黄颡鱼属两种鱼类的线粒体ND4基因序列变异性分析

以东亚特有种光泽黄颡鱼(Pelteobagrus nitidus)和长须黄颡鱼(Pelteobagrus eupogon)为研究对象,采用PCR技术获得了这两种鱼类的部分线粒体DNA DN4基因及其3′端的tRNA基因碱基共约772个,用MEGA2.1软件分析了此片段序列,采用Kimura双参数模型计算遗传距离,以科属的大鳍(Hemibagrus macropterus)为外类群,用邻接法构建不同水系的光泽黄颡鱼和长须黄颡鱼的分子系统树。不同水系的光泽黄颡鱼的遗传距离在0.000—0.012之间,长须黄颡鱼的遗传距离在0.000—0.003之间,光泽黄颡鱼和长须黄颡鱼种间的遗传距离在0.099—0.108之间,从分子水平上证实了光泽黄颡鱼和长须黄颡鱼为两个有效物种。不同水系的光泽黄颡鱼遗传变异很小,除黑龙江种群外,其他水系的光泽黄颡鱼在分子系统树没有能够按水系区分开来,可能的原因为:(1)不同水系的光泽黄颡鱼之间存在频繁的基因交流;(2)东亚科鱼类的线粒体DNA的进化速率可能较小;(3)人类经济活动可能已影响到光泽黄颡鱼的种群遗传结构。     

瓦氏黄颡鱼线粒体全基因组序列分析及系统进化

鲿科鱼类种类繁多, 外形相似, 形态学分类较为困难。为了给鲿科鱼类乃至鲇形目鱼类的系统进化研究积累基础资料, 文章采用参照近缘物种线粒体基因组设计覆盖全基因组引物的方法, 利用16对引物对瓦氏黄颡鱼(Pelteobagrus vachelli)线粒体全基因组进行扩增, PCR产物转化到质粒后测序, 最终获得线粒体基因组全序列, 其全长为16 527 bp, 包括2个rRNA基因、22个tRNA基因、13个编码蛋白质基因和一个非编码控制区。瓦氏黄颡鱼(P. vachelli)线粒体基因组结构和基因排列顺序与现已公布的鲇形目鱼类完全一致, 序列分析表明, 与鲇形目其他种属间具有较高的同源性, 与拟鲿属的同源性最高(91%)。利用鲇形目共4科6属9种及3个外群的线粒体全基因组序列, 从线粒体基因组水平探讨了鲿科鱼类及其在鲇形目的系统进化地位, 结果表明: 鲿科鱼类的瓦氏黄颡鱼(P. vachelli)、黄颡鱼(Pelteobagrus fulvidraco)、光泽黄颡鱼(Pelteobagrus nitidus)及越南拟鲿(Pseudobagrus tokiensis)构成一单系群; 拟鲿属与黄颡鱼属的关系较近; 黄颡鱼属中瓦氏黄颡鱼(P. vachelli)与光泽黄颡鱼(P.nitidus)的关系近于黄颡鱼(P. fulvidraco)。     

洞庭湖四种黄颡鱼基因组DNA遗传多样性的RAPD分析

以洞庭湖瓦氏黄颡鱼、光泽黄颡鱼、长须黄颡鱼、普通黄颡鱼的基因组DNA为材料对 4种黄颡鱼进行了遗传多样性随机扩增多态性DNA(RAPD)分析。通过筛选的 90个引物对 4种黄颡鱼基因组DNA的扩增 ,获得了 36个有效引物 ,并计算出了 4种黄颡鱼群体间的遗传相似系数和遗传距离 ,遗传距离最大的为普通黄颡鱼和瓦氏黄颡鱼 (D =0 9895 ) ,遗传距离最小的为普通黄颡鱼和光泽黄颡鱼 (D =0 672 0 )。同时运用聚类分析 (UPGMA)的方法建立了 4种黄颡鱼的聚类图。     

