New records of a rare species of spariform fish Acanthopagrus schlegelii (Bleeker, 1854) (Osteichthyes: Sparidae) from Russian waters of the sea of Japan, with notes on the taxonomy of the genus Acanthopagrus Peters, 1855

A rare species of the spariform fish Acanthopagrus schlegelii from Russian waters is described. The synonymy of this species and the related literature data are analyzed. It is suggested that two species occur in Russian waters that differ in body coloration: A. schlegelii and A. czerskii.     

Complete mitochondrial genome of black porgy Acanthopagrus schlegelii (Perciformes, Sparidae)

Black porgy, Acanthopagrus schlegelii, is a marine protandrous hermaphrodite and belongs to one of the most important species commercialized for food in various areas of Asia. In this study, the complete mitochondrial genome of A. schlegelii has been determined. The mitogenome was 16,649 bp in length and contained 13 protein-coding genes, 2 rRNA genes, 22 tRNA genes and 2 non-coding regions. It shared 90.2%, 82.3%, and 82.1% mitogenome sequence with Acanthopagrus latus, Parargyrops edita, and Pagrus major, respectively.     

黑鲷ELO基因编码蛋白结构与功能的生物信息学分析

黑鲷是一种抗逆性强的海水经济鱼类,但在长江以北无法在室外自然越冬,每年进行室内越冬又耗时耗力。为了培育黑鲷耐低温品系,探究黑鲷低温耐受的分子机制,研究了黑鲷脂肪酸延长酶（fatty acid elongase,ELO）基因编码蛋白的结构和功能。首先,运用DNAman 8软件对黑鲷、金头鲷、鱖鱼、斜带石斑鱼、鲤鱼等5种鱼类的ELO蛋白进行氨基酸序列比对,分析其同源性和进化关系;随后,利用生物信息学工具对黑鲷ELO蛋白的理化性质、亚细胞定位、信号肽、跨膜区、剪切位点、蛋白磷酸化、糖基化、二级结构、结构域、分子功能及蛋白质相互作用等进行分析,并进行同源建模与三维结构预测。氨基酸序列比对结果显示,黑鲷与其他鱼类之间序列的同源性较高,在所分析的5种鱼类中,黑鲷与金头鲷亲缘关系最近,与鲤科鱼类亲缘关系最远。生物信息学分析结果表明,ELO蛋白为碱性、小分子、稳定、非分泌型亲水蛋白质,亚细胞定位于细胞质、细胞核和线粒体;该蛋白质中存在22个剪切位点、19个磷酸化位点和 9个赖氨酸糖化作用位点,没有糖基化位点和信号肽;其包含多种二级结构,其中以α-螺旋为主,存在1个结构域及7个跨膜区域;ELO蛋白与其他10个蛋白质可能存在直接的相互作用关系,有可能影响雌激素合成。通过对黑鲷ELO基因编码蛋白结构与功能的生物信息学分析,初步判定其与低温耐受相关。研究结果为黑鲷耐低温品系选育提供了基础理论依据。     

The identification of fish eggs of two species,the ovate sole Solea ovata and black porgy Acanthopagrus schlegelii

Fish eggs of the ovate sole Solea ovata and black porgy Acanthopagrus schlegelii were identified through DNA barcoding of cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COX1). Visual taxonomic features were achieved, and photographs of the eggs of both species at different developmental stages were reported for the first time. In addition, the dissolution of oil globules caused by ethanol as egg fixatives was observed. This result showed the importance of using formalin as egg fixatives in the case of morphometric analysis and the necessity of combining molecular and visual taxonomic method for morphological study.     

Anatomical features and histology of the digestive tract of two related neotropical omnivorous fishes (Characiformes; Anostomidae)

The estimated mean intestinal coefficients of Leporinus friderici Bloch, 1794 and L. taeniofasciatus Britski, 1997, from the Upper Tocantins River, central-western Brazil, were 1·25±0·15 and 1·14±0·07, respectively. The external surfaces of the lips have taste buds. The histological structure is composed of four layers: mucosa, submucosa, muscular, and serosa. No muscularis mucosa is detected. The oesophageal epithelium is stratified in L. friderici and pseudostratified in L. taeniofasciatus , the latter with PAS+ basal cells and eosinophilic apical cells. A thick layer of adipose tissue was found within the submucosa. Leporinus taeniofasciatus has a sphincter separating the cardiac and fundic portions of the stomach. In both species, gastric glands are present in the stomach, except in its pyloric portion. The pyloric caeca possess a simple columnar epithelium with brush border and three types of goblet cells. Rodlet cells were found in L. friderici . The three portions of the intestine showed no histological differences. Anatomical and histological features of the digestive tract are consistent with the omnivorous habit of both these species.     

