Bacterial nutrition of great scallop larvae

Bacterial nutrition of great scallop, Pecten moximus, larvae was investigated using the radioactive tracer technique. The bacterial labelling was studied initially to obtain a high and stable specific radioactivity (¹⁴C) of bacterial cells. A higher bacterial specific ¹⁴C activity was obtained when the tracer (amino acid) was introduced in the culture medium at the beginning of the exponential growth phase. After a 12 h labelling period in a rich nutritive medium, the bacteria were depurated in seawater for 5 h (chase) to prevent further ¹⁴C excretion and then added to larval rearing vessels. The larval labelling was followed for 12 h and then larvae were placed in new vessels without radioactive bacteria. The depuration of larvae was followed for 3 days. Data obtained on ingestion and assimilation efficiency show that bivalve larvae are able to ingest and digest bacteria.     

Nursery growth, survival and chemical composition of great scallop Pecten maximus (L.) spat from different larval settlement groups

Scallop Pecten maximus spat (1.3–2.1 mm shell height) from different settlement groups were transferred from hatchery to land‐based nursery at different ages and sizes. Chemical content, growth and survival were compared at transfer time and after 1 and 8 weeks of nursery growth. Growth was lowest and mortality highest in the first week after transfer. Mean shell height growth was 21.5–71.4 μm day^?1 and ash‐free dry weight (AFDW) growth ?2.7 to 10.3 μg day^?1. Spat from the first settlement group attained a larger size and weight than spat from larvae settled 3 days later, but had a lower daily growth rate (%). Keeping the late‐settled spat a longer time in the hatchery to reach a bigger size before transfer seemed not to improve subsequent nursery growth. Survival showed a large variation with mean survival ranging from 32% to 74%. A substantial reduction in lipid content was found after transfer to the nursery. Sterol content at transfer was the only lipid class correlating with survival in the nursery. Based on the results, it is justified that spat groups of different settlement age are included in production of 15‐mm great scallop spat if they are transferred from the hatchery at the same age.     

Breeding cycle of the northern scallop, Argopecten purpuratus (Lamarck, 1819) in southern Chile

The gametogenic cycle of the northern scallop, Argopecten purpuratus (Lamarck, 1819) was studied in southern Chile. This species has a high commercial value and is cultivated in northern Chile, the location of its natural habitats. It has recently been introduced into southern Chile where advantages such as suitable sheltered locations protected from wave action favour its mass culture. However, there are also potential disadvantages, such as lower water temperatures, which could affect reproduction. The results of the monthly variations of the gonadosomatic index and the frequency of maturity stages in specimens cultivated in Metri Bay (41° 36′S; 72° 43′W) and in those kept on the seabed in Quihua Channel (41° 50′S; 73° 05′W), suggest that the maturity and spawning period of this species extends from the end of spring through autumn. This pattern was more pronounced in Metri Bay, where levels of maturity were higher, due to higher summer water temperatures, than in Quihua Channel. Specimens at different maturity stages are found throughout the year, which seems to be associated with a rapid gonad recovery. The general pattern of the gametogenic cycle of specimens in the cultures does not differ from that recorded in the natural habitat of the species. The data available suggest that during reproduction temperature changes are more important than the relative values of the temperature. This evidence would support the possibility of mass culture of this species in southern Chile, outside its natural distribution area that extends from Corinto, Nicaragua (12°S) to Valparaíso, Chile (33°S).     

Relationships among environment, spawning and settlement of Queen scallop in the Ría de Arosa (Galicia, NW Spain)

This study examines the relationship of the reproductive and reserve storage cycles and spat settlement of the Queen scallop (Aequipecten opercularis) to environmental factors. The possibility of farming this species from spat settled on collectors is considered. The gonad condition index shows maximum values between mid-May and early August. Another peak occurs in mid-November. In spring and summer, the energy needed for gametogenesis is derived from food, although it is possible that direct transfer may occur from the digestive gland to the gonad. The glycogen and lipid content of the reserve organs reaches maximum values between late summer and early autumn. The energy requirements related to gametogenesis, which begins in autumn, involve the consumption of accumulated reserves with the resulting reduction in the condition indices. There is a positive correlation between temperature and the condition indices of the digestive gland, the adductor muscle and their lipid and glycogen content, respectively. Two settlement periods were recorded, one in winter, which could not be associated with the spawning of the experimental animals, and another in summer, which coincided with the spawning that took place in spring. The reduced gonad indices recorded at the end of the summer and in winter did not lead to settlement.     