三峡水库香溪河鱼类资源现状及渔业管理建议

于20122013 年对香溪河鱼类组成及资源量进行了周年季度调查, 结合历史资料, 分析了三峡水库成库前后香溪河鱼类资源的变动情况, 以期为保护和利用三峡库区的鱼类资源提供依据。共采集鱼类48 种,隶属于 3 目 8 科 35 属, 以湖泊定居性鱼类为主;发现香溪河鱼类优势种是光泽黄颡鱼、鳙、鲢、达氏鲌、贝氏 、大眼鳜、翘嘴鲌、瓦氏黄颡鱼、银 、蛇;肉食性鱼类(达氏鲌、翘嘴鲌、大眼鳜等)占总渔获量的31.54%, 生物量相对较高;对单位捕捞努力渔获量的调查显示, 夏季日均单船渔获量最高, 达到(69.4546.61) kg/(船d)。与历史记录比较, 三峡水库成库后, 香溪河的鱼类群落组成已经发生了显著变化,湖泊定居性鱼类成为优势种群。基于此次调查结果, 文章提出了禁渔期调整、小型鱼类资源利用和肉食性鱼类合理放养等渔业管理建议。       

黄颡鱼性别连锁标记Pf62-Y的染色体定位简

正黄颡鱼(Pelteobagrus fulvidraco)隶属鲇形目、科、黄颡属,广泛分布于我国各大水域,是我国重要经济鱼类之一。桂建芳等[1]进行了黄颡鱼银染核型研究,沈俊宝等[2]也报道了黄颡鱼的核型,其核型为2n=52。刘汉勤等[3]利用人工雌核发育等技术开展了全雄黄颡鱼研究,认为黄颡鱼的遗传性别决定类型为XY雄性异配型,Wang,et al.在黄颡鱼中开展了性别连锁的DNA标记分离研究,     

瓦氏黄颡鱼与黄颡鱼的耗氧率及窒息点

在平均水温25℃条件下,测得平均体重10.0 g的瓦氏黄颡鱼(Pelteobagrus vachelli)及平均体重12.6g的黄颡鱼(P.fulvidraco)耗氧率分别为0.21和0.23 mg/g.h,窒息点分别为0.91和0.75 mg/L;平均体重75.8 g的瓦氏黄颡鱼及平均体重85.4 g的黄颡鱼耗氧率分别为0.16和0.12 mg/g.h,窒息点分别为0.77和0.54 mg/L。分析表明,瓦氏黄颡鱼的耗氧率和窒息点都高于黄颡鱼。     

中国黄颡鱼的线粒体DNA多样性及其分子系统学

基于体侧色斑、背鳍前部形态、吻长及尾柄长的差异, Ng和Kottelat(2007)将分布于中国的黄颡鱼群体划为两个物种: 北方群体为Pseudobagrus sinensis, 南方群体为P. fulvidraco。本研究通过对70个黄颡鱼标本相关形态特征的测量及对线粒体cyt b基因序列的分析, 探讨了P. sinensis物种的有效性问题。结果表明: 依据体侧色斑和背鳍前部形态的差异, 可将黄颡鱼分为对应于P. sinensis和P. fulvidraco的两种形态类型, 但对尾柄长、吻长的测量发现二者没有差异。对70条cyt b基因序列的分析结果为: 两种鱼类有1个共同的单倍型; 两种鱼类的单系性在系统发育分析中都没有得到重现, 而二者聚在一起形成获得100%支持率的单系群; 两种鱼类群体之间存在持续的基因交流(Nm = 4.7); 两种鱼类在单倍型的巢式支系分析(nested clade analysis, NCA)中没有形成各自独立的进化谱系, 所有的单倍型以不超过5步的突变全部被纳入同一个进化网络中。因此我们认为P. sinensis不是有效物种, 而应被视为黄颡鱼的一种形态类型。基于cyt b基因的序列变异, 本研究对黄颡鱼群体的遗传多样性和种群结构作了初步分析。群体的核苷酸不配对分布及Tajima’sD中性检验表明, 约在10.1-14.1万年前, 黄颡鱼在其分布范围内经历过群体扩张, 推测这可能是导致黄颡鱼群体单倍型多样度高(h = 0.857 ± 0.0014)而核苷酸多样度低( π = 0.0023 ± 0.0003)的主要原因。此外, 分析结果显示黄颡鱼群体缺乏明显的地理结构, 推测原因可能是历史上水系的连通促进了不同地理群体之间的基因交流。     

