Retinopetal neuronal system in the brain of an air-breathing teleost fish,Channa punctata

Summary Retinopetal neurons were visualised in the telencephalon and diencephalon of an air-breathing teleost fish, Channa punctata, following administration of cobaltous lysine to the optic nerve. The labelled perikarya (n=45–50) were always located on the side contralateral to the optic nerve that had received the neuronal tracer. The rostral-most back-filled cell bodies were located in the nucleus olfactoretinalis at the junction between the olfactory bulb and the telencephalon. In the area ventralis telencephali, two groups of telencephaloretinopetal neurons were identified near the ventral margin of the telencephalon. The rostral hypothalamus exhibited retrogradely labelled cells in three discrete areas of the lateral preoptic area, which was bordered medially by the nucleus praeopticus periventricularis and nucleus praeopticus, and laterally by the lateral forebrain bundle. In addition to a dorsal and a ventral group, a third population of neurons was located ventral to the lateral forebrain bundle adjacent to the optic tract. The dorsal group of neurons exhibited extensive collaterals; a few extended laterally towards the lateral forebrain bundle, whereas others ran into the dorsocentral area of the area dorsalis telencephali. A few processes extended via the anterior commissure into the telencephalon ipsilateral to the optic nerve that had been exposed to cobaltous lysine. However, the ventral cell group did not possess collaterals. In the diencephalon, retinopetal cells were visualised in the nucleus opticus dorsolateralis located in the pretectal area; these were the largest retinopetal perikarya of the brain. The caudal-most nucleus that possessed labelled somata was the retinothalamic nucleus; it contained the largest number of retinopetal cells. The limited number of widely distributed neurons in the forebrain, some with extensive collaterals, might participate in functional integration of different brain areas involved in feeding, which in this species is influenced largely by taste, not solely by vision.     

Population ecology of the paddy field-dwelling fish Channa gachua (Günther) (Perciformes, Channidae) in Sri Lanka

A population of Channa gachua in a small irrigation canal that supplies rice fields was studied by monthly sampling over 2 years. The population density was positively correlated with the rainfall and varied from 0.34 to 0.95 individuals m⁻². The growth parameters of the von Bertalanffy growth equation determined on monthly size–frequency data were L_x = 179 mm total length and K =0.50. Overall male to female ratio was 0.82 and there were more females than males in the middle size classes. Spawning occurred throughout the year, but all evidence indicated enhanced breeding during major rainy periods of May to July and October to December. The length at first spawning was 102 mm, which is reached in about 20 months. Fecundity, which varied between 389 and 2130, was positively correlated with gonad weight, body weight and total length. Longevity and natural mortality were estimated as 6 years and l.27 yr⁻¹, respectively. However, 99% of the population appeared to live for only 3 years. The mean biomass, average annual production and turnover ratio of the population were 7.35 g m⁻², 12.06 g m⁻² and 1.64, respectively.     

Genetic diversity of mitochondrial D-LOOP sequences in the spotted scat (Scatophagus argus) from different geographical populations along the northern coast of the South China Sea

The genetic diversity of 289 spotted scat (Scatophagus argus) from seven populations along the northern coast of the South China Sea was studied by analyzing the full-length sequences of the mitochondrial control region (D-LOOP). The S. argus D-LOOP sequence was 1,004–1,010 bp long and contained 156 variant sites. The seven studied S. argus populations had a high degree of genetic diversity (haplotype diversity [Hd] = 0.99135; nucleotide diversity (π) = 0.01313). There was no obvious genetic differentiation among the seven geographical populations and gene exchange was frequent (Fst = −0.01867–0.01117, p > .05). Four distinct mitochondrial lineages were identified in the phylogenetic tree and the haplotype network. The between-lineage Fst was 0.71690–0.84940 (p < .001), but these lineages showed no obvious phylogeographic pattern. Based on D-LOOP mutation rates, we estimated that the four lineages diverged approximately 513,800–93,600 years ago, during the Eocene ice age, at which time falling sea levels may have led to population segregation. We estimated that S. argus population expansion occurred approximately 2.29–0.68 million years ago, during the late Pleistocene. During this period, sea levels rose again, allowing previously separated lineages to come into sympatry, which eventually gave rise to a highly genetically diverse population without pyhlogeographic structure. Here, we characterized the genetic structure and differentiation of seven S. argus populations from the northern coast of the South China Sea. Our results suggested that the seven S. argus populations from the northern coast of the South China Sea have a relatively low level of genetic variation and can be considered a single unit for the purposes of fishery development, utilization, and management.     

体重和摄食水平对鳜和乌鳢身体的生化组成和能值的影响

本实验结果表明,野生鳜和乌鳢的干物质含量、蛋白质含量、脂肪含量和能值均随体重的增加而显著增加（Ｐ＜０．０５）,野生鳜灰分含量变随体重的增加而显著增加（Ｐ＜０．０５）,但野生乌鳢灰分含量与体重关系的回归方程则不显著（Ｐ＜０．０５）;实验鳜和乌鳢干物质含量、脂肪含量和能值均随摄食水平的增加而显著增加（Ｐ＜０．０５）,实验鳜蛋白含量和灰分含量与摄食水平关系的回归方程不显著（Ｐ＜０．０５）,实验乌鳢蛋白质     

