Neutral lipase and phospholipase activities in scallop juveniles (Pecten maximus) and dietary algae

Activities of the digestive enzymes neutral lipase and phospholipase A₂ were present in 2‐mm scallop juveniles, indicating an endogenous ability to digest lipids. When determined in the dietary microalgae, lipolytic activities of both enzymes differed significantly, being highest in Isochrysis galbana and Tetraselmis sp. and lowest in Chaetoceros mülleri. Compared with the activities found in scallop juveniles, enzyme activities from the microalgae were rather low and did not seem to contribute considerably to their digestive process. However, ingested algae seemed to have a regulating effect on the phospholipase activity in scallops, as juveniles fed I. galbana had a significantly lower activity than juveniles of the other treatments. No such effect was evident for neutral lipase, indicating different regulation mechanisms for both enzymes. Dietary effects on digestive enzymes in scallop juveniles should be considered when choosing new potential algal species as feed or for future formulation of artificial diets.     

Density and sound speed contrasts of the Japanese common squid Todarodes pacificus and their influence on acoustic target strength

ABSTRACT:   In this study, density and sound speed contrasts were measured for the Japanese common squid Todarodes pacificus . Target strength (TS) data derived from an acoustic scattering model based on measurements of these two parameters were compared with TS values based on acoustic measurement data to determine whether the measured parameters are reasonable values for theoretical scattering model. Density contrast ( g ) was measured from the displacement volume and wet weight, while sound speed contrast ( h ) was measured from the acoustic measurements of travel time (time-of-flight method). The Kirchhoff ray mode model, which represents the squid body as a set of fluid-filled cylinders, was used to calculate theoretical TS. Mean g- and h -values of the squid were 1.029 and 1.041, respectively. Comparison with previous data showed that g was similar, whereas h was relatively high. The difference in the TS between the theoretical model using measured parameters and the acoustic measurement was within 3 dB. Thus, the measured g- and h -values are acceptable for theoretical models of squid.     

Effects of dietary squid viscera meal on growth and cadmium accumulation in tissues of Japanese seabass, Lateolabrax japonicus (Cuvier 1828)

Cadmium (Cd) is a toxic environmental pollutant with a long biological half‐life and can produce both hepatic and renal injuries in mammals and fish. Squid viscera meal (SVM), an effective attractant for aquatic animals, is widely used as an ingredient in aquafeeds. However, SVM is rich in Cd and its complexes. A study was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary SVM on the growth and Cd deposition in tissues of Japanese seabass, Lateolabrax japonicus. Three practical diets were formulated to contain 0, 50 and 100 g SVM kg^?1 diet, respectively, containing 0.21, 7.26 and 12.08 mg Cd kg^?1 diet. Each diet was randomly assigned to triplicate groups of 80 Japanese seabass (mean initial weight, 10.89±0.21 g) in floating sea cages (1.5 × 1.5 × 2.0 m). Fish were fed twice daily (06:30 and 16:30 hours) to satiation for 8 weeks. The results showed that there were no significant differences in fish survival among three dietary treatments, but significant higher specific growth rates (SGR) were observed in the fish fed diets with 50 or 100 g SVM kg^?1 diet than that from the control group (P<0.05). The Cd concentrations in the kidney, liver and gill were found in a decreasing order at each treatment, and positively correlated with dietary Cd levels. Fish fed diets with 50 and 100 g SVM kg^?1 diet had significantly higher Cd accumulations in the kidney (3.25, 5.85 mg kg^?1), liver (0.76, 1.26 mg kg^?1) and gill (0.42, 0.58 mg kg^?1) compared with the control group (0.82, 0.34 and 0.32 mg kg^?1 respectively) (P<0.05). The Cd concentration in fish muscle; however, was undetectable in any treatment. Therefore, based on these results, accumulation of Cd in edible tissue (muscle) of farmed Japanese seabass is not a food safety issue. However, long‐term feeding of diets with SVM may result in accumulation of Cd in the kidneys, liver and gills of fish.     

