施氏鲟Acipenser schrenckii ♀×西伯利亚鲟A.baeri ♂杂交子代胚胎发育的观察

对施氏鲟Acipenser schrenckii♀×西伯利亚鲟A.baeri♂进行人工繁殖,观察杂交子代的胚胎发育过程。结果表明,在水温15~22℃时,杂交鲟胚胎发育历时141~151 h,所需总积温为2 608.5~2 793.5℃·h。施氏鲟成熟卵为多黄卵,卵裂呈特殊的辐射裂,受精后胚盘隆起不明显。根据对施氏鲟♀×西伯利亚鲟♂杂交子代胚胎发育外部形态及典型特征的观察,将胚胎发育分为受精卵、卵裂期、囊胚期、原肠胚期、大小卵黄栓塞期、神经胚期、眼囊形成期、心脏形成博动期和孵出期9个时期。     

小体鲟胚胎发育特征观察

观察了水温(18±1)℃条件下,小体鲟(Acipenser ruthenus Linnaeus)的胚胎发育特征。结果显示:成熟小体鲟卵圆球形、黑色、不透明,为粘性卵,卵径2.2～2.8 mm。水温(18±1)℃条件下,小体鲟受精卵历时110 h孵化出膜,所需总积温为2023～2308℃·h。小体鲟受精卵的卵裂方式为特殊的辐射状卵裂;原肠中期时动物极细胞覆盖胚胎三分之二;心跳期,心脏呈C型;尾端接近心脏时,眼囊内已经有色素沉着。根据胚胎发育过程的形态特征,可将小体鲟胚胎发育过程分为受精卵、卵裂、囊胚、原肠、神经胚、器官发生和出膜7个连续阶段,34个时期。另外,本研究还将小体鲟胚胎发育和鲟形目其他鱼类胚胎发育特征进行了对比分析。     

普安银鲫胚胎发育的初步研究

经人工催产、人工授精获得普安银鲫受精卵,对其胚胎发育过程和各发育时期外部形态特征进行了连续观察,并研究了不同温度条件下其胚胎发育的特点。研究结果表明,普安银鲫受精卵近似圆球形,淡灰色,沉性卵,强粘性;卵径1.50mm,吸水后1.88mm;受精后开始形成卵间隙,且植物极的卵间隙大于动物极的;卵间隙形成过程中卵黄收缩,略变小。普安银鲫胚胎发育过程可分为23个发育期,水温18℃时需98.72h出膜,水温24℃和26℃时分别需要56.48h、48.2h出膜。不同温度条件下,普安银鲫胚胎发育早期(胚盘～原肠胚)在18℃恒定水温条件下存活率最高,发育后期阶段(神经胚～出膜)在24℃恒定水温条件下存活率最高。     

唐鱼胚胎发育观察

唐鱼(Tanichthys albonubes)是一种小型鲤科鱼类,是华南地区的特有种。本研究报道对唐鱼胚胎发育过程的观察结果。唐鱼的受精卵近卵圆型,其卵径为(1.017±0.001)mm。根据其胚胎发育过程的形态特征,胚胎发育全程可划分为7个阶段:受精卵胚盘形成阶段、卵裂阶段、囊胚阶段、原肠胚阶段、神经胚形成阶段、器官形成阶段和孵化出膜阶段。观察结果表明,在不同的水温条件下发育历程不同:当水温分别在14.0-16.8℃、22.5-25.0℃和28-30℃条件下,受精卵分别经过147 h、50 h和28 h发育而孵出。文中讨论了唐鱼胚胎形态及胚细胞的分化特点,以及水温对胚胎发育的影响。     

乌苏里鮠胚胎发育观察

对乌苏里鮠受精卵及其胚胎发育特征进行了观察和描述,总结出乌苏里鮠胚胎发育时序。乌苏里鮠受精卵为粘性卵、球形、橘黄色、半透明、卵径2mm左右。在水温25.5～26℃,有效积温1 285.27℃.h,经过49h26min仔鱼破膜孵出。根据乌苏里鮠胚胎发育的形态特征,胚胎发育分为受精卵、胚盘形成期、卵裂期、囊胚期、原肠期、神经胚期、器官形成期、出膜期8个阶段。     

