Effect of tributyltin on adenylate content and enzyme activities of teleost sperm: a biochemical approach to study the mechanisms of toxicant reduced spermatozoa motility

The effects of tributyltin (TBT) on the energy metabolism and motility of fish spermatozoa were investigated in vitro in African catfish and common carp. A significant (P<0.05) decrease of the duration and the intensity of motility was observed in catfish spermatozoa exposed to 0.27 microg/l TBT for 24 h. Exposure of catfish spermatozoa to 2.7-27 microg/l TBT caused an instant decrease in ATP content. In the presence of 27 microg/l TBT approximately 55% of the initial ATP concentration in catfish semen was lost after 60 min incubation while AMP concentrations increased and the total adenine nucleotide (TAN) pool remained unchanged. The reduction in sperm ATP levels could not be attributed to cell death since viability decreased only slightly over the period of exposure. In carp by contrast, none of the adenylates concentrations studied (ATP, ADP and AMP) were affected by TBT exposure at any experimental condition. However, carp sperm motility was significantly reduced by exposure to 2.7 microg/l TBT. Among the enzymes investigated only lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in catfish sperm was significantly (P<0.01) affected by 27 microg/l TBT treatment with a reduction in activity of approximately 75%. Compared with carp sperm before TBT exposure, that of catfish had lower adenylate contents and overall lower enzymatic activities; this explains its slower sperm velocity and shorter duration of movement as measured by computer assisted sperm analysis (CASA). The present in vitro study shows that catfish spermatozoa are more sensitive to TBT exposure (and probably to other toxicants) than those of carp.     

基于Miseq测序技术分析黄颡鱼不同养殖模式下池塘微生物群落结构多样性

利用Miseq测序技术分析了黄颡鱼Pelteobagrus fulvidraco (Richardson)三种养殖模式[(黄颡鱼单养、黄颡鱼混养草鱼(Ctenopharyngodon idellus, Valenciennes)和黄颡鱼混养草鱼、鳙(Aristichthys nobilis, Richardson)、鲢(Hypophthalmichthys molitrix, Valenciennes)]下养殖水体及底泥微生物群落结构多样性。结果显示, 12个样本共获得了655100条合格16S rDNA序列, 每个样本获得的有效序列数目为41256—77508, 可归纳为608—3686个分类操作单元。α多样性指数结果表明, 在三种养殖模式下末期水体的微生物群落丰度和多样性均高于养殖初期, 黄颡鱼混养草鱼模式下水体的群落丰度最高(Chao1指数: 2199.25, ACE指数: 2374.60), 黄颡鱼混养草鱼、鲢、鳙模式下水体微生物群落多样性最高(Shannon指数: 4.88, Simpson指数: 0.021)。样本聚类分析及PcoA主坐标分析结果表明, 黄颡鱼单养及黄颡鱼、草鱼混养模式下的水体和底泥的菌群组成及群落结构相似性较高, 黄颡鱼、草鱼、鲢、鳙混养模式下样本单独形成一类。从门水平的比较分析发现, 所有样本检测到细菌有8门, 其中变形菌门(Proteobacteria)的物种丰度在所有样本中占绝对优势地位。放线菌门(Actinobacteria)在养殖末期升高成为水体中占比第二的优势门, 尤其是黄颡鱼混养草鱼模式下(37.6%)。黄颡鱼在单养模式下, 养殖末期水体拟杆菌门(Bacteroidetes)细菌含量均明显增加(1.95%到10.98%)。从属水平的比较分析发现, 各样本之间的优势属组成有较大差异, 其中黄颡鱼在单养模式下水体样本中气单胞菌属(Aeromonas)在养殖末期丰度占优势(5.81%)。从微生物群落结构和多样性的角度考虑, 黄颡鱼、草鱼、鲢、鳙混养是一种值得推荐的养殖模式。     

Chemical identification of catfish growth hormone and prolactin.

Isolation and primary structure of growth hormone (GH) and prolactin (PRL) from the pituitary gland of catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) are described. Alkaline extract of the pituitary glands was fractionated by gel filtration on Sephadex G-75, ion-exchange chromatography on DEAE-cellulose, and reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography on Octadecyl silica ODS. Catfish GH and PRL were identified by Western blotting with antisera against chum salmon GH and PRL. The catfish GH consists of 178 residues and is the most similar to carp GH, with sequence identity of 77%, although there is an uninterrupted deletion of 10 amino acid residues that corresponds to carp GH (90-99). The PRL is composed of 187 residues, which also exhibits the highest identity (79%) with carp PRL. Sequence identity between catfish GH and PRL is only 27%.     

