Effects of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Euphorbia hirta</Emphasis> plant leaf extract on growth performance,hematological and organosomatic indices of hybrid catfish, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Clarias macrocephalus </Emphasis>× <Emphasis Type="Italic">C. gariepinus</Emphasis>

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of Euphorbia hirta leaf extract on the growth performance, hematological and organosomatic indices of hybrid catfish, Clarias macrocephalus?×?C. gariepinus. The fish were treated with 0 (control), 300, 500 and 800 mg/kg (ppm) for 90 days. The weight gain, average daily growth rate, and specific growth rate were at significantly higher levels in fish from all the treatment groups on days 75 and 90, while the feed efficiency and protein efficiency ratio were consistently higher in fish from all the treatment groups from day 60 up until day 90. The feed conversion rate significantly decreased from day 60 until day 90 in all treatment groups when compared with the control group, and the survival rate was significantly different from day 30 until day 90; a consistently higher rate was observed in fish fed 800 mg/kg. The highest viscerosomatic index and intraperitoneal fat were observed in the group fed 500 mg/kg (p?<?0.05). The hepatosomatic index was significantly increased alongside increasing levels of E. hirta extract. The total white blood cell count in the control group was significantly higher on day 30, but on day 90 all the treatment groups showed higher levels. Hematocrit percentage was significantly different on days 30 and 90. Lymphocyte, eosinophil and thrombocyte levels were shown to be significantly different (p?<?0.05) when different groups of fish were compared. In conclusion, 300 mg/kg of E. hirta leaf extract could improve growth performance, hematological and some organosomatic indices in hybrid catfish.     

Biochemical properties of the sensitivity to GABA<Subscript>A</Subscript>ergic ligands,Cl<Superscript>−</Superscript>/HCO<Subscript>3</Subscript><Superscript>−</Superscript>-ATPase isolated from fish (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Cyprinus carpio</Emphasis>) olfactory mucosa and brain

This paper presents a comparative study of the roles of Cl^? and HCO₃ ^? in the functioning of the GABA_AR-associated Cl^?/HCO₃ ^?-ATPase of the plasma membranes of the olfactory sensory neurons (OSNs) and mature brain neurons (MBNs) of fish. The ATPase activity of OSNs and its dephosphorylation were increased twofold by Cl^?(15–30 mmol l^?1), whereas the enzyme from MBNs was not significantly affected by Cl^?. By contrast, HCO₃ ^?(15–30 mmol l^?1) significantly activated the MBN enzyme and its dephosphorylation, but had no effect on the OSN ATPase. The maximum ATPase activity and protein dephosphorylation was observed in the presence of both Cl^?(15 mmol l^?1)/HCO₃ ^?(27 mmol l^?1) and these activities were inhibited in the presence of picrotoxin (100 μmol l^?1), bumetanide (150 μmol l^?1), and DIDS (1000 μmol l^?1). SDS-PAGE revealed that ATPases purified from the neuronal membrane have a subunit with molecular mass of ~?56 kDa that binds [³H]muscimol and [³H]flunitrazepam. Direct phosphorylation of the enzymes in the presence of ATP-γ-³²P and Mg²⁺, as well as Cl^?/HCO₃ ^? sensitive dephosphorylation, is also associated with this 56 kDa peptide. Both preparations also showed one subunit with molecular mass 56 kDa that was immunoreactive with GABA_AR β3 subunit. The use of a fluorescent dye for Cl^? demonstrated that HCO₃ ^?(27 mmol l^?1) causes a twofold increase in Cl^? influx into proteoliposomes containing reconstituted ATPases from MBNs, but HCO₃ ^? had no effect on the reconstituted enzyme from OSNs. These data are the first to demonstrate a differential effect of Cl^? and HCO₃ ^? in the regulation of the Cl^?/HCO₃ ^?-ATPases functioning in neurons with different specializations.     

