Gonadotropins I and II do not stimulate thein vitro secretion of 17α,20β-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one 20-sulphate by rainbow trout gonads during final sexual maturation

Thein vitro secretion of 17,20-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one 20-sulphate (17,20-P-sulphate) and the free steroid 17,20-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one (17,20-P), by rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) gonads, in response to gonadotropin (GTH) I and GTH II, were studied during the final stages of sexual maturation. Substantial amounts of 17,20-P-sulphate were produced, by both mature ovaries and testes, indicating considerable 20-hydroxysteroid sulphotransferase (20-HST) activity within these tissues. In the post-ovulatory ovary the level of 17,20-P-sulphate (36.6 ng ml^–1) greatly exceeded that of 17,20-P (8.59 ng ml^–1). The amount of 17,20-P-sulphate produced in incubations of both mature ovary and testes was unaffected by either GTH I or GTH II treatment at physiological concentrations up to 100 ng ml^–1. Similarly, incubations of maturing ovary and testes, treated with GTH I or GTH II, in the presence of added 17,20-P at 100 ng ml^–1 of medium, produced levels of 17,20-P-sulphate that were similar to those of the controls. In incubations of mature ovarian follicles at the stages of germinal vesicle breakdown and preovulation, both GTHs significantly stimulated secretion of 17,20-P, although GTH II was always more potent than GTH I. GTH II significantly elevated the levels of 17,20-P in testicular incubations from mature males more than 4-fold relative to GTH I and controls, which did not differ from one another.In conclusion, 20-HST, the enzyme responsible for the sulphate conjugation of 17,20-P, was found to be active in the ovaries and testes of rainbow troutin vitro. However, the levels of this enzyme do not appear to be regulated by either GTH I or GTH II.     

Feed preferences in juvenile cod estimated by inert lanthanid markers – effects of moisture content in the feed

There are indications that low ingestion ratesof formulated feed may limit the growth ofearly juvenile fish, including cod. This hasparticularly been observed during the weaningperiod, when the fish must change from apresumably palatable live prey to usually a drydiet. The study of the physical properties ofthe diet seems to be an underestimated area ofresearch, compared to studies on thenutritional properties of the diet. In thisstudy we used lanthanide markers as a tool inestimating diet preferences for examining theeffect of dietary moisture content on ingestionrates in juvenile cod (0.8 g). Fishmeal-baseddiets were produced with five levels of water,giving diets with 35, 42, 54, 65 or 95% dryweight. Each diet was marked with a smallamount of a lanthanide or yttrium oxide. Thefish were hand fed on a mixture of these fivediets. Ingestion rates where then estimated bykilling 1/2 of the fish after one day and therest after four days of feeding. The whole fishwith gut content was homogenized and markercontent was measured by ICP-MS. The amountingested of each of the five diets could thenbe calculated from these figures. Despite thehigh variation in diet selection betweenindividuals the results clearly indicate ahigher intake of moist feed. This could becaused by a better palatability or to a higheravailability caused by a lower sinking rate ofthe moist feed.     

Influence of nutrition on the lipid quality of pond fish: common carp (Cyprinus carpio) and tench (Tinca tinca)

Like marine fish freshwater fish are an important source of essential fatty acids for human nutrition. However, the fatty acid composition of pond fish can vary considerably and strongly depends on that of the ingested food. Investigations on the fatty acid composition of common carp (Cyprinus carpio) and tench (Tinca tinca) have shown that different methods of rearing and feeding cause substantial variations in the proportions of the n-6 and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids of these fish species. Carp reared on the basis of natural food in ponds exhibit high contents of n-6 as well as n-3 fatty acids in their muscle triacylglycerols. On the other hand carp fed supplementary wheat in ponds resulted in somewhat lower levels of these essential fatty acids. High amounts of n-3 fatty acids can be found in carp fed high-energy diets containing high levels of fish oil. Analogous results were obtained in experiments with tench reared under different nutritional conditions. While rearing on the basis of only natural food in ponds as well as feeding supplementary wheat yielded in similar levels of n-3 and n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids, higher contents of n-3 fatty acids were recorded in tench fed pellets. High levels of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in foodstuffs have positive effects on human health. Experiments with different cultured fish species proved that the fatty acid composition of the edible parts can be influenced by the diet. Therefore, a finishing diet with a suitable fatty acid profile can be used to improve the nutritional quality of fish products of farmed origin.     