条纹锯鮨胚胎发育及卵黄囊仔鱼形态变化的观察

通过观察条纹锯鱼旨的胚胎发育过程及卵黄囊仔鱼形态变化,研究其胚胎发育及卵黄囊仔鱼的形态特征、特点。采用Nikon E200显微镜对其胚胎发育形态及卵黄囊仔鱼形态变化进行连续拍照取样,详细描述了其从受精卵到初孵仔鱼的26个具体发育时期的形态特征、孵化温度、发育时间及卵黄囊仔鱼的形态变化特征。结果显示,条纹锯鱼旨的受精卵为球形、游离的浮性卵,平均卵径为0.950±0.039mm;条纹锯鱼旨受精卵孵化需经过卵裂期、囊胚期、原肠胚期、神经胚期、器官生成期和孵化期6个主要时期,在80目的孵化网箱中,水温20～20.5℃、盐度28～32、DO≥5mg/L、pH7.6～8.4静水微充气的条件下需要46h53min孵化;卵黄囊在仔鱼出膜2d后被吸收。     

黄鳝的胚胎及胚后发育

将黄鳝的受精卵静水控温孵化后,经活体解剖和透明处理,记录黄鳝孵化时序,显微观察并拍摄黄鳝胚胎发育及胚后发育过程的形态特征。黄鳝卵圆球型,橙黄或淡黄色,沉性,卵粒重25～38mg,卵径1.7～3.1mm。受精吸水3～5min膨胀后,卵径增大至3.0～3.7mm。黄鳝出膜时全长15～21mm,卵黄吸收完成时,全长25～35mm。黄鳝胚胎发育过程中出现具有丰富的微血管分布的胸鳍。胸鳍在胚体出膜后卵黄囊完全消失前退化。在温度26℃时,胚胎发育所需时间为168h,所需积温“度·时”值为4368;在温度32℃时,胚胎发育所需时间为144h,所需积温“度·时”值为4608。在温度32℃时,胚后发育所需时间(从出膜至卵黄全部吸收)为216h,所需积温“度·时”值为6912。26～30℃是黄鳝卵适宜的胚胎发育温度。     

长丰鲢胚胎发育的初步观察

在(24±1)℃温度条件下观察长丰鲢(Changfeng silver carp)受精卵发育过程及其胚胎发育各个时期的形态特征。结果显示:长丰鲢受精卵为漂流性卵(半浮性卵),无油球,细胞质均匀分布,卵径为(1.55±0.05)mm,吸水后卵膜膨大,卵径达到(5.10±0.40)mm。在水温(24±1)℃的条件下,胚胎发育总历时为(28.5±1.0)h,胚胎发育过程所需总积温为(685.0±62.3)℃獉h。长丰鲢受精卵卵裂方式与其他家鱼一样,属于盘状卵裂,本文依据胚胎发育各阶段的形态特征,将其划分为7个连续发育的关键阶段,18个不同的时期,分别为受精卵期、卵裂期、囊胚期、原肠胚期、神经胚期、器官发生期和出膜期。     

西伯利亚鲟仔稚鱼胚后发育的形态学和组织学观察

应用形态学和组织学研究技术对西伯利亚鲟(Acipenser baerii)仔稚鱼发育进行了较详细的观察,通过外部形态变化和内部器官发育情况,对西伯利亚鲟仔稚鱼发育各阶段进行区分。在水温(18.0±1.0)℃,pH 7.0～7.5的条件下,初孵仔鱼平均全长(9.05±0.14)mm,出膜后7日内为早期仔鱼阶段,仔鱼以卵黄囊作为营养来源,视觉是主要的感觉功能;8日龄至22日龄为晚期仔鱼阶段,最显著的特点是卵黄囊已消失,仔鱼转为底栖生活,开始主动摄食,各鳍条及其支鳍软骨逐渐发育完善,视网膜、味蕾、嗅囊和壶腹等器官的分化基本完成;23日龄至57日龄为稚鱼期,主要从骨板开始生长到骨板形成,各器官发育完善,身体各部分比例、体形及体色基本上与成鱼一致为止。西伯利亚鲟主要感觉器官的发育特征与其他硬骨鱼类相比表现出一定的差异,这种差异性充分体现了西伯利亚鲟物种的古老性,在生物进化中占据着重要的地位。     

