Induced Spawning of Striped Snakehead,Channa striatus,Using Ovatide

ABSTRACT

An experiment was investigated to evaluate the effects of different doses of a new spawning agent Ovatide on induced spawning of striped snakehead, Channa striatus. Nine matured females with swollen abdomen and 18 male fishes with body weights ranging from 750 to 900 g, were randomly assigned to three treatment groups. Fishes in each group were administered 0.2, 0.4, and 0.6 mL of Ovatide/kg body weight, respectively. Each breeding set consists of two males and one female. Partial spawning response was observed when the fishes were administered with 0.2 mL/kg BW of Ovatide. Complete spawning was noticed in the medium (0.4 mL/kg BW) and higher (0.6 mL/kg BW) dose administered groups. The latency period and number of eggs spawned ranged from 23 to 27 hours and 1,764 to 7,096, respectively. No significant difference (P > 0.05) was noticed in the fertilization and hatching rate between the medium and higher doses of Ovatide tested. Thus, C. striatus could be successfully induced to spawn using a synthetic gonadotropin-releasing hormone with a dopamine antagonist at the dose of 0.4 mL/kg BW under captive conditions at 29 ± 1.5°C.     

Nauplii Production from Wild,Cultivated, and Mixed Populations of Blue Shrimp,Penaeus stylirostris

ABSTRACT

Due to the low nauplii production of cultivated broodstock, and to reduce the dependence on the wild stock, an experiment was carried out with 400 adult blue shrimp, Penaeus stylirostris, from wild and cultivated (F6) populations. Four treatments, each in duplicate, were applied: (1) wild females and males (W-W); (2) wild females and cultivated males (W-C); (3) cultivated females and wild males (C-W); and (4) cultivated females and males (C-C). More than 300 individual spawns were monitored to evaluate the egg and nauplii production per female. Mixed model ANOVA for factorial arrangements (4 × 3 × 2³ and 3 × 2³) were conducted. The factors considered besides the treatments were: rematuration (number of successive spawnings for a female), ovarian maturity, integrity of the spermatophore attached (complete spermatophore, “wings,” or “remnant”) and condition of spawning (partial or complete). The introduction of both wild females and males was a successful measure to improve the overall egg and nauplii production. Both mixed populations outperformed the cultivated broodstock, but were inferior to the wild stock (average production of eggs and nauplii: W-W-l 12,713 and 34,682, respectively; W-C-l 13,215 and 22,038, respectively; C-W-82,702 and 11,715, respectively; C-C-66,948 and 7,653, respectively). Populations with wild females produce a larger number of eggs, and wild males contribute to higher hatching rates. Other observations indicate the need to select for spawning only those females showing an advanced degree of ovarian maturity, having a complete spermatophore attached to the thelycum, and spawning completely.     

Effects of feeding rate and dietary protein levels on the breeding performance of female yellow catfish (Pelteobagrus fulvidraco)

Nutritional components and feeding strategies are multifarious amongst different producers, whereas they are just designed for fish farming but not suitable for improving the reproductive performance of broodfish. Yellow catfish (Pelteobagrus fulvidraco), an omnivorous species, is one of the important aquaculture fish in China. In order to improve the reproductive performance of female yellow catfish (119.86—134.54 g), four feeding strategies (0.5%, 0.75%, 1% and 1.5% BW/d) and three dietary protein levels (34%, 40% and 46%) were examined, respectively, in the two separate trials. The females with moderate feed restriction (1%) showed significant lower mesenteric fat index (MFI) and higher gonadosomatic index (GSI) than the satiation group (1.5%) and excessive feeding restriction groups (0.5% and 0.75%). Females with high MFI were difficult to be artificially propagated and showed a high mortality rate, whilst the fish at 1.0% feeding rate displayed low mortality rate and high ratios of spawned fish, as well as high percentages of fertilization and hatching. Meanwhile, the offspring of 1.0% feeding rate group showed a low malformation rate and high survival rate. Multiple spawning in the same breeding season are applied in yellow catfish to reduce the number of parent fish and increase the fry production, and gonadal recrudescence after spawning might be affected by different nutrient values including dietary protein levels. In the second trail, female yellow catfish were fed with 34%, 40% and 46% crude protein diet at 1% feeding rate for the second spawning, and the best reproductive and breeding performances were observed in the fish group with 46% crude protein diet. These results demonstrate that 1% feeding rate is optimum for the spawning and reproductive performance of female yellow catfish for the first artificial spawning, and 46% dietary protein group had the best reproductive performances in the second spawning.     