Effects of dietary lipid level and vegetable oil on fatty acid metabolism in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) over the whole production cycle

Changes in fatty acid metabolism in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) induced by vegetable oil (VO) replacement of fish oil (FO) and high dietary oil in aquaculture diets can have negative impacts on the nutritional quality of the product for the human consumer, including altered flesh fatty acid composition and lipid content. A dietary trial was designed to investigate the twin problems of FO replacement and high energy diets in salmon throughout the entire production cycle. Salmon were grown from first feeding to around 2 kg on diets in which FO was completely replaced by a 1:1 blend of linseed and rapeseed oils at low (14–17%) and high (25–35%) dietary oil levels. This paper reports specifically on the influence of diet on various aspects of fatty acid metabolism. Fatty acid compositions of liver, intestinal tissue and gill were altered by the diets with increased proportions of C₁₈ polyunsaturated fatty acids and decreased proportions of n-3 highly unsaturated fatty acids (HUFA) in fish fed VO compared to fish fed FO. HUFA synthesis in hepatocytes and enterocytes was significantly higher in fish fed VO, whereas β-oxidation was unaltered by either dietary oil content or type. Over the entire production cycle, HUFA synthesis in hepatocytes showed a decreasing trend with age interrupted by a large peak in activity at seawater transfer. Gill cell prostaglandin (PG) production showed a possible seasonal trend, with peak activities in winter and low activities in summer and at seawater transfer. PG production in seawater was lower in fish fed the high oil diets with the lowest PG production generally observed in fish fed high VO. The changes in fatty acid metabolism induced by high dietary oil and VO replacement contribute to altered flesh lipid content and fatty acid compositions, and so merit continued investigation to minimize any negative impacts that sustainable, environmentally-friendly and cost-effective aquaculture diets could have in the future. Abbreviations: FO - fish oil; HUFA - highly unsaturated fatty acids acids (carbon chain length ≥C ₂₀ with ≥3 double bonds); LO - linseed oil; RO - rapeseed oil; VO - vegetable oil. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Effects of melatonin,p-chlorophenylalanine,and α-methylparatyrosine on plasma gonadotropin level and ovarian activity in the catfish,Heteropneustes fossilis: A study correlating changes in hypothalamic monoamines

The effects of (ip, 10 injections over 20 days) of melatonin (75 g 100 g^–1 BW), the serotonin (5-HT)-synthesis blocker, para-cholorophenylalanine (p-CPA, 10 mg 100g^{–1 BW}) and the catecholamine-synthesis blocker, -methylparatyrosine (-MPT, 10 mg 100 g^–1 BW) on gonadotropin (GTH) secretion and ovarian activity were studied in ^{Heteropneustes fossilis} during late preparatory to early prespawning (April–May). The treatments resulted in significant reductions of plasma GTH and estradiol-17 levels, the gonadosomatic index, frequency distribution of vitellogenic and postvitellogenic oocytes, and ovarian and serum ³²p-labelled alkali-labile phosphoprotein (a marker of vitellogenic activity). Most of the oocytes were nonvitellogenic or had undergone atretic changes. The hepatic ³²-phosphoprotein content increased significantly over the saline control value. The effects were similar and pronounced in the p-CPA and melatonin-treated groups but were moderate in the -MPT-treated group. Hypothalamic 5-HT content and turnover were significantly inhibited in the p-CPA and melatonin-treated groups but the content and turnover of catecholamines were not. The -MPT treatment decreased significantly the content and turnover of dopamine (DA), noradrenaline (NA), and adrenaline (A) but did not influence the 5-HT content or turnover. These results suggest that 5-HT, NA and A are stimulatory to GTH secretion and that melatonin may act on the serotonergic system to inhibit the pituitary-gonadal axis.to whom correspondence should be addressed.A part of the results was presented at the International Workshop on Pineal gland: Its molecular signals and published as an abstract in Neuroendocrinol. Lett. 14: 399 pp., 1992.     

Predictive mapping for management and conservation of seagrass beds in North Carolina

An Erratum has been published for this article in Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems 12(2), 2002 577

• 1. This research extends techniques of predictive mapping from their application in terrestrial environments to marine landscapes by investigating the relationship between seagrass and hydrodynamics in Core Sound, North Carolina, USA.
• 2. An empirically derived logistic multiple regression model and a Boolean logic suitability model were used to produce several predictive map products, including: susceptibility of seagrasses to storms, probability of seagrass cover, and suitability of areas for restoration of seagrasses. A visual comparison between these maps and conventional seagrass polygon maps allows for a discussion of ‘field’ versus ‘object’ mapping, and the ramifications for management based on different cartographic techniques.
• 3. The predictive method used here showed that only a small portion (19%) of the seagrass bed in the study area would be expected to have a high probability of seagrass coverage. The majority of the seagrass habitat in the study area was predicted to have less than 50% probability of seagrass cover. In addition, 16% of the nearly 2000 ha of seagrass within the study area were predicted to be highly susceptible to acute storm events. Moreover, using a conservative set of site selection criteria, only 7% of the study area encompassed by seagrass habitat was predicted to have a high probability of successful restoration if injured.
• 4. This method provides for an inexpensive way to scale‐up from high‐resolution data to a coarser scale that is often required for conservation and management.

Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The effects of hypoxia,in vivo,on red blood cell β-adrenoceptors in the rainbow trout,Oncorhynchus mykiss

Rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss, were exposed to 48h of environmental hypoxia (water partial pressure of oxygen = 8.0 kPa) at either 5 or 15°C. Blood was sampled during hypoxia via a dorsal aorta cannula to measure arterial blood partial pressure of oxygen and plasma catecholamine concentrations. After 48h, the number (B_max) and dissociation constant (K_d) of red blood cell surface -adrenoceptors were determined using a radioligand-displacement binding assay. At 5°C, plasma catecholamine levels were elevated at 24h whereas at 15°C, levels were elevated at 48h. At either temperature, following 48h of hypoxia, there was no change in B_max or K_d of red blood cell surface -adrenoceptors, compared to normoxic control fish. This study demonstrates that chronic exposure to moderate hypoxia does not affect the number or affinity of cell surface -adrenoceptors on trout red blood cells.     

Properties of scallop mantle collagen: its content,tissue distribution and thermal behavior

ABSTRACT:   To obtain fundamental information for the effective use of scallop Patinopecten yessoensis mantle, which is one of the underutilized marine resources. Some properties of collagen contained in the mantle were examined by chemical and histochemical techniques. Collagen content in the mantle varied annually, ranging from 0.98 to 1.72% of wet tissue, 7.7 to 12.6% of dry tissue and 13.5 to 26.5% of total protein, being relatively in high level of collagen content of invertebrate muscles. Collagen fiber was densely distributed in the inner connective tissue matrix of the mantle pallial, in contrast to the inner fold part which was rich in muscle fibers. The collagen contained in the crude collagen fraction (residue after alkali extraction), prepared from the mantle, was revealed to have considerably low solubility on hot-water extraction, constantly less than 20% of the total collagen at the temperatures in the range of 20–90°C.     

不同羽色和性别番鸭屠宰性能及肌肉成分比较研究

研究旨在比较不同羽色及性别番鸭在屠宰性能及肌肉成分上的差别,为选育优良番鸭品种提供依据。试验选取1日龄黑羽番鸭、白羽番鸭及黑白花番鸭公、母共324羽,按羽色、性别分为6个处理,每处理设6个重复,每重复9只鸭,各处理饲喂相同日粮,试验期90d。结果表明：雄性黑羽番鸭屠宰率、全净膛率显著高于雄性白羽及黑白花羽番鸭（P〈0．05）,而雌性黑白花番鸭及白羽番鸭的胸肌率和瘦肉率相近且均显著高于雌性黑羽番鸭（P〈0．05）;各处理番鸭肌肉中汞、镉、砷、铅含量无显著差异（P〉0．05）,且均很微量;各同羽色雄性番鸭肌肉水分、无氮浸出物和粗蛋白质含量均基本略高于其同羽色雌性番鸭,而各处理雌性番鸭肌肉粗脂肪、粗灰分含量则高于其同羽色的雄性番鸭;雄性白羽番鸭和黑白花番鸭肌肉粗蛋白质含量相近且均显著高于雄性黑羽番鸭（P〈0．05）;各同羽色番鸭中基本上肌肉氨基酸含量均以雄性高于雌性,而同性别的番鸭比较,雄性白羽番鸭肌肉中多种氨基酸的含量显著高于雄性黑羽及雄性黑白花羽番鸭（P〉0．05）;同时雌性各羽色番鸭肌肉中多种氨基酸含量呈现出：黑白花番鸭〉黑羽番鸭〉白羽番鸭,但该趋势不显著（P〉0．05）。试验结果表明,雄性黑羽番鸭屠宰性能有一定优势,白羽番鸭肌肉养分和氨基酸含量优势明显。     

鹿茸Ca^2＋含量与塔里木马鹿收茸期的关系研究

为了确定不同年龄段塔里木马鹿鹿茸的最佳收茸时间,保证鹿茸的药用价值,试验选取老、中、青3个年龄段的塔里木马鹿各6头,采用火焰原子吸收分光光度法,分别测定不同生茸时期鹿茸中Ca2＋的含量。结果表明：青年组至6月17日鹿茸上段Ca2＋含量增加显著,确定其最佳收茸时间以6月17日为宜;中年、老年组的最佳收茸时期在6月3日左右,三者存在时间差异。