Effect of parental origin on early life history traits of European eel

Establishment of European eel (Anguilla anguilla) hatchery production will rely on selectively bred individuals that produce progeny with the best traits in successive generations. As such, this study used a quantitative genetic breeding design, between four females and nine males (four wild‐caught and five cultured), to investigate the effect of paternal origin (wild‐caught vs. cultured) and quantify the relative importance of parental effects, including genetic compatibility, on early life history (ELH) performance traits (i.e. fertilization success, embryonic survival at 32 hr post‐fertilization, hatch success and larval deformities at 2 days post‐hatch) of European eel. Wild‐caught males had higher (56%) spermatocrit values than cultured males (45%), while fertilization success, embryonic survival, hatch success and larval deformities were not significantly impacted by paternal origin. This demonstrates that short‐term domestication of male eels does not negatively affect offspring quality and enables the consideration of cultured male broodstock in future breeding programmes. Moreover, paternity significantly explained 9.5% of the variability in embryonic survival, providing further evidence that paternal effects need to be taken into consideration in assisted reproduction protocols. Furthermore, maternity significantly explained 54.8% of the variation for fertilization success, 61.7% for embryonic survival, 88.1% for hatching success and 62.8% for larval deformities, validating that maternity is a major factor influencing these “critical” ELH traits. At last, the parental interaction explained 12.8% of the variation for fertilization success, 8.3% for embryonic survival, 4.5% for hatch success and 20.5% for larval deformities. Thus, we conclude that eggs of one female can develop more successfully when crossed with a compatible male, highlighting the importance of mate choice for successful propagation of high‐quality offspring. Together, this knowledge will improve early offspring performance, leading to future breeding programmes for this critically endangered and economically important species.     

Sperm production and quality in European eel (Anguilla anguilla) in relation to hormonal treatment

Aquaculture production relies on controlled management of gametogenesis, especially in species where assisted reproduction is needed for obtaining gametes in captivity. The present study used human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) treatments to induce and sustain spermatogenesis in European eel (Anguilla anguilla). The aim was to evaluate effects of strip-spawning timing (12 vs. 24 hr) after weekly administration of hCG and the necessity of a primer dose (in addition to weekly hormonal treatment) prior to strip spawning (primer vs. no-primer) on sperm quality parameters. Sperm parameters included milt production (weight), density and sperm kinematics at Week 9, 11 and 13 after onset of treatment. Spermiation commenced in 11.5% of males in Week 5 and by Week 9, and all males produced milt. Male weight, milt production, sperm density and spermatocrit did not differ among hormonal treatments during the experimental period. Overall, male weight decreased from 106.3 to 93.0 g, milt weight increased from 3.5 to 5.4 g, sperm density counts decreased from 11.7 × 10⁹ to 10.5 × 10⁹ cells/ml, and spermatocrit decreased from 46.5% to 40.5%. Furthermore, spermatocrit was positively related to haemocytometer counts (R² = .86, p < .001), providing a reliable indicator of sperm density. Differences in sperm kinematics were observed depending on strip-spawning timing after hormonal injection (12 vs. 24 hr) but with no consistent pattern. These sperm quality parameters also did not consistently differ between the no-primer and primer treatments. Considering that each male may be stripped 4–5 times over the 2–3 months spawning season, omitting the primer would reduce animal handling, material costs and labour intensity, while sustaining high-quality sperm production.     

Fluorescence localization of epidermal cathepsins L and B in the Japanese eel

Histochemical localization of proteolytic activities in the dorsal epidermis of Japanese eel was demonstrated by fluorescent microscopy utilizing 4-methoxy-2-naphthylamide (4M$\beta$NA) derivatives as substrates and 5-nitrosalicylaldehyde as a trapping agent. Carbobenzoxy-L-phenylalanyl-L-arginyl-4M$\beta$NA (Cbz-Phe-Arg-4M$\beta$NA) and Cbz-Arg-Arg-4M$\beta$NA were used for direct detection of cathepsins L and B activities, respectively, in fresh frozen sections and unfixed cells of the eel epidermis. The fluorescing areas, where Cbz-Phe-Arg-4M$\beta$NA was hydrolyzed by cathepsin L, were shown in mucus secretory cells and club cells and broadly around skin surface. The fluorescing areas due to Cbz-Arg-Arg-4M$\beta$NA hydrolysis by cathepsin B were localized similarly in these tissues. The fluorescing intensity for both catheptic activities in mucus secretory cells was higher than that in club cells, where small fluorescing granules were distributed. These results indicate that eel cathepsins L and B are stored in epidermal secretory cells at different levels and probably serve as defense factors before or after secretion by these cells. Abbreviations: Cbz – carbobenzoxy; 4M$\beta$NA – 4-methoxy-2-naphthylamide; NSA – 5-nitrosalicylaldehyde.     