Effects of breeder reuse on the reproductive potential of the signal crayfish (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Pacifastacus leniusculus</Emphasis> Dana. Astacidae) in culture

The aim of this work was to evaluate the reproductive potential of the signal crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusculus Dana) in the second cycle under culture conditions. The experiment was carried out using 5,653 animals placed in six earthen ponds in August. Three treatments were performed, each in two ponds: breeder reuse (males and females used in the former reproductive cycle), female reuse (new males from the wild and females used in the former reproductive cycle) and new breeders (males and females from the wild). In April, close to hatching, egg-bearing females were transferred to the hatchery. Mortality of the reused breeders (around 30% of females and 41.4% of males) was significantly higher than that of the new breeders (11.4% of females and around 19.5% of males). The proportion of berried females close to hatching was significantly higher for the new ones (77.4% of the initial number), and the percentage of new females with a large quantity of eggs (63.6%) was higher than that of the reused females (25.6 and 20.9%). Differences among the percentages of females without eggs in the new breeders (11.2%) and the rest of the treatments (30.7 and 39.6%) were significant. The reproductive capacity of reused females was not improved by providing new males. Considering the number of females initially stocked into ponds, mean yield per new female was greater than that of the reused females, mainly due to the higher mortality recorded in the reused broodstock. Although the yield that can be obtained using the same breeders in two reproductive cycles drops in the second one, the production was not negligible.     

Spawning Frequency Analysis of Wild and Pond-Reared Pacific White Shrimp Penaeus vannamei Broodstock under Large-Scale Hatchery Conditions

Second generation Penaeus vannamei broodstack, pond-reared and wild populations, were compared for spawning frequency and several variables associated with reproductive performance. For this purpose, 470 pond-reared and 237 wild-caught individually tagged females were stocked with males of the same origin in ten maturation tanks in a commercial hatchery, and several productivity variables were recorded over time. Results of the analysis indicate that wild shrimp had higher mating and spawning frequencies compared to pond-reared broodstock. The number of nauplii per spawn was higher for wild shrimp, but fertilization and hatching rates were higher for pond-reared spawners. A larger proportion of nonmating females were found in pond-reared shrimp; whereas, wild females had a higher potential for multiple matings. The spawn quality (fertilization and hatching rates, percentage of viable spawns, and number of nauplii) in consecutive matings did not decline substantially. The present study indicates that selection of females with multiple spawning capabilities can be an important commercial strategy to improve nauplii production over the short term. Pond-reared broodstock can be an adequate source for applying this strategy because of their year-round availability and an overall acceptable reproductive performance.     

The effect of unilateral eyestalk ablation and diet on the reproductive performance of wild-caught Farfantepenaeus aztecus (Ives, 1891) using a closed recirculating maturation system

Two studies were conducted to evaluate the effects of unilateral eyestalk ablation and diet on the reproductive performance of wild populations of Farfantepenaeus aztecus. In both studies, females in two treatments were unilaterally ablated while those in the control treatment were not. Shrimp in the non‐ablated treatment and one of the unilaterally ablated treatments received frozen bloodworms (8% BW day⁻¹) and frozen squid (12% BW day⁻¹). The bloodworm component of the diet of the third unilateral ablation treatment was replaced with frozen adult enriched Artemia sp. Ablated female population spawning per night, in both studies, was higher than non‐ablated spawning (8.5 and 8.9 vs. 2.6%; 7.4 and 7.5 vs. 2.7% respectively; P<0.05). Replacement of bloodworms with adult enriched Artemia sp. had no negative effect on the number of eggs spawned per ablated female (124 000 vs. 115 000 eggs spawn⁻¹; 144 000 vs. 151 000 eggs spawn⁻¹ respectively; P>0.05). The life span of ablated females fed adult enriched Artemia sp. was 8 and 40 days longer than ablated females fed bloodworms for the first and second studies respectively. Replacement of bloodworms with adult enriched Artemia sp. resulted in higher hatch and larval survival rates (Nauplius 1 to Zoea 1) (55.0% vs. 46.9% and 44.8% vs. 37.2%), respectively, P<0.05.     

