Reproductive parameters of the chub mackerel <Emphasis Type="Italic">Scomber japonicus</Emphasis> estimated from human chorionic gonadotropin-induced final oocyte maturation and ovulation in captivity

ABSTRACT:   Final oocyte maturation and ovulation of captive chub mackerel Scomber japonicus with fully yolk-accumulated oocytes were induced by a single injection of human chorionic gonadotropin. Reproductive parameters, including spawning frequency and batch fecundity, which are required to estimate spawning biomass in pelagic fish by the daily egg production method, were analyzed. Germinal vesicle migration (GVM) occurred at 18–24 h post-injection, and the hydration and ovulation of oocytes were completed at 30 and 36 h post-injection, respectively. The results of the maturation process suggest that fish with GVM-stage ovaries captured in the daytime from the field are capable of spawning on the night following their capture. The oocytes used in the oocyte size-frequency distribution method for batch fecundity estimates should be at late GVM and more advanced stages. The results of sequential artificial insemination showed that the quality of ovulated eggs held in the ovarian lumen rapidly deteriorated as time progressed after ovulation. This indicates that the fertilization window for the ovulated eggs of chub mackerel lasts only a few hours, and spawning behavior should be performed within a few hours after ovulation in the wild population.     

Genetic covariation in production traits of sub-adult black bream Acanthopagrus butcheri after grow-out

Predicting the suitability and reliability of traits associated with juvenile growth as indirect selection criteria for choosing future broodstock requires accurate and repeatable estimates of genetic (co)variation for growth traits at different ages. We compared juvenile wet weight of black bream Acanthopagrus butcheri (Munro) at 6 months of age with wet weight, dressed weight, fillet yield and gonad weight in tagged individuals at 18 months of age, following 12 months of farm grow‐out. Fish survival and tag retention was high, and there was significant among‐family variation for all traits. The phenotypic correlations among wet weight, dressed weight and fillet yield at 18 months of age were very high (0.93–0.97) and similar to their genetic correlations (0.96). Importantly, the phenotypic correlations between wet weight at 6 months and wet weight, dressed weight and fillet yield at 18 months were high (0.63–0.65), and so too were their genetic correlations (0.66–0.73), indicating the potential for using wet weight in the hatchery as a selection criterion for improved weight and meat yield of fish at harvest. Gonad weight shared little or no phenotypic or genetic correlation with these other traits, suggesting that selection for faster growing fish will not affect fecundity or sexual maturation rate. It appears, however, that cultured black bream do become sexually mature more rapidly than wild fish, as 78% of all fish harvested in this study had developing or mature gonads, whereas less than 50% of fish in wild populations are reproductively mature by the same age. Precocious sexual development may lead to uncontrolled spawning in grow‐out ponds and a potential loss of selection gains.     

Histological examination of final oocyte maturation and atresia in wild and domesticated Penaeus monodon (Fabricius) broodstock

Oocyte maturation and gonadosomatic index (GSI) of eyestalk ablated Penaeus monodon females collected from the wild and from two first‐generation domesticated lines were assessed. Frequency and diameter of the different oocytes, and the intensity of oocyte atresia, were compared among groups through histological assessments of the sections of the middle ovarian lobe. Digitized images from ovary sections were used to record the frequency and diameter of different oocyte types. Spawning performance of the three groups were expressed in terms of the percentage of females that spawned at least once (productive females), time from eyestalk ablation to first spawning (latency period) and the number of spawnings per female stocked. Final ovarian maturation was attained in all groups, as indicated by the presence of mature oocytes with cortical rods (cortical oocytes), dark‐green ovarian colour and high GSI values (5.83–6.86%). However, domesticated groups presented significant larger immature oocyte types (previtellogenic and yolky oocytes) and smaller cortical oocytes compared with wild females, indicating a reduced vitellogenic activity during final oocyte maturation. Additionally, the frequency of atresia was comparatively higher for both domesticated groups, which could be related to their inferior spawning performance. The implications of these results on the reproductive potential and development of domesticated P. monodon are discussed.     

南海区驯养条石鲷亲鱼的初次性成熟和产卵

2008年4月初在广东省饶平县对2006年5月人工孵化和培育的2龄条石鲷（ Oplegnathus fasciatus）成熟亲鱼进行激素诱导,研究和观察条石鲷亲鱼初次性成熟的繁殖生物学。结果显示,在南海区全人工养殖的条石鲷亲鱼初次性成熟年龄为2龄,成熟亲鱼的最小型为全长245 mm、体质量610 g,最大个体为全长300 mm、体质量1450 g;产卵季节为4月10日~7月15日,产卵盛期为4月中旬至6月下旬;为升温产卵型鱼类,产卵温度为20.0~28.8℃,适宜的产卵温度为20.7~27.6℃;雌、雄亲鱼发育同步,个体大小和成熟年龄差别不大;雌鱼属于一年一次分批产卵类型,产卵期超过3个月;24尾初次性成熟雌性亲鱼的总产卵量为3180.0×104粒,日最高产卵量为341.5×104粒;其产卵量和受精卵质量与水温的变化关系密切,受精卵的浮卵率随温度的变化而变化,在水温相对衡定时,浮卵率相对稳定并维持在80%~95%的较高水平;受精卵平均卵径为（0.860±0.023）mm,油球径为（0.191±0.009）mm。     

Inducing synchronous ovarian maturation in the crayfish,Procambarus clarkii,via eyestalk interventional injection as compared with eyestalk ablation and combined injection of serotonin and domperidone