Cloning,expression, and induction by 17-β estradiol (E<Subscript>2</Subscript>) of a vitellogenin gene in the white cloud mountain minnow <Emphasis Type="Italic">Tanichthys albonubes</Emphasis>

Vitellogenins (Vtgs), the precursors for the yolk proteins, are very important for the embryonic development of teleosts, and have also been studied extensively as biomarkers for environmental estrogenic mimics. The cDNA for a Vtg was isolated from the liver of the female white cloud mountain minnow (Tanichthys albonubes) by 3′- and 5′-RACE methods. It is 4,171 bp in full length, and encodes a putative protein of 1,326 amino acids. This putative Vtg, designated as wcmmVtg, contains complete portions of LVI and PV, but lacks the C-terminal half of LVII and thus belongs to type I vitellogenin. In addition to the liver of the female fish, wcmmVtg was also shown to be expressed in the ovary. During ovarian development, the mRNA expression of wcmmVtg in both the liver and ovary was continuously increased from the previtellogenic to late vitellogenic stages, but then decreased significantly at post-spawning stage. In the male fish, expression of wcmmVtg mRNA was induced in the liver by treatment with E₂ (10 and 100 ng/l) for 14 days. These results suggest that the Vtg originated from the ovary of the white cloud mountain minnow may also contribute to the accumulation of yolk proteins during oocyte growth, and that the male white cloud mountain minnow is sensitive to the estrogenic treatment in terms of Vtg mRNA expression, which could also be applied to monitor the environmental estrogenic mimics.     

Effects of replacing fish meal with rubber seed meal on growth,nutrient utilization,and cholesterol metabolism of tilapia (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Oreochromis niloticus</Emphasis> × <Emphasis Type="Italic">O. aureus</Emphasis>)

A feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of replacing fish meal with rubber seed meal (RSM) on growth, nutrient utilization, and cholesterol metabolism of tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus × Oreochromis aureus). Five experimental diets were formulated with 0, 150, 300, 450, and 600 g kg^?1 RSM replacing graded levels of fish meal, respectively. Each diet was randomly assigned to triplicate groups of 25 fish (initial average weight 65.3 g) per aquarium in a rearing system maintained at 29 ± 1 °C for 8 weeks. Dietary 150 g kg^?1 RSM inclusion did not affect the weight gain and daily growth coefficient, whereas these were depressed by a further inclusion. Additionally, feed efficiency ratio and protein efficiency ratio were not affected by dietary RSM inclusion regardless of inclusion level. However, the inclusion of 450 and 600 g kg^?1 RSM decreased the mid-intestinal trypsin, lipase, and amylase activities; the hepatic acyl-CoA/cholesterol acyl transferase; low-density lipoprotein receptor; and 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-CoA reductase activities. Similarly, dietary 600 g kg^?1 RSM inclusion inhibited the plasma catalase and hepatic glutathione peroxidase activities. These results indicated that 150 g kg^?1 RSM can be included in tilapia diets, whereas higher inclusion of RSM inhibited the growth rate, digestive enzyme activity, antioxidant capacity, and cholesterol metabolism.     

PGF<Subscript>2α</Subscript> and gonadal steroid plasma levels of successful and unsuccessful spawning <Emphasis Type="Italic">Piaractus mesopotamicus</Emphasis> (Teleostei,Characiformes) females

Gonadal steroid and prostaglandin F₂α (PGF_2α) plasma levels were evaluated in successfully (SP) and unsuccessfully ovulated (UN) female Piaractus mesopotamicus. Forty-one females were injected with crude carp pituitary extract (0.6 and 5.4 mg kg^?1 with a 24-h interval between the doses) and sampled to determine the plasma concentration of 17β-estradiol (E₂), 17α-hydroxyprogesterone (17α-OHP), 17α,20β-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one (DHP), PGF_2α, and testosterone (T) after each injection (first—A1 and second—A2), and at the time of ovulation for SP and UN. Two clusters were obtained using multivariate analysis: 1—composed of all A1, all A2, and some UN; and 2—composed of all SP and some UN. Median values of E₂ plasma levels were similar between clusters; however, plasma levels of T, 17α-OHP, DHP, and PGF_2α of cluster 2 (predominantly formed by SP) were higher than those of cluster 1. Since cluster 2 contained all SP and females of this cluster presented higher levels of PGF_2α, T, 17α-OHP, and DHP, here we evidently shown in an unprecedented manner that concomitant increased levels of these substances were associated with successful ovulation in this species, but such an increase was not determinant for successful ovulation due to the presence of some UN females in the same cluster 2. These findings highlight the unexplored potential of PGF_2α to be used as an accessory tool for inducing successful ovulation for fish farming purposes.     