Reproductive biology of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Sillago aeolus</Emphasis> in Okinawa Island,Japan

ABSTRACT:   A total of 414 fish (female, 59.3–275.0 mm and male, 61.0–220.0 mm standard length) were collected from December 2000 to March 2002 around Okinawa Island, Japan, for the determination of sex, spawning season, maturity and fecundity. Monthly changes in the gonadosomatic index (GSI) exhibited similar trends for both sexes and the mean GSI maintained a high level between February and May. Furthermore, the percentage frequency of hydrated oocytes and the spermatozoic activity suggested that main spawning occurred between February and May. Some hydrated oocytes were found throughout the year, with a GSI value greater than 1.0, suggesting that sporadic spawning occurred. Length at first maturity was determined for females and males as 120 and 113 mm standard length, respectively. Almost 50% and 100% males were matured at the end of their 0 and 1 year of age group, respectively. In contrast, no females were found to be mature at 0+ age group, and almost 60% of females were mature at 1+ age group. At ages over 2 years, all males and females were found to be mature. Batch fecundity (BF) of 33 females was related to standard length, and the relationship between standard length and BF was expressed by the exponential equation: BF = 269.5e^0.020954SL.     

Effects of Dietary Protein Levels on Gonad Maturation, Size and Age at First Maturity, Fecundity and Growth of Nile Tilapia

Six-week-old Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) fry with an average weight (SD) of 0.51(0.2) g were reared for 140 days on five formulated, isocaloric diets of different protein levels (25, 30, 40 and 45% by dry weight). Fish fed diets of higher protein levels (40 and 45%) showed better growth and feed conversion ratio than those on lower protein levels. Fast-growing fish matured earlier. Maturation rate was affected by the dietary protein levels. Males matured earlier than females: the first mature males were recorded when they were 14 weeks old, whereas the females matured after 18 weeks. In both sexes, mean percentage of mature fish rose with increasing dietary protein level, the percentage of mature males being higher than that of the females. Similarly, the percentage of mature fish rose with the increasing age of fish, with more than 50% males and females mature at the age of 22 and 24 weeks, respectively, the exception being the 25% protein diet fed fish, where the percentage of mature fish was below 50%. In all treatments, spawning was initiated when the fish were 22 weeks old. Smallest size at spawning of males and females was 9.2 cm (13.1 g) and 8.1 cm (8.9 g), respectively, and dietary protein levels influenced the size of fish at first maturity. For both sexes, no difference was found in the gonado-somatic index (GSI) among different treatments. Fecundity increased with increasing dietary protein levels, but significant differences were found only between 40–45% and 25–35% dietary protein levels. The relative fecundity (eggs g^–1 female) was higher at the lower dietary protein levels (25–35%) than at the higher dietary protein levels (40–45%). The dietary protein levels did not have any significant influence on the size and weight of mature eggs. The chemical composition of fish and mature ovaries was significantly influenced by the dietary protein level.     

Effect of dietary protein level on the reproductive performance of Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus (L.)