Spermatogenesis in the black porgy,Acanthopagrus schlegeli (teleostei: Perciformes: Sparidae)

The ultrastructure of spermatogenesis and of the spermatozoon of Acanthopagrus schlegeli (Sparidae) are described. The testis is of the unrestricted type. Germ cells are surrounded by cyst cells. Spermiogenesis involves conspicuous modifications such as intracellular movements (diplosome and mitochondria migration, nuclear rotation, and depression) and structural changes (chromatin condensation, shape of mitochondria, and loss of cytoplasm). The mature spermatozoon has a spherical nucleus with a deep, axial nuclear fossa, and an unusual notch, shaped like a bow tie. The short midpiece contains four spherical mitochondria and encircles the basal body of the flagellum. It is concluded that the A. schlegeli spermatozoon is of a primitive type, but that it is characterized by a unique feature which may provide a useful systematic character. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

The digestive tract of the amberjack Seriola dumerili, Risso: a light and scanning electron microscope study

The histology of the digestive tract of the amberjack ( Seriola dumerili , Risso) was studied using light and scanning electron microscopy. The anterior oesophagus mucosa displays primary and secondary folds lined with a stratified squamous epithelium with fingerprint-like microridges which is substituted, on the top of the oesogaster folds, by a simple columnar epithelium with short microvilli. Only primary folds are present in the stomach. The anterior portion is rich in simple tubular glands, whereas the oesogaster and the pyloric region are devoid of them. Pyloric caeca and anterior and middle intestine mucosa display the same pattern of folding. The dominant cell type is the enterocyte, which exhibits larger and thinner microvilli in the caeca than in the intestine. The columnar epithelium of the rectum is replaced, in the anal sphincter, by a stratified flattened epithelium. Goblet cells are numerous throughout the whole length of the tract with the exception of the initial part of the oesophagus, the oesogaster, the stomach and the anal sphincter. Mucosubstances have been shown to vary in the different regions of the gut: acid mucines are found in the oesophagus, pyloric stomach, caeca, intestine and rectum, whereas neutral mucosubstances dominate in the anterior portion of the stomach. The muscularis is well developed throughout the length of the tract: two layers of striated muscle at the oesophageal level; two layers of smooth muscle in the stomach wall and three at the intestinal level.     

Gross morphology and histology of the alimentary tract of the convict cichlid Amatitlania nigrofasciata

The primary objectives of this study were to document the macroscopic and histological structure of the alimentary tract (AT) of the convict cichlid Amatitlania nigrofasciata, because there are no data available for this omnivorous freshwater fish of the family Cichlidae. The morphology of the AT of A. nigrofasciata resembles that of related species. While having morphological criteria of the AT typical of most omnivorous fishes, such as a blind sac stomach and medium length intestine, A. nigrofasciata also has some structural peculiarities: the oesophagus is lined by a uniform stratified squamous epithelial layer with interspersed goblet cells along its entire length. Additionally, it has well‐developed layers of the tunica muscularis including muscle fibre bundles that ascend into its mucosal folds. Occasionally, taste buds are present. In the transitional area between oesophagus and stomach, a prominent torus‐like closure device is present. The mucosa of the stomach cannot be divided into different regions according to mucosal and morphological properties. The simple pattern of intestinal loops of A. nigrofasciata has few variations, irrespective of sex, mass and length of the individual fish. The first segment of the intestine is characterized by the largest mucososerosal ratio and the most complex mucosal surface architecture. A distinction of midgut and hindgut was not possible in A. nigrofasciata due to lack of defining structural components as described for other fish species.     

Genetic evidence for the mating system and reproductive success of black sea bream (Acanthopagrus schlegelii)

Understanding the mating system and reproductive success of a species provides evidence for sexual selection. We examined the mating system and the reproductive success of captive adult black sea bream (Acanthopagrus schlegelii), using parentage assignment based on two microsatellites multiplex PCR systems, with 91.5% accuracy in a mixed family (29 sires, 25 dams, and 200 offspring). Based on the parentage result, we found that 93.1% of males and 100% of females participated in reproduction. A total of 79% of males and 92% of females mated with multiple partners (only 1 sire and 1 dam were monogamous), indicating that polygynandry best described the genetic mating system of black sea bream. For males, maximizing the reproductive success by multiple mating was accorded with the sexual selection theory while the material benefits hypothesis may contribute to explain the multiple mating for females. For both sexes, there was a significant correlation between mating success and reproductive success and the variance in reproductive success of males was higher than females. Variation in mating success is the greatest determinant to variation in reproductive success when the relationship is strongly positive. The opportunity for sexual selection of males was twice that of females, as well as the higher slope of the Bateman curve in males suggested that the intensity of intrasexual selection of males was higher than females. Thus, male–male competition would lead to the greater variation of mating success for males, which caused greater variation in reproductive success in males. The effective population number of breeders (N_b) was 33, and the N_b/N ratio was 0.61, slightly higher than the general ratio in polygynandrous fish populations which possibly because most individuals mated and had offspring with a low variance. The relatively high N_b contributes to the maintenance of genetic diversity in farmed black sea bream populations.     