A study of the hydration and thermodynamics of warm-water and cold-water fish collagens.

The hydrated volumes, Vh, of collagens extracted from various fish species were calculated by using the Simha-Einstein equation, and it was found that the hydration of warm-water fish collagen is greater than that of cold-water fish collagen (halibut). Although the intrinsic viscosities of warm-water fish (bigeye-tuna, carp and catfish) collagens are almost the same, the hydrated volume of bigeye-tuna collagen is approx. 1.5 and 3 times those of carp and catfish collagens respectively. The extent of hydration at 20 degrees C is in the following order: bigeye tuna greater than carp greater than catfish greater than halibut. The various thermodynamic activation parameters (delta G*, delta H* and delta S*) were calculated and it was found that they are useful for determining the exact denaturation temperature. It was calculated that the denaturation temperatures of halibut, bigeye-tuna, carp and catfish collagens are 17, 31, 32 and 26-30 degrees C respectively. The variations of hydration, intrinsic viscosity, denaturation temperature and the thermodynamic parameters with the variation of concentration of catfish collagen were also thoroughly examined. The change of thermodynamic parameters from coiled-coil to random-coil conformation upon denaturation of collagen were calculated from the amount of proline and hydroxyproline residues and compared with viscometric results.     

Influence of surface treatments on the flexural strength of denture base repair

doi: 10.1111/j.1741‐2358.2011.00454.x Influence of surface treatments on the flexural strength of denture base repair Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the flexural strength of repairs made with autopolymerising acrylic resin after different treatments of joint surfaces. Material and Methods: Fifty rectangular specimens were made with heat‐polymerised acrylic resin and 40 were repaired with autopolymerising acrylic resin following joint surface treatments: group 1 (intact specimens), group 2 (chemical treatment: wetting with methyl‐methacrylate for 180 s), group 3 (abraded with silicon carbide paper), group 4 (abraded and wetting with methyl‐methacrylate for 180 s) and group 5 (without surface treatment). The flexural strength was measured by a three‐point bending test using a universal testing machine with a 100 Kgf load cell in the centre of repair at 5 mm/min cross‐head speed. All data were analysed using one‐way anova and Tukey HSD test for multiple comparisons (p < 0.05). Results: Among repaired specimens, groups 2 and 4 had 66.53 ± 3.4 and 69.38 ± 1.8 MPa mean values and were similar. These groups had superior flexural strength than groups 3 and 5 that were similar and had 54.11 ± 3.4 and 51.24 ± 2.8 MPa mean values, respectively. Group 1 had a mean value of 108.30 ± 2.8 MPa being the highest result. Conclusion: It can be concluded that the treatment of the joint surfaces with methyl‐methacrylate increases the flexural strength of denture base repairs, although the strength is still lower than that observed for the intact denture base resin. Abrasion with sandpaper was not able to influence the flexural strength of repaired denture bases.     

Effect of meal size on excess post-exercise oxygen consumption in fishes with different locomotive and digestive performance

Effects of feeding on pre-exercise VO₂ and excess post-exercise oxygen consumption (EPOC) after exhaustive exercise were investigated in sedentary southern catfish, active herbivorous grass carp, omnivorous crucian carp, and sluggish omnivorous darkbarbel catfish to test whether feeding had different effects on EPOC and to compare EPOC in fishes with different ecological habits. For fasting fish, the pre-exercise and peak post-exercise VO₂ were higher and recovery rates were faster in crucian carp and grass carp compared to those of darkbarbel catfish and southern catfish. EPOC magnitudes of grass carp and southern catfish were significantly larger than those of crucian carp and darkbarbel catfish. Feeding had no significant effect on peak post-exercise VO₂, recovery rate, and EPOC magnitude in grass carp. Both the pre-exercise and peak post-exercise VO₂ increased with meal size, while the EPOC magnitude and duration decreased significantly in the larger meal size groups of crucian carp and southern catfish. In darkbarbel catfish, both the pre-exercise and peak post-exercise VO₂ increased with meal size, but the VO₂ increment elicited by exercise was larger in feeding groups compared with the fasting group. These results suggest that (1) the characteristics of the post-exercise VO₂ profile, such as peak post-exercise VO₂ and recovery rate, were closely related to the activity of fishes, whereas the EPOC magnitude was not and (2) the effects of feeding on EPOC were more closely related to the postprandial increase in VO₂.     