The effects of five dietary protein levels (25%, 30%, 35%, 40% and 45%) on the individual spawning frequency and the egg production of 135 tagged female Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus (L.), were studied from 8 May to 19 November 1996 in outdoor concrete tanks. Virtually identical spawning patterns were found in all treatments, but there was a great deal of variation in the frequency of spawning and egg production. Overall, individual spawning frequency varied from one to 14 and individual egg production from 31 to 2828 eggs per spawning. The average number of spawnings and average number of eggs per spawning for fish receiving dietary protein levels of 25%, 30%, 35%, 40% and 45% were 8.0 ±1.6, 8.4 ± 2.2, 8.5 ± 2.7, 8.4 ± 2.5 and 9.4 ± 2.1 spawnings, and 1167 ± 305, 1082 ± 410, 1288 ± 324, 1145 ± 389 and 1328 ± 311 eggs per spawning, respectively. Fish receiving 45% dietary protein spawned more frequently than fish receiving 25% dietary protein. The total number of eggs produced per female was significantly higher for females fed 45% protein feed than females receiving 25% and 30% protein feeds. No definite trend was found in the number of eggs produced per spawning and the number of eggs produced per gram in females fed at different protein levels. Based on weekly checking, the time interval between spawnings varied from 7 to 77 days, and mean spawning intervals ranged from 15.8 to 17.1 days. Sixty per cent of females spawned after an interval 14 days, 15% after 21 days, 13.6% after 7 days, 7.2% after 28 days, 1.8% after 35 days and 1.0% after 42 days, and the time interval was 49-77 days for the rest of the females (1.5%). In all treatments, maximum spawning activity was recorded from May to August, and thereafter, it gradually decreased and no spawning females were found in November.     

中华绒螯蟹2龄早熟、晚熟选育群体和非选育群体蟹种免疫性能的比较

免疫性能是评价中华绒螯蟹(Eriocheir sinensis,以下简称河蟹)蟹种质量的重要指标,采用攻毒实验和非特异免疫指标测定方法,以常规养殖未经遗传选育的养殖群体蟹种为对照组,评价了河蟹2龄早熟、晚熟选育群体第2代(G2)扣蟹的攻毒成活率和非特异性免疫指标。结果显示:(1)嗜水气单胞菌攻毒注射后,整体上未选育组扣蟹的死亡率略高于两选育群体,但是雌雄个体间具有一定的性别差异,2龄晚熟群体雄蟹和2龄早熟群体雌蟹攻毒后死亡率分别最低;(2)就肝胰腺中非特异性免疫指标而言,无论雌蟹还是雄蟹,2龄早熟群体肝胰腺中的碱性磷酸酶(ALP)活性显著高于对照组(P0.05),酸性磷酸酶(ACP)活性显著高于2龄晚熟组(P0.05);此外,两个选育组雄体肝胰腺中的总抗氧化能力(T-AOC)和过氧化物酶(POD)活性均显著高于对照组,2龄早熟G2雌体肝胰腺中的丙二醛(MDA)和谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶(GSH-Px)均显著高于其它两组雌体;(3)就血清中非特异免疫指标而言,无论雌蟹还是雄蟹,2龄早熟G2扣蟹血清中的ACP活性均显著高于对照组,2龄晚熟G2扣蟹血清中的谷胱甘肽还原酶(GR)活性均显著低于其它两组扣蟹,此外,2龄早熟G2雌蟹血清中的γ-谷氨酰转移酶(γ-GT)和T-AOC活性均显著高于2龄晚熟G2。综上,两个选育群体子二代扣蟹具有较强免疫性能及抗病力,其中2龄早熟群体扣蟹的免疫性能和抗氧化能力略强于2龄晚熟选育群体。     

Evaluating spawning performance among captive Florida pompano Trachinotus carolinus broodstock using microsatellite‐based parentage assignment

Florida pompano has been identified as a promising candidate for commercial‐scale aquaculture production, but to date, little information is available regarding captive broodstock spawning characteristics. Genetic markers were tested for their power in monitoring mating outcomes and potential in analysing heritability of rapid growth trait in Trachinotus carolinus. A total of 20 unrelated adults (10 females and 10 males) were chosen for a hormone‐induced mass spawning event. The 515 fastest growing and 485 slowest growing fish of the total 4852 offspring were considered a selected progeny stock, and fish were collected at 45 days post hatch based on their growth traits. Parentage analyses based on the 20 breeders and 1,000 selected progeny were performed using a total of nine microsatellite markers, a 100% assignment rate was achieved, and a four‐marker set was the minimum number for the parentage assignment. The effective breeding number for the selected progeny was 11 (six females and five males), among which three females and two males were predominant contributors with the total contribution of 95.8% and 94.7% respectively. The proportion of fast‐growing offspring from broodfish and each mating cross (sire/dam) was used for detecting whether variation in growth of the offspring was related to parental stocks. Results showed that three adults and their mated combination exhibited the greatest fast‐growing offspring proportion (69.73% and 55.95%). This research provided new information regarding spawning performance and parental contribution during mass spawning events; both important first steps towards developing improved management strategies for captive Florida pompano broodstock.     