不同pH对海湾扇贝胚胎发育及幼虫生长发育的影响

为探究pH对海湾扇贝(Argopecten irradia)胚胎发育及幼虫生长发育的影响,本研究以pH 8.0~8.2为对照组,分析不同pH (分别为7.6~7.7、7.3~7.4、7.0~7.1和6.7~6.8)对海湾扇贝胚胎及幼虫的影响。结果显示,随着pH的降低,各实验组孵化率降低,畸形率增高,孵化时间延长,且幼虫个体明显小于对照组(P<0.05)。D形幼虫期与壳顶幼虫期幼虫存活率与生长速率均显著低于对照组(P<0.05)。幼虫发育至第8天时,pH 7.0~7.1与pH 6.7~6.8实验组的存活率分别为6.1%和5.6%,而对照组为75.2%,除pH 7.6~7.7组外,各实验组生长速率均在3.4 μm/d及以下,基本呈现生长停滞状态。眼点幼虫附着率与对照组差异显著(P<0.05),第7天时,pH 6.7~6.8实验组附着率仅为31.7%。研究表明,海水pH变化对海湾扇贝早期胚胎及幼虫生长发育具有显著影响,该研究为评估pH变化对海湾扇贝等经济贝类资源和养殖产业的影响提供了参考资料。     

扇贝中麻痹性毒素的提取与分离纯化

为了获得麻痹性毒素标准品,以毒化扇贝为试验材料,对扇贝中的麻痹性毒素(PSP毒素)进行了提取和分离纯化。以酸性80%乙醇溶液反复提取麻痹性毒素,得到了总毒性为6170MU的毒素粗提液。毒素粗提液经过超滤、Bio-GelP-2凝胶柱层析和Bio-Rex70离子交换柱层析等二次层析柱分离纯化后得到以膝沟藻毒素群(GTXs)为主的纯化PSP毒素。HPLC分析结果显示,扇贝中主要含有膝沟藻毒素GTX3,GTX1、GTX2、GTX3、和GTX4的组成比例约为2∶4∶14∶1(以HPLC上的峰面积比例计)。纯化后的毒素可以作为标准物质用于GTX1-4的HPLC分析。     

捕后暂养对虾夷扇贝闭壳肌硬化的影响

虾夷扇贝的捕后处置对闭壳肌的硬化产生重大影响,而硬化又是影响闭壳肌生食品质的重要因素。为延长虾夷扇贝死后硬化发生时间,通过宰杀前暂养,缓解捕后胁迫对后期闭壳肌贮藏特性的影响。将采捕后的虾夷扇贝分为3组(对照组、暂养3 d组和暂养7 d组),然后去壳取闭壳肌进行0~7 d冰藏,分析闭壳肌在贮藏过程中的僵直情况、ATP关联物、K值、p H值、糖原及水溶性蛋白等指标的变化。结果显示,不论是否经过暂养,冰藏3 d内K值均低于5%,可以满足生食要求。经过暂养,闭壳肌中ATP的含量略有升高,暂养7 d组暂养3 d组对照组。在贮藏0~2 d内,暂养组的ATP含量基本保持不变,可抑制肌肉收缩并减少汁液流失。暂养组的糖原含量和水溶性蛋白含量低于对照组。研究表明,30 ku蛋白在暂养组中的消失时间比对照组提前了1~2 d。扇贝采捕过程中应尽可能减少胁迫,采捕后应尽快加工,以免影响商品的品质及货架期。     

长江大鳍鱯的人工繁殖

本文对长江大鳍亲鱼的池塘培育和人工繁殖技术进行了研究。１９９２年～１９９４年期间,采用池塘混养技术,将长江野生大鳍引入池塘进行驯化和培育,连续２年获得成熟亲鱼并进行人工繁殖。在池塘环境中,大鳍雌亲鱼成熟率分别为８１８％和７０６％,雄亲鱼分别为１００％和９３５％。采用多种催产药物混合注射的催产方法,可以得到较好的催产率。大鳍人工繁殖适宜的催产剂量是雌鱼每ｇ体重注射ＬＲＨ－Ａ０３～０５μｇ、ＤＯＭ００３～００５ｍｇ和ＨＣＧ５～１０ＩＵ,雄鱼减半或同量。水温２４～２６℃时,催产效应时间为１２～１３ｈ。受精卵在水温２７～２９℃时需５３～５５ｈ孵化出膜。大鳍人工繁殖受精率不高与其雄鱼精巢特殊的组织结构有关。     

Purification of transglutaminase from scallop striated adductor muscle and NaCl-induced inactivation

SUMMARY: Tissue type transglutaminase (TGase) was purified from scallop striated adductor muscle with successive chromatographies of DE-52 cellulose, Sephacryl S-300, and Mono Q columns. The yield and purification of the enzymatic activity was 16.6% and 101.9-fold, respectively. The molecular mass of purified enzyme was estimated to be 95 kDa by sodium dodecylsulfate–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis. Scallop TGase was Ca²⁺-dependent and strongly inactivated by ρ-chloromercuribenzoic acid, N -ethylmaleimide, Cu²⁺, and Zn²⁺, meaning it belongs to the thiol group of enzymes as well as being a mammalian enzyme. When scallop TGase was incubated in 0.5 M NaCl without substrate for 2 h at 20°C and pH 7.5, enzymatic activity decreased to 14.4% of its original. However, a conformational change in the TGase molecule was not detected by either fluorescent, ultraviolet, and circular dichroism spectra analyses compared to the enzyme incubated without NaCl. In addition, the enzyme inactivated by NaCl was partially recovered by the dilution of salt concentration, which means that the NaCl-induced inactivation process is reversible to some extent. These results suggest that NaCl-induced modulation of the TGase molecule occurs via a small conformational change.