Improved Sensitivity for High Resolution in Situ Hybridization Using Resin Extraction of Methyl Methacrylate Embedded Material

An in situ hybridization procedure resulting in both high resolution and sensitivity was established by using the removable methyl methacrylate resin, Technovit 9100. Young bicel-lular pollen of tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L. SR-1) was embedded in Technovit 9100 resin and sectioned. The resin was extracted with (2-methoxyethyl)-acetate followed by in situ hybridization with cRNA probes to detect cytoplasmic 18S/25S rRNA. Signal intensity obtained by this procedure was approximately twice as great as that obtained by an earlier procedure using Technovit 7100, a glycol methacrylate resin that cannot be removed from sections. This improvement in sensitivity made it possible to observe subcellular localization of small amounts of RNA as revealed by visualization of plastid 23S rRNA in a generative cell of Plumbago auriculata pollen.     

Evidence for somatostatin,gastrin and pancreatic polypeptide-like substances in the mucosa cells of the gut in fishes with and without stomach

Gastrin, pancreatic polypeptide and somatostatin immunoreactive cells in the gut of two fish with stomachs (perch and catfish) and a stomachless fish (carp) were studied by immunocytochemistry. In the gastric mucosa of perch and catfish, cells showing gastrin and somatostatin-like immunoreactivity are found, scattered among the surface mucous cells and mucous neck cells. No pancreatic polypeptide (P.P.) immunoreactive cells are detected in the gastric mucosa. Cells showing gastrin and P.P.-like immunoreactivity are observed in the intestinal mucosa of perch, catfish and carp. In this location no somatostatin immunoreactive cells are found.     

三种室内饲养鱼类肠道微生物群落PCR-DGGE指纹分析

以室内饲养的斑点叉尾(Ictalurus punctatus)、银鲫和异育银鲫(中科三号)(Carassius auratus gibelio)幼鱼为对象,通过PCR-DGGE指纹技术对其肠道微生物群落进行了探索研究。在三种鱼的肠道中检测到不同的PCR-DGGE指纹谱带,其中斑点叉尾的平均谱带数(7.5)相对于银鲫和异育银鲫的谱带数(分别为15和14)要少。基于PCR-DGGE指纹谱带及各谱带相对丰度的UPGMA聚类和MDS排序结果显示银鲫和异育银鲫肠道微生物相似性高,而与斑点叉尾的差异比较大;rank-abundance散点图及回归分析也显示斑点叉尾与银鲫、异育银鲫肠道微生物群落存在显著差异(P0.05),而银鲫和异育银鲫之间无显著差异(P=0.383)。在斑点叉尾肠道中检测到的菌群主要是变形杆菌,包括-变形杆菌和-变形杆菌;而银鲫和异育银鲫肠道中菌群主要包括梭杆菌属中的类群,还包括变形杆菌门中的气单胞菌属,以及一些未知的类群。以上结果均表明在所研究的三种鱼的幼鱼阶段,其肠道微生物组成在不同种类鱼中存在差异,且该差异受基因型的影响可能更大。       

Study of glomerular vasculature in teleosts with the resin-replica method

Glomerular vasculature was investigated in the carpCyprinus carpio, the scorpionfishSebastiscus marmoratus, and the marine catfishPlotosus lineatus with the resin-replica method. An afferent arteriole was connected with a glomerulus in every fish. It was slender in the carp, whereas the scorpionfish and marine catfish possessed thick afferent arterioles. The glomerular capillaries were sinusoidal. The divergences, convergences, and windings of these capillaries were not well developed in any of the fish. The glomerular capillaries converged into an efferent arteriole in the carp and scorpionfish. In the marine catfish, on the other hand, most of the glomeruli had two efferent arterioles.     

