Salmon gonadotropes secrete free form alpha (α)-subunit: quantitative analysis by the sandwich cell immunoblot assay

The sandwich cell immunoblot assay confirmed that salmon LH-cells secreted the free form α-subunit along with the dimeric LH, but lower in amounts than the LH.     

Cloning and seasonal changes in ovarian expression of a TSH receptor in the channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus

The cDNA encoding the thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) receptor was isolated from the ventral aorta (thyroid follicles) and in both gonads of the channel catfish. The seasonal changes in ovarian expression of this receptor seem to be correlated to reproduction. TSH, but not LH or FSH, activated the recombinant TSH receptor expressed in COS cells. These results indicate that the isolated cDNA encodes a functional and highly specific TSH receptor. The seasonally regulated expression in the catfish ovary suggests a role for TSH in gametegenesis.     

Maturity and reproduction of goneplacid crab <Emphasis Type="Italic">Carcinoplax vestita</Emphasis> (Decapoda,Brachyura) in Tokyo Bay

ABSTRACT:     Sexual maturity, morphological sexual dimorphism, and reproduction of the goneplacid crab Carcinoplax vestita were investigated in Tokyo Bay, Japan, from November 2002 to October 2003. The puberty molt in males was evidenced by changes in the relative size of the chelipeds and merus of the walking legs, and was estimated to occur at a size range of 13.20–18.85 mm carapace length. Post-pubertal females were identified by the relative size of the abdomen and puberty was estimated to occur at a size range of 12.81–15.46 mm carapace length. Sexual dimorphism in C. vestita was observed in all features that showed secondary sexual characteristics. Monthly changes of gonad index in males, and of seminal receptacle index and occurrence of sperm plugs in females were synchronized, and indicated that mating was intense in spring. Ovaries began developing in March. Ovigerous females were found in all months except December, but were clearly more abundant between August and October. Fecundity ranged from 7800 to 57 000 mature oocytes per female per batch and was highly correlated with body size. The results suggest that some females may spawn more than one batch per year.     

Optimal dietary protein requirement of grouper Epinephelus coioides juveniles fed isoenergetic diets in floating net cages

An experiment to determine the optimal protein requirement of grouper Epinephelus coioides juveniles was conducted in floating net cages (1.5 m × 1 m × 1.5 m). Six isoenergetic fishmeal–casein‐based experimental diets containing 350–600 g kg^?1 crude protein (CP) were fed to triplicate groups of 20 fish (10.7 ± 0.2 g) for 56 days. Weight gain (WG) and specific growth rate (SGR) increased with increasing dietary protein level from 350 to 450 g kg^?1 and then plateaued above these levels. Feed intake (FI) showed no significant difference among fish fed more than 350 g kg^?1 CP. Lowest feed conversion ratio (FCR) was found for fish fed 500 g kg^?1 CP but this was not significantly different from that of fish fed the 450 and 600 g kg^?1 CP. Lowest protein efficiency ratio (PER) was found for fish fed 550 and 600 g kg^?1 CP. Fish fed the 600 g kg^?1 CP had the highest body protein and moisture contents but the lowest body lipid content. Body ash content was unaffected by protein level for fish fed >400 g kg^?1 CP. Dietary protein level had no significant effect on hepatosomatic index (HSI). Fish fed the 350 g kg^?1 CP had significantly lower condition factor (CF) and viscerosomatic index (VSI). Based on broken‐line regression analysis of SGR the optimal dietary protein requirement for E. coioides juveniles was determined to be close to 480 g kg^?1.     

Deduced primary structures of three types of vitellogenin in mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis), a viviparous fish

Three distinct forms of vitellogenin (Vg), 600 kDa VgA and VgB and 400 kDa Vg, were discovered biochemically in estrogen treated female plasma. By sequencing of the three Vg cDNAs, the VgA and VgB were recognized as complete Vgs having all yolk protein (YP) domains, and the 400 kDa Vg was thought to be phosvitinless (Pvl) Vg lacking phosvitin (Pv) domain.     

Effects of low pH on the reproductive behavior of salmonid fishes

In northern Europe and America, the acidification of lakes and rivers induced by acid precipitation has damaged fish populations. At present, rapidly expanding industrial activities in East Asia have led to continuous increases in the quantity of emission of acidic pollutants, and rain of acidic levels of pH4 has precipitated throughout Japan. In this way, the effects of acid rain on fish populations have also been manifested in Japan. In order to examine the effects of low pH on the reproductive behavior of salmonids which are known to be acid-sensitive species, changes in the frequency of upstream behavior and spawning-related female nest-digging behavior in response to changes in pH were observed in mature hime salmon (land-locked sockeye salmon) Oncorhynchus nerka, brown trout Salmo trutta and Japanese char Salvelinus leucomaenis. Digging and upstream behavior were significantly inhibited in weakly acidic water of pH 5.8–6.4 formulated using sulfuric acid. Land-locked sockeye salmon was the most sensitive to changes in pH among the three species.     

