Evidence of trophic transfer of microcystins from the gastropod Lymnaea stagnalis to the fish Gasterosteus aculeatus

According to our previous results the gastropod Lymnaea stagnalis exposed to MC-producing cyanobacteria accumulates microcystins (MCs) both as free and covalently bound forms in its tissues, therefore representing a potential risk of MC transfer through the food web. This study demonstrates in a laboratory experiment the transfer of free and bound MCs from L. stagnalis intoxicated by MC-producing Planktothrix agardhii ingestion to the fish Gasterosteus aculeatus. Fish were fed during five days with digestive glands of L. stagnalis containing various concentrations of free and bound MCs, then with toxin-free digestive glands during a 5-day depuration period. MC accumulation was measured in gastropod digestive gland and in various fish organs (liver, muscle, kidney, and gills). The impact on fish was evaluated through detoxification enzyme (glutathion-S-transferase, glutathion peroxydase and superoxyde dismutase) activities, hepatic histopathology, and modifications in gill ventilation, feeding and locomotion. G. aculeatus ingestion rate was similar with intoxicated and toxin-free diet. Fish accumulated MCs (up to 3.96 ± 0.14 μg g⁻¹ DW) in all organs and in decreasing order in liver, muscle, kidney and gills. Hepatic histopathology was moderate. Glutathion peroxydase was activated in gills during intoxication suggesting a slight reactive oxygen species production, but without any impact on gill ventilation. Intoxication via ingestion of MC-intoxicated snails impacted fish locomotion. Intoxicated fish remained significantly less mobile than controls during the intoxication period possibly due to a lower health condition, whereas they showed a greater mobility during the depuration period that might be related to an acute foraging for food. During depuration, MC elimination was total in gills and kidney, but partial in liver and muscle. Our results assess the MC transfer from gastropods to fish and the potential risk induced by bound MCs in the food web.     

Molecular characterization and differential expression of the myostatin gene in Coilia nasus

Estuarine tapertail anchovy (Coilia nasus, junior synonym C. ectenes) is a widely distributed and commercially important aquaculture species, although its growth in aquaculture settings is so slow as to pose a serious practical problem. In order to understand the molecular mechanisms of growth, we cloned the myostatin gene in C. nasus (CnMSTN) by homologous cloning methods. Its full-length cDNA is 2252 bp, with a 1125-bp open reading frame (ORF) that encodes a 374-amino acid protein. The CnMSTN protein is predicted to contain domains typical of MSTN, including a TGFb-propeptide domain and a TGFB domain. Gene expression patterns were detected by RT-qPCR. CnMSTN is expressed strongly in the muscle and brain, and comparatively lower in the gills, liver, spleen, intestine, trunk kidney and head kidney. The effects of stress on the muscle and brain MSTN levels were evaluated by RT-qPCR. CnMSTN in the muscle was positively regulated by loading and transport stress, but brain CnMSTN expression was not affected. We found NaCl could reduce the death rate caused by loading and transporting stress, and in this group, CnMSTN mRNA expression in the muscle revealed increased, but decreased in the brain. Further, in the fasting experiment, the CnMSTN mRNA revealed decrease in the muscle, on the contrary, it showed increase in the brain. Selection upon variants of the MSTN gene has shown great potential in breeding work for mammals, and our results provide the basic knowledge for breeding of C. nasus.     

Role and functions of beneficial microorganisms in sustainable aquaculture

This paper aims to review the development of scientific concepts of microecology and ecology of microbes and the role and functions of beneficial microorganisms in aquaculture and mariculture. Beneficial microorganisms play a great role in natural and man-made aquatic ecosystems based on the co-evolution theory in living biosphere on earth. Their functions are to adjust algal population in water bodies so as to avoid unwanted algal bloom; to speed up decomposition of organic matter and to reduce CODmn, NH₃–N and NO₂–N in water and sediments so as to improve water quality; to suppress fish/shrimp diseases and water-borne pathogens; to enhance immune system of cultured aquatic animals and to produce bioactive compounds such as vitamins, hormones and enzymes that stimulate growth, thus to decrease the FCR of feed.     

饥饿胁迫对克氏原螯虾生理生化和肠道健康的影响

研究旨在探究饥饿胁迫对克氏原螯虾(Procambarus clarkii)血淋巴生理生化指标、肠道组织病理和肠道微生态的影响.对克氏原螯虾进行为期28d的饥饿胁迫,分别于饥饿0、7d、14d和28d采集血淋巴和肠道样品.血淋巴生化分析结果表明,谷丙转氨酶(ALT)没有发生显著变化,血糖(GLU)水平随着饥饿时间延长逐渐...     

