High-energy diets for white sturgeon, Acipenser transmontanus Richardson

Four diets formulated for salmon were fed to 0.11 kg white sturgeon, Acipenser transmontanus Richardson, for 8 weeks. Dietary compositions ranged from 258 to 402 g lipid kg⁻¹, 535–378 g protein kg⁻¹ and 22.7–14.4 g protein MJ⁻¹ gross energy.
Fish in all treatments grew rapidly, utilized the diets efficiently and had body compositions similar to what has been found in previous studies, but there were some dietary effects. Sturgeon fed the diet with the highest lipid content and lowest protein/energy ratio had lower ( P < 0.05) specific growth rate, feed efficiency, and liver moisture and protein contents, and 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase activity, but higher liver lipid contents than fish fed the other three diets. Condition factor, organ to body weight ratios, whole-body and plasma concentrations of protein, glucose and triglyceride, and liver glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, isocitrate dehydrogenase and malic enzyme activities did not differ significantly among dietary treatments. This suggests that white sturgeon subyearlings can utilize diets with high lipid contents (258–357 g kg⁻¹) to display good growth without major adverse effects on body composition and liver lipogenic enzyme activities.     

Morpho-physiological predictors of ovulatory success in white sturgeon,Acipenser transmontanus Richardson

Body length, oocyte diameter, germinal vesicle position, in vitro oocyte maturation response to progesterone, and plasma concentrations of progesterone, cortocosteroids, and 17α,20β-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one (17α,20β-diOHP) were examined in white sturgeon females prior to their spawning induction and correlated with their subsequent ovulatory response. The relationship between broodfish size and ovulatory success was insignificant. Responsive females had larger oocytes and elevated plasma concentrations of corticosteroids and 17α,20β-diOHP, but did not differ significantly from nonresponsive females in progesterone concentrations. Germinal vesicle position and in vitro oocyte maturation response exhibited the closest relationships with ovulation, and can be used as practical predictors of ovulation for hormonally induced spawning of white sturgeon.     

Confirmation of ovarian homogeneity in post-vitellogenic cultured white sturgeon,Acipenser transmontanus

Assessing stage of oocyte maturity in female sturgeon by calculating oocyte polarization index (PI) is a necessary tool for both conservation propagation managers and caviar producers to know when to hormonally induce spawning. We tested the assumption that sampling ovarian follicles from one section of one ovary is sufficient for calculating an oocyte PI representative of oocyte maturity for an individual animal. Short-wavelength near-infrared spectroscopy (SW-NIR) scans were performed on three positions per ovary for five fish prior to caviar harvest. Samples of ovarian follicles were subsequently taken from the exact location of the SW-NIR scans for calculation of oocyte PI and follicle diameter. Oocyte PI was statistically different though not biologically relevant within an ovary and between ovaries in four of five fish. Follicle diameter was statistically different but not biologically relevant within an ovary in three of five fish. There were no differences in follicle diameter between ovaries. No statistical differences were observed between SW-NIR spectra collected at different locations within an ovary or between ovaries. These results emphasize the importance of utilizing both oocyte PI measurement and progesterone-induced oocyte maturation assays while deciding when to hormonally induce spawning in sturgeon females.     

Dopaminergic influence on gonadotropin secretion in white sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus)

The effects of dopamine on the secretion of two sturgeon gonadotropins (stGTH I and stGTH II) in sexually mature male white sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) were evaluated. In Experiment I, sturgeon were given intraperitoneal injections of physiological saline (PS), dopamine (100 mg kg⁻¹), the gonadotropin releasing hormone analog D-Ala⁶-des-Gly¹⁰-GnRH ethylamide (GnRHA) (10 μg/kg⁻¹), and a combination of GnRHa and dopamine. Fish receiving only GnRHa had significantly higher (p < 0.05) concentrations of plasma stGTH I and stGTH II compared to fish receiving PS, dopamine, or a combination of GnRHa and dopamine. Two hours following its administration, dopamine was effective in decreasing plasma concentrations of both stGTHs that were previously elevated by GnRHa. Dopamine or PS administered by themselves did not alter plasma concentrations of either stGTH. In Experiment II, sturgeon injected intraperitoneally with a combination of GnRHa and pimozide had significantly higher (p < 0.05) concentrations of plasma stGTH I and stGTH II compared to males receiving GnRHa or pimozide alone. While this effect of GnRHAa + pimozide was observed in the spring, no such potentiation was seen in these fish during the summer (Experiment III). These results represent the first evidence of dopaminergic inhibition of GnRH-induced pituitary gonadotropin secretion in Chondrostean fish.     

