Lead toxicity at different life stages of the giant prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii,de Man): considerations of osmoregulatory capacity and histological changes in adult gills

This study evaluated the acute toxicity of lead in different life stages of the freshwater prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii, determined the effect of sublethal Pb concentrations on osmoregulatory capacity (OC), measured the Pb level in gills, and investigated the effect of Pb on the structure of the gills of adult prawns. The 24-, 48-, and 96-h LC₅₀ values for Pb to M. rosenbergii increased progressively with increasing life stage, from post-larvae (PL), juvenile to adult. The 24- and 48-h LC₅₀ values for post-larvae ranged from 0.01- to 0.09-mg Pb/L. The 24-, 48-, and 96-h LC₅₀ values for Pb were lower at 12 ppt than those at 0 ppt for either the juveniles or the adults. At 12 ppt, the 96-h LC₅₀ values in PL11, juvenile and adult were 0.47-, 0.58-, and 2.03-mg Pb/L, respectively. Meanwhile, at 12 ppt, the 96-h LC₅₀ values in PL11, juvenile and adult were 0.63-, 4.44-, and 7.98-mg Pb/L, respectively. In adults, the OC values of controls and prawns exposed to 2- and 4-mg Pb/L at 0 ppt were not significantly different. The OC of prawns exposed to and 2-mg Pb/L at 12 ppt increased by 72 and 109% from the OC of the control prawns. At media 12 ppt, the OC value of prawns exposed to 1-mg Pb/L was significantly different from that of prawns exposed to 2-mg Pb/L. The concentrations of Pb in gill tissues increased significantly in Pb exposed prawns both at 0 and 12 ppt. The level of Pb in gills of prawns exposed to 2-mg Pb/L at 12 ppt was not significantly different from those exposed at 0 ppt. The severe toxic actions of Pb were noted in gills of prawns exposed in media 12 ppt. Hyperplasia and necrosis were observed in gill lamellae, resulting in abnormal gill tips after Pb exposure at media 12 ppt. Since the effect of Pb is more pronounced in higher salinity (12 ppt) than in freshwater (0 ppt) it is clear that aquaculture of M. rosenbergii should be conducted in freshwater ponds.     

A new species of Macrobrachium Bate, 1868 (Decapoda, Palaemonidae) from the dolphin trenches of Kulsi River, N. India, possibly under threat

The Kulsi River, a major tributary of Brahmaputra River, N. India is reported to have resident population of Ganges river dolphin, Platanista gangetica (Roxburgh), which feeds on fishes and prawns. While surveying for the dolphins of the river, a number of fishes and prawns were collected. On identification, one of the prawns was found to be undescribed, and hence is described herein. The ecology of the river consisted of: temperature fluctuating widely from 15 to 28 °C, depth from 0.8 to 10 m, turbidity of 11-19 cm, sand mining @ 12,500 MT annually, and fish catch of 300-800 kg (from 1.5 km area). All these factors pose a great threat to the fish and prawn wealth of the river.Macrobrachium kulsiense sp. nov. is a very small sized prawn (maximum size - 34.5 mm in total length), exhibiting species-specific characters, such as highly elevated and moderately long rostrum with 9-12 dorsal teeth, a single ventral tooth, and percentage ratios of ischium, merus, carpus, palm, dactylus of first and second chelipeds (19.05:28.57:33.33:09.52:09.52 and 21.43:25.00:21.43:14.28:17.86, respectively). The species shows close similarity with Macrobrachium mirabile (Kemp). The females are larger than males, eggs are large in size (1.2×0.9 mm) and fecundity is low (15-20).     

Long-term exposure of the freshwater shrimp Macrobrachium olfersii to elevated salinity: Effects on gill (Na,K)-ATPase α-subunit expression and K-phosphatase activity