雄性普通黄颡鱼与所保护受精卵间的亲缘关系分析

父母通过保护自己的子代来确保其繁殖的成功率.在普通黄颡鱼(Pelteobagrus fulvidraco)中,雄性普通黄颡鱼具有筑巢产卵保护后代的习性,其所保护的子代与其是否有亲缘关系是有待探讨的问题.本文利用10对微卫星分子标记鉴定12窝普通黄颡鱼受精卵与护卵鱼之间的亲缘关系,并对子代的遗传多样性进行分析.在单亲鉴定中,累积非父排除概率为0.9986,平均父权相对机会(RCP)在99.989%-99.999%之间,每个子代在10个微卫星位点上的累积PI值在2006.73-604464.07之间.同时在亲权鉴定分析中,发现3窝卵子的等位基因来自2个母亲,说明雄性黄颡鱼可以和2条雌性黄颡鱼发生交配;在遗传多样性分析中,黄颡鱼子代的平均等位基因数为11.7, 无偏观测杂合度值(Ho)在0.2473-0.9866之间,多态信息含量(PIC)值0.7096-0.8993之间.通过亲权鉴定分析,可以确认看护受精卵的雄性普通黄颡鱼与受精卵间的亲子关系.     

云斑(鱼回)、泥鳅和瓦氏黄颡鱼的含肉率及营养价值比较研究

研究了3种人工养殖的小型经济鱼类云斑(鱼回)(Ictalurus ncbulosus)、泥鳅(Misgurnus anguillicaudatus)和瓦氏黄颡鱼(Pelteobagrus fulvidraco,Richardson)含肉率和肌肉的熟肉率、生化成分、氨基酸和脂肪酸的种类组成,并对其营养价值进行评定.结果表明:云斑(鱼回)和瓦氏黄颡鱼含肉率分别为(74.48±2.01)%和(73.63±3.27)%,二者间无显著性差异,显著高于泥鳅(65.95±1.27)%.泥鳅熟肉率最高为(69.36±2.35)%.泥鳅肌肉中蛋白质含量为(16.24±0.56)%,明显高于云斑(鱼回)的(15.34±0.44)%和瓦氏黄颡鱼的(14.45±0.24)%.瓦氏黄颡鱼肌肉中脂肪含量最高为(2.4±0.17)%,与云斑(鱼回)(1.22±0.33)%和泥鳅(1.26±0.60)%有显著性差异.云斑(鱼回)、泥鳅和瓦氏黄颡鱼肌肉中,含人体必需氨基酸占总氨基酸的比例为(40.06±0.63)%、(39.79±0.57)%和(40.36±0.52)%.3种鱼的第一限制性氨基酸均为缬氨酸,F值均在4.90-5.06之间.4种鲜味氨基酸总含量均高于29%,泥鳅和瓦氏黄颡鱼鲜味氨基酸大多明显高于云斑(鱼回).3种鱼肌肉中不饱和脂肪酸含量明显高于饱和脂肪酸,泥鳅和瓦氏黄颡鱼高于云斑(鱼回).云斑(鱼回)肌肉中廿碳五烯酸(C20:5)为(2.52±0.30)%,显著高于泥鳅(0.16±0.05)%和瓦氏黄颡鱼(0.12±0.04)%(P<0.05),廿二碳六烯酸(C22:6)含量泥鳅最高为(4.62±0.30)%,其次为瓦氏黄颡鱼(2.86±0.32)%,云斑(鱼回)最低为(1.84±0.27)%,三者间均有显著性差异.结果表明,泥鳅和瓦氏黄颡鱼具有独特风味,3种小型经济鱼类均为有较高营养价值的人类食品.     

