Purification and characterization of a β–glucan binding protein from the haemolymph of freshwater prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii

β‐glucan binding protein (βGBP), a pattern recognition protein was purified from the haemolymph of freshwater prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii by heparin affinity chromatography that showed a single band in native gradient PAGE. The β‐glucan binding property of the purified protein was confirmed in a phenoloxidase (PO) assay, where addition of βGBP along with β‐glucan increased the specific PO activity compared with that of β‐glucan alone. The molecular weight of the βGBP was found to be ~316 kDa on gel filtration chromatography. In SDS‐PAGE, βGBP molecule was reduced to one polypeptide chain of molecular weight ~113 kDa. Thus the βGBP in M. rosenbergii is possibly a homotrimeric molecule. The purified sample run on unreduced condition in SDS‐PAGE also revealed a similar size band (~113 kDa) and hence, the polypeptide chains of βGBP are held by non‐covalent interactions. The purified βGBP samples run in native PAGE was stained positively with alcian blue for carbohydrates and Sudan black for lipids indicating the βGBP to be a glycolipoprotein. With rabbit polyclonal anti‐βGBP serum developed, an indirect ELISA was standardized and the normal βGBP concentration in adult M. rosenbergii serum was quantified to be ~2 mg mL^?1. Furthermore, the applicability of the developed ELISA is discussed.     

Efficacy of 17 α‐methyl testosterone and letrozole on sex reversal of protogynous grouper,Epinephelus tauvina (Forskal, 1775) and spawning performance of sex‐reversed males

This study aimed to test the efficacy of 17 α‐methyl testosterone (17 α‐MT) alone and in combination with letrozole, an aromatase inhibitor, for the induction of sex reversal in protogynous greasy grouper, Epinephelus tauvina. Further, the long‐lasting effects of these treatments and spawning performance of sex‐reversed males were also investigated. Greasy grouper with oocytes in the perinucleolus stage were implanted with 5 mg 17 α‐MT kg^?1 body weight (Tb>1b>), 5 mg 17 α‐MT and 0.2 mg letrozole kg^?1 body weight (Tb>2b>) and 5 mg 17 α‐MT with 0.4 mg letrozole kg^?1 body weight (Tb>3b>) and no androgens/enzyme inhibitor implanted (C). The 17 α‐MT alone and in combination of letrozole‐induced sex reversal in greasy grouper, whereas untreated control fish (C) showed normal ovarian development. However, Tb>2b> and Tb>3b> group showed 100% sex reversal and completion of spermatogenesis up to functional male phase in 2 and 3 months, respectively, whereas Tb>1b> group resulted in only 66.67% functional male with motile spermatozoa after 4 months. Sex‐reversed males successfully fertilized the eggs during induced spawning. There were significant differences on fertilization and hatching rates between Tb>2b> group (79.00 ± 4.36%; 77.67 ± 2.87%, respectively) and Tb>1b> group (57.67 ± 3.17%; 63.87 ± 2.91%, respectively). The result suggested that 17 α‐MT (5.0 mg kg^?1 BW) in combination with letrozole (0.2 mg kg^?1 BW) has the potential to produce 100% sex‐reversed male in short period in greasy grouper, which might greatly help in seed production of greasy grouper.     

Effects of dietary supplementation with β‐glucan and synbiotics on growth,haemolymph chemistry,and intestinal microbiota and morphology in the Pacific white shrimp

The goal of this study was to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation with β‐glucan and microencapsulated probiotics (Bacillus subtilis or Pediococcus acidilactici) on growth performance, body composition, haemolymph constituents, and intestinal morphology and microbiota of the Pacific white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei. Four treatment diets [basal diet (C), β‐glucan‐containing diet (β‐glu), β‐glucan plus B.&nbsp;subtilis‐containing diet (β‐glu+Bs), and β‐glucan plus P.&nbsp;acidilactici‐containing diet (β‐glu+Pa)] were fed to L.&nbsp;vannamei for 90&nbsp;days. Shrimp fed the β‐glu and β‐glu+Pa diets exhibited similar growth performance and body protein content, which were significantly higher than those of shrimp fed the control diet (P&nbsp;<&nbsp;0.05). No significant differences in haemolymph triglyceride, cholesterol, protein, haemolymph urea nitrogen or chloride were detected among the experimental diets. However, dietary β‐glucan alone increased the haemolymph glucose level and osmolarity (P&nbsp;<&nbsp;0.05). Synbiotic supplementation had greater effects on intestinal microbiota and morphology than dietary β‐glucan alone. For example, β‐glu+Bs increased the number of intestinal lactic acid bacteria and decreased the number of Vibrio spp. (P&nbsp;<&nbsp;0.05), and β‐glu+Pa increased the height of intestinal villi.     