Effects of feeding a high level of D-glucose on liver function in juvenile white sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus)

Juvenile white sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) were fed three isonitrogenous and isoenergetic diets containing either 35% D-glucose (HC), a mixture of 20% dextrin and 10% cellulose (MC), or 23% cellulose (LC), to investigate the effects of dietary carbohydrate on liver function. After 8-week feeding, body weight gain of fish fed the HC diet was consistently higher than that of fish fed the MC and LC diets, but was not significantly different from the MC-fed fish. Fish fed the HC diet had significantly (p < 0.05) higher feed efficiencies and liver glycogen concentrations than fish fed the MC and LC diets. Sturgeon were injected intravenously with 10 mg kg^-1 body weight of sulfobromophthalein (BSP) and post-injection blood taken from the caudal vein at 15, 30, 60, and 120 min. No significant differences in plasma BSP concentrations were found among the treatments at these times. Plasma hemoglobin and activities of aspartate and alanine aminotransferase were not affected by the diets. This study suggests that the HC diet does not adversely affect liver function or weight gain. Inclusion of high dietary levels of digestible and inexpensive carbohydrates in commercial sturgeon feeds seems promising, but long-term feeding trials should be conducted to confirm this assertion.     

Molecular species of collagen in muscular and vertebral parts of white sturgeon Acipenser transmontanus

The molecular species of collagen in the muscular and vertebral parts of white sturgeon Acipenser transmontanus were examined by biochemical techniques. Pepsin-solubilized collagens were prepared from these parts, and fractionated into major and minor collagen fractions by differential salt precipitation at acidic or neutral pH. Collagens contained in these fractions showed several features characteristic of fish type I and V collagens, respectively, in SDS-PAGE patterns and the amino acid compositions of both parts. These results suggest that at least two molecular species, corresponding to type I and V collagens, are distributed in the muscular and vertebral parts of white sturgeon.     

Evaluation of lethal and non-lethal sampling methods for the detection of white sturgeon iridovirus infection in white sturgeon, Acipenser transmontanus (Richardson)

Pectoral fin tissue of white sturgeon was investigated as a potential non-lethal sample source for the detection of white sturgeon iridovirus (WSIV) infection. Histopathology and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) results using fin tissue were compared with the standard lethal histopathology sampling method that utilizes head tissue. Tissues for each of the three sampling methods were collected weekly for 8 weeks from individual sturgeon undergoing an experimental cohabitation challenge with fish infected with the Abernathy isolate of WSIV. Non-lethal fin histopathological evaluation did not reveal infection during the first 3 weeks of sampling, while non-lethal PCR and the lethal method were variable. However, all three sampling methods were equally capable of identifying infection from 4 to 8 weeks post-exposure. Of the survivors tested, all were negative by PCR and the lethal method, and only one fish was identified as being positive by non-lethal fin histopathology. In another experiment, all three sampling methods were applied to asymptomatic WSIV carriers in a case study conducted at the Kootenai Tribal Sturgeon Conservation Hatchery. Results showed that both lethal and non-lethal fin histopathology were equally effective in detecting infection, but PCR was unable to identify this strain of WSIV. Depending on the virus isolate, these results suggest that non-lethal sampling of fin tissue (histopathology or PCR) is comparable with the lethal sampling method at identifying WSIV infection once infection is established, and under certain circumstances may provide an alternative to lethal sampling.     