杂交黄颡鱼与普通黄颡鱼幼鱼生长性能及耐低氧能力的比较

实验以杂交黄颡鱼(Pelteobagrus fulvidraco)和普通黄颡鱼幼鱼为实验对象, 拟通过8周的投喂生长和低氧胁迫实验, 比较研究杂交黄颡鱼与普通黄颡鱼的生长性能及耐低氧抗逆性。投喂生长实验: 经过8周的养殖, 杂交黄颡鱼平均体重为(19.60±0.88) g/尾, 显著高于普通黄颡鱼平均体重为(15.74±0.42) g/尾(P<0.05), 杂交黄颡鱼幼鱼较普通黄颡鱼幼鱼体重生长快24.52%; 杂交黄颡鱼幼鱼存活率为(87.78±1.92)%, 显著高于普通黄颡鱼幼鱼存活率(67.78±1.92)% (P<0.05), 杂交黄颡鱼幼鱼比普通黄颡鱼幼鱼存活率高 29.51%; 杂交黄颡鱼的饲料系数为1.18±0.14, 普通黄颡鱼饲料系数为1.36±0.21。低氧胁迫实验: 同时将杂交黄颡鱼和普通黄颡鱼置于在溶氧量(1.48 ± 0.27) mg/L的水体中, 分别在低氧胁迫0、6h、12h和24h后, 检测血清和肝脏中抗氧化酶活性以及脑和肝脏中缺氧诱导基因(HIF-1α)的相对表达量发现: 杂交黄颡鱼和普通黄颡鱼血清和肝脏中乳酸脱氢酶(LDH)活性、超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性和过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性在低氧胁迫后 6h以及总抗氧化能力(T-AOC)在低氧胁迫后 12h较低氧胁迫 0均出现显著性变化(P<0.05)且在低氧胁迫6h、12h和24h杂交黄颡鱼抗氧化酶活性均高于普通黄颡鱼; 杂交黄颡鱼和普通黄颡鱼脑和肝脏中缺氧诱导基因(HIF-1α)的相对表达量均在低氧胁迫后出现显著性上升(P<0.05)且在低氧胁迫6h、12h和 24h杂交黄颡鱼缺氧诱导基因(HIF-1α)的相对表达量均高于普通黄颡鱼。从无氧代谢能力、抗氧化能力以及缺氧诱导基因相对表达量3方面分析表明杂交黄颡鱼和黄颡鱼低氧胁迫短时间均具有一定的低氧耐受能力但随着胁迫时间延长均会出现氧化损伤且杂交黄颡鱼的耐低氧能力要显著性高于普通黄颡鱼。     

西南大西洋阿根廷滑柔鱼雄性个体的有效繁殖力特性研究

对西南大西洋阿根廷滑柔鱼(Illex argentinus)雄性个体的有效繁殖力特性, 以及有效繁殖力与个体生长发育关系进行了研究。结果表明, 阿根廷滑柔鱼雄性个体的胴长、体重的生物学最小型分别为207.79 mm和162.55 g; 个体有效繁殖力为(374±280.33)条精荚, 胴长相对有效繁殖力为(179.18±117.66)条/mm; 精荚的平均长度为(21.57±4.17) mm, 是胴长的(10.22±1.82)%。随着性腺发育, 个体有效繁殖力和精荚长度均增长显著(P<0.05), 前者在功能性成熟期达到最大值, 为(811±181.34)条精荚; 后者在繁殖产卵期达到最大值, 为(23.89±3.87) mm。同时, 个体有效繁殖力和精荚长度均与胴长、体重呈显著的线性函数关系(P<0.05)。回归拟合数据集比较分析和多元线性回归分析显示, 个体有效繁殖力与胴长、体重之间的线性关系不存在显著性差异(P>0.05), 但是体重对个体有效繁殖力的影响更为显著(P<0.001); 精荚长度与胴长、体重之间的线性关系存在显著性差异(P<0.001), 并且胴长、体重两者对精荚长度具有一致的影响效应(P<0.001)。以上结果表明, 阿根廷滑柔鱼雄性个体随着性腺发育持续产生并存储精荚, 精荚长度也随之显著增加, 并且与个体大小密切相关。     

Relative growth and sexual dimorphism in the hermit crab Clibanarius signatus Heller, 1861 (Anomura,Diogenidae) from the northern coast of the Persian Gulf,Iran

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relative growth and sexual dimorphism in the hermit crab Clibanarius signatus. The evaluation was done with 955 specimens (494 males, 251 females, and 210 intersexes) captured in Persian Gulf (Iran) during January to December 2015. Animals were submitted to measurements related to weight (BW, total wet weight) and body size related to cephalic shield (SW, width; and SL, length) and propodus of both chelipeds (CPL, length; and CPW, width). Males were larger and heavier than females and intersexes. Both males and females showed a negative allometric growth for the SL–BW and SL–SW relationships, but a positive allometric growth to intersex specimens. To SL–CPL relationship, a negative allometric growth was confirmed in males and females independent of the laterality of the CPL, whereas a contrast was verified in intersexes, with a positive allometric growth occurred for both hands. To SL–CPW relationship, a negative allometric growth (b < 1) occurred in females, independent of the laterality of the CPW, while in males, a positive allometric pattern was confirmed. In intersexes, this relationship was positive except for the right CPW which was isometric. Sexual dimorphism was evident in Clibanarius signatus, with males being the largest and females the smallest specimens in the population.     