瓦氏黄颡鱼和鲢对光照强度和颜色的选择

以野生瓦氏黄颡鱼和人工养殖鲢为研究对象,设置4种光照强度梯度010、1030、100200、700800 lx及4种光照颜色红、白、蓝、绿,采用单因子实验法,研究了瓦氏黄颡鱼和鲢对光的趋避行为。结果表明:在光照强度选择的实验中,瓦氏黄颡鱼在010、1030、100200和700800 lx四个光照强度中出现的次数百分比分别是:78.33%21.51%、10.00%14.86%、7.33%8.27%和4.33%7.74%。瓦氏黄颡鱼在光照强度为010 lx的区域中出现的次数明显多于其他三种光照强度,且差异显著（P0.05）。而鲢在四种光照强度中出现的次数之间不存在显著性差异（P0.05）。在光照颜色选择实验中,瓦氏黄颡鱼在四种光照颜色中出现的次数百分比不存在显著性差异（P0.05）。鲢在红、白、蓝和绿四种光照颜色中出现的次数百分比分别是:12.67%13.63%、30.33%18.47%、35.67%24.73%、21.33%15.02%。鲢在白光、蓝光区域出现的次数显著高于其他两种区域,且差异显著（P0.05）。实验通过研究光照强度和光照颜色对瓦氏黄颡鱼和鲢行为的影响,为鱼类趋光性研究提供一定的参考。       

Effects of perfusion pressure on the morphology of the central sinus in the trout gill filament

The central sinus, a prominent component of the nonrespiratory, ionoregulatory vasculature of the fish gill has been variously described as a simple sack-like structure in the eel A. anguilla and as an intricate series of parallel vessels in the catfish I. punctatus. To resolve whether these differences are interspecific or methodological, corrosion replicas of the central sinus in the rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri) were prepared at physiological and superphysiological perfusion pressures with a low-viscosity methyl methacrylate resin. At physiological perfusion pressure (30 mmHg, 4.0 kPa), the central sinus vasculature appears as a series of parallel vessels traversing the filament beneath, and in register with, the interlamellar filamental epithelium. At elevated perfusion pressure (55-65 mmHg, 7.3-8.7 kPa) the sinus becomes greatly distended and sack-like and the vessels appear to coalesce. These changes are most pronounced in the basal area of the filament and along the efferent filamental artery. The results show that the interpretation of the vascular organization of the central sinus is highly dependent on methodology. In addition, the sensitivity of the central sinus to changes in perfusion pressure suggests that the sinus plays a dynamic role in intrabranchial hemodynamics.     

Effects of molecular structure of the resins on the volumetric shrinkage and the mechanical strength of dental restorative composites

To prepare a dental composite that has a low amount of curing shrinkage and excellent mechanical strength, various 2,2-bis[4-(2-hydroxy-3-methacryloyloxy propoxy) phenyl] propane (Bis-GMA) derivatives were synthesized via molecular structure design, and afterward, properties of their mixtures were explored. Bis-GMA derivatives, which were obtained by substituting methyl groups for hydrogen on the phenyl ring in the Bis-GMA, exhibited lower curing shrinkage than Bis-GMA, whereas their viscosities were higher than that of Bis-GMA. Other Bis-GMA derivatives, which contained a glycidyl methacrylate as a molecular end group exhibited reduced curing shrinkage and viscosity. Methoxy substitution for hydroxyl groups on the Bis-GMA derivatives was performed for the further reduction of the viscosity and curing shrinkage. Various resin mixtures, which had the same viscosity as the commercial one, were prepared, and their curing shrinkage was examined. A resin mixture containing 2,2-bis[3,5-dimethyl, 4-(2-methoxy-3-methacryloyloxy propoxy) phenyl] propane] (TMBis-M-GMA) as a base resin and 4-tert-butylphenoxy-2-methyoxypropyl methacrylate (t-BP-M-GMA) as a diluent exhibited the lowest curing shrinkage among them. The composite prepared from this resin mixture also exhibited the lowest curing shrinkage along with enhanced mechanical properties.     

