Nucleocytoplasmic Incompatibility in Androgenetic Fish Hybrids Can Be Overcome

Many androgenetic fish hybrids are nonviable due to the disturbed interaction between the foreign nucleus and the cytoplasm. It has been proposed that this incompatibility can be overcome if eggs from interspecific hybrids and sperm from one of the parental species are used for diploid androgenesis. Indeed, the androgenetic progeny obtained as a result of the insemination of the enucleated eggs of goldfish and carp hybrids by the carp spermatozoa proved to be viable and fertile. This approach may be used for reconstitution of the genotypes of rare or disappearing fish species with the help of induced androgenesis, if their native or cryoconserved sperm is available.     

Induced androgenesis in acipenserids may be obtained by ultraviolet radiation

The results are presented on haploid androgenesis in Siberian sturgeon and sterlet induced by UV irradiation of ovicells. During irradiation, the cells in Ringer solution were rotated around a UV lamp. The efficiency of genetic inactivation of ovicells was estimated by the following parameters: manifestation of Hertwig effect, the fraction of embryos demonstrating haploid syndrome at final developmental stages, by arrest of embryonic development in hybrids Siberian sturgeon × great sturgeon, and by absence of maternal alleles of microsatellite loci in embryos. The dose-effect curve suggests that, during UV irradiation of ovicells of Siberian sturgeon, the complete genetic inactivation is attained at exposition of 120 s, while that in sterlet is 90 or 105 s. The results show a principal possibility of inactivation of ovicells by UV irradiation and use of such cells for producing androgenetic progeny of acipenserids.     

Meiotic Gynogenesis in the Stellate and Russian Sturgeons and Sterlet

Diploid gynogenetic progenies were obtained in the stellate sturgeon Acipenser stellatus, Russian sturgeon, A. gueldenstaedtii, and sterlet A. ruthenus by means of insemination of the eggs with UV-irradiated spermatozoa and suppression of the second meiotic division by heat shock. The gynogenetic nature of experimental fish was confirmed by RAPD-PCR analysis of DNA. Effective photoreactivation of UV-induced lesions of spermatozoa was shown in the case of illumination of the fertilized eggs with visible light. This phenomenon should be taken into account when determining the doses of irradiation that allow inactivation of the male chromosomes and incubating gynogenetic embryos. Gynogenetic stellate and Russian sturgeons are viable and can be reared in order to study the mechanism of sex determination in sturgeons.     

Hypoxia tolerance of hybrids of carp <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cyprinus carpio</Emphasis> and golden carp <Emphasis Type="Italic">Carassius auratus</Emphasis>

Hypoxia tolerance of diploid gynogenetic and triploid backcross hybrids between golden carp Carassius auratus and carp Cyprinus carpio was investigated in comparison with carp. The more that heredity of golden carp was in their genotype, the better the hybrids survived under hypoxia conditions.     

Induced Androgenesis in Fish: Obtaining Viable Nucleocytoplasmic Hybrids

A self-review of long-standing studies of induced androgenesis in fish. The data are provided on the induction of diploid androgenesis in teleost fish via blocking the first cleavage division and the development of the method of dispermic androgenesis in sturgeon fishes. Androgenetic nucleocytoplasmic hybrids were obtained using the method of dispermic androgenesis and eggs of previously produced true interspecific hybrids. Specific morphological features of androgenetic hybrids were described and dispermic androgenesis was realized using cryopreserved sperm. The mechanism of sex determination in sturgeon fishes is discussed with reference to possible use of androgenesis for restoration of rare and disappearing species.__________Translated from Ontogenez, Vol. 36, No. 4, 2005, pp. 254–264.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Grunina, Recoubratsky.     

Fertility of triploid hybrids of Prussian carp (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Carassius gibelio</Emphasis>) with common carp (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Cyprinus carpio</Emphasis> L.)

Fertility of backcross triploid hybrids containing one genome of Prussian carp and two genomes of common carp is investigated. The females of hybrids of Prussian carp and common carp (Prussian × common carp) are prolific and produce diploid gametes. Since males of such hybrids are sterile, their reproduction is realized by means of induced gynogenesis. Triploid progeny is obtained by backcrossing female Prussian × common carp with carp males. Among triploids obtained from hybrids F₁ and among hybrids of the first gynogenetic generation, there were no prolific specimens. However, in reproduction of diploid hybrids by means of gynogenesis during six generations, the female fertility in the backcross progeny is restored. From backcross triploid females (daughters of Prussian × common carp of the sixth gynogenetic generation), a viable triploid gynogenetic progeny and a tetraploid backcross (by carp) progeny are obtained. The obtained data may be considered as the experimental proof of the hypothesis of reticular speciation.