The influence of dietary fatty acid and fasting on the hepatic lipid metabolism of barramundi (Lates calcarifer)

For many fish species, dietary fish oil (FO) has been substituted with other oils such as poultry oil (PO) without affecting growth performance. However, in barramundi, the mechanisms by which fatty acid metabolism is regulated are poorly understood, and the effects of FO substitution are unknown. This study defined changes in the expression of genes controlling the metabolism of fatty acids in barramundi over a 24‐h time period after a single meal. From one to 12 h after a single feeding event, the expression of fatty acid synthesis genes in the liver was upregulated, while genes involved in the β‐oxidation showed minimal alteration. However, the expression of β‐oxidation genes was significantly correlated with the expression of genes regulating fatty acid synthesis. In a second experiment, the changes in liver fatty acid composition and gene expression were defined after FO was substituted with PO. Liver fatty acid profile reflected the diet composition, with some subtle exceptions supporting the enrichment of certain long‐chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in the liver. The fish from all experimental groups preferentially retained more docosahexaenoic acid than eicosapentaenoic acid in the liver, suggesting a bioconversion of this fatty acid to intermediate fatty acids. Replacement of FO with PO significantly regulated genes controlling both fatty acid synthesis and catabolism pathways, potentially related to a higher percentage of monounsaturated fatty acids, in the livers of fish fed these diets. The results demonstrated that diet composition significantly altered the lipid metabolism in barramundi and that there was a balance between direct dietary effects and endogenous synthetic capacity.     

Diet of the largemouth bass, Micropterus salmoides (Lacepède), in Lake Naivasha, Kenya

Abstract The major food items of adult largemouth bass, Micropterus salmoides (Lacepède), in Lake Naivasha, Kenya are not markedly different from those in its native range. Although insects and their larvae are major components of the diet for both temperate and equatorial populations of juvenile bass, the equatorial population also eats Procambarus clarkii (Girard), juvenile fish and aquatic weeds. In temperate populations they also eat crustaceans, rotifers and oligochaetes. The frequency of occurrence of the major prey organisms in the stomachs of M. salmoides varies seasonally with population peaks in these organisms. Similar to North American populations, the Naivasha population feeds during the day between dawn and dusk. In contrast to temperate populations, the population of M. salmoides in this equatorial lake feeds throughout the year, with feeding intensity correlated with water temperature.     

Influence of partial substitution of dietary fish oil by vegetable oils on the metabolism of [1-14C] 18:3n-3 in isolated hepatocytes of European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax L.)

The static or declining supply of fish oil from industrial fisheries demands the search of alternatives, such as plant (vegetable) oils, for diets in expanding marine aquaculture. Vegetable oils are rich in C₁₈ polyunsaturated fatty acids but devoid of the n-3 highly unsaturated fatty acids in fish oils. Previous studies, primarily with salmonids, have shown that including vegetable oils in their diets increased hepatocyte fatty acid desaturation. In the present study, we have investigated the effects of dietary partial substitution of fish oil (FO) with rapeseed oil (RO), linseed oil (LO) and olive oil (OO) on the desaturation /elongation and, -oxidation capacities of [1-¹⁴C]18:3n-3 in isolated hepatocytes from European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax L.), in a simultaneous combined assay. Fish were fed during 34 weeks with diets containing 100% FO, or RO, LO and OO, each included at 60% with the balance being met by FO, with no detrimental effect upon growth or survival. The highest total desaturation rates were found in hepatocytes of fish fed FO diet (0.52±0.08 pmol/h/mg protein) and OO diet (0.43±0.09 pmol/h/mg protein), which represented 3.2% and 2.7% of total [1-¹⁴C]18:3n-3 incorporated, respectively. In contrast, lowest desaturation rates were presented by hepatocytes of fish fed LO and RO diets (0.23±0.06 and 0.14±0.05 pmol/h/mg protein, respectively) represented 1.4% and 0.9% of total [1-¹⁴C]18:3n-3 incorporated, respectively. The rates of [1-¹⁴C]18:3n-3 β-oxidized were between 11-fold and 35-fold higher than desaturation. However, no significant differences were observed among β-oxidation activities in hepatocytes of fish fed any of the diets. The present study demonstrated that the European sea bass, as a carnivorous marine fish, presented a ‘marine’ fish pattern in the metabolism of 18:3n-3 to 20:5n-3 and 22:6n-3. This species appeared to have all the enzymic activities necessary to produce 22:6n-3 but presented only extremely low rates of fatty acid bioconversion. Furthermore, nutritional regulation of hepatocyte fatty acid desaturation was minimal, and dietary vegetable oils did not increase desaturase activities, and in RO and LO treatments the activity was significantly lower. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

锯缘青蟹人工繁殖技术

为了解决南方苗种少的困难及为北方增加新的养殖品种,在北方地区人工繁殖锯缘青蟹,生产苗种大量返销南方。2001年由南方购进待二次产卵膏蟹14只。在室内水泥池培育,抱卵率达42%,幼体成活率达50%。共孵化出幼体13 2万只,平均单位水体出苗(C1-C3)1100只/m3,怀卵量低与二次抱卵蟹卵质量较差有关,幼体死亡率高,主要是蜕皮不遂。     

Effects of fish meal replaced by fermented soybean meal on growth performance,intestinal histology and microbiota of largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides)