Phytase can reduce theneedfor monocalcium phosphate supplementation in soybean and rapeseed meal‐based diets of black sea bream,Acanthopagrus schlegelii (Bleeker, 1854)

A feeding trial was conducted to study the effect of partial replacement of dietary monocalcium phosphate (MCP) with phytase on growth performance, feed utilization and phosphorus discharge in black sea bream, Acanthopagrus schlegelii. In the feeding trial, the control diet (designated as P1.5) was prepared with 1.5% MCP but without phytase, and the three other diets (designated as PP1.0, PP0.5 and PP0, respectively) were supplemented with 1.0%, 0.5% and 0% MCP, respectively, along with 200 mg (400 U) phytase/kg diet in each. Each diet was tested in triplicate tanks and fish were fed twice daily to satiation. After an 8‐week feeding trial in indoor flow‐through cylindrical fibreglass tanks (25 fish per tank, initial body weight: 11.5 ± 0.12 g), fish fed with PP1.0 and PP0.5 had no significant change in weight gain (WG), specific growth rate (SGR), protein efficiency rate (PER) or feed conversion ratio (FCR) compared to the control (p > .05), whereas fish fed with PP0 showed a significantly lower growth performance in the above parameters (p < .05). The addition of phytase did not affect the body composition or muscle composition. The apparent digestibility coefficients (ADCs) of crude protein and phosphorus increased when fish were fed diets in which MCP was replaced by phytase. Phosphorus discharge was also significantly reduced in fish fed diets in which MCP was replaced by phytase (10.2 ± 0.50 to 8.01 ± 0.47 g/kg weight gain). The present study suggests that dietary MCP can be reduced when phytase is added to the black sea bream diet, with a maximum MCP reduction level of up to 1% when phytase is supplemented at 200 mg (400 U)/kg diet. Thus, phytase in the diet of black sea bream is economically and ecologically beneficial.     

Morphological and histochemical features of the digestive tract of Leiarius marmoratus (Gill, 1870)

Leiarius marmoratus, a freshwater catfish from Pimelodidae family, shows great biological and commercial relevance because of its geographic distribution and adaptation to fish-farm. The knowledge of the morphological characteristics of the digestive tract is fundamental to the understanding of fish physiology and nutrition, which helps in the planning of diets to provide better management and success in fish farming. Thus, this work described the morphology and histochemistry of the digestive tract of L. marmoratus adults. After euthanasia, the animals were dissected for analysis of the digestive tract. The oesophagus is a short and distensive organ with longitudinal folds that allow the passage of large food, e.g., other fishes. Oesophageal mucosa layer shows a stratified epithelium with goblet cells and club cells. The secretion of goblet cells is composed of neutral and acidic mucins that are anchored in the epithelium luminal face by epithelial cells fingerprint-like microridges, lubricating the surface to facilitate the food sliding. Club cells have protein secretion that can be involved in alarm signals when epithelium is damaged and in immunological defence. The saccular stomach is highly distensible to store large food. Gastric mucosa layer is composed of epithelial cells with intense secretion of neutral mucin to protect against self-digestion of gastric juice. Cardiac and fundic regions of stomach show well-developed gastric glands composed of oxynticopeptic cells. These cells have numerous mitochondria, highlighting their intense activity in the synthesis of acid and enzymes. The intestine is divided into three regions: anterior, middle and posterior. Although it is a short tube, intestine shows longitudinal folds and microvilli of enterocytes to increase the contact surface. These folds are higher in the anterior region of the intestine, highlighting their function in digestion and absorption. Intestinal goblet cells have acidic and neutral mucins that lubricate the epithelium and aid in digestive processes. These cells increase in number towards aboral, and they are related to the protection and lubrication to expulsion of faecal bolus.     