Gonadosomatic index‐based size at first sexual maturity and fecundity indices of the Indian River shad Gudusia chapra (Clupeidae) in the Ganges River (NW Bangladesh)

The present study aims to estimate the size at first sexual maturity and fecundity for female Gudusia chapra from the lower Ganges River, northwestern Bangladesh. A total of 250 female specimens, 3.60–13.70 cm in standard length (SL) and 1.00–43.60 g in body weight (BW), were collected during March–August 2006. The gonadosomatic index (GSI) for females was calculated by the equation, GSI (%) = (GW/BW) × 100. The size at first sexual maturity of females was estimated by the relationship between their gonadosomatic index and standard length. The specimen larger (≥8.00 cm in SL) than first size at sexual maturity was used for the estimation of fecundity. The size at first sexual maturity for female G. chapra was considered to be 8.00 cm SL in the Ganges River. The mean total fecundity was 20200 ± 6500 and ranged from 10800 to 36200. This study should be useful for fisheries biologists/managers to impose adequate regulations for sustainable‐fishery management in the Ganges River and elsewhere in Bangladesh.     

Sequencing and genotypic analysis of the triosephosphate isomerase (TPI1) locus in a large sample of long-lived Germans

Background

With crucial roles on the differentiation of anterior pituitary and the regulation of the prolactin (PRL), growth hormone (GH) and thyroid-stimulating hormone-β (TSH-β) genes, the chicken PIT1 gene is regarded as a key candidate gene for production traits. In this study, five reported polymorphisms (MR1-MR5) of the PIT1 gene were genotyped in a full sib F₂ resource population to evaluate their effects on growth, carcass and fatty traits in chickens.

Results

Marker-trait association analyses showed that, MR1 was significantly associated with shank diameters (SD) at 84 days (P < 0.05), hatch weight (HW) and shank length (SL) at 84 days (P < 0.01), MR2 was significantly associated with BW at 28, 42 days and average daily gain (ADG) at 0–4 weeks (P < 0.05), and MR3 was significantly associated with ADG at 4–8 weeks (P < 0.05). MR4 was associated with SL at 63, 77, 84 days and BW at 84 days (P < 0.05), as well as SD at 77 days (P < 0.01). Significant association was also found of MR5 with BW at 21, 35 days and SD at 63 days (P < 0.05), BW at 28 days and ADG at 0–4 weeks (P < 0.01). Both T allele of MR4 and C allele of MR5 were advantageous for chicken growth. The PIT1 haplotypes were significantly associated with HW (P = 0.0252), BW at 28 days (P = 0.0390) and SD at 56 days (P = 0.0400). No significant association of single SNP and haplotypes with chicken carcass and fatty traits was found (P > 0.05).

Conclusion

Our study found that polymorphisms of PIT1 gene and their haplotypes were associated with chicken growth traits and not with carcass and fatty traits.     

Polymorphisms in the 5' regulatory region of myostatin gene are associated with early growth traits in Yorkshire pigs

Myostatin is a negative regulator of skeletal muscle mass. The present study cloned the 5' regulatory region of porcine myostatin gene, screened its polymorphisms and analyzed their associations with early growth traits in Yorkshire pigs. The results indicated that a fragment length polymorphism and a polymorphism concerning two nucleotide changes exist in the 5' regulatory region of porcine myostatin gene. At sites 435 and 447, allele A and allele B have the haplotypes of A-G and G-A, respectively. The allelic frequency of B is 0.475 in Yorkshire pigs. No homozygous BB genotype was detected in 9 Laiwu Black pigs. Allele B was found to have positive effect on body weight on day 21 (BW21) (P＜0.01), body weight on day 28 (BW28) (P＜0.05), body weight on day 70 (BW70) (P＜0.05), average daily gain from birth to 21 d (ADG1) (P＜0.01), average daily gain from birth to 28 d (ADG2) (P＜0.05) and average daily gain from 21 d to 70 d (ADG3) (P＜0.01), respectively. The additive effect of allele B on BW21, BW28, BW70, ADG1, ADG2 and ADG3 was 0.596±0.205 kg (P=0.0041), 0.498±0.200 kg (P=0.0136), 1.409±0.551 kg (P=0.0112), 28.39±9.74 g P=0.0041), 17.78±7.15 g (P=0.0136) and 37.00±16.92 g (P=0.0304), respectively, whereas its effect on average daily gain from 28 d to 70 d (ADG4) was not significant (P＞0.1), although BB individuals are superior in average daily gain to AA and AB.     