Modelling selective breeding in protandrous,batch‐reared Asian sea bass (Lates calcarifer,Bloch) using walkback selection

A bioeconomic simulation model for Lates calcarifer predicted that a strategy involving crossing current generation males with previous generation females would be a practical, effective and profitable way of dealing with protandry when batch rearing for selective breeding to improve the growth rate. The strategy allowed earlier initialization and more frequent ongoing rounds of selection, and resulted in a 16–19% higher overall response, than an alternative where each generation's males were crossed with the same generation's females. The strategy also yielded the highest short‐term benefit–cost ratio (13:1 versus 7:1 after 8 years of selective breeding) and the highest short‐ and long‐term value for participants in a breeding cooperative (a net present value of AU$28 million and an internal rate of return of 144% over 10 years), due to higher yields per fixed costs of production per unit area and due to savings in feed costs per kilogram of production. Breeding facilities of scale producing 50 full‐sibling families per generation were found to be more profitable than those producing 100 families.     

The breeding potential and biochemical composition of triploid Manila clams, Tapes philippinarum Adams and Reeve

In 1989 and 1990. triploid Manila clam, Tapes philippinarum Adams and Reeve, seed were reared to 15-20 mm at the Fisheries Laboratory, Conwy, and planted out in the Menai Strait, North Wales. In each of the summers of 1992 and 1993, three of these batches, at 2, 3 or 4 years old, were returned to the laboratory to assess ploidy, size, spawning potential and biochemical composition. Percentage triploidy at this time was similar to that in the seed. After 6 and 8 weeks of warmwater conditioning. Only 45 out of l21 triploids (37%) were induced to spawn by thermal shock, with only one spawning as a male. By comparison, 75% of diploid clams spawned with a 1:1 ratio of males to females. Mean fecundity of triploids was significantly lower than that for diploids, at 0.497 compared with 1.54 million eggs per female. Compared with eggs from diploid females, eggs from triploids were larger and significantly fewer of them developed into D-larvae when fertilized by sperm from diploid males. Triploid clams were heavier and had a higher condition index and carbohydrate content than diploids of the same age, but lipid levels were similar. Potential advantages of producing and cultivating 100% triploid batches of Manila clam seed are discussed.     

Genetic parameters and correlated responses in female reproductive traits in the GIFT strain

The effect of selection for greater growth rate in the GIFT strain on traits related to female reproduction (weight at spawning, number of eggs, number of fry, total weight of fry and number of dead fry) was studied. Available records comprised 10 generations of data from a total of 935 breeding females with known pedigree. Female body weight at spawning was 255 g, whereas the averages for number of eggs, number of live fry at hatching, number of dead fry and total fry weight per spawning were 1444, 908, 64.90, and 7.24 g respectively. Heritabilities for reproductive traits were low to moderate (0.20 for number of eggs, 0.16 for number of hatched fry and 0.11 for fry weight per female at spawning). The genetic correlations between female body weight at spawning and reproductive traits were very low to low (0.01 to 0.31) and not significantly different from zero. The genetic correlations among reproductive traits (i.e. number of eggs, number of hatched fry and fry weight) were high (0.75 to 0.92). Phenotypic correlations were consistent with the genetic correlations, ranging from 0.56 to 0.85. Correlated responses in reproductive traits measured as differences in least squares means between Selection and Control lines were positive and significant (except for the number of dead fry) when age of females at spawning was fitted as a covariate. However, there were no significant differences in all studied traits when body weight of the female at spawning was fitted as a covariate within lines. This indicates that the greater reproductive rate was due to the greater size of females in the Selection line, but the efficiency of reproduction per unit weight of female did not change as a consequence of selection for growth.     

