100–1000 ng ml–1 suppressed basal production of 17-estradiol (E2) in only 4 out of 20 experiments, had no effect on human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG)-stimulated production, and no suppressive effect on 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17P)-stimulated production in 14 experiments, but increased E2 production in response to 17P in 2 experiments. Cortisone had no effect on basal E2 production, suggesting that cortisol was unlikely to be exerting any effect indirectly after further metabolism. Extended incubation times at 12 °C resulted in overall decreased levels of E2 in incubation media, but this had no obvious effect on patterns generated by treatment with cortisol. Extended incubation at 18 °C did change the pattern of response to treatment with cortisol in 1 out of 3 experiments. All incubations examined produced substantial amounts of E2-glucuronide but this showed no obvious relationship to whether or not inhibition of E2 production by cortisol was observed. Effect of stress history was examined by incubating follicles from stressed or unstressed fish. In follicles from fish nearing the end of vitellogenesis, stress resulted in reduced production of both testosterone and E2 in response to hCG, but increased conversion of 17P to E2. The same effect was not observed in follicles from fish at an earlier stage of vitellogenesis. Measurement of E2 uptake by follicles from selected experiments showed that follicles contained considerable amounts of E2 and were potentially a sink for steroid produced during incubation. The experiments show that a consistent effect of cortisol on ovarian steroidogenesis remains elusive, but that stimulatory effects are as likely to occur as inhibitory effects. All responses are potentially further confounded by loss of free steroid from the medium by conjugation or absorption into the oocytes.     

鱼类网箱养殖对水环境的影响

随着我国鱼类网箱养殖业的发展，网箱养鱼的规模和密度越来越大。由于投喂饵料的利用率较低．未被利用饵料的沉积、漂移、降解以及养殖鱼类的代谢产物对养殖水域的环境产生了巨大的压力。本文就鱼类网箱养殖对水环境的污染问题作一简要概述。     

Effect of fish in rice-fish culture on the rice yield

Rice-fish culture, which means the simultaneous culture of rice and fish, is one of the best options to increase food production from limited land and is practiced in many countries in the world. Although many researchers and farmers believe that the rice yield is increased by fish farming in paddy fields, this hypothesis has never been fully tested. Here, we report ecological processes leading to higher rice yields in the rice-fish culture using crucian carp (Carassius complex), which have adapted to the paddy field ecosystem in Japan. We compare the rice-fish and rice-only plots in the experimental paddy field for biota, water quality, and rice yield. Coverage of duckweed and densities of zooplankton and benthic invertebrates in the rice-fish plots were lower than those in the rice-only plots, indicating that fish utilized them as food. NO₃–N concentration in the rice-fish plots was higher than that in the rice-only plots, indicating that the increase in NO₃–N concentration results from excretion of unutilized food nutrients by the fish. Consequently, rice yield in the rice-fish plots was 20% higher than that in the rice-only plots. The fertilizing effect of the fish excrement probably increased rice yield.     

盐度对中华绒螯蟹雌性亲蟹代谢的影响

测定了不同盐度(0,6,12,18,24)条件下,中华绒螯蟹(Eriocheir sinensis)雌性亲蟹的耗氧率、CO2排出率及NH3 N排泄率,并研究了其呼吸熵、氧氮比、代谢率及能源物质供能比随盐度的变化情况。结果表明,体质量为(55.59±6.24)g的中华绒螯蟹雌性亲蟹,在水温(16±1)℃条件下,盐度对其耗氧率及NH3 N排泄率影响显著(P<0.05)。在实验盐度范围内(0~24),其耗氧率及NH3 N排泄率均随盐度的升高而下降,CO2排出率及代谢率的变化趋势与耗氧率一致,且盐度为6的实验组亲蟹CO2排出率及代谢率均与对照组差异不显著(P>0.05),在盐度12~24范围内,亲蟹CO2排出率及代谢率均显著低于对照组(P<0.05);呼吸熵及氧氮比均变化不显著(P>0.05);能源物质以脂肪的供能比例最大,其次是碳水化合物,蛋白质的供能比例最小。分析认为,中华绒螯蟹雌性亲蟹在生殖洄游过程中主要以脂肪作为供能物质,代谢率与能量消耗逐渐降低。     

海蜇与鱼、虾、贝高产混养试验

利用26.7hm2池塘,通过接种单胞藻培养优势生物种群,使用有益微生物改良水质的方法,稳定和改善养殖生态环境,每hm2产海蜇6180kg、缢蛏5100kg、牙鲆360kg、对虾157.5kg,实现总产值416.7万元,利润252.8万元。     

Comparison of chemical, electrophoretic and in vitro digestion methods for predicting fish meal nutritive quality

Chemical, electrophoretic and in vitro digestion methods were compared with respect to predictions given regarding fish meal (FM) quality. FMs were manufactured by mixing a press-cake, with spray dried stickwater concentrate from the identical raw material, thereby providing samples containing different quantities of water-soluble protein (wsp). A low-temperature-dried FM was employed as a reference. Acquired chemical data for each of the FMs included amino acid analysis and proximal composition (protein, fat, ash, ammonia, titration, salt, moisture). Biological methods in rat (net protein utilization, NPU, biological value, BV, and true digestibility, TD), capillary electrophoresis (sodium dodecyl sulphate-capillary gel electrophoresis, SDS-CGE)) and an in vitro enzymatic assay (trinitrobenzene sulphonic acid-based closed system with rainbow trout enzyme extract) were used for further comparisons with FM wsp content. A high correlation ( R  = 0.97; P  < 0.001) between FM wsp content and titration volume was observed. In contrast to BV and NPU ( R  = 0.98; P  < 0.001), TD ( R  = 0.2; P  = 0.63) did not correlate with FM wsp. The peak area of a 50 kDa signal derived from SDS-CGE showed significant correlation ( R  = 0.98; P  < 0.001) with wsp content. The fish-based in vitro system provided correlations with wsp content with respect to predigestion ( R  = 0.97; P  < 0.0001) and post digestion ( R  = 0.77; P  < 0.03) and for enzymatic liberation of amino groups as post digestion minus predigestion ( R  = 0.97; P  < 0.0001) from the FM examined.     

Effect of organic fertilizer on plankton primary productivity in fish ponds

The effect of cattle organic fertilizer on plankton primary production and related variables was tested in six Bulgarian fish ponds situated close to the town of Plovdiv in Bulgaria. At the beginning of the experiment (16th of May 2004, about 10 days after filling with water) a suppression of plankton metabolism was observed and after that the ponds treated with manure demonstrated significantly higher productivity than the controls, especially during the transition to the autumn season when the water column was more regularly mixed. The other measured variables (Secchi disk readings, plankton chlorophyll-a and respiration, assimilation number per unit chlorophyll-a) did not show significant differences between the treated and control ponds.     

鱼类肠道菌群影响因子研究进展

肠道菌群在维持肠道健康、促进肠道发育、抵抗病原入侵、调节机体能量吸收和脂质代谢过程中均发挥重要作用。在鱼类学研究中,由于种类繁多、食性差异大、生存环境复杂多变,导致鱼类肠道菌群方面的研究面临巨大挑战。本文在总结常见鱼类肠道微生物组成的基础上,着重介绍了鱼类饵料组成、水环境因子、物种、基因型、发育阶段、养殖模式及投喂策略对鱼类肠道菌群影响的相关研究进展,并对目前研究中存在的问题进行了剖析,以期为鱼类肠道菌群研究提供一定的参考依据。