Effects of feeding rates on growth performances of white sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) fries

Four 1‐week growth trials were conducted to determine the effects of feeding rates on the growth performances of white sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) fries 6–9 weeks after initiation of feeding. Six feeding rates with four replications were used in each of the four trials, and the feeding rates were 3.0–8.0, 2.0–7.0, 1.0–6.0 and 1.0–6.0% body weight (BW) per day in 1% increment, respectively. Number of fries per replicate and their initial BW (means ± SEM) were 60, 45, 30 and 30 and 2.8 ± 0.1, 4.5 ± 0.4, 8.5 ± 0.7 and 10.0 ± 0.7 g, respectively. The fries were kept at 18–19 °C and fed a commercial salmonid feed (488 g kg^?1 protein and 123 g kg^?1 fat). Mortality was low and unrelated to feeding rates. Final body weights, body weight increases, specific growth rates and feed efficiency were significantly (P < 0.05) affected by the feeding rates. Body moisture and lipid contents were significantly affected by feeding rates except body moisture content in trial II. Body protein contents were not affected by feeding rates except in trial III. Broken‐line analysis on specific growth rates indicated that the optimum feeding rates were 6.5 ± 0.4, 4.8 ± 0.2, 4.2 ± 0.1 and 3.8 ± 0.2% body weight per day, respectively, for white sturgeon fries 6–9 weeks after initiation of feeding.     

Effects of steroid hormones on in vitro oocyte maturation in white sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus)

The in vitro effects of several steroids on the maturation of intact white sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) ovarian follicles were investigated. At the highest concentration (1024 ng ml^–1 for the C21 steroids and 1139 ng ml^–1 for the C19 steroids), all of the C21 steroids tested, progesterone (P4), 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17OHP), 17,20-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one (17,20-P), 17,(20,21-trihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one 20-S), 11-deoxycortisol (S) and cortisol (F), as well as testosterone (T) induced germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD) at 14 and 22 h. At 6 h, only P4 and 17,20-P induced maturation at the highest concentration (1024 ng ml^–1). At 14 and 22 h, 11-deoxycortisol was the most potent steroid inducer of GVBD followed by P4, 17OHP, 17,20-P, and 20-S. The steroid 11-hydroxytestosterone (11OHT) was completely ineffective at all concentrations and exposure times. The C21 steroids induced oocyte maturation at concentrations ranging from 4 to 1024 ng ml^–1, whereas T induced GVBD at 225 to 1139 ng ml^–1. Calculation of the mean effective concentration that induced 50% GVBD (EC50) from the 22 h incubations revealed the following order of potencies: S > P4 > 17OHP > 17,20-P > 20-S >> F > T. These bioassay results, together with previous findings on the endogenous production of steroids by ovarian follicles from gonadotropin-primed females, indicate that more than one steroid has a biological role in the resumption of meiosis in sturgeon oocytes and provides empirical evidence for P4, 17OHP, S, 20-S, and 17,20-P as maturation-inducing steroids in white sturgeon.     

Whole-body concentrations of cortisol and sex steroids in white sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus, Richardson 1836) during early development and stress response

In general little is known about hormones and the ontogeny of the stress response in the early developmental stages of chondrostean fishes and in particular of white sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus, Richardson 1836). In this study, we measured for the first time cortisol and sex steroids (testosterone and estradiol) in eggs, larvae, post-larvae, and fry of white sturgeon by radioimmunoassay (RIA), to elucidate some endocrine aspects of its development. The cortisol, testosterone, and 17β-estradiol of maternal origin found in unfertilized eggs of white sturgeon probably regulate both growth and development of the embryo. Cortisol decreased after fertilization, whereas testosterone and 17β-estradiol did not significantly change. During the late stages of embryo development and immediately after hatching, endogenous production of cortisol and sexual steroids, respectively, occurred. Sex steroids may be physiological inducers of gonad sex differentiation in sturgeon. All steroids showed an increase 10 days post-hatch (dph), near the transition from an endogenous to an exogenous energy source. Cortisol maintained the same basal levels even after metamorphosis, whereas testosterone and 17β-estradiol declined significantly in post-larvae at 35 and 45 days post-hatch. In addition, to evaluate the ontogeny of a functional hypothalamic-pituitary-interrenal (HPI) axis, larvae and fry were submitted to acute stress. The HPI axis did not seem to be functional on the first day post-hatch, but became so from the third day post-hatch onward.     