60Co-γ射线对9种庭院月季扦插苗的辐射效应研究

为探讨⁶⁰Co-b3;射线对不同庭院月季品种扦插苗的辐射诱变效应,以粉扇、金凤凰、梅朗口红、紫袍玉带、安吉拉、粉色达芬奇、你的眼睛、香槟和九重香9个庭院月季品种的扦插苗为研究对象,⁶⁰Co-b3;射线为辐照源,设置不同剂量(0、25、45、60、80 Gy)进行辐射处理,测定了死亡率、萌芽率、变异率和主要的形态指标。结果表明,随着辐射剂量增加,月季扦插苗平均死亡率逐渐增加,从33.61%(0 Gy)上升至79.71%(80 Gy);植株生长受到显著抑制,植株变异率呈先升高后降低的趋势,辐射剂量为45 Gy时,植株变异率达到最高,占总体变异率(4.20‰)的64.70%。此外,不同品种月季对⁶⁰Co-b3;射线辐射的敏感性不同,半致死辐射剂量也存在差异,其有效值介于26~55 Gy之间。综合⁶⁰Co-b3;射线对月季扦插苗死亡率、生长势和变异率的影响,推荐庭院月季扦插苗的最适辐射剂量为45 Gy,这为月季辐射育种提供了理论基础。     

Fertility and motility of sperm from Atlantic halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglossus) in relation to dose and timing of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone agonist implant

In broodstocks of Atlantic halibut, Hippoglossus hippoglossus, male and female gamete production often becomes unsynchronised towards the end of the spawning season—milt becomes very viscous and difficult to express while the females are still producing batches of good quality eggs. Gonadotrophin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa) has been shown to stimulate spermiation in a number of fish species. Therefore, we conducted two experiments where male halibut were implanted intramuscularly with pellets containing GnRHa. The effect of the pellets was tested at three periods: before, at the height of and at the end of spermiation. In the middle period, GnRHa was tested at two doses (5 and 25 bc;g/kg bodyweight). Measurements were made of milt hydration, sperm motility and fertilisation rate. Implanted males began spermiation at least 4 weeks before control males. Both doses of GnRHa increased the fluidity of the milt. This effect lasted for at least 20 days in the low dose group and for 40 days in the high dose group. When applied at the end of the season, GnRHa reversed the normal trend for the milt to become more viscous. GnRHa treatments did not affect fertilisation rates obtained with the sperm. However, towards the end of the spawning season, sperm motility was enhanced in males treated with the high dose of GnRHa (25 bc;g/kg) compared to controls. As described previously, plasma concentrations of the gonadal steroids, 5b2;-pregnane-3b2;,17,20b2;-triol 20-sulphate and 17,20-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one, were significantly enhanced by GnRHa treatment. Concentrations of testosterone on the other hand decreased when spermiating males were treated with GnRHa. Our data suggest that 17,20b2;-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one or its metabolites are involved in milt hydration, possibly through affecting ion transport.     

