Activin‐A receptor expression patterns in prepubertal goat oocytes and derived embryos

This study examines the presence of activin IIA and IIB receptors (ActR‐IIA and ActR‐IIB) by Western blotting and immunocytochemistry in immature and IVM‐oocytes, 2 to 8‐cells embryos and blastocysts from prepubertal goats. Western blotting revealed that activin receptors are synthesized during oocyte maturation and embryo development. In the immunocytochemistry experiments, no immunostaining for either receptor was detected in oocytes while both receptors were immunolabelled in all the cells of cleaved embryos. In blastocysts, while ActR‐IIA expression appeared evenly distributed in the two cell lineages, inner cell mass and trophectoderm, the ActR‐IIB immunosignal was restricted mainly to the inner cell mass. Our findings reveal the presence of activin type II receptors (ActR‐IIA and ActR‐IIB) in in vitro matured prepubertal goat oocytes and blastocyst‐stage embryos. The expression of these receptors could be a key factor in understanding differences between competent and incompetent oocytes.     

饲料中添加微生态制剂能够影响仔猪的免疫力吗?

研究表明,饲料中添加微生态制剂能够使仔猪肠道内有益微生物数量增加并直接抑制病原菌的数量.     

Hydration Rates for Various Types of Mexican Maize Based on Single‐Kernel Measurements

Hydration kinetics for sound maize kernels in liquid water, determined by single‐kernel measurements for three different Mexican maize types, yielded water diffusion coefficients ordered as Celaya corn > Toluca corn > Palomero corn, at all temperatures examined. These diffusion coefficients are lower than those reported earlier for maize grains, possibly due to the fact that in the present study damaged kernels were rigorously excluded. The energies of activation determined from the Arrhenius plots were ordered as Palomero corn > Celaya corn = Toluca corn and were similar in value to those reported earlier for other maize types. Damage to the surface of the maize kernels during the hydration experiments occurs at a significant frequency. Even minor surface lacerations can strongly affect the rate of hydration of the kernels. Experiments with maize grains selectively varnished in various parts of their surface show that the entry of water into the kernels occurs predominantly through the pericarp, not through the tip cap, though the tip cap has a higher water inflow per unit area.     

Evaluation of two anaesthetic agents and the passive integrated transponder tagging system in Octopus vulgaris (Cuvier 1797)

Octopus vulgaris is a species of demand in the market with the potential to diversify European aquaculture. However, this species develops complex social interactions under culture conditions, which may have negative effects on its growth, survival and profitability. In order to understand its behaviour under such conditions, individual tagging systems allow a careful evaluation of biological parameters, such as growth and longevity. The present work describes a combined protocol (anaesthetic and tagging) for implanting subcutaneous passive integrated transponder tags (PIT). The effect of two anaesthetic agents in facilitating octopus handling is assessed: clove oil at 20–40–100 mg L^?1 and ethanol (96%) at 1–1.5–2%. The most suitable body location of PIT tags, its effect on growth and mortality, the addition of a stitch and the PIT retention rate after 2 months in floating cages were evaluated. It was concluded that immersion in seawater with 1.5% of ethanol at 22.3±0.5 °C is a suitable anaesthetic for this species. The results showed that the best‐selected PIT body location was the upper left arm III. No effect of the PIT tagging system was found on growth and survival when tagged and untagged octopuses were compared. It was observed after 2 months that the stitch did not induce an increase in the retention rate and 81–100% tag retention regardless of the dietary treatment.     

The importance of dietary HUFA for meagre larvae (Argyrosomus regius; Asso, 1801) and its relation with antioxidant vitamins E and C

Despite the interest of meagre (Argyrosomus regius) as a fast‐growing candidate for Mediterranean aquaculture diversification, there is a lack of information on nutrition along larval development. Importance of highly unsaturated fatty acids (HUFA) and the antioxidant vitamins E and vitamin C has not been investigated yet in this species. Six diets with two levels of HUFA (0.4% and 3% dw), two of vitamin E (1500 and 3000 mg kg^?1) and two of vitamin C (1800 and 3600 mg kg^?1) were fed to 15 dah meagre larvae. Larval growth in total length and dry body weight was significantly lowest in larvae fed diet 0.4/150/180 and showed few lipid droplets in enterocytes and hepatocytes and lower HUFA contents than the initial larvae. Increase in dietary HUFA up to 3%, significantly improved larval growth and lipid absorption and deposition. Besides, among fish fed 3% HUFA, increase in vitamin E and vitamin C significantly improved body weight, as well as total lipid, 22:6n‐3 and n‐3 fatty acids contents in the larvae. Thus, the results showed that 0.4% dietary HUFA is not enough to cover the essential fatty acid requirements of larval meagre and a high HUFA requirement in weaning diets is foreseen for this species. Besides, the results also pointed out the importance of dietary vitamin E and C to protect these essential fatty acids from oxidation, increase their contents in the larvae and promote growth, suggesting high vitamin E and C requirements in meagre larvae (higher than 1500 and 1800 mg kg^?1 for vitamin E and vitamin C respectively).     