We examined the feasibility of inducing synchronous ovarian maturation in the crayfish, Procambarus clarkii, via eyestalk interventional injection (EI) using a Bletilla striata polysaccharide (BSP) gelatin containing tranexamic acid (TRA), domperidone (DOM) or serotonin (5‐HT). In total, 360 females were randomly assigned to seven experimental groups and a control group. The average survival rate (SR%) and average synchronous ovarian maturation rate (SMR%) in survivors in the EI groups, EI‐TRA, EI‐DOM, EI‐5HT were compared with bilateral eyestalk ablation (BEA), unilateral eyestalk ablation (UEA), abdominal injection (AI) of DOM (0.5 mg crayfish^?1) alone (AI‐DOM) or combined with 5‐HT (0.5 mg crayfish^?1) (AI‐DOM+5‐HT). The experiment covered a prolonged period of 32 days until two ovigerous females were observed in BEA. EI‐DOM achieved a SMR (66.67 ± 9.62%) higher than the control (22.05 ± 3.06%) (P < 0.05), but lower than BEA (88.89 ± 11.11%), UEA (63.33 ± 18.56) and AI‐DOM+5‐HT (59.26 ± 10.14%) (P > 0.05). EI‐DOM also achieved a higher SR (53.33 ± 3.85%) than BEA (15.56 ± 2.22), UEA (24.44 ± 5.88) (P < 0.05) and AI‐DOM+5HT (51.11 ± 4.44) (P > 0.05). However, EI‐TRA (SR = 28.89 ± 4.44, SMR = 37.78 ± 2.22) and EI‐5‐HT (SR = 15.56 ±4.44, SMR = 22.22 ± 11.11) failed to induce significantly higher SMR than the control. These findings suggest that EI methods, such as EI‐DOM, may have positive characteristics for the development of inexpensive and less labour‐intensive techniques for induction of ovarian maturation in decapods.     

Intra‐annual changes in reproductive indices of male and female Himalayan snow trout,Schizothorax richardsonii (Gray, 1832)

Periodic changes in reproductive hormone levels, gonadal histology and gonadosomatic index (GSI) of snow trout, Schizothorax richardsonii, were examined to ascertain annual cycle of gonadal development and reproductive status in their natural habitat. In females, there were coherent changes in plasma 17β‐oestradiol and vitellogenin along with GSI, oocyte maturation and vitellogenic progression, collectively indicating two distinct maturation peaks during the months of September and February. Coinciding with this, in males, plasma 11‐keto testosterone was also noticeably higher during September and February, with highest GSI values in September. However, plasma 17α, 20β‐dihydroxyprogesterone levels in males were found to be persistently high from September to February. This observation suggests the potential presence of matured oozing males over a longer period, unlike in females. Overall, the close association between reproductive hormone levels, GSI and gonadal maturation stages in males and females (particularly, the presence of postovulatory follicle complexes) with apparent natural synchronization clearly indicates that S. richardsonii breeds twice in a year, possibly during late September to early November and late February to early April in the coldwater riverine habitats of the Indian Himalayan region.     

Development of digestive biochemistry in the initial stages of three cultured Atherinopsids

The early development of the digestive biochemistry of three cultured Atherinopsids (two Odontesthes species and Chirostoma estor) was investigated. Relatively high lipolytic and high alkaline proteolytic activities were found in all species. In addition, gene expression of lipase and trypsin during the early development of C. estor not only indicates an early onset of the lipase activity but also demonstrates a major importance of protein digestion in this species. However, despite all of them share similar habitats, differences in their digestive activities were evident. The rise in the activities of brush border membrane enzymes correlated with the decrease in cytosolic activities, used as indicator of maturation of the digestive tract, was detected in both species of Odontesthes at 9 weeks after hatching. In contrast, no similar signs were measured in C. estor, this being in agreement to the long weaning period (nearly 5 months) reported for this species.     

基于微卫星亲权鉴定技术的短蛸性选择研究

为研究短蛸(Octopus ocellatus)的性选择行为,本研究利用14个多态性微卫星标记,对3个母本、176个子代及17个候选父本进行亲权鉴定,对3个家系中有子代和无子代雄蛸、子代比例高和子代比例低的雄蛸的各形态参数进行t检验,并对子代比例高和子代比例低的父本与母本的遗传相似性与遗传距离进行分析。结果显示,短蛸为多雌多雄的交配模式,为真正意义的雌性混交动物;雄蛸有无子代与其形态参数无相关性;子代比例与父本的形态大小参数无关,而与父母本的遗传相似性和遗传距离有关,父母本遗传相似性越高,遗传距离越小,后代比例越高。本研究为揭示短蛸交配前后的性选择机制提供了重要线索,也为海洋头足类动物的性选择机制研究提供了基础资料。     

Protein metabolism during sexual maturation in female Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L)

Body composition and fractional rates of protein synthesis (percentage of the protein mass synthesized per day) were determined in female Atlantic salmon returning to the River Tay, Scotland in July and in October after a 95 day period without food, during which time the animals became sexually mature. During the 95 day period of starvation/sexual maturation the ventricle and red muscle remained as a constant proportion of fresh weight whereas the liver, gill and ovary increased and the stomach and white muscle decreased. Fractional rates of protein synthesis increased markedly in the liver, stomach and ovary during the period of starvation/sexual maturation. In the gill, ventricle and white muscle fractional protein synthesis rates increased slightly or remained constant. From the estimated rates of protein loss or gain in the various tissues it is concluded that there is considerable protein turnover and repartitioning of amino acids during the period of starvation and sexual maturation. The absolute rate of protein synthesis rates in the ovary indicates that this tissue made the largest contribution to the energy and amino acid demands of the fish, whilst most of the amino acids required for maturation of the ovary were derived from white muscle, principally as the result of increased muscle protein degradation.