Partial replacement of fishmeal by soybean meal in diets for juvenile cobia (Rachycentron canadum)

An 8‐week feeding experiment was conducted in floating cages (1.5 × 1.0 × 2.0 m) to determine the potential use of defatted soybean meal (roasted and solvent‐extracted) as a partial replacement of fishmeal in the isonitrogenous (approximately 450 g kg^?1 CP [crude protein]) diet for juvenile cobia with an initial average weight of about 8.3 g. Diets were formulated to include 0, 100, 200, 300, 400, 500 and 600 g kg^?1 (diets D0, D10, D20, D30, D40, D50 and D60, respectively) of fishmeal protein being substituted by defatted soybean meal without methionine supplementation. The results showed that weight gain rate decreased significantly when the replacement level of fishmeal protein was increased from 400 g kg^?1 to 500 g kg^?1, and the D60 diet was the lowest in all groups. These results indicate that up to 400 g kg^?1 of fishmeal protein can be replaced by defatted soybean meal without causing significant reduction in growth. Feed conversion ratio (FCR) and protein efficiency ratio (PER) were significantly affected by the replacement level of fishmeal protein being substituted by defatted soybean meal, when the replacement level of fishmeal protein was 200 g kg^?1 (diet, D20), FCR was the lowest and PER was the highest. There were no significant differences in the moisture, lipid, crude protein and ash content in whole body and muscle, while lipid content in liver increased as the dietary soybean meal replacement levels increased. There were significant differences in haemoglobin, haematocrit, red blood cell, plasma glucose and triglyceride concentration in fish fed diets with different soybean meal replacement levels. Results of this trial indicated that the optimum level of fishmeal protein replacement with defatted soybean meal, determined by quadratic regression analysis was 189.2 g kg^?1, on the basis of maximum weight gain.     

Activin and its receptors in the goldfish

Activin (_AA, _AB and _BB) is a dimeric protein that belongs to the transforming growth factor- (TGF-) superfamily of growth factors and is involved in the regulation of many physiological and developmental processes. Recently, we have demonstrated that porcine activin stimulated goldfish gonadotropin-II (GTH-II) and growth hormone (GH) secretion from dispersed pituitary cells in static culture and pituitary fragments in perifusion. The action of activin in the goldfish is unique in that it has an acute stimulatory effect on the secretion of GTH-II and GH, whereas in mammals activin usually exhibits long-term stimulatory actions on FSH secretion. The action mechanism of activin is different from that of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH). Using domain-specific antibodies against mammalian activin subunits, we subsequently demonstrated the existence of immunoreactive activin subunits (_A and _B) in the goldfish ovary, testis, pituitary and brain, suggesting endocrine, paracrine and autocrine roles for activin in the regulation of goldfish reproduction. Both activin _A and _B subunits have been cloned from goldfish genome by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Using the PCR fragments as probes, we have cloned a full length cDNA coding for activin _B subunit from the goldfish ovary. Both activin _A and _B subunits show high homology to those of other vertebrates with the _B subunit much more conserved (93 and 98% identity with human and zebrafish _B subunit, respectively). The identity of the cloned _B subunit was further confirmed by expression in the Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells and detection of the specific activity of activin in the culture medium. The messenger RNA of activin _B subunit is expressed in a variety of goldfish tissues including ovary, testis, brain, pituitary, kidney and liver, suggesting a wide range of physiological roles for activin in the goldfish. We have also cloned a full length cDNA coding for the activin Type IIB receptor from the goldfish ovary, suggesting that activin may have paracrine or autocrine actions on the ovarian functions. The identity of the cloned receptor was confirmed by specific binding of¹²⁵ I-activin on COS-1 cells transfected with the cloned Type IIB receptor.     

Bioavailability of amino acids chelated and glass embedded zinc to rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss, fingerlings

A 2 × 4 factorial experiment was conducted to determine the bioavailability of zinc (Zn) from amino acids chelated (Zn–Am) and glass embedded Zn (Zn–Gl) as sources for rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss , fed practical type diets. Two levels of Zn (20 and 40 mg kg⁻¹) were supplemented to the diets using either zinc sulphate (Zn–Sf), zinc methionine (Zn–Mt), Zn–Am or Zn–Gl. Rainbow trout with an average weight of 2 g were fed the experimental diets for 15 weeks. Growth and feed gain ratio (FGR) were not significantly influenced by the dietary Zn content and forms. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity for both levels of Zn–Am was significantly higher than that of Zn–Sf and Zn–Gl at 20 mg supplementation. In another experiment, fish of about 95 g were fed the same experimental diets to determine the absorption of Zn and it was found to be significantly higher from Zn–Am compared with the rest. Retention from Zn–Am at 20 mg was significantly higher than the rest, excluding Zn–Sf. The results suggest that the availability of Zn from Zn–Am might be superior among the sources compared.