Evaluation and characterization of a novel probiotic Lactobacillus pentosus PL11 isolated from Japanese eel (Anguilla japonica) for its use in aquaculture

In the present study, a potential Lactobacilli probiotics were isolated from Japanese eels (Anguilla japonica) and characterized and evaluated for their possible use in eel farming. Sixteen Lactobacilli were isolated from intestines of Japanese eels, using selective media. The lactobacilli strains (represented as PL1 to PL16) were screened by their ability to produce digestive enzyme. Among these, three strains (PL11, PL13 and PL16) producing four digestive enzymes (amylase, cellulase, protease and phytase) simultaneously were characterized further using API ZYM kit. From these, PL11 (Lactobacillu (L.) pentosus) was identified as potential probiotics candidate producing 15 enzymes among 20 tested. Further examination of biological activities of PL11 revealed tolerance against pH, artificial bile juice and antibacterial activity against several fish pathogenic bacteria. The in vitro competitive exclusion assay also revealed 88.4% reduction in adhesion of fish pathogen (Edwardsiella tarda) by PL11 to host intestinal mucus. In vitro incubation of Japanese eel foregut with Baclight‐labelled PL11 showed colonization of the enterocyte surface by confocal and scanning electron microscopy. In summary, PL11 isolated from eels could serve as a potential probiotics with acid and bile tolerance, production of digestive enzymes, antibacterial activity and inhibition of fish pathogen adhesion to intestinal mucus.     

日本鳗鲡腐皮病病原菌的分离及鉴定

从患腐皮病的日本鳗鲡(Anguilla japonica)体表溃烂处分离到1株病原菌(322A),对其进行了人工感染实验和生理生化分析,测定了该菌株的16S rRNA基因序列和促旋酶(gyrase)B亚单位gyrB基因序列,并分别构建系统发育树。结果显示:感染实验证实菌株322A具有致病性;生理生化分析鉴定该菌株属于气单胞菌属(Aero-monassp.);16S rRNA基因分析显示,该菌株与气单胞菌属细菌的同源性均在99%~100%,构建的系统树显示,菌株322A与嗜水气单胞菌(A.hydrophila(FJ462702))亲缘关系最近;gyrB基因分析表明,该菌株与A.hydrophila种内序列的相似性为96%~98%,种间序列的相似性为94%~95%,构建的系统树结果显示,该菌株与A.hydrophila(FJ608553、FJ608552、AF208259)聚为一个分支。综合上述实验结果,菌株322A可鉴定为嗜水气单胞菌(A.hydrophila)。     

同位素稀释液质联用法测定鱼体中氯丙嗪的残留

建立了高效液相色谱-串联质谱(HPLC/MS/MS)分析鱼体中氯丙嗪残留的方法.样品用乙腈提取,MCX固相萃取柱净化,氨化甲醇洗脱.在正离子模式下以电喷雾串联质谱仪进行测定,采用内标法定量,氘代氯丙嗪为内标物.以欧洲鳗鲡、鳜鱼和大口黑鲈为研究对象,在1.0、5.0、25.0μg/kg添加水平下,方法平均回收率为90.1...     

莫桑比克鳗鲡养殖生物学主要特性研究

对莫桑比克鳗鲡（Anguillamor morata）玻璃鳗经形态学鉴定品种后,开展了主要养殖生物学特性研究。耐受高温和低温分别为39℃和7℃,适宜生存水温15℃～33℃;耐受盐度与水温相关,水温30℃致死盐度2．9％,适宜盐度小于1．1％,20℃致死盐度2．7％,适宜盐度小于1．8％,10℃致死盐度2．1％,适宜盐度小于2．0％;耐受pH值与水温相关,30℃致死pH值分别为3．5和11．0,适宜pH值6．0—7．0,20℃致死pH值分别为4．0和11．0,适宜pH值6．0～8．0,10℃致死pH值分别为3．5和10．5,适宜pH值5．5—8．5。常用药物S高聚碘、二氧化氯、三氯异氰尿酸、苯扎溴铵、溴氯海因、甲醛、敌百虫的安全浓度高于或接近常用浓度,硫酸铜、溴氰菊脂乳油、氯氰菊脂、甲苯咪唑的安全浓度低于常用浓度。水体中非离子态氨的安全浓度为2．51mg／L,亚硝酸氮的安全浓度为55．12mg／L。     

澳洲长鳍鳗染色体组型的初步研究

以澳洲长鳍鳗(Anguilla reinhardtii)头肾组织为材料,采用腹腔注射植物血细胞凝集素(PHA)、秋水仙素和空气干燥法制备染色体标本,进行染色体组型分析.结果显示:澳洲长鳍鳗染色体为38条,核型公式为2n=14m+6sm+18t,NF=58;未发现随体、次级缢痕及异形染色体.     

Epidermal proteases of the Japanese eel

A fluorescent-sensitive assay was used to demonstrate the protease activity in the dorsal skin of Japanese eel (Anguilla japonica). Two distinct extracts were separately prepared from skin mucus and epidermal cell layers, with no mutual contamination. The epidermal extract was sensitive to various substrates, whereas there was no, or only marginal, susceptibility to the same substrates for the mucous extract. Optimum hydrolysis pHs of the epidermal extract was variable and below pH 7.0, and the optimum hydrolysis temperatures were between 40 and 50 °C. In addition, Tos-Phe-Ch₂Cl, chymostatin, CdCl₂, CuCl₂, HgCl₂ and ZnCl₂ inhibited protease activities to different extents. Several other reagents specifically affected the protease activities, and their induced effects were useful for the identification of epidermal proteases. The findings indicate that a proteolytic factor, exhibiting various enzymological specificities, is retained within epidermal cell layers of Japanese eel. This factor is composed of 4 distinct proteases, such as cathepsins L and B-like proteases, a serine protease and an aminopeptidase.