The respiratory burst activity of bottlenose dolphin neutrophils elicited by several stimulants

To investigate the early host defense function in aquatic animals, the respiratory burst activity of bottlenose dolphin neutrophils against soluble and particulate stimulants was measured by luminol-dependent chemiluminescence assays and compared with those of bovine and human. Dolphin neutrophils generated the respiratory burst in response to phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), concanavalinA (ConA), heated-plasma (HP), and homologous-plasma opsonized zymosan except N-formyl-Met-Leu-Phe (fMLP). However, the respiratory burst of dolphin neutrophils stimulated by lipopolysaccharide and Staphylococcus aureus was inferior to those of bovine and human. Furthermore, DP-OZ also induced the respiratory burst of bovine and human neutrophils. In conclusion, dolphin neutrophils responded to several soluble and particulate stimulants as well as human neutrophils, but were refractory or slightly responded to bacterial agents.     

Production and Immunohistochemical Characterization of Monoclonal Antibodies Against Ovarian Antigen of the Common Tree Shrew (Tupaia glis)

To study the ovarian function of the common tree shrew (Tupaia glis), monoclonal antibodies (MAb) against its ovarian antigen were produced. Several positive hybridomas were cloned and MAb-T2C9 (IgG) was examined for reactivity. Strong immunoreactivity of MAb-T2C9 was localized within the cytoplasm of luteal cells and in the theca interna cells of Graafian follicles. MAb-T2C9 reacted also with testicular interstitial cells and adrenocortical cells, except those of the zona glomerulosa. Similar reactions were seen in the goat and sheep. Western blotting analysis of the ovine corpus luteum after reaction with MAb-T2C9 revealed a single positive band of ?60kDa. These findings suggest that MAb-T2C9 recognized protein molecules related to steroid synthesis.     

Production efficiency and telomere length of the cloned pigs following serial somatic cell nuclear transfer

The aim of the present study was to examine the production efficiency of cloned pigs by serial somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) and to ascertain any changes in the telomere lengths of multiple generations of pigs. Using fetal fibroblasts as the starting nuclear donor cells, porcine salivary gland progenitor cells were collected from the resultant first-generation cloned pigs to successively produce second- and third-generation clones, with no significant differences in production efficiency, which ranged from 1.4% (2/140) to 3.3% (13/391) among the 3 generations. The average telomere lengths (terminal restriction fragment values) for the first, second and third generation clones were 16.3, 18.1 and 20.5 kb, respectively, and were comparable to those in age-matched controls. These findings suggest that third-generation cloned pigs can be produced by serial somatic cell cloning without compromising production efficiency and that the telomere lengths of cloned pigs from the first to third generations are normal.     

Functional disorder of the retina in manganese-deficient Japanese quail revealed by electroretinography using a contact lens electrode with built-in light source

Manganese deficiency results in neurological and skeletal defects, together with ultrastructural disarrangement of the retina in rats. Wild birds show a range of Mn concentrations in their tissues, including the liver, raising the possibility of Mn-related disorders in the wild. Electroretinography (ERG) provides a useful noninvasive approach to evaluate visual function. This method is especially useful in birds, as objective analysis of them is very difficult, while they have well-developed vision. In this study, we carried out a convenient and reliable ERG recording using a contact lens electrode with a built-in light source (LED electrode) of Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) fed a Mn-deficient diet. After 10 min light adaptation, single-flash and flicker cone responses were reproducibly recorded to cause an intensity-dependent increase in amplitude of both a-wave and b-wave in single-flash ERG. Mn-deficient feeding markedly decreased the Mn concentration in the liver by almost half in 3 to 6 weeks, followed by body weight loss in 13 to 15 weeks. Implicit time of a-wave and b-wave cone response by single-flash stimulation was significantly delayed in quail with a Mn depletion from 3 to 6 weeks. Every cone response of the Mn-deprived quail had a tendency to decrease amplitude. The ultrastructure of cone photoreceptor cells was disorganized by Mn deficiency, including changes in outer segment discs of photoreceptor cells. These results suggest the essential role of Mn in the integrity of the retinal function of birds.     

Hydroponic horticulture using residual waters from Oreochromis niloticus aquaculture with biofloc technology in photoautotrophic conditions with Chlorella microalgae

