罗非鱼性别决定和分化机制的研究进展

罗非鱼染色体遗传型性别决定机制(Chromosomal genetic sex deterruination,GSD)的研究歼展较早,目前利用种间杂交的方法得到全雄罗非鱼在生产上已广泛应用,而对影响罗非鱼性别决定的环境因素研究开展较晚.研究证实罗非鱼确实存在温度依赖型性别决定机制(Temperature-dependent sex determination,TSD),而且这种温度依赖型性别决定机制只出现在性别发育的某一特定时期.近年来,研究者们开始尝试用分子生物学手段来研究罗非鱼性别决定及分化机制,寻找影响性别决定的基因位点、研究位点之间的相互关系及其相互作用,以及外界因素是如何通过调控性别决定位点来影响鱼类性别分化的等.目前研究的主要功能基因有DMRT基因家族、DAX1、SHP、AMH、oP450arom等.最新研究结果表明,tDMRT1,可作为尼罗罗非鱼精巢分化的分子标记.[中国水产科学,2009,16(1):139-145]     

Effect of dietary <Emphasis Type="SmallCaps">l</Emphasis>-tryptophan on cannibalism,survival and growth in pikeperch <Emphasis Type="Italic">Sander lucioperca</Emphasis> (L.) post-larvae

The effect of supplemented commercial diets with crystalline l-tryptophan (TRP—5, 10 and 20 g TRP kg^?1) on cannibalism, survival and growth parameters of pikeperch post-larvae (Sander lucioperca) was evaluated. Fifteen-day-old pikeperch larvae (mean weight—6.8 mg) were reared during the next 28 days (20.5 °C, 16L:8D) in glass aquaria in a recirculating aquaculture system. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay showed that TRP-supplemented diets were effective in increasing the levels of serotonin (5-HT) in the body tissue of pikeperch. TRP supplementation resulted in a slight decrease in both types of cannibalism, although the reduction in cannibalism impact did not amount to more than a few percent. TRP treatment had no significant influence on the final survival of pikeperch post-larvae (ranged from 20.1 ± 12.4 to 29.0 ± 12.9 %). However, contrary to the earlier studies conducted on other fish species, no significant difference in the growth rates and feeding behavior of pikeperch between TRP-fed and control group were found. The final body weight and growth rate ranged from 0.211 ± 0.014 to 0.243 ± 0.016 and from 12.19 ± 0.38 to 12.76 ± 0.35 % day^?1, respectively. To our knowledge, this is the first study reporting the effects of TRP supplementation on the cannibalism–survival–growth relations in fish in the post-larval stage.     

Preliminary study to evaluate the effects of dietary bile acids on growth performance and lipid metabolism of juvenile genetically improved farmed tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) fed plant ingredient‐based diets

A 9‐week feeding experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary bile acids (BAs) on juvenile genetically improved farmed tilapia (GIFT) (Oreochromis niloticus) based on the evaluations of growth performance and parameters relevant to lipid metabolism. Each of five vegetable protein‐based diets containing BAs at a level of 0, 0.05, 0.15, 0.45 or 1.35 g/kg diet was fed to three replicates with 40 fish (8.2 g per fish). The results showed that weight gain (WG) increased significantly with the increase in BAs from 0 to 0.15 g/kg diet and then decreased significantly at a higher BA supplementation. Dietary BAs significantly reduced the crude lipid content in the whole body, muscle and liver tissue of GIFT. Fish fed diet with 1.35 g BAs/kg diet developed serious nuclear migration and vacuolization in hepatocytes. Gall bladder appeared to contain white solid and has fragile capsules. Dietary BA supplementation had significant effects on serum biochemical indices and activities of lipid metabolism enzymes in liver and intestine. In conclusion, dietary bile acid supplementation (0.15 g/kg) can facilitate the lipid metabolism and therefore promote the growth of tilapia. However, overdosed dietary BAs induced gallstone development, disrupted lipid metabolism and depressed the growth performances of GIFT.     

