Biochemical composition of the Atlantic bonito Sarda sarda from the Aegean Sea (eastern Mediterranean Sea) in different stages of sexual maturity

The content (% wet mass) in water, ash, lipid, crude protein, DNA and RNA of different tissues was determined during sexual maturation of bonitos Sarda sarda from the Aegean Sea. A total of 220 specimens were collected in the following stages of sexual maturity: immature, resting, developing, mature, spawning and spent. Highest lipid levels in the white muscle, red muscle and liver were measured in immature specimens, while lowest levels were found in spawning bonitos. The gradual percentage of lipid reduction from immature to spawning bonitos was relatively higher in the liver (females 71·2% and males 64·4%) than in the white (females 59·2% and males 53·5%) and red (females 62·1% and males 51·7%) muscle. Lipid levels in the gonads increased gradually from the immature to spawning stage. The decrease of lipid in the somatic tissues was more intense in females than in males, and gonadal lipid content was higher in females than in males. There was a strong reverse correlation between water and lipid percentage in all tissues. Protein content decreased significantly only in spawning bonitos. The percentage of protein reduction from immature to spawning stage was relatively higher in males than in females in both white (females 3·4% and males 4·6%) and red (females 4·6% and males 5·1%) muscles. Protein content in the liver was significantly lower than in the other tissues, being highest in mature females. Gonadal protein content in females increased with maturation and decreased after spawning. The content in ash exhibited considerable stability. The RNA:DNA ratio exhibited a similar pattern of variation in both muscles. The RNA:DNA ratio increased during gonadal development gradually from the developing to spent stage. It was concluded that in S. sarda during gonadal development, there was an increase in gonadal lipid accompanied by a decrease in somatic tissue lipid reserves. Thus, reproductive inactive bonitos have more lipid in their edible part and a higher nutritional value than active ones.     

Carbohydrate energy reserves and effects of food deprivation in male and female rainbow trout

We investigated the effects of nutritional state on carbohydrate, lipid, and protein stores in the heart, liver, and white skeletal muscle of male and female rainbow trout. For fed animals we also partitioned glycogen into fractions based on acid solubility. Fish (10-14 months-old, ~400-500 g) were held at 14 °C and either fed (1% of body weight, every other day) or deprived of food for 14 days. Under fed conditions, glycogen was increased 54% in ventricles from males compared with females, and elevated in the liver (87%) and white muscle (70%) in sexually-maturing versus immature males. Acid soluble glycogen predominated over the acid insoluble fraction in all tissues and was similar between sexes. Food deprivation 1) selectively reduced glycogen and free glucose in male ventricles by ~30%, and 2) did not change glycogen in the liver or white muscle, or triglyceride, protein or water levels in any tissues for both sexes. These data highlight sex differences in teleost cardiac stores and the metabolism of carbohydrates, and contrast with mammals where cardiac glycogen increases during fasting and acid insoluble glycogen is a significant fraction. Increased glycogen in the hearts of male rainbow trout appears to pre-empt sex-specific cardiac growth while storage of acid soluble glycogen may reflect a novel strategy for efficient synthesis and mobilization of glycogen in fishes.     

Function of the liver and hepatic lipids of the lesser sand shark, Rhinobatos annulatus (Müller & Henle)

Seasonal variation recorded in the hepatosomatic index for sand sharks, Rhinobatos annulatus, was primarily due to accumulation of hepatic lipids. The contribution of liver lipids to the formation of egg yolk was estimated and found to be secondary to lipid reserves for metabolic functions. Maximum liver lipid content in mature sand sharks coincided with peak breeding activities. Hepatic lipids and their derivatives are an important fuel for muscle and thus needed for migration which occurred soon after parturition and mating. Liver colour was in synchrony with the variation in the total liver lipid content in both sexes of sand sharks.     