Elimination of adhesiveness in eggs from the white sturgeon,Acipenser transmontanus: Chemical treatment of fertilized eggs

Chemical elimination of the adhesive jelly coat in live Acipenser transmontanus eggs was investigated. Following fertilization, urea/sodium chloride (NaCl) or sodium sulphite (Na₂SO₃) treatment followed by a tannic acid wash, successfully removed the adhesive layer. In hatchery incubators, urea/NaCl-tannic acid treatment resulted in an increase in the number of hatched larvae over Na₂SO₃-tannic acid treatment. This treatment resulted in a hatch at least as great as silt-treated control eggs. The decrease in manual labor and time required for de-adhesion of sturgeon eggs as well as the high percentage of hatched larvae indicate that the urea/NaCl treatment is superior to the manual silting method.     

Outbreaks of severe myositis in cultured white sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus L.) associated with Streptococcus iniae

Outbreaks of an infectious disease affecting cultured white sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) were investigated. Clinical signs included erratic swimming, arching of the back and mortality. Necropsy findings included poorly demarcated yellow to dark-red and friable lesions in the epaxial muscle, ulcerative skin lesions and haemorrhages in the swim bladder and coelomic wall. Histological evaluation revealed areas of necrotizing and heterophilic myositis with aggregates of bacterial cocci. The lumen of blood vessels in the dermis, under ulcerated areas, and in the posterior kidney, was occluded by fibrin thrombi. Aggregates of Gram-positive cocci were observed in the muscle lesions and within the fibrin thrombi in the dermis and kidney. Genetically homogeneous Streptococcus iniae strains were recovered from affected fish from different outbreaks. The isolates shared high degree of similarity at gene locus (gyrB) with previously characterized S. iniae from cultured fish in California, confirming the emergence of this particular strain of S. iniae in US aquaculture.     

Estimating the ideal dietary indispensable amino acid pattern for growth of white sturgeon, Acipenser transmontanus (Richardson)

Juvenile white sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus, Richardson) were fed or starved for 4 weeks, and their whole body amino acid composition determined at the beginning and the end of the study. The amino acid compositions of muscle, liver, gill and gastrointestinal tract, and the free amino acids in plasma of fed and starved fish were also determined. Very little variation was observed in the amino acid compositions of all the tissues examined after starvation. However, the plasma free amino acids were significantly (P < 0.05) decreased following starvation. On the basis of the amino acid composition and nitrogen retention values of the whole fish, daily indispensable amino acid requirements for protein accretion and obligatory nitrogen losses (mg amino acid 100 g body weighr^?1 day^?1) were estimated. The pattern of indispensable amino acids required for each of these is different, with the pattern for protein accretion containing much higher levels of lysine, but lower levels of tryptophan and sulfur amino acids. Individual amino acid retention rates varied from 33.3% of dietary tryptophan to 80.2% for arginine. The estimated dietary indispensable amino acid pattern for young growing white sturgeon (expressed as a percentage of total indispensable amino acids plus cystine and tyrosine) is: arginine, 14.0; histidine, 6.6; isoleucine, 8.8; leucine, 12.5; lysine, 15.8; methionine (plus cystine), 6.6; phenylalanine (plus tyrosine), 15.5; threonine, 9.7; tryptophan, 0.8; and valine, 9.7.     