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of replacing fish meal (FM) with fermented soybean meal (FSM) and soybean meal (SM) on growth performance, intestinal histology and microbiota of largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides). The basal diet contained 350 g/kg FM (CON), and then, FM was replaced with SM and FSM at the ratios of 30% and 60% (SM‐30, SM‐60, FSM‐30 and FSM‐60), respectively. The largemouth bass (4.43 ± 0.13 g) were fed for 8 weeks. The results showed that weight gain of fish fed with FSM‐60 and SM‐60 diets was significantly lower, and feed conversion ratio of SM‐30, SM‐60 and FSM‐60 groups was significantly higher than the CON group (p < .05). The intestinal villus height of SM‐60 group and the villus width of SM‐60 and FSM‐60 group were significantly lower than the CON group (p < .05). The 30% FM replacement by SM and FSM significantly increased the abundance of Cetobacterium and Mycoplasma, respectively (p < .05). In conclusion, FSM could replace 30% FM in diet without negative impacts on the growth performance of largemouth bass, while the SM should be controlled below 30%.     

条纹石鮨摄食强度与代谢及能量收支间的关系

设日摄食率为０．４％、１．５％、４．０％三种水平,分别测定条纹石鱼旨Ｍｏｒｏｎｅｓａｘａｔｉｌｉｓ幼鱼的代谢及能量的收支情况。处于饱食（日摄食率４．０％）及维持状态（日摄食率１．５％）下,该鱼代谢率增加的峰值分别于摄食后３ｈ及７ｈ内出现,为静止时代谢水平的２．１０倍和２．４６倍,ＳＤＡ（特殊动力作用）持续时间均为２１ｈ,ＳＤＡ总耗能量分别占摄入能的１３％和３５．８％。条纹石鱼旨在饱食时的转化效率Ｋ（湿重）为２０．８５％。三种摄食水平下条纹石鱼旨的能量收支方程分别为：饱食状态（日摄食率４．０％）时,１００Ｃ＝８．４Ｆ＋７．８Ｕ＋１３．０ＳＤＡ＋３６．９（Ｒｓ＋Ｒａ）＋３３．９Ｇ;维持状态（日摄食率１．５％）时,１００Ｃ＝７．８Ｆ＋４．１Ｕ＋３５．８ＳＤＡ＋５２．３（Ｒｓ＋Ｒａ）,其中Ｇ＝０;减重状态（日摄食率０．４％）时,（Ｆ＋Ｕ＋Ｒ）／（Ｃ＋Ｐ１）＝６７．３％,其中Ｃ＋Ｐ１＝１４．４Ｃ＋８５．６Ｐ１,Ｆ＋Ｕ＋Ｒ＝１．８Ｆ＋８．１Ｕ＋５７．４Ｒ。     

Gene Expression in Black Tiger Prawns Following Intramuscular Injection of β-gal Plasmid

Gene expression in black tiger prawns (Penaeus monodon) was studied following intra-muscular injection of CMVGal plasmid into the second abdominal segment. We used an in situ staining technique to detect -gal expression in one- and three-month-old injected prawns. We found that only one of the three-month-old prawns expressed the marker gene (2 days after injection), and the site of expression was confined to the sixth abdominal segment away from the injection site. We repeated the experiment on a new batch of three-month-old prawns, but using fluorometric determination technique. This time we found that -gal expression was detected (6/42) at the site of injection after 2, 7, and 14 days. In two other test samples, transgene expression was detected in the sixth abdominal segment only, further confirming the possibility of injected DNA dispersal. The results of the study also suggest that direct gene transfer is a feasible technique in black tiger prawns.     

Comparative pathogenicity study of ten different betanodavirus strains in experimentally infected European sea bass,Dicentrarchus labrax (L.)

Viral encephalopathy and retinopathy (VER), otherwise known as viral nervous necrosis (VNN), is a severe pathological condition caused by RNA viruses belonging to the Nodaviridae family, genus Betanodavirus. The disease, described in more than 50 fish species worldwide, is considered as the most serious viral threat affecting marine farmed species in the Mediterranean region, thus representing one of the bottlenecks for further development of the aquaculture industry. To date, four different genotypes have been identified, namely red‐spotted grouper nervous necrosis virus (RGNNV), striped jack nervous necrosis virus (SJNNV), tiger puffer nervous necrosis virus and barfin flounder nervous necrosis virus, with the RGNNV genotype appearing as the most widespread in the Mediterranean region, although SJNNV‐type strains and reassortant viruses have also been reported. The existence of these genetically different strains could be the reason for the differences in mortality observed in the field. However, very little experimental data are available on the pathogenicity of these viruses in farmed fish. Therefore, in this study, the pathogenicity of 10 isolates has been assessed with an in vivo trial. The investigation was conducted using the European sea bass, the first target fish species for the disease in the Mediterranean basin. Naive fish were challenged by immersion and clinical signs and mortality were recorded for 68 days; furthermore, samples collected at selected time points were analysed to evaluate the development of the infection. Finally, survivors were weighed to estimate the growth reduction. The statistically supported results obtained in this study demonstrated different pathogenicity patterns, underlined the potential risk represented by different strains in the transmission of the infection to highly susceptible species and highlighted the indirect damage caused by a clinical outbreak of VER/VNN.     

乌苏里江黑斑狗鱼种群生态学特征的研究

本报道乌苏里江名贵冷水鱼类黑斑狗鱼种群生态学。通过158尾样品测定，对其形态学特征、捕捞群体的体长体重组成、年龄与生长、生殖力、性比、初始性成熟、成熟系数、肥满度、摄食等生态学特征进行研究，并提出其资源繁殖保护措施。