Preliminary studies on cryopreservation of snakehead (Channa striata) embryos

This paper reports the findings of the ongoing studies on cryopreservation of the snakehead, Channa striata embryos. The specific objective of this study was to collect data on the sensitivity of C. striata embryo hatching rate to low temperatures at two different developmental stages in the presence of four different cryoprotectants. Embryos at morula and heartbeat stages were selected and incubated in 1 M dimethyl sulfoxide (Me₂SO), 1 M ethylene glycol (EG), 1 M methanol (MeOH) and 0.1 M sucrose solutions at different temperatures for a period of time. Embryos were kept at 24 °C (control), 15 °C, 4 °C and −2 °C for 5 min, 1 h and 3 h. Following these treatments, the embryos were then transferred into a 24 °C water bath until hatch to evaluate the hatching rate. The results showed that there was a significant decrease of hatching rate in both developmental stages following exposure to 4 °C and −2 °C at 1 h and 3 h exposure in each treatment. Heartbeat stage was more tolerant against chilling at −2 °C for 3 h exposure in Me₂SO followed by MeOH, sucrose and EG. Further studies will be conducted to find the best method to preserve embryos for long term storage.     

养殖乌鳢类立克次体感染的组织病理学研究

本文系统报道了养殖乌鳢类立克次体(Rickettsia-like organism,RLO)感染的各器官(脑、眼、鳃、心脏、头肾、肝、胰腺组织、脾、肾、肠和卵巢)的组织病理变化,探讨了炎症发展的基本规律。感染乌鳢病理解剖学特征和最具病理诊断意义的是体内各器官普遍出现的白色结节。这些结节的显微结构为肉芽肿炎症即一种慢性增生性炎症。在严重病变的肾脏,由于组织坏死区域较大和周围明显的细胞增生形成了境界较为清楚的巨大“肉瘤”状肿物。内脏器官的血管(特别是造血器官的血管)出现明显纤维素性血栓、混合血栓、弥散性血管内凝血(disseminated intravascu-lar coagulation,DIC)和组织细胞大范围的变性或坏死、溶解。大多数器官的组织细胞主要是上皮性细胞、吞噬性细胞,胞质内富含嗜酸性包涵体(eosinophilic intracytoplasmic inclusion),这种细胞多位于鳃上皮处、鳃部和体内器官血管内皮及血管周边结缔组织。血管内皮细胞及周边细胞内大量包涵体的出现导致血管内皮细胞的肿胀和破坏。     

养殖乌鳢类立克次体感染的超微病理学研究

应用电子显微镜技术,观察了养殖乌鳢RLO感染主要内脏器官超微结构病理变化,并初步探讨了发病机制。观察发现：RLO寄生细胞明显肿大,胞质电子密度低,细胞器肿大、溶解,RLO可随肿胀、破裂的细胞进人组织间隙;在一些寄生细胞内尚发现变性的RLO。内脏组织细胞普遍肿大,细胞器分散、稀少,线粒体除明显肿胀、嵴断裂消失外,尚发现坏死性变化即出现致密核心或无定形的电子密度物质;粗面内质网扩张、破裂和脱颗粒;部分细胞内溶酶体增多,胞质内发现明显的髓鞘样结构;核肿大或核固缩、溶解,并可见核内出现髓鞘样结构和核包含物。     

华北丽斑麻蜥食物同化和疾跑速的热依赖性

作者研究山西阳泉丽斑麻蜥(Eremias argus)成体的选择体温、热耐受性及食物同化和疾跑速的热依赖性。选择体温、临界低温和临界高温无显著的两性差异,分别为36·0℃、1·0℃和44·9℃。在实验温度范围内,体温显著影响食物通过时间、日摄食量、日粪尿排量、表观消化系数和同化效率。食物通过时间在26 -34℃范围内随体温升高而缩短,在更高的体温下则延长。蜥蜴在30、32、34和36℃体温下明显摄入较多的食物、排出明显较多的粪尿。34℃和36℃下的表观消化系数和同化效率大于其它更低或更高温度下的对应数值,但这两个变量未因体温变化而呈现清晰的规律性变化。疾跑速在18 -36℃范围内随体温升高而加快,在38℃体温下则减缓。36℃或附近体温最适合疾跑速。疾跑速最适体温接近蜥蜴的选择体温,表明蜥蜴疾跑速的最适温度可能与其选择体温密切相关[动物学报52 (2) : 256 -262 , 2006]。     

Ten di- and trinucleotide microsatellite loci in the Caribbean spiny lobster, Panulirus argus, for studies of regional population connectivity

We describe 10 microsatellite loci for Panulirus argus (Caribbean spiny lobster). The number of alleles at each locus ranged from four to 39 (mean = 21.8) in 89 juvenile specimens collected at two different times at a recruitment site in south Florida. Levels of expected and observed heterozygosities ranged from 0.48 to 0.96 (mean = 0.83) and from 0.32 to 0.98 (mean = 0.71), respectively. Significant departures from Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium were observed at two loci. There was no evidence of genotypic disequilibrium for any pair of loci. Overall, the loci were well resolved, highly polymorphic and independently segregating, confirming their utility for population genetic studies.     

安徽滁州雌性丽斑麻蜥繁殖特征

在安徽滁州地区丽斑麻蜥(Eremias argus)年产两窝卵。窝卵数及窝卵重与雌体体长呈正相关,相对窝卵重与雌体体长无关,卵重与窝卵数无关。窝卵数、窝卵重及卵重在窝序间无明显的差异。卵长径与卵短径呈正相关,卵长径与窝卵数呈负相关,而卵短径与窝卵数无关。雌体主要通过增加窝卵数增加繁殖输出。