内蒙古白绒山羊若干数量性状遗传参数的研究

本研究应用女母回归法、公畜内女母回归法、半同胞相关法和单元内半同胞相关法对内蒙古阿尔巴斯白绒山羊的产绒量、绒厚、毛长、体重、绒伸直长度和细度等六个性状的遗传参数进行了估测。结果表明：（1）绒量遗传力介于0.26～0.45之间;绒厚遗传力介于0.33～0.56之间;毛长遗传力介于0.23～0.32之间;体重的遗传力介于0.1 6～0.36之间;绒伸直长度遗传力为0.24;绒细度的遗传力为0.14。（2）产绒量与绒厚、绒厚与毛长、长度与绒厚、长度与毛长的遗传相关分别介于0.33～0.79、0.51～0.69 、0.38～0.60、0.74～0.90之间,存在较强的正向遗传相关;绒量与毛长、绒量与体重、绒厚与体重、细度与绒厚、细度与绒量、细度与体重的遗传相关分别为0.11～0.38、0 .06～0.17、0.15～0.36、0.02～0.11、0.24～0.35、0.13～0.32之间,存在较弱的正向遗传相关;毛长与体重、长度与绒量、长度与体重、长度与细度、细度与毛长之间的遗传相关介于-0.14～-0.28、-0.09～-0.20、-0.18～-0.23、-0.27～-0.31、-0 .17～-0.28之间,存在中等偏弱的负向遗传相关。（3）绒量、绒厚、毛长、体重的重复率分别为0.42、0.27、0.59、0.18。     

Size, growth and reproductive biology of the giant mudskipper, Periophthalmodon schlosseri (Pallas, 1770), in Malaysian waters

The size, growth and reproductive biology of the giant mudskipper, Periophthalmodon schlosseri, was studied in the inter‐tidal mudflat of a mangrove swamp along a 0.4–0.6 × 5 km stretch of the Sepang coastal waters, Selangor Malaysia. The size ranges of the giant mudskipper specimens caught in the study area were between 10–27.5 cm TL (20.6 ± 3.1 cm) for males and 14.5–28.5 cm TL (21.9 ± 2.3 cm) for females. Male to female sex ratio during the study was 1 : 1.1. The estimated von Bertalanffy growth parameters were L_∞ = 29 cm and K = 1.4 year^?1, with a growth performance index of Ø′ = 3.1. Otolith microstructure analysis revealed a strong correlation (Female: r = 0.920, n = 35; Male: r = 0.943, n = 41, P < 0.05) between the number of daily rings (number of days old) over the respective size ranges of male (8.5–19.5 cm SL) and female fish (11.8–22.3 cm SL). Four maturity stages were described to follow gonadal development based on external features; these stages were further validated through histological examination of the ovary and oocyte diameter measurements. The gonadal development cycle of P. schlosseri was asynchronous, as marked by the random mixture of early stages oocytes (diameter: 70.7 ± 14.9 μm) to matured stages (356.9 ± 20.2 μm), and had a prolonged spawning season extending from June to October. Monthly fluctuation of the gonadosomatic and hepatosomatic indices for this species was highly correlated (r = 0.126, P < 0.05).     