Variations in the biochemical composition of the squid Illex argentinus from the South Atlantic Ocean

General condition, biochemical composition changes and fatty acids in several tissues of I. argentinus at different sexual stages were studied. Ovarian maturation involves a simultaneous increase in ovary mass and in protein and lipid levels. Testes weights were modified less than the ovary with maturation and showed a constant biochemical composition during spermatogenesis. The digestive gland grew through most of the maturation process in both sexes. Water level was high in immature squid and low in mature females and males, and varied inversely to that of lipids. Dorsal mantle maintained a constant biochemical composition, between February (immature) and June (fertilized females and mature males). All tissues contained high concentration of polyunsaturated fatty acids followed by saturated fatty acids and monosaturated fatty acids. This digestive gland of the squid is rich in polyenoic fatty acids, 20:5n-3 and 22:6n-3. This tissue could be a cheap raw material, presently discarded, for production of polyunsaturated fatty acids.     

Lipid dynamics and plasma level changes of 17beta-estradiol and testosterone during the spawning season of gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) females of different ages

The present study was undertaken to evaluate whether the age of brood stock females of Sparus aurata affects the mobilization of lipids from muscle and liver towards the gonads to aid in oocyte development. Taking into account the role some hormones play in lipid mobilization the production of 17beta-estradiol (E2) and testosterone (T) was also measured throughout the spawning season. Four groups of fish were established consisting of 3-, 4-, 5- and 6-year-old females (1.3, 1.5, 2.3 and 2.8 kg average weight, respectively), maintained in separate tanks together with a number of two-year-old males. The results for all four groups showed no variations in fish total length between the beginning and end of the experimental period. However, losses were recorded both of body weight and condition factor. In general terms, there were no significant differences in the plasma levels of E2, T and the gonadosomatic (GSI) and hepatosomatic (HSI) index among the four groups throughout the spawning season. In all groups, the plasma levels of E2, T, GSI and HSI were at their lowest at the end of spawning. Between December (pre-spawning) and March (mid-spawning), all groups suffered depletion of the lipid content of liver and muscle, while gonad lipid content remained constant. The mobilization of lipids from liver and muscle to contribute to the upkeep of the gonadal lipid involved the mobilization of all the fatty acid groups, saturates, monoenes, n-6, n-3, and n-3 HUFA. A good correlation existed between the percentage of the various fatty acid groups transferred from muscle and the age of the reproductive females. However, the greater lipid mobilization from muscle matching the greater age of the reproductive females did not result in greater lipid gonadal reserves or greater body size, suggesting that reproduction on the part of older females requires greater effort. Despite this, the results as a whole indicated that lipogenic capacity, considered as the mobilization of lipids from muscle and liver towards the gonad for the development of oocytes, is unaffected by age in reproductive 3- to 6-year-old gilthead seabream females.     

Lipid dynamics in the viperine snake, Natrix maura, from the Ebro Delta (NE Spain)

Body reserves play a major role in several aspects of vertebrate biology. Accurate identification and quantification of body reserves constitute a useful contribution to the better understanding of the energetic costs of reproduction and the implication of food availability in life history traits of organisms. In this study, lipid content in fat bodies, liver and muscle of the viperine snake (Natrix maura) were measured along an active season. Samples were collected monthly from a natural population of the Ebro Delta Natural Park (NE Spain). This methodology pointed out that lipids stored in fat bodies were the main energetic source during reproduction. In addition, lipids stored in liver appeared to be critical for vitellogenesis, while lipids stored in muscle turned out to be a supplementary energetic resource to fuel reproductive effort. Relationships between changes in body reserves and prey availability in canals of the Ebro Delta were also considered. In males, lipid reserves presented a positive correlation with food availability. On the contrary, lipid reserves in female viperine snakes decreased during vitellogenesis even though food availability increased in this period, which suggests a quick transfer of body lipids to clutch. In April, when rice fields of the Ebro Delta were dry and aquatic prey was scarce for viperine snakes, males and females presented a lower lipid content in fat bodies, liver and muscle than they did in other months, showing a clear link between prey availability and body reserves during food shortage. Thus, patterns of variation in fat levels indicated that Natrix maura is a capital breeder since it acquires resources in advance and stores them until they are invested during the reproductive period. Nevertheless, the shortage in April forces Natrix maura to turn into a facultative income breeder to fuel vitellogenesis. Finally, fat reserves in body components were compared with an estimate of body condition calculated by the residuals from the regression of body mass on body length. In male viperine snakes, the estimate of body condition was correlated with fat levels, revealing that this index is useful to measure condition in living individuals. On the contrary, body condition in females was not correlated with fat levels, which suggests that it is not appropriate to infer condition in female viperine snakes since it depends on the reproductive status of the individuals.     