江豚线粒体Cyt b和D-loop片段序列分析及其分子系统学研究

对江豚（Neophocaena phocaenoides）mtDNA的Cyt b（377bp）和D—loop（343bp）片段进行了测序和分析,并与GenBank中鼠豚类及一角鲸类同源序列进行了比较。研究结果表明,Cytb基因片段的碱基组成平均为T：29．0％,C：28．8％,A：27．2％,G：15．0％;D—loop片段的碱基组成平均为T：35．9％,C：21．8％,A：32．4％,G：9．9％。Cytb基因片段共出现109个变异位点,简约信息位点107个,序列变异度为28．9％,碱基替代主要发生在密码子第3位点上,转换／颠换为13．3;D—loop片段共有109个变异位点,简约信息位点100个,序列变异度为31．8％,转换／颠换为2．4。构建的系统发育树显示,江豚是鼠豚科中较早分化出来的一个类群,与一角鲸科的亲缘关系最近。2个片段序列的分析结果一致,棘鳍鼠海豚Phocoena spinipinnis、太平洋鼠海豚P．sinus和黑眶鼠海豚Australophocaena dioptria聚为一支。     

江苏省4个太湖新银鱼种群遗传多样性和遗传结构分析

太湖新银鱼(Neosalanx taihuensis)是我国特有的银鱼种类,主要分布在长江和淮河中下游及其附属湖泊,近年来其资源量呈明显下降趋势。为了解太湖新银鱼遗传背景,本研究采用线粒体细胞色素b (Cytochrome b, Cyt b)基因序列,分析了江苏省太湖、高邮湖、洪泽湖和骆马湖4个太湖新银鱼野生群体共144尾样本的遗传多样性及遗传结构。结果显示,太湖新银鱼Cyt b基因序列共发现29个变异位点,定义25个单倍型;平均单倍型多样性(Hd)为0.682±0.037,核苷酸多样性(π)为0.00231±0.00021;4个群体中,高邮湖群体的遗传多样性最高(Hd: 0.609±0.078; π: 0.00094± 0.00027),太湖群体的遗传多样性最低(Hd: 0.343±0.107; π: 0.00075±0.00033)。分子方差分析(AMOVA)显示,太湖新银鱼群体间遗传差异(71.53%)大于群体内遗传差异(28.47%),遗传变异主要来自于群体间。遗传分化指数Fst值统计检验表明,骆马湖群体与太湖、高邮湖和洪泽湖群体之间有显著性差异。分子系统树和单倍型网络进化图分析显示,25个单倍型形成2个明显的地理分支,一支由太湖群体、高邮湖群体和洪泽湖群体组成,另一支由骆马湖群体组成。中性检验和错配分布图分析表明,太湖新银鱼历史上发生过群体扩张。整体来看,太湖新银鱼野生种群遗传多样性较低,应加强种质资源保护。建议将太湖、高邮湖群体和洪泽湖群体作为整体进行管理和保护,骆马湖群体单独管理和保护。     

Effects of γ‐aminobutyric acid supplementation on the growth performance,serum biochemical indices and antioxidant status of pharaoh cuttlefish,Sepia pharaonis

This study evaluated the effects of dietary γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA) on the growth performance, serum biochemical indices and antioxidant status of pharaoh cuttlefish, Sepia pharaonis. Cuttlefish were cultured in open‐culturing cement pool systems for 8&nbsp;weeks. Six practical diets supplemented with graded levels of GABA (0, 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100&nbsp;mg/kg) were formulated. Each diet was randomly assigned to triplicate groups of 60 cuttlefish (mean weight: 10.33&nbsp;g), the cuttlefish were fed two times per day to apparent satiation. The results showed that the specific growth rate (SGR), weight gain (WG) and feed efficiency (FE) significantly increased with dietary GABA supplementation (p&nbsp;<&nbsp;.05). The survival rate (SR) and protein content in muscle significantly increased when 58.9&nbsp;mg/kg GABA supplied. Moreover, the nitric oxide (NO) content and acid phosphatase (ACP) activity in serum were significantly increased with dietary GABA supplementation (p&nbsp;<&nbsp;.05), while the activity of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) in serum decreased significantly when supplied with GABA at 58.9&nbsp;mg/kg (p&nbsp;<&nbsp;.05). In addition, dietary GABA improved antioxidation activity by significantly increasing the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) but decreasing malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in the liver and gill (p&nbsp;<&nbsp;.05). On the basis of the quadratic regression analysis of FE, the optimum content of dietary GABA in S.&nbsp;pharaonis was estimated to be 55.3&nbsp;mg/kg. The findings of this study demonstrated that dietary GABA had a positive effect on the growth performance, serum biochemical indices and antioxidant status of S.&nbsp;pharaonis.