The kinetic properties of a microsomal gill (Na⁺,K⁺)-ATPase from the freshwater shrimp, Macrobrachium olfersii, acclimated to 21‰ salinity for 10 days were investigated using the substrate p-nitrophenylphosphate. The enzyme hydrolyzed this substrate obeying cooperative kinetics at a rate of 123.6 ± 4.9 U mg^− 1 and K_0.5 = 1.31 ± 0.05 mmol L^− 1. Stimulation of K⁺-phosphatase activity by magnesium (V_max = 125.3 ± 7.5 U mg^− 1; K_0.5 = 2.09 ± 0.06 mmol L^− 1), potassium (V_max = 134.2 ± 6.7 U mg^− 1; K_0.5 = 1.33 ± 0.06 mmol L^− 1) and ammonium ions (V_max = 130.1 ± 5.9 U mg^− 1; K_0.5 = 11.4 ± 0.5 mmol L^− 1) was also cooperative. While orthovanadate abolished p-nitrophenylphosphatase activity, ouabain inhibition reached 80% (K_I = 304.9 ± 18.3 μmol L^− 1). The kinetic parameters estimated differ significantly from those for freshwater-acclimated shrimps, suggesting expression of different isoenzymes during salinity adaptation. Despite the ≈2-fold reduction in K⁺-phosphatase specific activity, Western blotting analysis revealed similar α-subunit expression in gill tissue from shrimps acclimated to 21‰ salinity or fresh water, although expression of phosphate-hydrolyzing enzymes other than (Na⁺,K⁺)-ATPase was stimulated by high salinity acclimation.     

青虾咽侧体抑制激素基因全长cDNA序列的克隆及表达分析

咽侧体抑制激素(Allatostatin, AST)是一类由几至几十个氨基酸构成的神经肽类激素, 在甲壳动物中刺激下颌器官合成甲基法尼酯, 影响甲壳动物的蜕皮和生殖。然而AST基因在甲壳动物中的克隆和表达却罕见报道。研究克隆了青虾的AST基因全长cDNA序列, 在甲壳动物中使用荧光定量PCR技术检测了AST基因在不同组织中的表达。青虾AST基因cDNA全长2995 bp, 包括242 bp的5′非编码区(UTR), 647 bp的3′UTR, 2106 bp的开放阅读框(ORF)。开放阅读框编码701个氨基酸, 可转录翻译出35个AST多肽, 在C末端都具有相同的Y/FXFGL-amide结构, 属于A型-AST。氨基酸序列比对显示保守氨基酸为Tyr、Ala、Phe、Gly、Leu。蛋白相似度比对显示, AST多肽在无脊椎动物的进化中是相对保守的。系统进化树分析表明, 青虾AST多肽与罗氏沼虾聚在一起, 具有最近的亲缘关系。荧光定量PCR检测显示, AST基因在所有被检测组织中均有表达, 由高到低依次为: 肝胰脏>肠道>精巢>脑>心脏>卵巢。对青虾AST基因全长cDNA序列克隆和表达的研究为更进一步的了解AST多肽在青虾中的重要功能奠定了基础。     

Seeing orange: prawns tap into a pre-existing sensory bias of the Trinidadian guppy

Sensory bias, a predisposition towards certain signals, has been implicated in the origin of mate preferences in some species. A risk associated with these biases is that they can be co-opted by predators as sensory lures. Here we propose that the orange spots on the brown pincers of a diurnal, predatory species of prawn function as lures for Trinidadian guppies, which have a sensory bias for orange. We exposed female guppies to (i) a life-like model of this Trinidadian prawn with orange, green or no spots on the pincers or (ii) a live, novel (non-Trinidadian) crustacean (crayfish), also with spotted pincers. First, we provide evidence that guppies sympatric with the prawn recognized our model as a potential predator. Next, we found that guppies spent more time in the dangerous head region of the model prawn with orange-spotted pincers compared with unspotted pincers. Finally, we show that allopatric, but not sympatric, guppies spent more time in the vicinity of the head of a live crayfish when orange spots were added to its pincers than when brown spots were added. Our results suggest that the orange spots on prawn pincers can act as a sensory lure.     

日本沼虾精子发生的研究

对日本沼虾精子发生全过程的电镜观察表明：精原细胞核染色质分散,胞质内有线粒休、内质网的分布。初级精母细胞核染色质块状,不均匀地分布于核中,内质同多小泡多。次级精母细胞核染色质大多分布于核膜内侧,内质网聚集成团,精细胞分化形成精子的早期,胞核增大,核侧形成内质同多小泡的聚合体;中期的核内染色质浓缩,同时形成空囊状结构,     

Immune response of the prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii, to bacterial infection

Serum agglutinins of Macrobrachium rosenbergii found in normal serum were reactive toward eight bacterial species and type A human red blood cells. Absorption studies indicated the ability of the agglutinins to distinguish between different bacterial species as well as between certain bacteria and red blood cells. Agglutinin titers were approximately the same for the bacteria, whereas those for red blood cells were significantly higher. A virulent strain of Vibrio anguillarum was used in infectivity experiments. An LD₅₀ value was determined between 5 × 10⁶ and 10⁷ cells/animal, and an attempt was made to immunize the animals using formalin-killed cells. The animals did not respond to the vaccination, as there was neither an increase in the level of circulating agglutinins nor the LD₅₀ level 6 days after injection. Structural and functional traits of serum agglutinins are markedly different from vertebrate antibodies.     