Sex differences in the energetic content of reproductive tissues in the Blackeye Goby,Rhinogobiops nicholsii

Differential energetic investment in reproduction between the sexes has been a driving a force of life history theory and sexual selection. However, reproductive costs between the sexes have often been based on morphology, such as gonad mass and gonadosomatic indices (GSI), and few have directly measured the energy content of gonadal tissues in relation to GSI. Using the blackeye goby, Rhinogobiops nicholsii, we measured the energetic content of whole gonadal tissues, specifically testes, ovaries and associated reproductive tissues using oxygen bomb calorimetry. The energy content per gram unit of gonadal tissues was generally predictive of GSI, indicating that GSI is a reasonable measure of energetic costs. Interestingly, although females had greater gonadal mass, GSI and energy content per gram than males, the sex difference in energy content per mass unit was only 13 %, suggesting that gross indices such as gonadal mass or GSI may overestimate energetic costs where instead the cost difference in a unit gram of gonadal tissues between the sexes is smaller than often predicted. This study also demonstrates that although the cost of ovaries is greater than testes, males’ investment in reproductive tissue can be considerable, which is consistent with the often inflated reproductive success for males in haremic mating systems.     

日本鳗鲡雌鳗卵巢发育期间肌肉脂肪酸的组成及消耗

研究采用3种不同的处理方式(I&GD、I&nGD和A&nGD)对雌鳗处理后,进行了生物学相关参数、肌肉脂肪酸组成和含量变化测定分析.研究结果表明,日本鳗鲡在性腺发育期间,体重一直呈一个下降的趋势,直到产卵前,才显著高于野生海鳗.该现象被称为水合反应.实验结束时,3个实验组的脂肪总量均有不同程度的下降,其中,I&GD组下降最多,占总脂肪的66.55%;其次是A&nGD组,占总脂肪的43.76%;下降最少的是I&nGD组,占总脂肪的34.68%.研究对日本鳗鲡的肌肉共测出了17种脂肪酸,SFA 7种、MUFA 2种、PUFA 8种.其中,MUFA虽然只有2种,但在脂肪酸总量中占的百分比却较高达38.02%,而且它们的消耗与性腺发育和基础代谢有关,与雌鳗的游泳耗能无关.在8种PUFA中,AA的变化很特殊.实验期间,它在日本鳗鲡肌肉内是一个积累和消耗的动态过程.而且,积累程度与雌鳗的游动有关,游动越多,积累越多.EPA虽然能被检出,但量很低,而且各组间的变化无明显规律.DHA在日本鳗鲡肌肉中的含量达到123.91 mg/g干肌肉,占总脂肪的32.52%.卵巢发育所消耗的量也很多,I&GD组在卵巢发育结束后,下降到10.59 mg/g十肌肉.相关性分析发现.虽然总脂肪酸、PUFA、DHA和EPA与GSI间均存在一定程度的负相关性,但关系最密切的是DHA,其r=-0.952(P<0.01,n=5),关系最小的是EPA,其r=-0.882(P<0.05,n=5).因此分析认为DHA是日本鳗鲡性腺发育所需的最主要的一种脂肪酸.对能量分布进行综合分析后认为,日本鳗鲡在人工诱导性腺发育期间,基础代谢所需的脂肪量(LBM)占总脂肪量的34.68%,性腺发育所需脂肪量(LGD)占总脂肪量的32.49%,运动耗能所需脂肪量(LM)占总脂肪量的9.79%.因此认为,日本鳗鲡在不摄食的情况下,肌肉中的脂肪不仅能提供性腺发育所需的营养物质,而且还能满足洄游2000海里到达产卵场所需的能量.     