Ecomorphology of the digestive tract of the brazilian electric ray Narcine brasiliensis (Olfers, 1831) (Torpediniformes: Narcinidae)

Elasmobranchii shows particular characteristics that make them susceptible to the impacts caused by fishing pressure, especially bottom trawling, which mostly affect rays, as they have demersal habits. Based on food availability and feeding ability, Polychaeta and Sipunculiforme are the bases of Brazilian electric ray Narcine brasiliensis diet. Morphologically, the digestion starts in the oesophagus with acid mucines action. The existence of acid and neutral mucines in the posterior intestine prevents lesions in the mucosa and favours the passage of faeces and shell residues. Thus, this study shows the interaction between their habitat, the organisms and their morphophysiology.     

Morphology of the digestive tract of the Whitemouth croaker Micropogonias furnieri (Desmarest, 1823) (Perciformes: Sciaenidae)

Studies have shown the feeding diversity of teleostean fish, which is conditioned by environmental characteristics or the biology of the different species. Analysis on the morphology of the digestive system (DS) of fish made it possible for researchers to know the food regimen of several species at different stages of life. On the other hand, it is known that food habits may lead to morphological changes in the DS the same way that different food habits may be imposed by morphological limitations of this system. Among the species of greater commercial importance in Brazil, Micropogonias furnieri is highly representative of fish in south‐eastern Brazil. Therefore, the objective of this study was to analyse the morphology of the DS of M. furnieri. Results on the morphology of the DS observed in this study were similar to the patterns determined for the morphology of teleostean fish. In this study, it was observed that the DS of the Whitemouth croaker is directly related with the shape of the peritoneal cavity; these fish showed oesophagus, stomach, pyloric caeca and intestines. The pyloric caeca showed morphological adaptations in relation to sexual maturation, with well‐developed caeca found in sexually mature animals.     

Morphology and histochemical analysis of glycoproteins in the digestive tract of Dabry's sturgeon

The aim of this study is to explore the morphology and histochemistry of the digestive tract of Acipenser dabryanus (Duméril, 1869). The digestive system of the Dabry's sturgeon contained an oropharyngeal cavity, esophagus, stomach, pyloric caeca, duodenum, valvula intestine, and rectum. Both the pyloric caeca, and the valvula intestine, which belonged to elasmobranch, were present simultaneously in the digestive system of the Dabry's sturgeon, which indicated that it was an archaic species. According to the results, we found four types of mucous cells exist in the digestive tracts of the Dabry's sturgeon. The statistical results showed that there were various types and densities of mucous cells in different parts. In comparison, large quantities of mucous cells existed in intestines. The difference in type and distribution of mucous cells are closely related to the functions of the organs where they are found; 5‐hydroxytryptamine were used to identify the endocrine cells in the digestive tract of the Dabry's sturgeon.The 5‐hydroxytryptamine immunoreactive cells were distributed throughout the digestive tract except the esophagus.     

Anatomical and scanning electron microscopic characteristics of the oropharyngeal cavity (tongue,palate and laryngeal entrance) in the southern lapwing (Charadriidae: Vanellus chilensis,Molina 1782)

This investigation aimed to determine the morphological characteristics of the tongue, palate and laryngeal entrance of southern lapwing by gross anatomy and scanning electron microscopy. For this purpose, the organs of three birds were used as material. Numerous densely distributed acicular projections were found on the lingual apex. Papillary crest consisting of sharp conical papillae were observed between the body and root of the tongue. Conical papillae of the lateral border of the papillary crest were triangular in form, and other conical papillae of the papillary crest were shorter in form. There were no papillary projections or papillae on the smooth surfaces of the lingual body and radix. On the median part of the palate, larger conical papillae, which were directed caudally, also surrounded entrance of the choanal cleft. The transversal papillary rows of conical papillae were observed between the rostral and caudal parts of the choanal cleft and on the caudal border of the infundibular cleft. The laryngeal entrance was surrounded by smooth mucosa without conical papillae. However, in the caudal border of the glottic fissure, there was a conical papillary row formed by numerous conical papillae. There were no anatomical differences between female and male birds.     

榆木蠹蛾性信息素通讯系统的超微结构观察

为了解榆木蠹蛾Holcocerus vicarius （Walker）雌蛾性信息素分泌腺（性信息素释放系统）位置、 表面形态和超微结构及雄蛾触角感受器（性信息素接收系统）的种类、 形态、 分布及功能, 利用扫描电镜和透射电镜对榆木蠹蛾雌蛾性信息素分泌腺和雄蛾的触角进行观察。结果表明： 榆木蠹蛾雌蛾性信息素分泌腺位于腹尖末端第8～9节节间膜上的背面中央区域, 腺体表面分布着许多饱满的锥状突起, 2日龄处女雌蛾腺体细胞间有明显的胞连接, 细胞基底膜基褶较多, 质膜上分布着微绒毛, 并与内表皮连接, 内表皮上含有多层几丁质, 胞质中含有脂质粒、 大量空泡、 光面内质网、 粗面内质网及线粒体; 雄蛾触角鞭节上有5种感受器, 为毛形感器、 刺形感器、 锥形感器、 腔锥形感器和曲毛形感器, 其中毛形感器数量最多, 曲毛形感器最少。柄节和梗节被大量鳞片覆盖, 未观察到感器。榆木蠹蛾性信息素通讯系统的研究为榆木蠹蛾性信息素的生物合成、 性信息素的提取、 鉴定及成虫生殖交配生物学行为提供了依据。     