草鱼生长激素非竞争式酶联免疫吸附测定法的建立及鉴定

应用草鱼生长激素（ｇｃＧＨ）单克隆抗体及多价兔抗血清建立了草鱼ＧＨ非竞争式酶’联免疫吸附测定ＥＬＩＳＡ系统。用正辛酸法对腹水单抗进行了分离纯化,获得了高纯度的单抗制备物。聚丙烯酸胺凝胶电泳表明纯化的单抗由分子量分别为５５ｋＤ和２５ｋＤ的两条蛋白带组成。用纯化单抗铺底,用兔抗血清作后续抗体建立了一种测定草鱼ＧＨ的非竞争式双抗夹心ＥＬＩＳＡ方法。交叉试验表明该测定系统只与草鱼ＧＨ和基因重组鲤生长激素（ｒｃＧＨ）具有剂量依存的结合反应,而与大马哈鱼生长激素（ｓＧＨ）、牛生长激素（ｂＧＨ）、大马哈鱼促性腺激素（ｓＧｔＨ）、及黑鲢促性腺激素（ｂｓｃＧｔＨ）等均无交叉反应。该 ＥＬＩＳＡ方法的灵敏度可达０．８ｎｇ／ｍｌ,组内变异系数为 ５．９ ％,组间变异系数为７．６％,回收率达９０％以上。初步应用表明,鲤和团头鲂垂体抽提液、草鱼血清、鲤血清及鲫血清在该测定系统中有剂量依存的反应曲线,而大口鲶、黄颡鱼、中华鲟及黄鳝鱼垂体抽提液及大口鲶、胡子鲶和罗非鱼血清在该测定系统中没有交叉反应。     

Enzymatic acrylation of 2-hydroxy-γ-butyrolactone to synthesize the gamma butyrolactone methacrylate (GBLMA) for photoresist

Lipase-mediated acrylation has gained much attention instead of traditional chemical process, since it enables specific catalysis under benign conditions. The effect of acyl donors on the acrylation of 2-hydroxy-γ-butyrolactone by Novozym 435 (immobilized lipase B from Candida antarctica) was investigated. Among acyl donors, vinyl methacrylate was selected to synthesize γ-butyrolactone methacrylate (GBLMA). The effects of solvent and reaction temperature on the acrylation using vinyl methacrylate were presented. The highest rate of conversion was obtained using methyl tert-butyl ether (>80%) as a solvent, of which a log P value is greater than other solvents tested. The conversion rate increased as the reaction temperature rose from 30 to 60°C and the conversion rate approached 95% at 60oC. The gamma butyrolactone methacrylate (GBLMA) synthesized with vinyl methacrylate at optimized conditions, in which MTBE is used as a solvent and the reaction is carried out at 60°C can be applicable as a monomer for synthesis of photoresist resin.     

不同水生脊椎动物的血清与黏液蛋白图谱分析

因脊椎动物的血清与黏液中含有大量蛋白质及其他生物活性物质, 而具有多种生理、生化与抗病防御功能。为了解水生脊椎动物血清与黏液中所含主要蛋白成分及其异同, 我们分别从中华鲟(Chinese sturgeonAclpenser sinensis grdy)、鲫鱼(Crucian carp Carassius auratus)、草鱼(Grass carp Ctenopharyngodonidellus)、赤点石斑鱼(Red-spotted grouper Epinephelus akaara)、青石斑鱼(Banded grouper Epinephelusawoara)、狗鱼(Pikes Esox reicherti)、江豚(Finless porpoise Neophocaena phocaenoides)、黄颡鱼(Yellow catfishPelteobagrus fulvidraco)、鳜鱼(Mandarin fish Siniperca chuatsi) 这9 种水生脊椎动物中, 采集血清和皮肤黏液样本。利用考马斯亮蓝G-250 法, 测定了不同水生脊椎动物的血清和黏液样品中总蛋白的含量; 经SDS-PAGE 蛋白电泳, 分别获得不同水生脊椎动物血清及黏液蛋白图谱; 比较和分析了同种动物血清和黏液、不同动物之间血清与血清或黏液与黏液之间蛋白图谱的差异。结果表明:这些动物的血清蛋白组分有显著相似性, 在分子量45—120 kD 之间, 蛋白条带大量集中分布; 除青石斑鱼外, 其他8 种水生脊椎动物都有分子量约为 28 kD 和 14 kD 相同或相近的两条蛋白带。草鱼、鲫鱼、鳜鱼、狗鱼、黄颡鱼和江豚的黏液蛋白, 除了都含有分子量大小约为45 kD 的蛋白条带外, 其他无显著相似性。对同种水生脊椎动物的血清与黏液蛋白比较, 虽然黄颡鱼的血清与黏液中分子量相近的蛋白带最多, 也仅约为38%, 可见其蛋白带的种类和含量都存在显著差异。       

Growth of grass carp fed natural and prepared diets under intensive culture

Grass carp were arranged in two groups with an average individual weight of 63 g and 3 g respectively. They were maintained in circular tanks and each group size was fed one of four experimental diets consisting of Purina catfish chow pellets, 50 % catfish chow ryegrass pellets, 100% ryegrass pellets and fresh duckweed, Lemna minima. In this study a high biomass, excellent growth and satisfactory survival rates were obtained when the fish were fed duckweed; the other diets were less satisfactory. The 100% ryegrass pellets gave the least weight gains and on this diet the smaller fish showed lower survival rates and more abnormalities. The feeding experiment lasted 68 days.     