Growth, maturation and reproductive investment in Arctic charr

Size and rates of growth in a cohort of 1 + Arctic charr housed in standard conditions were tracked over 12 months (December to December) and mature and immature males and females compared retrospectively. In both sexes, maturing fish were larger than non-maturing ones. In males, this size differential was the result of differences in growth in winter and early spring, but not in the remainder of the study period. In females, size differentials resulted mainly from growth rate differences immediately prior to breeding. In females but not in males, gonadosomatic index was predicted by growth rates in the months leading up to maturation, and among the females that matured, faster growing fish produced more eggs. Lipid reserves in July were correlated negatively with growth during the previous 7 months and, in females only, lipid reserves were significantly lower in maturing fish than in non-maturing fish, indicating that mobilization of lipid energy reserves in maturing fish had commenced by this time. Variation in investment in gonadal tissue, measured as gonadosomatic index, was not explained by variation in July lipid reserves for either males or females. However, July lipid reserves were negatively correlated with egg number, so females investing more in ova exhibited greater depletion of lipid reserves. These results are discussed in the context of the relationship between body condition and the onset of maturation in salmonids, relative investment in reproduction and sexual differences in the cost of reproduction.     

Maturation and aging of adult fat body and oenocytes in Drosophila as revealed by light microscopic morphometry

A morphological and cytometric analysis of the adult fat body cells and oenocytes was made on sections of abdomens from immature, mature and senescent Drosophila melanogaster of both sexes. There are about 18,000 fat body cells in abdomens of female and mature male flies. Immature and senescent males have about 12,000 and 15,000 cells, respectively. The size of the cells is almost the same for immature flies of both sexes and increases about six-fold to approximately 2600 micron2, so that mature flies of both sexes have equivalent amounts of fat body tissue. The proportions of lipid, glycogen, and background cytoplasm of fat body cells also remain relatively constant throughout adult life, but dense, proteinaceous granules are observed in cells of senescent flies. The amounts of cellular components change dramatically due to change of cell size with age; the amount of lipid shows the greatest sexual difference with about 2x more in the females at all stages studied. The oenocytes number about 6,000 in the abdomens of all but immature male flies, which have approximately 4,000. Although the cells of both sexes triple in size to about 700 micron 2, the oenocytes of males reach maximum size earlier than those of females. The major features of oenocytes appear to be dense background cytoplasm, putative lipid droplets found only in mature flies, and pigmented granules first seen in the cells of mature flies which accumulate with age to 33% of the cytoplasm. The number of cells and their anticipated capacity for protein synthesis is discussed in relation to the production of yolk protein precursors.     

Sex‐specific reproductive investment of summer spawners of Illex argentinus in the southwest Atlantic

Energy investment in reproduction and somatic growth was investigated for summer spawners of the Argentinean shortfin squid Illex argentinus in the southwest Atlantic Ocean. Sampled squids were examined for morphometry and intensity of feeding behavior associated with reproductive maturation. Residuals generated from length‐weight relationships were analyzed to determine patterns of energy allocation between somatic and reproductive growth. Both females and males showed similar rates of increase for eviscerated body mass and digestive gland mass relative to mantle length, but the rate of increase for total reproductive organ weight relative to mantle length in females was three times that of males. For females, condition of somatic tissues deteriorated until the mature stage, but somatic condition improved after the onset of maturity. In males, there was no correlation between somatic condition and phases of reproductive maturity. Reproductive investment decreased as sexual maturation progressed for both females and males, with the lowest investment occurring at the functionally mature stage. Residual analysis indicated that female reproductive development was at the expense of body muscle growth during the immature and maturing stages, but energy invested in reproduction after onset of maturity was probably met by food intake. However, in males both reproductive maturation and somatic growth proceeded concurrently so that energy allocated to reproduction was related to food intake throughout the process of maturation. For both males and females, there was little evidence of trade‐offs between the digestive gland and reproductive growth, as no significant correlation was found between dorsal mantle length‐digestive gland weight residuals. The role of the digestive gland as an energy reserve for gonadal growth should be reconsidered. Additionally, feeding intensity by both males and females decreased after the onset of sexual maturity, but feeding never stopped completely, even during spawning.     