Protein‐dependent aquaculture generates large amounts of nutrient‐rich residuals; a feasible way to develop sustainable production systems is to integrate Decoupled Aquaponic Systems (DAPS) with residual water bioprocesses, to combine Photoautotrophic Biofloc Technology (P‐BFT) aquaculture and hydroponic horticulture. This study describes the characteristics of residual water from Oreochromis niloticus aquaculture performed with P‐BFT inoculated with Chlorella microalgae, reared during the nursery (180 fish m³) and grow‐out (55 fish m³) phases. The experiment included five treatments: photoautotrophic BFT inoculated with Chlorella sp. (M), C. sorokiniana 2714 (CV), and C. sorokiniana 2805 (CS), and chemoautotrophic (Q) and heterotrophic (H) as controls. Elemental characteristics in liquid and solid residual fractions (15 macro‐ and micronutrients) were compared among treatments and against Hoagland & Arnon solution with hydroponics and used in Nutrient Film Technique (NFT) hydroponic horticulture including five plant species: lettuce (Lactuca sativa), pak‐choi (Brassica rapa subsp. chinensis), rocket (Eruca sativa), spinach (Spinacia oleracea) and basil (Ocimum basilicum). The physicochemical parameters were ideal for O. niloticus and plants. The relationship between N:P was ideal until weeks 16–22 in the photoautotrophic treatments, compared with hydroponic solutions. Micronutrient content was greater in the solid than a liquid fraction. The best BFT effluent regarding fish and plant growth was photoautotrophic treatments. Oreochromis niloticus BFT aquaculture in photoautotrophic mode using microalgae Chlorella inoculations provided residual water beneficial to hydroponic horticulture in DAPS located in coastal arid zones where freshwater is scarce, improving aquaculture performance and reusing water and nutrients.     

Biosensors for the assessment of fish health: a review

Fisheries Science - Methods that can be used to check the health of fish, determine their physiological condition and detect abnormalities at an early stage, have been attracting recent attention....     

Availability of genetically modified feed ingredient: investigations of ingested foreign DNA in rainbow trout <Emphasis Type="Italic">Oncorhynchus mykiss</Emphasis>

ABSTRACT:   Foreign DNA fragments from genetically modified defatted soybean meal (GM SBM) in rainbow trout was traced by nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and located by in situ hybridization. Either a GM or non-GM SBM formulated diet (42% protein) was fed to fish (average weight 50.5 g) for 2 weeks. The degradation results showed that the cauliflower mosaic virus 35S promoter (220 bp) fragment was detected in the contents of digestive system only in fish fed the GM SBM diet, and it was not detected on the third day after changing the diet to the non-GM SBM diet. For the possible transferal results, the promoter fragment was detected in the leukocyte, head kidney and muscle only of fish fed the GM SBM diet; it was not detected on the fifth day after changing the diet to the non-GM SBM diet. These results suggest that a foreign DNA fragment was not completely degraded and might be taken up into organs through the gastrointestinal tract. However, foreign DNA was not detected after the withdrawal period. Thus, the data show that uptake of DNA from GM SBM might not remain in the tissues of fish fed GM SBM diet.     

Hemolytic suppression roles of taurine in yellowtail Seriola quinqueradiata fed non-fishmeal diet based on soybean protein

ABSTRACT:   To elucidate the hemolytic suppression roles of taurine and the necessity of dietary taurine supplementation in yellowtail Seriola quinqueradiata fed a diet without fishmeal, juvenile fish with an initial body weight of 250 g were fed for 40 weeks in floating net cages on soybean protein diets supplemented with 0, 3.0, 4.5 and 6.0% taurine. Taurine concentration of the experimental diets were 0.03, 33.9, 52.8 and 71.6 mg/g, respectively. On the 21st week, fish fed the taurine unsupplemented diet had inferior growth and feed performances, higher death, and there were incidences of green liver and hemolytic anemia. In this group, hepatic and plasma taurine concentrations, serum osmolality and osmotic tolerance of erythrocytes (EC50 value) were significantly lower, and plasma hydroperoxide concentration was markedly higher than in the taurine supplemented groups. These conditions markedly improved corresponding with the increase of dietary taurine concentration. These results indicate that taurine plays a role in hemolytic suppression through osmoregulation and biomembrane stabilization in fish. In addition, it is suggested that yellowtail requires dietary taurine as an essential nutrition for maintaining physiological condition normally.     

Control of dissolved oxygen levels of water in net pens for fish farming by a microscopic bubble generating system

ABSTRACT:   A microscopic bubble generating system (MBGS) has been developed to control dissolved oxygen (DO) levels suitable for fish farming. The MBGS has been tested to confirm its capability in net pens. Water conditions in a fish farm were monitored every two hours from June to October 2004 by setting an online vertical profiling system (OVPS) close to the net pen. DO in the net pen water decreased to physiologically stressful levels for the fish during the night (4.84–5.51 mg/L), while the DO was kept in saturated conditions during the day, due to oxygen supply from phytoplankton. The MBGS was operated from the evening to the morning of the next day for 16 h, to successfully create DO-saturated conditions in the net pen water at night. By using microscopic bubbles during the warm seasons, DO levels in the net pen water could be improved to a level suitable for fish farming. However, the low DO levels (<5.0 mg/L) of the bottom water occasionally extended to the net pen layers, despite the supply of microscopic bubbles to the water. To maintain the DO of the net pen water at levels suitable for fish farming, DO supply to the net pen water and the bottom water needs to be increased, and the organically enriched sediment just below the net pens needs to be treated.