Target strength measurements of suspended live ommastrephid squid, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Todarodes pacificus</Emphasis>, and its application in density estimations

ABSTRACT:   Average target strength (TS) measurements of free-swimming Todarodes pacificus are required for calculating abundance estimations using the echo integration method. In this study, 31 live T. pacificus (18.0–28.4 cm dorsal mantle length; [ML]) were suspended with mantle tilt angles horizontally similar to free-swimming orientation, and their TS were measured using a 38 kHz split-beam echo sounder. Normalized TS by squared ML of T. pacificus ML was calculated as −73.1 dB: TS = 20 log ML −73.1 dB. The density of T. pacificus at their fishing ground off the northern Sanriku coast, Japan, was then estimated first using the echo integration method with the obtained normalized TS measurements, and then using commercial purse seine fishery CPUE (catch (tons) of squid per haul of purse seine) data. The density of T. pacificus aggregations near the continental shelf edge and upper continental slope was estimated as approximately 50–400 individuals/100 m² using both the echo integration method and CPUE data, both density results were similar. It was considered feasible therefore, to assess T. pacificus biomass directly using the echo integration method.     

Effects of microbial growth on the preservation of scallop muscle in a vital state

ABSTRACT:   Adductor muscles dissected from live scallop Patinopecten yessoensis were stored in oxygenated artificial sea water. The initial muscle adenosine triphosphate (ATP) level, approximately 7.5 µmol/g, remained longer at 5°C than at either 0 or 10°C. The pH of sea water decreased continuously and the consumption of dissolved oxygen increased even after muscle ATP was almost exhausted. The number of viable microbes, measured as colony-forming units (c.f.u.) in the muscle, increased to reach a plateau at approximately 10⁷−10⁸ c.f.u./g, while muscle ATP remained at high levels. After this time, muscle ATP sharply decreased. Antibiotics or sorbate added into the oxygenated sea water effectively inhibited both the growth of microbes and the decrease in the pH of sea water. Under these conditions, the retention period of muscle ATP was greatly extended. Thus, it seems most likely that scallop adductor muscle cells are suffocated by the limitation of oxygen supply caused by aerobic microbes grown on the surface of muscle tissue.     

Genes expressed in Japanese flounder <Emphasis Type="Italic">Paralichthys olivaceus</Emphasis> spleen: analysis of genes involved in immune function

ABSTRACT:   Expressed sequence tag (EST) analysis is an efficient tool for gene discovery and for profiling gene expression. A cDNA library developed from messenger RNA of the Japanese flounder, Paralichthys olivaceus spleen was constructed by directional cloning, in order to isolate functional genes involved in immunity in fish. A total of 1010 ESTs from the library were sequenced and compared with sequences in the GenBank database. Of the 1010 ESTs, 618 ESTs (61%) were identified as being homologous with known genes from many organisms by BLAST searches, whereas 392 (39%) appeared to be unknown and are likely to represent newly described genes. Of the identified genes, 105 (17%) encoded proteins associated with cell/organism defence and homeostasis. Of these 105 genes, 21 were identified for the first time in Japanese flounder. These included macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)-3 α, granulin-A, novel immune-type receptor (NITR), interferon regulatory factor (IRF)-10, presenilin-like protein-2, and antizyme inhibitor. A comparison of ESTs derived from spleen, kidney, liver and leukocytes suggested that expression of immune-related genes in different tissues, organs, or cells are different.     

Biological investigations of anchovy and some selected fish species caught during the R／V “Bei Dou”surveys 1984—1999

IntroductionProductivity of an ecosystem may be measured in terms of structure,abundance and growth of keyspecies.Stock structure,measured as age or size composition in a given stock may indicate whether the stockis in a state of growing,stable or declining.Individual growth may be measured in terms of annual growth ofindividual age groups and maturity of key species will similarly reflect the potential of the species to copewith the influence of a changing environment of predators and human i…     

Changes in serum vitellogenin levels and immunohistochemical localization of vitellogenin in hepatic cells during ovarian development in the Japanese eel

ABSTRACT: The present study was designed to quantify changes in serum vitellogenin (VTG) levels and to localize VTG in hepatic cells immunohistochemically during artificial maturation of the Japanese eel Anguilla japonica . Hormone treatment resulted in a gradual rise in serum VTG levels, in which the highest values were attained at the migratory nucleus stage. Hepatocytes responded to hormone treatment by increased immunoreactivity; both staining area and intensity were enhanced with ongoing gonadal development. Moreover, cytoplasmic vacuoles increased in number during artificial maturation, occupying large areas inside hepatocytes. The unusual appearance of hepatocytes may reflect the effect of artificial maturation.