基于耳石元素微化学的江苏吕泗近岸小黄鱼生境履历重建

利用电子显微探针元素分析技术,对江苏吕泗近岸海域小黄鱼矢耳石的Sr和Ca微化学特征进行了研究.结果表明: Sr含量在小黄鱼耳石的矢状面上呈非均匀分布,总体为核心部位高,其余部分明显降低.核心高Sr区域的Sr/Ca比值为(7.10±1.00),其余部分为(4.79±1.01),两者差异极显著.后者部分个体存在Sr含量更低的区域,Sr/Ca比值为(3.51±0.76).基于这些结果重建了吕泗近岸小黄鱼的生境履历： 它们在孵化及初期发育阶段生活在高盐度生境,随后的生长和发育过程则会洄游至盐度稍低的生境;部分个体的早期发育阶段还会选择利用更低盐度的生境.     

Na+、K+、Mg2+、Ca2+和葡萄糖溶液作为授精-激活介质对中华鲟精子受精率的影响

以不同浓度的NaCl、KCl、MgCl2、CaCl2溶液和葡萄糖溶液作为授精介质,研究了中华鲟(Acipenser sinensis)的受精效果.结果显示,适量的阳离子和葡萄糖作为激活授精介质时中华鲟卵受精率都有所提高.在实验设置浓度范围内25 mmol/L NaCI溶液、0.1 mmol/L KCl溶液、1 mmol/L MgCl2溶液、1 mmol/LCaCh溶液和50 mmol/L葡萄糖溶液浓度下,受精率分别可达到最高值,依次为87.72%、86.82%、82.24%、89.76%、80.92%.随着实验浓度继续增加,受精率反而呈下降趋势.结果显示,作为人工配制的中华鲟精子授精一激活介质,最适NaCI溶液浓度在25 mmol/L附近,最适葡萄糖溶液浓度在25 mmol/L附近,最适KCI溶液浓度≤0.1 mmol/L,最适MgCl2溶液浓度≤1 mol/L,最适CaCh溶液浓度≤1 mmol/L.     

长江刀鲚与池塘人工养殖刀鲚性腺发育的初步观察

2006～2008年间采集了长江刀鲚(Coilia nasus)及池塘养殖刀鲚共104尾,对其生物学指标进行了测定,并对不同月份、不同江段的刀鲚性腺发育状况进行了初步比较观察。组织切片观察显示:在江阴段长江刀鲚从4～7月份卵巢从Ⅱ期发育到Ⅳ期;同一时期(7月份)安庆段刀鲚精巢和卵巢的成熟系数略高于江阴段,但差异不大。池塘养殖雄性刀鲚在6月、9月基本处于增殖期,精小叶腔中存在一定量的精子细胞,但未见性成熟个体。对于雌性,在12月份卵巢处于Ⅱ期,而6月份卵巢能发育至Ⅳ期晚期,此时卵巢的成熟系数显著高于同年5月份江阴长江刀鲚和7月份安庆段刀鲚。综合组织切片结果认为:长江刀鲚的性腺发育成熟度可能与所处江段关系不大,而不同洄游群体的性腺发育情况可能相同;在人工池塘养殖状态下,部分刀鲚的卵巢至少能够发育到Ⅳ期晚期。     

Molecular characterisation and expression analysis of interferon gamma in Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua)

Interferon gamma (IFN-γ) has important roles in both innate and adaptive immune responses. In this study, the cDNA and genomic sequences of Atlantic cod IFN-γ were cloned and found to encode a putative protein containing 194 amino acids with a 24 amino acid signal peptide sequence. The gene is composed of four exons and three introns similar to IFN-γ genes of other vertebrates. The cod IFN-γ showed only 14–29% amino acid identity with other fish IFN-γ and 9–17% identity with IFN-γ from higher vertebrates. However, cod IFN-γ possesses the typical IFN-γ motifs in the C-terminal end of the protein and displays an alpha-helix structure similar to mammalian IFN-γ. The promoter region contains a putative ISRE element indicating up-regulation by type I IFNs and dsRNA. Real time RT-PCR analysis confirmed that IFN-γ gene expression was up-regulated in organs of cod injected with the dsRNA polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid (poly I:C), which is a strong inducer of type I IFNs. Injection of cod with formalin-killed Vibrio anguillarum also increased IFN-γ expression in head kidney, but to a much lesser extent than poly I:C. The gene expression results thus indicate a role for IFN-γ in innate immune response against both virus and bacteria in Atlantic cod.     

我国新引进吉富品系尼罗罗非鱼群体的遗传多样性分析

选取罗非鱼(Oreochromis spp.)第二代遗传连锁图谱中的26个微卫星位点,对淡水渔业研究中心引进的、由60个家系组成的吉富品系尼罗罗非鱼(O.niloticus)群体进行遗传结构分析。结果显示,26个微卫星位点在吉富罗非鱼群体中共检测到124个等位基因,各位点的等位基因数为3～7个,平均4.8个。片段长度104～322 bp,平均杂合度观测值为0.622 1,平均杂合度期望值为0.642 3,平均多态信息含量(PIC)为0.633 4。所检测的26个位点中,有25个位点属于高度多态位点(PIC0.5),占所检测位点的96.15%;1个位点属于中度多态位点。结果表明,该吉富罗非鱼群体多态信息含量丰富,遗传多样性水平较高。因而该群体仍然具有较大的选育潜力,可以作为选育的基础群体开展进一步的选育工作。