Sexual dimorphism in the energetics of reproduction and growth of North Sea plaice, Pleuronectes platessa L.

The chemical composition and energy content of North Sea plaice during the spawning period were examined in mature males and females and in immature fish, to study differences in the allocation of energy over reproduction and somatic growth between the sexes. At the beginning of the spawning period mature males and females had equal dry weights of lipid that were 70% higher than in immatures. Protein content in mature males was equal to that in immatures but was 23 % higher in mature females. Immature males and females did not differ in chemical composition. At the end of the spawning period, spent and immature fish had equal lipid contents, but protein content in spent females was 10% lower than in spent males, and 17% lower than in immatures. Gross energy content of the body decreased by 44% (65·2 to 36·3 J cm^-3) in mature females, 27% (55·0 to 40·OJ cm^-3) in mature males, and 9% (48·7 to 44·2J cm^-3) in immatures. Energy content of plaice eggs was estimated at 6·60 kJ per 1000 eggs. Reproductive investment was estimated from the energy loss during the spawning period and included the energy of sex products and spawning metabolism. Somatic growth comprised the annual increase in energy content of fish. The pattern of energy allocation over reproduction and somatic growth differed between males and females. Males started their reproduction at a smaller length and a younger age and allocated a higher proportion of the available energy into reproduction than females. Available energy resources for somatic growth and reproduction (surplus production) were equal between the sexes up to a length of about 30 cm. Beyond this length male surplus production levelled off whereas female surplus production continued to increase. The differences in surplus production and the allocation patterns are discussed. For female plaice the energy allocated into egg production was estimated as between 48 and 64% of the total amount of energy lost during spawning. The remaining energy is used for metabolism during the spawning period, yielding an estimate of the metabolic rate of mature females of between 6·4 and 9·1 kJ day^-1. A maximum estimate of the metabolic rate of mature males was 7·4 kJ day^-1.     

Lipid and fatty acid content in wild white seabream (Diplodus sargus) broodstock at different stages of the reproductive cycle

The lipid and fatty acid content of the gonads, liver and muscle of wild white seabream males and females was studied at different stages of the reproductive cycle. Samples were taken from mature white seabream at pre-spawning (November), mid-spawning (March) and post-spawning (June) stages. The results showed that lipid accumulates in gonads and muscle from November to March. The gonadosomatic index (GSI) was also increased during this period. Male gonads showed a greater increase in polar lipid (PL) than neutral (NL), while female gonads displayed the reverse. The increase in both neutral and polar lipid was higher in the muscle of males than in females. In the same period, male livers showed no changes either in lipid content or the hepatosomatic index (HSI), while female livers registered an increase in both lipid content and HSI. Between March and June, in both males and females, total, neutral and polar lipid decreased sharply in the gonads and muscle. Muscular lipid content reduction was more pronounced in males than females. On the other hand, the lipid content of the liver in males and females remained relatively constant. In general terms, the amounts of major fatty acids (16:0, 18:1n-9, 20:5n-3 and 22:6n-3) in gonadal and muscular polar and neutral lipid in both males and females increased from November to March and declined thereafter. Variations of the liver fatty acid content were less extreme. In the period from mid-spawning to post-spawning, the presence of 20:4n-6 in polar and neutral lipid increased to a notable extent in all organs studied.     

Seasonal variations in the intermediate metabolism of Parastacus varicosus (Crustacea, Decapoda, Parastacidae)

The aim of this study was to analyze the seasonal variations in the metabolism of Parastacus varicosus and examine the possible relationships to its reproduction. Animals were sampled (9 h to 10 h) in each month in the Gravataí River, RS, Brazil. Haemolymph samples were collected from each crayfish in the field for determination of glucose, total proteins, total lipids, and total cholesterol. Hepatopancreas, abdominal muscle, and gonads were removed for determination of glycogen, total proteins, total lipids, and total cholesterol. ANOVA revealed significant seasonal differences in the biochemical composition of all tissues studied; when the sexes were compared these parameters did not show any significant difference in the hepatopancreas and muscle. However, in haemolymph we observed significant variation only in cholesterol and lipid levels. The results suggest that the metabolic variability is related to the stage of maturation of the gonads, in females, where the hepatopancreas and other tissue studies can store and transfer reserves to support maturation to complement the food intake. Variations in the gonadosomatic and hepatosomatic indices suggest that reproduction occurs principally in summer. As in other decapods, abiotic factors such as water temperature, oxygen content, etc. influence the intermediate metabolism.     