西伯利亚鲟的人工繁殖

取7龄西伯利亚鲟(AcipenserbaeriBrandt),第1次产卵前4个月,放入2组不同温度的水池中越冬,Ⅰ组水温13～14℃;Ⅱ组7～8℃。每组4尾雌鱼,6尾雄鱼。催产前水温升至15～16℃,人工催产结果,Ⅰ组1尾雌鱼排卵和2尾雄鱼排精,Ⅱ组3尾雌鱼排卵,5尾雄鱼排精;雌鱼排卵全部采用输卵管切割手术取卵,获得成熟卵3.26kg,共计21.5×104粒;用“半干法”授精,获受精卵19.11×104粒,受精率86.7%～95.6%;孵出鱼苗12.5×104尾,孵化率40%～68.9%。结果说明,在人工培育条件下,西伯利亚鲟能够成熟并成功地进行人工繁殖;产前培育温度变化对西伯利亚鲟性腺发育和人工繁殖效果有明显影响;与养殖施氏鲟的人工繁殖比较,催产效应时间基本相同;雄鱼发育较差。     

Association between the interannual variation in the oceanic environment and catch rates of bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus) in the Atlantic Ocean

The environmental processes associated with variability in the catch rates of bigeye tuna in the Atlantic Ocean are largely unexplored. This study used generalized additive models (GAMs) fitted to Taiwanese longline fishery data from 1990 to 2009 and investigated the association between environmental variables and catch rates to identify the processes influencing bigeye tuna distribution in the Atlantic Ocean. The present findings reveal that the year (temporal factor), latitude and longitude (spatial factors), and major regular longline target species of albacore catches are significant for the standardization of bigeye tuna catch rates in the Atlantic Ocean. The standardized catch rates and distribution of bigeye tuna were found to be related to environmental and climatic variation. The model selection processes showed that the selected GAMs explained 70% of the cumulative deviance in the entire Atlantic Ocean. Regarding environmental factors, the depth of the 20 degree isotherm (D20) substantially contributed to the explained deviance; other important factors were sea surface temperature (SST) and sea surface height deviation (SSHD). The potential fishing grounds were observed with SSTs of 22–28°C, a D20 shallower than 150 m and negative SSHDs in the Atlantic Ocean. The higher predicted catch rates were increased in the positive northern tropical Atlantic and negative North Atlantic Oscillation events with a higher SST and shallow D20, suggesting that climatic oscillations affect the population abundance and distribution of bigeye tuna.     

Rare serotype occurrence and PFGE genotypic diversity of Streptococcus agalactiae isolated from tilapia in China

Previously, we reported 10 PEGE types of 85 tilapia Streptococcus agalactiae(GBS), which shifted from Streptococcus iniae in China, by using PEGE method. Presently, larger and more representative tilapia GBS were isolated, for the ?rst time in China, to characterize their serotypes and genetic diversities more precisely than had done before. 168 GBS strains were distributed in ?ve provinces of China, in which Guangdong, Guangxi and Hainan were the major ones, holding36.9%(62/168), 37.5%(63/168) and 19.6%(33/168), respectively. Serotypes, Ia, Ib and III, were observed in these strains and the most predominant one was Ia(95.2%), which mainly distributed in Guangdong, Guangxi and Hainan. Ia initially occurred in 2009, it shoot up to 32.1% in 2010,but decreased to 16.1% in 2011 before went up to 45.2% in 2012. Ib sporadically occurred during2007–2011, III onlyoccurred in 2012. 14 different PFGE types, including 4 new types(N, O,P and Q), were observed, in which B, D, F and G were the predominant types, holding 83.9%(141/168) of the total GBS strains. Ia corresponded to 11 PFGE types(A–H, N–P), in which type D predominated(51%). Ib represented 3 genotypes(I, J and Q) and III harbored only 2genotypes(N and F). Type N and Fsynchronously presented in Ia and III. In summary, the genetic diversity of tilapia GBS varied by serotypes and changed with geographical locations and years.Although Iastillpredominated, new rareserotypeIII alreadyoccurred in China.     

Growth performance,digestive enzyme activity and immune response of Japanese sea bass,Lateolabrax japonicus fed with fructooligosaccharide