Effects of Spirulina and plant oil on the growth and lipid traits of white sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) fingerlings

The aim of this research was to evaluate the efficiency of diets with Spirulina and plant oils (POs) inclusion for white sturgeon weaning and their effects on the fatty acid (FA) composition of fish flesh. Three isoproteic (45%) and isoenergetic (21 MJ kg^?1 DM) diets were formulated: one fish meal‐based diet integrated with fish oil (FMO) and two 40% Spirulina meal‐based diets integrated with corn (SPC) or soybean (SPS) oils respectively. One hundred and thirty‐five white sturgeon fingerlings (mean weight 17.5 g) were stocked randomly in nine fibreglass tanks. At the end of the trial, which lasted 71 days, the growth performance traits and somatic indexes were determined. The chemical composition, gross energy and FA profile were determined on the fish fillets. No significant effects were observed for the growth performances or fillet chemical composition. The FA profile of the fillets reflected those of the diets. In particular, the fillets of the fish fed with the SPC and SPS diets were lower in n‐3 FA, due to the substitution of fish oil (FO) with POs. It is possible to replace FO and meal in sturgeon; therefore, Spirulina meal integrated with POs could be a good alternative to sturgeon diet.     

盐度驯化下史氏鲟的血液学参数

测定了5个不同盐度梯度(0、10、20、25、28)下分别饲养14d和21d的史氏鲟血液生理学参数。结果表明:在不同的饲养时间下,红细胞总数(RBC)、红细胞压积(HCT)、血栓细胞总数(PLT)、血红蛋白浓度(HGB)均随盐度的升高逐渐减少,红细胞平均体积(MCV)、平均血红蛋白含量(MCH)随盐度的升高逐渐增加,平均血红蛋白浓度(MCHC)无显著变化,红细胞体积分布宽度(RDW)、白细胞总数(WBC)、淋巴细胞数(LYM)、单核细胞数(MON)、嗜酸性粒细胞数(EOS)、中性粒细胞含量(NEUT)、嗜碱性粒细胞含量(BASO)随盐度的增加先升高后下降。在相同的盐度条件下,红细胞总数(RBC)、血栓细胞总数(PLT)、平均血红蛋白含量(MCH)、平均血红蛋白浓度(MCHC)、嗜碱性粒细胞含量(BASO)随养殖天数的增加逐渐下降,其它血液指标随饲养时间的延长逐渐升高。白细胞分类计数(DLC)值显示,在不同的盐度条件下,白细胞中各类细胞比例依次为淋巴细胞(Lym)>单核细胞(Mon)>嗜中性粒细胞(Neut)>嗜碱性粒细胞(Baso)>嗜酸性粒细胞(Eos)。通过盐度驯化后血液生理学分析,史氏鲟具有较强的渗透调节能力,经过驯化可以在28的盐水中生存。     

Osmoregulation in juvenile Siberian sturgeon (Acipenser baerii)

The osmoregulation capabilities of juvenile Siberian sturgeon exposed to three experimental osmolalities (22, 250 and 387 mOsmol kg⁻¹) were studied over a 45-day period. Growth performance, haematological parameters, ion concentrations, gill and spiral valve Na⁺-K⁺-ATPase activities, as well as gill and spiral valve histology, were measured. At the end of the period, the plasma osmolality of fish kept in 250 and 387 mOsmol kg⁻¹ was higher than that of fish kept in 22 mOsmol kg⁻¹. Similar trends were observed in electrolyte concentrations. Spiral valve and gill Na⁺-K⁺-ATPase activity varied with exposure time and environmental salinity. Shortly after being transferred to hyperosmotic media, spiral valve Na⁺-K⁺-ATPase activity fell, while gill Na⁺-K⁺-ATPase activity remained constant. At the end of the experiment, gill Na⁺-K⁺-ATPase activities in fish kept in isosmotic and hyperosmotic media had increased in comparison to those of the control fish. Moreover, spiral valve Na⁺-K⁺-ATPase activities recovered and were similar to those recorded in fish kept in hyposmotic environments. Although some of the morpho-physiological mechanisms were operational in juvenile Siberian sturgeon in their adaptation to hyperosmotic media, fish cannot be considered hyperosmotic regulators as they were unable to maintain their plasma osmolality and electrolyte equilibrium in salinities higher than 250 mOsmol kg⁻¹. This suggests that the culture of juvenile Siberian sturgeon in brackish environments is unlikely to be successful. However, our data indicate that in natural environments, juvenile Siberian sturgeon in migratory populations (Ob and Lena Rivers) would be able to migrate successfully into estuarine brackish grounds with a salinity of up to 9%. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.