Age and growth of black seabream Acanthopagrus schlegelii (Sparidae) in Hong Kong and adjacent waters of the northern South China Sea

Age and growth of the black seabream Acanthopagrus schlegelii (family Sparidae) from the northern South China Sea (NSCS) were studied by reading growth rings in sectioned sagittal otoliths. Ring formation frequency was determined to be annual by using marginal increment analysis. The von Bertalanffy growth function parameters were estimated as: L_∞ = 43.7 cm L_S; K =0.22 year; t₀ = ?1.59 years. Functional males are significantly younger than functional females, with sexually transitional individuals between the modal ages of males and females supporting protandry in this species. Males become sexually mature within 1 year and 50% age at sex change is at 2 years. The maximum age recorded for both males and females sampled was 9 years which is lower than for conspecifics elsewhere and may reflect high fishing pressure in the study area when compared with conspecifics in other areas or could reflect latitudinal effects. Otolith mass was significantly and positively related to age, providing a cheap and quick alternative method for approximating age. Acanthopagrus schlegelii is a relatively fast‐growing and rapidly maturing species attaining a similar asymptotic length to conspecifics. A need for fishery management is indicated to protect both young juveniles and older adults, especially females, to increase reproductive output and safeguard fishery production.     

Functional utrastructure of Genlisea (Lentibulariaceae) digestive hairs

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Digestive structures of carnivorous plants produce external digestive enzymes, and play the main role in absorption. In Lentibulariaceae, the ultrastructure of digestive hairs has been examined in some detail in Pinguicula and Utricularia, but the sessile digestive hairs of Genlisea have received very little attention so far. The aim of this study was to fill this gap by expanding their morphological, anatomical and histochemical characterization. METHODS: Several imaging techniques were used, including light, confocal and electron microscopy, to reveal the structure and function of the secretory hairs of Genlisea traps. This report demonstrates the application of cryo-SEM for fast imaging of whole, physically fixed plant secretory structures. KEY RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The concentration of digestive hairs along vascular bundles in subgenus Genlisea is a primitive feature, indicating its basal position within the genus. Digestive hairs of Genlisea consist of three compartments with different ultrastructure and function. In subgenus Tayloria the terminal hair cells are transfer cells, but not in species of subgenus Genlisea. A digestive pool of viscous fluid occurs in Genlisea traps. In spite of their similar architecture, the digestive-absorptive hairs of Lentibulariaceae feature differences in morphology and ultrastructure.     

Effect of gluten on the digestive tract and fat body of Telodeinopus aoutii (Diplopoda)

Adult specimens or larvae of invertebrates used as food for vertebrates are often maintained close to gluten so they might become vectors for cereal proteins. However, the tissues and internal organs can respond differently in animals with different feeding habits. The midgut epithelium might be a first and sufficient barrier preventing uptake and effects of gluten on the whole body, while the fat body is the main organ that accumulates different xenobiotics. Good models for such research are animals that do not feed on gluten-rich products in their natural environment. The project's goal was to investigate alterations in the midgut epithelium and fat body of the herbivorous millipede Telodeinopus aoutii (Diplopoda) and analyze cell death processes activated by gluten. It enabled us to determine whether changes were intensified or reversed by adaptive mechanisms. Adult specimens were divided into control and experimental animals fed with mushrooms supplemented with gluten and analyzed using transmission electron microscopy, flow cytometry, and confocal microscopy. Two organs were isolated for the qualitative and quantitative analysis: the midgut and the fat body. Our study of the herbivorous T. aoutii which does not naturally feed on gluten containing diet showed that continuous and prolonged gluten feeding activates repair processes that inhibit the processes of cell death (apoptosis and necrosis) and induce an increase in cell viability.     

The setal morphology of the larval phases of the Argentinean red shrimp Pleoticus muelleri Bate, 1888 (Decapoda: Solenoceridae)

Summary

The setal morphology is described for the larval stages of the solenocerid shrimp Pleoticus muelleri based upon scanning electron microscope studies. Sixty-five different types of setae are recognized and some currently used terms for describing setae are reviewed.