In this experiment, a feeding trial was performed to determine the effects of fructooligosaccharide (FOS) on growth performance, digestive enzyme activity and immune response of Japanese sea bass, Lateolabrax japonicus juveniles (initial weight 38.3 ± 0.5 g), and the fish were examined following feeding with six levels of FOS (0, 0.5, 1, 2, 4 and 6 g/kg) for 28 days. Significant enhancement of weight gain (WG) and specific growth rate (SGR) was found in fish fed 1 g/kg FOS incorporated diets (p < .05), while the feed conversion ratio (FCR) in the 1, 2 g/kg FOS groups reduced significantly compared with the control (p < .05). Besides, the crude lipid in the 4, 6 g/kg FOS groups increased significantly compared with the control (p < .05). On the other hand, the erepsin and lipase activities significantly elevated in intestine of fish fed 2 g/kg FOS (p < .05) and the lysozyme activity in serum of fish fed 2 g/kg FOS were significantly higher than that in the control (p < .05). Moreover, the alkaline phosphatase activities in serum of fish fed 0.5, 1, 2 g/kg FOS were significantly higher than in control (p < .05). Regression analysis showed that the relationships between dietary FOS levels and either SGR, FCR, erepsin or lysozyme activities were best expressed by regression equations, and the optimal inclusion levels are 1.37, 1.80, 3.06, 3.11, 1.93 and 1.80 g/kg for SGR, FCR, erepsin, lipase, lysozyme and total superoxide dismutase activities, respectively. Overall, this study revealed that FOS incorporated diets could beneficial for L. japonicus culture in terms of increasing the growth, digestion and immune activities. Under the present experimental condition, the optimal supplementary level of FOS in the diet of L. japonicus is 1–3 g/kg.     

Growth hormone (GH) and reproduction: a review

Interaction between growth and reproduction occurs in many vertebrates and is particularly obvious at certain stages of the life cycle in fish. Endocrine interactions between the gonadotropic axis and the somatotropic axis are described, the potential role of GH being emphasised. A comparative analysis of these phenomena in mammals, amphibians and fish, suggests a specific role of GH in the physiology of puberty, gametogenesis and fertility. It also shows the original contribution made by studies on the fish model in this field of investigations.     

Purification and partial characterization of GtHs (cfLH and cfFSH) from Indian walking catfish (Clarias batrachus) (L.) and development of a homologous ELISA for cfLH

Two gonadotropins (GtH; Qa and Qb) were purified by gel filtration and ion exchange chromatography from the pituitaries of Indian walking catfish (Clarias batrachus). The presence of GtH during purification was assessed by in vitro oocyte maturation and in vivo steroidogenic activity, and their identities were determined by elution profiles, molecular weight, biological activities and yield. The molecular weights of Qa and Qb were 37 and 42 kDa, respectively, and composed of distinct subunits (Qa: 20 and 14 kDa and Qb: 26 and 18 kDa). Polyclonal antibodies raised against Qa immunostained Qa, Qb and pituitary GtH cells. A competitive Qa‐ELISA was developed whose sensitivity was 6.25 ng mL^?1 (1.25 ng well^?1) with intra‐ (3.5%) and inter‐ (12.4%) assay coefficients of variation. Displacement curves parallel to the standard were obtained with plasma and pituitary extracts of catfish, Qb and carp GtHII. The assay was validated by measuring the plasma Qa levels after LHRH treatment and in relation to ovarian growth in the female catfish during different reproductive phases. Based on the results, Qa and Qb corresponded to fish LH and FSH respectively. The findings will increase the knowledge of the mechanisms controlling fish reproduction and identification of sensitive phases in fish in captivity for hormonal manipulation.     

Controlled infection of Poecilia reticulata Peters (guppy) with Tetrahymena by immersion and intraperitoneal injection

Tetrahymena is a protozoan parasite, which infects guppy, Poecilia reticulata Peters, and causes substantial economical losses in commercial farms worldwide. Studies of guppy infected by Tetrahymena require standardized infection protocols. The LD50 for Tetrahymena infection of guppies by intraperitoneal (IP) injection was calibrated, and the level obtained was 946 parasites per fish. Guppy infection with Tetrahymena by immersion, imitating the natural route of infection via the integument, was studied under normal or stress conditions. Exposure to cold and netting (CNI) and to cold only (CI) followed by immersion exposure to 10 000 Tetrahymena per mL resulted in 22.5% and 19.2% mortality, respectively, as compared to 14.2% and 10% in groups that were netted only (NI) or non‐stressed (I). Histopathology revealed that immersion infection resulted in a systemic infection. Lysozyme levels, measured 3 weeks after infection, were significantly higher in the CNI group (288 μg per mg protein) compared with CI‐, NI‐ and I‐treated groups (94.5, 64 and 62.3 μg mg^?1, respectively). There was no evident parasite immobilization activity in body homogenates, suggesting no development of acquired immunity. Re‐infection by IP injection revealed no increase in protection in any of the treatment groups, mortality range of 56.3–75%, higher than in the non‐exposed control (40.6% mortality).     