Energy allocation strategy of skipjack tuna Katsuwonus pelamis during their reproductive cycle

The lipid composition of somatic and reproductive tissues was determined for female skipjack tuna Katsuwonus pelamis caught in the western Indian Ocean between latitude 10° N and 20° S and longitude 40° and 70° E. The highest total lipid (TL) contents were in the liver and gonads, with white muscle levels approximately three‐fold lower. Three lipid classes dominated: triacylglycerols (TAG), sterol esters and wax esters (SE‐WE) and phospholipids (PL). Collectively, these accounted for between 70 and 80% of TLs. Changes in lipid concentrations were evaluated over the maturation cycle. Immature fish had the lowest gonad and liver TL levels; concentrations of TL, TAG, SE‐WE and PL accumulated from immature to mature (spawning‐capable) phase, reflecting sustained vitellogenic activity of the liver and a transfer of lipids to developing oocytes from the onset of vitellogenesis. Gonado‐somatic and hepato‐somatic indices were positively correlated with each other and positively related to TL in the gonads and liver. Fulton's condition index and lipid concentrations in muscle did not vary significantly over the maturation cycle; fat content in the main storage tissues was undepleted as the ovary developed. Hence, K. pelamis apparently supports reproduction directly from food intake over the breeding season. In the gonads, reserve lipids (SE‐WE and TAG) and sterols were related to batch fecundity but this was not the case for somatic and hepatic tissues. These results suggest that K. pelamis utilizes an income breeding strategy.     

Variation of lipid classes among organs of the Northern krill Meganyctiphanes norvegica, with respect to reproduction.

Lipid content and class in the Northern krill Meganyctiphanes norvegica (digestive gland, stomach, gonad, fat body, abdomen) was investigated and correlated with sex and reproductive stage. Ready to spawn females, have high lipid content in ovaries, while in males and spent females, the major site of lipid deposits was the digestive gland, followed by the fat body. These differences among spawning and spent females are indicative of strong interactions between the ovary and digestive gland and the ovary and fat body during vitellogenesis. Triacylglycerols (TAG) were the major neutral lipid class with high levels in the digestive gland. The major phospholipid was phosphatidylcholine (PC) particularly in the muscular tissue of the abdomen. Phosphatidyl-ethanolamine (PE) and -serine-inositol (PS-PI), were present at intermediate levels. Reproductive males were depleted in TAG and diacylglycerols (DAG) in the digestive gland, gonad and fat body, and had 4 times lower cholesterol in the gonad than ready to spawn females. Furthermore, ready to spawn females had in the ovary higher amounts of TAG, DAG and phospholipids (PC, PE, PS-PI) than spent females. Linear relationships between lipid content and main lipid class (TAG, PC, PE, PS-PI) in different fractions of males and ready to spawn females showed that: (1). TAG was stored for both sexes in all cephalothorax fractions with highest values in the digestive gland and ovary fluid; (2). PC was accumulated for both sexes in the fat body and the gonad with a higher slope for females, with the highest values in the ovary fluid and in the abdomen of males and that (3). PS-PI was stored only in the ovary and abdomen of mature females. These results are discussed in terms of the strategy developed by Meganyctiphanes norvegica to allocate lipids to the next generation for optimised embryogenesis.     

Effects of estrogen and testosterone on specific prolactin binding in the kidneys and adrenal of rats.

The effects of estradiol benzoate in the female rat, testosterone propionate in the male rat, and castration in both sexes on specific prolactin binding sites in the particulate membranes of the kidneys and adrenals were studied. Castration resulted in a significant increase in PRL binding activity in the kidneys of both males and females, and in a significant increase in PRL binding activity in the adrenals of the females. The increase in PRL binding with castration and the decrease seen with testosterone treatment were similar in both immature and mature rats. Progesterone administration to castrate females failed to alter PRL binding in both tissues. The present results suggest that estrogen and testosterone participate in the PRL osmoregulatory system in rat.     