Dietary ascorbic acid influences the intestinal morphology and hematology of hybrid sorubim catfish (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Pseudoplatystoma reticulatum</Emphasis> × <Emphasis Type="Italic">P. corruscans</Emphasis>)

This study evaluated the effect of graded levels of dietary ascorbic acid (AA) (12.47, 20.27, 115.44, 475.50, 737.72, and 850.70 mg kg^?1) on growth, hematology, intestinal morphometry, and phagocyte activity of hybrid sorubim Pseudoplatystoma reticulatum × Pseudoplatystoma corruscans. Fish (n = 420, 14.57 ± 2.71 g, 15.11 ± 0.90 cm) were distributed in 30 polyethylene tanks (80 l) (5 replicates per treatment with 14 fish per tank) and fed for 45 days. Dietary treatment did not have a significant effect on growth metrics (P > 0.05). Fish fed 737.72 mg AA kg^?1 had a higher villi height (289.80 ± 19.96 μm) (P < 0.05) than fish fed 850.70 mg AA kg^?1 (245.4 ± 18.25 μm). Hemoglobin in fish fed 850.70 mg AA kg^?1 (5.34 ± 0.96 g dl^?1) was higher (P < 0.05) than fish fed 12.47 mg AA kg^?1 (3.42 ± 0.55 g dl^?1) and 20.27 mg AA kg^?1 (3.06 ± 1.26 g dl^?1). The erythrocyte number of hybrid sorubim fed 115.40 mg AA kg^?1 (1.73 ± 0.27 × 10⁶ μl^?1) and 475.50 mg AA kg^?1 (1.70 ± 0.28 × 10⁶ μl^?1) were higher (P < 0.05) than in those fed diets containing 20.27 mg AA kg^?1 (1.11 ± 0.34 × 10⁶ μl^?1). There was no significant effect (P > 0.05) of dietary AA on leukocyte and thrombocyte and on phagocyte activity and phagocyte index. Inclusion of AA in feed seems to increase the integrity of the intestinal mucosa and stimulate erythropoiesis in hybrid sorubim catfish.     

Purification and characterization of α<Subscript>1</Subscript>-proteinase inhibitor and antithrombin III: major serpins of rainbow trout (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Oncorhynchuss mykiss</Emphasis>) and carp (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Cyprinus carpio</Emphasis>) blood plasma

The main serine proteinase inhibitors of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchuss mykiss) and common carp (Cyprinus carpio) blood plasma were isolated and purified. The investigated inhibitors, α₁-proteinase inhibitor (α₁-PI) and antithrombin III (AT III), act by forming stable complexes with target proteinases. The association rate constants k _on for the interaction of fish plasma inhibitors with several serine proteinases have been determined: k _on for both carp and rainbow trout α₁-PI were >10⁷ M⁻¹ s⁻¹ for human neutrophil elastase, and in the case of bovine trypsin and chymotrypsin k _on values were 2.0–5.2 × 10⁶ M⁻¹ s⁻¹. Association rate constants k _on for the interaction of carp and rainbow trout AT III with bovine trypsin and thrombin were about 1.3 × 10⁴–7.9 × 10⁵ M⁻¹ s⁻¹ without and >10⁷ M⁻¹ s⁻¹ in presence of heparin; so antithrombins require the presence of heparin to become effective proteinase inhibitors. The high degree of homology of the estimated amino acid sequences of fish inhibitors reactive site loops confirms their similarity with other proteinase inhibitors from the serpin family.     

Growth of giant tiger prawn, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Penaeus monodon</Emphasis> Fabricius,under co-culture with a discarded filamentous seaweed, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Chaetomorpha ligustica</Emphasis> (Kützing) Kützing,at an aquarium-scale

Growth of juvenile giant tiger prawn, Penaeus monodon Fabricius, was evaluated at an aquarium-scale in co-culture with a discarded filamentous seaweed, Chaetomorpha ligustica (Kützing) Kützing. Juveniles at different ages in days were examined, designated as J 16, J 44, J 58, J 93 and J 128, where a 1-day-old juvenile (J 1) is equivalent to a 20-day-old post-larva (PL 20)). Juveniles at every age group grazed directly on live C. ligustica, even those fed an artificial shrimp diet to satiation. Mean specific growth rate (SGR: % day⁻¹) was higher in early age juveniles. Compared to mono-culture, significant differences in growth were observed at J 16 (4.44% day⁻¹) and J 44 (1.60% day⁻¹); however, no significant differences were recorded at J 58 (1.16% day⁻¹), J 93 (0.75% day⁻¹) or J 128 (0.45% day⁻¹). It was concluded that co-culture of giant tiger prawn with C. ligustica has a dietary advantage, especially in early age juveniles.