Protein and amino acid composition from the mantle of juvenile O ctopus vulgaris exposed to prolonged starvation

Protein and amino acid composition of the mantle of juvenile O ctopus vulgaris (Cuvier, 1797) during fasting for 27 days were determined. Average protein content of octopus mantle was of 711.19 ± 46.80 g kg^?1 DW, and it decreased with increasing fasting days. The non‐essential amino acids content was higher (486.18 ± 11.08 g kg^?1 protein) than essential amino acids (425.82 ± 9.15 g kg^?1 protein) at the start of the experiment (unstarved animals). The results suggest that the amino acid profile of the mantle where the most abundant amino acids are Arg, His, Lys, Gly, Leu and Pro could indicate a prolonged fasting condition (>20 days) or poor nutrition of O . vulgaris. This study supports the idea of using mantle for metabolic needs of starved O . vulgaris suggesting that the degradation pathway of amino acids to pyruvate and tricarboxylic acid cycle intermediates was favoured contrary to the degradation pathway of ketogenic amino acids. Special considerations should be taken concerning Thr, Ile, Ser, Ala, Asx (Asp, Asn), Glx (Glu, Gln) (because of their fast intake) and Lys and His (due to their stable contents) during a prolonged period of fasting.     

Nitrogenous waste excretion and accumulation of urea and ammonia inChalcalburnus tarichi (Cyprinidae), endemic to the extremely alkaline Lake Van (Eastern Turkey)

The endemic, anadromous cyprinidChalcalburnus tarichi is the only fish species known to occur in alkaline Lake Van (Eastern Anatolia, Turkey). EightC. tarichi were maintained individually in Lake Van water (17 – 19°C; pH 9.8; 153 mEq·I^–1 total alkalinity; 22 total salinity) and tank water samples analyzed for 24 h in 2 to 4 h intervals. At zero time, < 1µM ammonia was present and urea was undetectable in the tank water; at 24 h, total ammonia and urea made up 114±32 and 35±25µM, respectively. Over the experimental period, ammonia-N and urea-N excretion averaged 1041±494 and 607±169moles·kg^–1 fish·h^–1, respectively. The extent of urea excretion was highly variable between specimens. Uric acid excretion was not detectable.Urea was present at high concentrations in all tissues and plasma (25 – 35moles·g^–1·ml^–1) of freshly caughtC. tarichi; total ammonia content of the tissues was by a factor of 1.9 (liver) to 3.0 (brain) lower. High arginase activity (2.4±0.2 U·min^–1·g^–1) was detected in the liver ofC. tarichi but ornithine carbamoylphosphate transferase, a key enzyme of the ornithine-urea-cycle, was absent. Ureagenesis is likely through degradation of arginine and/or uricolysis. High glutamine synthetase activity (11±0.6 U·min^–1·g^–1) and low ammonia content in brain suggest that, like other teleosts,C. tarichi has an efficient ammonia detoxification in the brain, but in no other tissue.Nitrogenous waste excretion at alkaline pH is discussed. The ability ofC. tarichi to excrete high levels of ammonia at extremely alkaline pH is unique among teleosts studied so far. The mechanism of ammonia excretion under Lake Van conditions remains to be elucidated.     

Imported ornamental fish are colonized with antibiotic‐resistant bacteria

There has been growing concern about the overuse of antibiotics in the ornamental fish industry and its possible effect on the increasing drug resistance in both commensal and pathogenic organisms in these fish. The aim of this study was to carry out an assessment of the diversity of bacteria, including pathogens, in ornamental fish species imported into North America and to assess their antibiotic resistance. Kidney samples were collected from 32 freshwater ornamental fish of various species, which arrived to an importing facility in Portland, Oregon from Colombia, Singapore and Florida. Sixty‐four unique bacterial colonies were isolated and identified by PCR using bacterial 16S primers and DNA sequencing. Multiple isolates were identified as bacteria with potential to cause disease in both fish and humans. The antibiotic resistance profile of each isolate was performed for nine different antibiotics. Among them, cefotaxime (16% resistance among isolates) was the antibiotic associated with more activity, while the least active was tetracycline (77% resistant). Knowing information about the diversity of bacteria in imported ornamental fish, as well as the resistance profiles for the bacteria will be useful in more effectively treating clinical infected fish, and also potential zoonoses in the future.