Platelet serotonin levels and gonadal hormones in rats

The role of gonadal hormones in the control of platelet serotonin levels was studied by evaluating the effect of sexual maturation in rats of both sexes and the time-course of changes following gonadectomy performed either prepubertally or on sexually mature animals. In males, platelet serotonin levels remained fairly stable during sexual maturation as well as during the whole postgonadectomy period monitored (four months). In females, somewhat higher values of platelet serotonin levels in adult than in sexually immature animals were found (9%, p less than 0.001, N = 34). A slight decrease of platelet serotonin (10-18%, p less than 0.05) was observed following ovariectomy of sexually mature females, but it was of transient nature. When females were ovariectomized prepubertally a tendency towards permanently lower platelet serotonin levels was noticed. These results suggest that gonadal hormones have no major role in the control of platelet serotonin levels in rats, although a subtle hormonal modulation of this platelet variable in females may exist.     

Schleim aus der Braunalge Nemacystus decipiens,Mozuku 1. Mitt. Bestandteile des Schleims und ihre Eigenschaften

We examined the distribution of mercury and selenium in fifteen tissues of striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalbd). The total mercury level in the mature dolphins showed differences among the tissues and was highest in the liver. The total mercury concentration in most tissues increased with age, and reached a constant level at 20 to 25 years of age. The total mercury level in the tissues was not appreciably different among mature males, pregnant females, lactating females and resting females. In the muscle of mature individuals, the total mercury level of striped dolphins collected in 1977 and 1980 was appreciably higher than that of those collected 1978 and 1979. Methylmercury showed less variation in concentration among the tissues. The ratio of methylmercury to total mercury in muscle decreased with growth after about 10 years of age when the increase of methylmercury stopped. Selenium levels in the dolphins increased with age as total mercury levels did. High correlation coefficients were found between the total mercury and selenium levels in spleen, muscle, pancreas and liver. The concentrations of total mercury in the various tissues of immature dolphins were much lower than those of mature ones.     

Dynamics of biochemical components, lipid classes and energy values on gonadal development of R. philippinarum associated with the temperature and ingestion rate

This study evaluates the effect of temperature, coupled with ingestion rate, on the dynamics of biochemical components and lipid classes in R. philippinarum. The data are discussed with regard to sexual development and energy balance. Experimental protocol developed in the present study used two groups of the clam R. philippinarum: L (temperatures of 14 degrees C and 18 degrees C) and H (temperatures of 18 degrees C and 22 degrees C). The intra-group ingestion level was similar, although the ingestion level of the clams in the group H was 2.4 times higher than group L. We observed that R. philippinarum conditioned at 18 degrees C (18L) shows higher protein content, furthermore an important loss of organic weight was observed after 48 days. In such a situation, the clams use their own reserves (carbohydrates and glycogen) for sexual development while in situations without food stress (positive energy balance) and low temperature (14 degrees C) an accumulation of reserves is produced. Strikingly dissimilar behaviour in biochemical composition was observed for the 18H and 22H treatments, both with a positive energy balance. Despite similar protein content, the highest levels of carbohydrates were observed at the lower temperature (18 degrees C). Glycogen was also higher for the 18 degrees C treatment, although the differences were significant only in the males. Although the total lipids in R. philippinarum showed no significant differences in any treatment, they became apparent and related to sex when considering the individual lipid classes. There was no variation in lipid classes in the males between the 14L and 22H treatments despite the large disparity in the degree of sexual development. However, in the females significant differences in lipid classes (phospholipids, triglycerides) were observed. The results of this study show that a positive energy balance permits R. philippinarum gonadal development and accumulation of reserves both in low and high temperature conditions. In low temperature situations, gonadal development is slower and the energy reserves are accumulated in the form of carbohydrates. When the clams are conditioned at high temperatures, gonadal development is fast and complete, carbohydrates are consumed and lipids are accumulated.