Size at first sexual maturity,fecundity, length–weight and length–length relationships of Puntius sophore (Cyprinidae) in Bangladeshi waters

The present study describes the size at first sexual maturity, fecundity, length–weight (LWRs) and length–length relationships (LLRs) of the pool barb, Puntius sophore, using data obtained from different geographical locations in Bangladesh. A total of 905 specimens were caught by traditional fishing gear from March 2010 to February 2011. Additionally, a total of 121 females were collected from a commercial catch of the Padma River during June–July 2011 to estimate size at first maturity and to determine fecundity. Total length (TL), fork length (FL) and standard length (SL) were measured with digital slide calipers. Individual body weights (BW) were determined for all specimens, and gonad weights (GW) from 121 females were weighed to an accuracy of 0.001 g. The female gonadosomatic index (GSI) was calculated as [GSI (%) = (GW/BW) × 100]. Female size at first maturity was estimated using GSI and TL as indicators, and estimated as 5.00 cm TL in the Padma River. Specimens larger than 5.00 cm TL were used to determine fecundity. Mean total fecundity was 5300 ± 2700, ranging from 1580 to 16590. A positive exponential correlation was recorded between total fecundity and total length (r² = 0.421). Relative fecundity ranged from 466 to 4036 (mean 1100 ± 580) in the Padma River. The LWR of pooled data for sexes combined was estimated as BW = 0.0155 TL^2.98 as ancova revealed no significant differences in LWRs between rivers (P > 0.05). All LLRs were highly correlated (r² > 0.983; P < 0.001), and ancova analyses further indicated that LLRs did not differ between rivers (P > 0.05). These results will help in further studies on the population assessment of the species.     

Mapping QTL for growth and shank traits in chickens divergently selected for high or low body weight

An F₂ population (695 individuals) was established from broiler chickens divergently selected for either high (HG) or low (LG) growth, and used to localize QTL for developmental changes in body weight (BW), shank length (SL9) and shank diameter (SD9) at 9 weeks. QTL mapping revealed three genome‐wide QTL on chromosomes (GGA) 2, 4 and 26 and three suggestive QTL on GGA 1, 3 and 5. Most of the BW QTL individually explained 2–5% of the phenotypic variance. The BW QTL on GGA2 explained about 7% of BW from 3 to 7 weeks of age, while that on GGA4 explained 15% of BW from 5 to 9 weeks. The BW QTL on GGA2 and GGA4 could be associated with early and late growth respectively. The GGA4 QTL also had the largest effect on SL9 and SD9 and explained 7% and 10% of their phenotypic variances respectively. However, when SL9 and SD9 were corrected with BW9, a shank length percent QTL was identified on GGA2. We identified novel QTL and also confirmed previously identified loci in other chicken populations. As the foundation population was established from commercial broiler strains, it is possible that QTL identified in this study could still be segregating in commercial strains.     

Short-term regional meal fat storage in nonobese humans is not a predictor of long-term regional fat gain

Although body fat distribution strongly predicts metabolic health outcomes related to excess weight, little is known about the factors an individual might exhibit that predict a particular fat distribution pattern. We utilized the meal fatty acid tracer-adipose biopsy technique to assess upper and lower body subcutaneous (UBSQ and LBSQ, respectively) meal fat storage in lean volunteers who then were overfed to gain weight. Meal fatty acid storage in UBSQ and LBSQ adipose tissue, as well as daytime substrate oxidation (indirect calorimetry), was measured in 28 nonobese volunteers [n = 15 men, body mass index = 22.1 ± 2.5 (SD)] before and after an ～8-wk period of supervised overfeeding (weight gain = 4.6 ± 2.2 kg, fat gain = 3.8 ± 1.7 kg). Meal fat storage (mg/g adipose tissue lipid) in UBSQ (visit 1: 0.78 ± 0.34 and 1.04 ± 0.71 for women and men, respectively, P = 0.22; visit 2: 0.71 ± 0.24 and 0.90 ± 0.37 for women and men, respectively, P = 0.08) and LBSQ (visit 1: 0.60 ± 0.23 and 0.48 ± 0.29 for women and men, respectively, P = 0.25; visit 2: 0.62 ± 0.24 and 0.65 ± 0.23 for women and men, respectively, P = 0.67) adipose tissue did not differ between men and women at either visit. Fractional meal fatty acid storage in UBSQ (0.31 ± 0.15) or LBSQ (0.19 ± 0.13) adipose tissue at visit 1 did not predict the percent change in regional body fat in response to overfeeding. These data indicate that meal fat uptake trafficking in the short term (24 h) is not predictive of body fat distribution patterns. In general, UBSQ adipose tissue appears to be a favored depot for meal fat deposition in both sexes, and redistribution of meal fatty acids likely takes place at later time periods.