Cloning and sequencing of the cDNA encoding the pituitary gonadotropin II β-subunit of yellowfin porgy (Acanthopagrus latus)

The complementary DNA (cDNA) encoding the gonadotropic hormone (GTH) II pre-β-subunit of yellowfin porgy ( Acanthopagrus latus ) was isolated from a pituitary gland cDNA phage library. The cDNA insert, 598 base pairs (bp), contained a 411 bp open reading frame with 35 bp and 152 bp flanking regions at the 5'- and 3'-ends, respectively. The deduced amino acid sequence revealed a putative signal peptide of 24 amino acid residues and a 113 amino acid mature β-subunit of GTH polypeptide. This pre-β-subunit polypeptide of the yellowfin porgy GTH II showed 86% sequence identity with that of bonito GTH II-β 73% with killifish GTH II-β, 63% with African catfish GTH II-β 61% with pike eel GTH-β, 60% with silver carp GTH-β, 59% with chum salmon GTH 11-β, 58% with common carp GTH-β 57% with chinook Pacific salmon GTH-β, and 53% with European eel GTH II-β.     

Cyclooxygenase-derived products, rather than nitric oxide, are endothelium-derived relaxing factor(s) in the ventral aorta of carp (Cyprinus carpio)

In some fish blood vessels, the existence of a NO (nitric oxide) system has been reported. We examined the possibility that this NO system acts as an endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF) in carp aorta using the carp aorta alone and in a combined carp-rat aorta donor-detector system. Use of the typical NO stimulating agent in mammal acetylcholine (ACh) only induced constriction of the carp aorta. This response was not modified by denudation or by NO synthesis inhibition with N-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester. Neither the indirect NO stimulating agents bradykinin and histamine nor the direct NO releasers sodium nitroprusside (SNP) and SIN-1 induced vasorelaxation. Both SNP and ACh elevated the cGMP concentration in rat aorta, but not in carp aorta. In the aorta combination set-up, where carp served as a NO donor and rat aorta served as a NO detector, no relaxation of the rat aorta was observed. The calcium ionophore A23187, a known EDRF producer in mammals, induced relaxation of carp aorta through an endothelium- and cyclooxygenase-dependent mechanism. These results indicate that carp aorta does not produce NO as an EDRF nor does it respond to exogenously supplied NO. The major EDRF in carp is apparently a product(s) of cyclooxygenase metabolism.     

Response of bighead carp Aristichthys nobilis and Asian catfish Clarias macrocephalus larvae to free-living nematode Panagrellus redivivus as alternative feed

The use of Panagrellus redivivus as live feed for bighead carp and Asian catfish larvae was tested. In experiment 1, carp larvae were given Artemia nauplii (control) or Panagrellus twice daily for 21 days. A third treatment consisted of unfed larvae. The same three treatments were used in experiment 2 plus another with a commercial entomopathogenic nematode (EPN). Bighead carp larvae given Panagrellus in experiment 1 had much lower growth and survival than those fed Artemia nauplii. This could be due to low nematode density (5–30 mL^?1 water) during feeding. The unfed larvae had 100% mortality by days 11–13. In experiment 2, growth and survival of carp larvae given Artemia nauplii (5–10 mL^?1) and Panagrellus (50 mL^?1) did not differ significantly (P > 0.05). All unfed larvae had died by day 13, while larvae fed EPN were all dead by day 8. Two experiments on Asian catfish were likewise conducted. In experiment 1, the catfish larvae were fed Tubifex (ad libitum), Panagrellus (50–100 mL^?1 per feeding) orArtemia (5 nauplii mL^?1 per feeding) three times daily for 14 days. In experiment 2, larvae were fed Artemia alone (10 nauplii mL^?1 per feeding), Panagrellus alone (100 mL^?1 per feeding), or their combination with a 38% protein dry diet twice daily. For both experiments, catfish larvae fed Panagrellus had significantly lower growth and survival than those fed Tubifex or Artemia. The combination of Panagrellus and dry diet created little improvement in the growth and survival of catfish larvae.