Effect of the squid viscera hydrolysate on growth performance and digestion in the red sea bream <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pagrus major</Emphasis>

The improvement in feed efficiency is one of the most important subjects in fish culture. The development of feed, in terms of good intake, high growth performance, and high feed efficiency is needed. Squid viscera are one of the candidates for alternative material in improving feed efficiency in fish culture. In the present study, we described the dietary effect of the squid viscera hydrolysate (SVH) on the growth performance of the red sea bream. The addition of SVH to feed caused significant increases in feed intake, fork length, and body weight and produced a marked improvement in feed conversion after 4 weeks of feeding. Furthermore, the results of this feeding revealed that low dietary levels of SVH promote growth performance in the red sea bream. We physiologically analyzed digestion and appetite in fish fed diet containing SVH. SVH promoted the activity of hepatic trypsin and lipase, gene expression of stomach pepsin, hepatic lipase, and pyloric caeca trypsin, thereby improving the nutrient availability in red sea bream. Moreover, the mRNA expression of appetite regulating factor, such as brain NPY and stomach ghrelin was significantly improved by dietary SVH. Our current results indicate that dietary SVH as alternative material produced excellent effects on growth performance, which is dependent on the promoting effect on digestion and appetite in red sea bream.     

Artificially induced tetraploid masu salmon have the ability to form primordial germ cells

Diploid gametes generated with tetraploid animals are a stepping stone to improving chromosome manipulation techniques. However, artificially induced tetraploid individuals generally die soon after hatching. Diploid gametes could be induced by in vivo cultures of tetraploid primordial germ cells (PGCs) through germ-line chimera. In the present study, characteristics of PGCs were studied in inviable tetraploid masu salmon, Oncorhynchus masou. Histological observation of tetraploid embryos revealed that the same or smaller numbers of PGCs were observed and they migrate into the genital ridges as did diploid PGCs during gonadogenesis. By whole-mount in situ hybridization using vasa messenger RNA (mRNA), 4–35 vasa-positive signals were detected in a pair of genital ridges of tetraploids. By cytological observation of genital ridge cell suspensions, several large round cells were observed, some of which extended pseudopodia. They also contained large nuclei and round granules in their cytoplasm, characteristics of PGCs. As the results suggest that inviable artificial tetraploids have PGCs, we expect to achieve diploid gamete production through surrogate propagation and tetraploid fish production.     

Effect of calcium ion on the thermal denaturation of subfragment-1 and rod regions of squid myosin upon the heating of myofibrils

Thermal inactivation of Ca²⁺ ATPase of squid myofibrils was significantly suppressed in the presence of Ca²⁺. Monomeric myosin content decreased much faster than Ca²⁺ ATPase inactivation in Ca medium, which was well explained by fast rod denaturation. In contrast, rod denaturation was slower than S-1 in EDTA medium. The decrease in monomeric myosin content was explained by faster S-1 denaturation. Comparing the S-1 and rod denaturation rates at a fixed temperature, it was concluded that S-1 denaturation was suppressed by Ca²⁺ whereas the rod denaturation was not. An unfolding experiment with isolated myosin rod confirmed that there was no stabilizing effect of Ca²⁺ on myosin rod. It was concluded that significant stabilization of the S-1 portion by Ca²⁺ generated the apparently different myosin denaturation patterns in the two media.     

Nitrate removal efficiency and bacterial community of polycaprolactone-packed bioreactors treating water from a recirculating aquaculture system

A denitrification reactor packed with polycaprolactone (PCL) as a carbon source and biofilm carrier was developed to remove nitrate nitrogen (\( {\mathrm{NO}}_3^{-}-\mathrm{N} \)) from the water of a recirculating aquaculture system for 115 days. The hydraulic retention time was set to 6 h, and the water flow rate was 0.95 L h^?1. The removal rates of \( {\mathrm{NO}}_3^{-}-\mathrm{N} \) ranged from 34.67 to 155.7 g \( {\mathrm{NO}}_3^{-}-\mathrm{N} \) m^?3 day^?1 when the effluent \( {\mathrm{NO}}_3^{-}-\mathrm{N} \) concentrations ranged between 1.62 and 72.25 mg L^?1. No obvious changes in the Fourier transform infrared spectra of the PCL before and after use were observed. Bacterial community structure in the biofilm of the PCL granules was analyzed using Illumina MiSeq sequencing technology. Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes were predominant in the biofilm, with relative abundances of 63.9 and 27.4%, respectively. Three genera, Acidovorax, Azospira, and Diaphorobacter, were capable of both denitrification and PCL degradation. This study indicates that PCL-packed reactors may be used and optimized for removing nitrate from aquaculture effluents.     