罗氏沼虾小触角表面结构的观察

罗氏沼虾的小触角是一类具附鞭的小触角。作者应用解剖镜和扫描电子显微镜观察了它的表面形态结构。发现它具有如下特征 :1)内、外鞭极长 ,外鞭另具一条附鞭 ,而附鞭很短 ,位于内外鞭之间 ;2 )柄节具 2 5 0根以上的羽状刚毛、少量的笋状刚毛与硬刺刚毛 ;3)内鞭、主鞭分节 ,各节前缘环行分布着 4— 4 0根不等的软刺刚毛 ;4 )附鞭系一凹槽结构 ,槽内约着生着 2 0 0多根化感刚毛 ;5 )附鞭能纵向卷曲成圆筒状 ,以包裹槽内的化感刚毛 ;6 )化感刚毛分两段 ,下为硬管段 ,上为膜管段 ,其中膜管壁极薄 ;7)凹槽近侧端的节段内还具有许多芽状的初生化感刚毛 ,它们可发育成化感刚毛。因此 ,罗氏沼虾小触角的表面形态迥异于以往报道的十足目甲壳动物小触角 ,其附鞭构成嗅觉器官的主体结构 ,且其本身具有独特的保护化感刚毛之方式。此外 ,作者按形态学特征将已报道的十足目甲壳动物小触角分为蟹型、龙虾型、小龙虾型和对虾型四种类型 ,而罗氏沼虾小触角则属于另一种类型———罗氏沼虾型。     

城市地表径流污染来源的分类与特征

城市地表径流中污染物的分布和浓度等污染特征取决于其污染来源。本文依据3种分类方法分析了城市地表径流污染物的来源及其特征,重点讨论了城市地表径流中主要的污染物悬浮颗粒物、持久性有机污染物、农药、重金属、营养元素、有机质和其他有代表性的工业源化合物的来源、污染特征和生态风险等,介绍了城市地表径流对受纳水体的影响及其评价方法,并探讨了今后的研究重点。     

Nitrophenylphosphate as a tool to characterize gill Na, K-ATPase activity in hyperregulating Crustacea

The kinetic properties of a gill Na(+), K(+)-ATPase from the freshwater shrimp Macrobrachium olfersii were studied using p-nitrophenylphosphate (PNPP) as a substrate. Sucrose gradient centrifugation of the microsomal fraction revealed a single protein fraction that hydrolyzed PNPP. The Na(+), K(+)-ATPase hydrolyzed PNPP (K(+)-phosphatase activity) obeying Michaelis-Menten kinetics with K(M)=1.72+/-0.06 mmol l(-1) and V(max)=259.1+/-11.6 U mg(-1). ATP was a competitive inhibitor of K(+)-phosphatase activity with a K(i)=50.1+/-2.5 micromol l(-1). A cooperative effect for the stimulation of the enzyme by potassium (K(0.5)=3.62+/-0.18 mmol l(-1); n(H)=1.5) and magnesium ions (K(0.5)=0.61+/-0.02 mmol l(-1), n(H)=1.3) was found. Sodium ions had no effect on K(+)-phosphatase activity up to 1.0 mmol l(-1), but above 80 mmol l(-1) inhibited the original activity by approximately 75%. In the range of 0-10 mmol l(-1), sodium ions did not affect stimulation of the K(+)-phosphatase activity by potassium ions. Ouabain (K(i)=762.4+/-26.7 micromol l(-1)) and orthovanadate (K(i)=0.25+/-0.01 micromol l(-1)) completely inhibited the K(+)-phosphatase activity, while thapsigargin, oligomycin, sodium azide and bafilomycin were without effect. These data demonstrate that the activity measured corresponds to that of the K(+)-phosphatase activity of the Na(+), K(+)-ATPase alone and suggest that the use of PNPP as a substrate to characterize K(+)-phosphatase activity may be a useful technique in comparative osmoregulatory studies of Na(+), K(+)-ATPase activities in crustacean gill tissues, and for consistent comparisons with well known mechanistic properties of the vertebrate enzyme.