Comparative ecologies of domestic and naturalised rainbow trout in northern Lake Huron

Northern Lake Huron (Ontario, Canada) supports the largest concentration of freshwater salmonid cage culture farms in Canada and receives inputs of domestic‐strain rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) through escapement. We assessed the potential effects of these domestic fish on the naturalised rainbow trout of this ecosystem by comparing their respective ecologies. Mature adults were sampled from spawning tributaries, primarily in spring, and to a lesser extent in fall. Fish of domestic origin comprised ~80% of rainbow trout sampled from sites near cage culture facilities but <20% of rainbow trout sampled from more distant sites. Domestic adults in spawning condition (gametes free‐flowing) were present in the spawning tributaries in both spring and fall sampling seasons, whereas naturalised fish in spawning condition were only observed in the spring. Domestic adults were younger and smaller (in length), appeared to have shorter lifespan and had a higher male to female ratio compared with their naturalised counterparts. Growth rates (change in length with age) of naturalised and domestic females in the wild were similar, but domestic males grew more slowly than naturalised males. Domestic females also produced smaller eggs than naturalised females. Food web positions (inferred from δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N) of domestic and naturalised fish were very similar but varied more strongly with body size in the former. Domestic‐strain rainbow trout of cage culture origin can survive, grow and attempt to spawn in northern Lake Huron and have the potential to compete for food, mates and spawning habitat with naturalised rainbow trout.     

2010年乌苏里江大麻哈鱼的群体结构及其变动

2010年10月4日~21日,对乌苏里江大麻哈鱼（Oncorhynchus keta）洄游繁殖群体渔业资源及其种群结构变动进行了调查研究,共统计标本9160尾。初步结果显示,大麻哈鱼的日洄游数量受水温和溶解氧的影响较大,出现2次洄游高峰期,平均日单船捕捞量为64尾。体长为55~65cm的个体占群体中的74%,其中体长为55~60cm的雌（36.82%）、雄（36.58%）个体在群体中所占比例接近,在体长小于55cm的群体中,雄性（27.17%）个体在本群体中所占比例高于雌性（12.75%）,体长大于60cm的群体中,雌性（48.61%）在本群体中所占比例高于雄性（34.25%）。体质量为2 000~3 000g的个体占群体中的57%,体质量大于2 500g的群体中,雌性（61.73%）个体在本群体中所占比例高于雄性（46.06%）。雌、雄性比为1.09：1,其中体重大于2 500g的雌性在群体所占比例最高为36.06%,其次为小于2 500g的雄性,占28.8%。对比历史数据表明,该渔业产量为近15年的最高值,总体资源量呈增多趋势,群体中个体趋于小型化,雌性个体在群体中处于主导地位。     

2010年乌苏里江大麻哈鱼的群体结构及其变动

2010年10月4日~21日,对乌苏里江大麻哈鱼（Oncorhynchus keta）洄游繁殖群体渔业资源及其种群结构变动进行了调查研究,共统计标本9160尾。初步结果显示,大麻哈鱼的日洄游数量受水温和溶解氧的影响较大,出现2次洄游高峰期,平均日单船捕捞量为64尾。体长为55~65cm的个体占群体中的74%,其中体长为55~60cm的雌（36.82%）、雄（36.58%）个体在群体中所占比例接近,在体长小于55cm的群体中,雄性（27.17%）个体在本群体中所占比例高于雌性（12.75%）,体长大于60cm的群体中,雌性（48.61%）在本群体中所占比例高于雄性（34.25%）。体质量为2 000~3 000g的个体占群体中的57%,体质量大于2 500g的群体中,雌性（61.73%）个体在本群体中所占比例高于雄性（46.06%）。雌、雄性比为1.09：1,其中体重大于2 500g的雌性在群体所占比例最高为36.06%,其次为小于2 500g的雄性,占28.8%。对比历史数据表明,该渔业产量为近15年的最高值,总体资源量呈增多趋势,群体中个体趋于小型化,雌性个体在群体中处于主导地位。     

Characterization and comparison of variations in reproductive performance of Chitralada strain Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus (L.)