Plasma levels of immune factors and sex steroids in the male seahorse <Emphasis Type="Italic">Hippocampus erectus</Emphasis> during a breeding cycle

To better understand the endocrine- and immune-response pattern during reproduction in a fish species having parental care behaviors and also to accumulate the endocrine- and immune-related data for future explanations of the low reproductive efficiency in seahorse species, the variations of immune factors and sex steroids in the plasma of the male lined seahorse Hippocampus erectus at different breeding stages, i.e., pre-pregnancy, pregnancy (early, middle, and late periods), and post-pregnancy, were investigated in the present study. The immune factors included monocytes/leucocytes (M/L), leucocyte phagocytic rate (LPR), immunoglobulin M (Ig M), interleukin-2 (IL-2), interferon-α (IFN-α), and lysozyme (LZM). The sex steroids included testosterone (T), 11-ketotestosterone (11-KT), 11β-hydroxytestosterone (11β-OHT), 17α-methyltestosterone (17α-MT), 17β-estradiol (E2), and 17α-hydroxy-20β-dihydroprogesterone (17α-20β-P). Moreover, the immune metabolic activity of epithelium cells in the brood pouch at different breeding stages was also analyzed through ultrastructural observations of the abundance of cytoplasmic granules, mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum, lysosomes, and exocytosis. The results show that a higher immune level was observed during pregnancy, particularly in the early and middle periods, and a lower immune level was noted during pre-pregnancy. Correspondingly, the epithelium cells in the brood pouch also showed a stronger immune metabolic activity during pregnancy and weaker activity during pre-pregnancy. Four sex steroids of T, 11β-OHT, 17α-MT, and E2 were higher during pre-pregnancy and lower during post-pregnancy, whereas 11-KT and 17α-20β-P, which were positively correlated with part immune factors, were higher during pregnancy. No negative correlations between sex steroids and immune factors were observed. In conclusion, the higher immune competence during pregnancy may indicate that parental care could improve immunity, which may be the major factor for no immunosuppressive effect of sex steroids during reproduction in the seahorse H. erectus, unlike noncaregiving fishes in which inhibitions of sex steroids on immunity are frequently observed. Moreover, higher 11-KT and 17α-20β-P during pregnancy than during pre-pregnancy and post-pregnancy may suggest that these two steroids are also involved in parental care regulation.     

Comparative analysis of using cereal grains and compound feed in semi-intensive common carp pond production

The semi-intensive system of carp farming is dominant in inland aquaculture. Although it appears to be simple, this system has a whole range of options, from those based on traditional rearing methods with use of plants from the region where the fish are reared to production based on the use of high-quality concentrated feeds. In this paper, we conduct a comparative analysis of the effect of using cereal grains as opposed to compound feed (pelleted and extruded) on the quantity of fish produced, flesh quality, histological changes in the digestive tract, water quality, and structure of the biocoenosis in the pond ecosystem. When the fish are fed cereal grains, production ranges from 500 to 1500 kg/ha, while using compound feed gives production that is twice as great. The proportions of protein and water are higher and that of lipids lower in flesh of common carp reared on compound feed in relation to fish fed cereal grains. Use of extruded feed gives better content of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and a better n-3/n-6 ratio than when pelleted feed and cereal grains are used. Comparison of water quality in carp ponds under conditions of using various types of feed indicates that there are no significant differences. Although it was expected that feed with a higher percentage of proteins would cause disturbances in the aquatic ecosystem, their continual incorporation into the cycling of matter in the water contributes to maintenance of ecological equilibrium and even indirectly promotes growth of the common carp.     

Post-molt processes of cuticle formation and calcification in the Japanese mitten crab <Emphasis Type="Italic">Eriocheir japonicus</Emphasis>

This study examines the following in the Japanese mitten crab: (1) the structure of the exoskeleton with special reference to its calcification; (2) the progression of post-molt cuticle formation and calcification. In the crab, the structure and calcification state of the exoskeleton at the molt and during the inter-molt stage were similar to those of other crustaceans. During the inter-molt, the exoskeleton consisted of four cuticle layers; the outermost epicuticle, the exocuticle, the endocuticle and the innermost membrane layer. Intense calcification was observed in the exo- and endocuticle. At the molt, the synthesis of the epi- and exocuticle was already complete, and the addition of the endocuticle began after the molt. Calcification of the exocuticle initiated soon after the molt, but there was a delay between endocuticle matrix synthesis and calcification. Histology showed that the process of calcification was similar to that in other crustaceans. However, calcium concentrations within the exoskeleton continued to increase and never reached the levels of the inter-molt stage at the end of the experiment. This suggests that the Japanese mitten crab is relatively slow to calcify compared to other crustaceans.