Marine and freshwater crab meals in diets for red porgy (Pagrus pagrus): effect on growth,fish composition and skin colour

River crab (RC) meal (Procambarus clarkii) and marine crab (MC) meal (Chaceon affinis) were tested as a partial replacement for fish meal in diets for red porgy (Pagrus pagrus), and their effects on growth performance, fish proximate composition and skin colouration were evaluated. Red porgy were fed during 165 days with five diets. High‐quality fish meal diet was used as a control diet (CD). Protein of fish meal in the control was replaced by increasing the dietary levels of protein derived from RC and MC by up to 10% and 20% of each of them (RC10, RC20, MC10 and MC20). Fish fed on MC20 showed the highest values in feed intake, weight gain and growth (%). No differences were found in FCR and protein efficiency ratio among the treatments. Inclusion of both crab meals in diets significantly decreased the lipid content in whole fish compared with the control animals. On the other hand, no differences in muscle composition were found between the diets. Feeding both crab meals resulted in colour improvement compared with that of the control fish, with better hue values for the RC meal group than those for the MC meal group. The crab meals tested in the present study are suitable as a partial replacement for fish meal in diets for the red porgy, with the MC meal improving growth and both crabs meals improving skin colour, with further improvements in skin colour produced in fish‐fed diets containing the RC meal.     

Use of reflex indicators for measuring vitality and mortality of the snow crab (Chionoecetes opilio) in captivity

The snow crab (Chionoecetes opilio) is one of the most important commercial crabs in the world; it is heavily exploited in Atlantic Canada, Alaska, the Sea of Japan and the Barents Sea. Catches in the Barents Sea north of Norway have increased dramatically in the last decade. Most of the world's catch is processed, frozen and exported overseas. However, recently there has been considerable interest in exporting live snow crab, particularly in Norway. The stress of capture and live transport can result in significant mortalities. In order to establish a live export industry for snow crab, the welfare of the animal must be monitored throughout all the steps of the live transport process. In this study the reactions of snow crabs exposed to increasing periods of air exposure were measured in terms of reflex indicators, incidence of mortality, blood lactate levels and blood protein and haemocyanin. Although this is not a specific live holding or live transport process the aim was to test the suitability of reflex indicators to reflect vitality (stress) and not just to predict mortality. This would be compared with traditional blood biochemistry techniques for measuring crustacean stress. The study demonstrated that the reflex index score (RIS) is suitable to assess the vitality of snow crab. Longer air exposure periods render higher mortality rates and less vital individuals. The authors believe using vitality reflex indicators would be a suitable way of measuring crab welfare during the live holding and transport process.     

Effect of increasing docosahexaenoic acid content in weaning diets on survival,growth and skeletal anomalies of longfin yellowtail (Seriola rivoliana,Valenciennes 1833)

Five isoproteic (54.8%) and isolipidic (24.1%) microdiets, which varied in their docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) content (0.25%, 0.75%, 1.64%, 1.99% and 3.17%; dw), were manufactured to determine its effects on longfin yellowtail Seriola rivoliana larvae in terms of fish biological performance, whole body fatty acid profile and incidence of skeletal anomalies from 30 dah (11.31 ± 1.79 Total Length, TL) to 50 dah (19.80 ± 0.58 mm TL). The inclusion of dietary DHA up to 3.17% (dw) improved larval resistance to air exposure, although DHA did not significantly affect fish final growth or final survival. Indeed, high levels of dietary DHA (1.99% and 3.17%, dw) tended to increase the incidence of skeletal anomalies in S. rivoliana larvae, albeit no significant differences were observed. Furthermore, the occurrence of severe anomalies such as kyphosis and lordosis, was mainly associated to the larvae fed the highest levels of dietary DHA. In terms of survival, increasing dietary DHA levels did not significantly affect longfin yellowtail survival rate, despite a tendency for enhanced survival. The results of the present study proved that the inclusion of dietary DHA in inert diets up to a 3.17% (dw) and a DHA/EPA ratio above 3.1 increased the final survival and stress resistance in S. rivoliana larvae.