In an attempt to better understand and characterize the variability in the female reproduction of individual Thai‐Chitralada strains of Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus (L.), tagged mature females (n=68) from a single population were monitored in a hapa‐in‐pond system over a 12‐month experimental period. Spawn female⁻¹, eggs female⁻¹ day⁻¹, eggs kg female⁻¹ day⁻¹, day spawn⁻¹ and weight (g) at first spawning of individual females were determined from the regular weekly sampling of weight (g) and eggs per spawn. For analysis, the females were grouped into two, high spawning (HSF) and low spawning frequency (LSF) classes based on their spawning frequency (SF) record. Moreover, nested under these two classes were two groups each based on growth rate, i.e., high frequency – large size (HL), high frequency – small size (HS), low frequency – large size (LL) and low frequency – small size (LS). There was no difference in eggs spawn⁻¹ among all females. The HSF group produced 68% and 361% more eggs female⁻¹ day⁻¹ than the population mean and LSF group respectively. Eggs female⁻¹ day⁻¹ and spawn female⁻¹ remained high in the HSF group and low in the LSF group throughout the 12‐month experimental period. This suggests that individual female spawning activity is consistent within a population in a common environment. The inter‐spawn interval increased with age in all four groups, and day spawn⁻¹ was shorter by 130% in HSF females compared with day spawn⁻¹ in LSF. The HSF group also spawned more successively (≥3), while the LSF group of females had fewer successive spawns (≤2). Body weight (g) had no influence on the number of eggs produced. The study indicates that separating frequently spawning females could be used as an important strategy to improve commercial seed production of Nile tilapia.     

性外激素诱发中华乌塘鳢产卵的初步研究

在陶瓷人工产卵管道内吊挂性外激素的研究表明,卵巢提取液对雄鱼的吸引作用大于雌鱼,而精巢和贮精囊提取液对雌鱼的吸引作用则大于雄鱼,17α-P、17α,20β-P和PGE2对雌鱼和雄鱼均具有相似的吸引作用。雌鱼在管道内的产卵次数、产卵量以及成熟卵的受精率均与产卵管道内吊挂的性外激素种类有关,17α,20β-P和PGE2两个实验组产卵次数最多,其中PGE2实验组的产卵量和受精率最高。17α-P在贮精囊和精巢提取液中的含量显著高于卵巢提取液(P<0.05);贮精囊提取液中PGE2和PGF2α的含量分别显著高于精巢提取液和卵巢提取液(P<0.05);提取液中PGE2和PGF2α的含量均依次为贮精囊提取液>精巢提取液>卵巢提取液。卵巢提取液刺激雄鱼所引起的平均EOG高于雌鱼,而精巢和贮精囊提取液刺激雌鱼所引起的平均EOG高于雄鱼,雌鱼和雄鱼对17α-P、17α,20β-P、PGE2和PGF2α刺激所产生的平均EOG,以PGE2为最高。     

Brain steroid contents in the catfish Heteropneustes fossilis: sex and gonad stage-specific changes

Neurosteroids are those which are synthesized in the central nervous system independently of supply by peripheral endocrine glands. In the present study, brain contents of the steroid hormones, estradiol-17β (E(2)), testosterone (T), corticosteroids, and progestins were investigated in both male and female catfish Heteropneustes fossilis in prespawning (vitellogenic) and spawning (post-vitellogenic) phases using ELISA or HPLC. The data show that the measured steroid hormones showed both stage-specific and sex-related variations. Brain E(2) was significantly higher in males in the prespawning phase and in females in the spawning phase. Testosterone was significantly higher in males in comparison with females in the prespawning phase. Cortisol was significantly higher in the prespawning and spawning phases in males than in females. Corticosterone level was low in the brain. 21-deoxycortisol and deoxycorticosterone were significantly higher in the prespawning phase than in the spawning phase. Male brain recorded the highest concentration of deoxycorticosterone. Progesterone (P(4)) was high in the prespawning phase and low in the spawning phase in both sexes. Levels of 17-hydroxy-4-pregnene-3,20-dione and 17,20β-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one (17,20β-DP) and the metabolites of P(4) were the highest in females in the prespawning phase. The stage-specific and sexual differences in the content of the steroids suggest their biosynthesis in the brain, which may have implications in brain functions, in addition to reproductive regulation.