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.     

乌鳢三倍体诱导及其生长

采用热休克抑制第二极体排放的方法诱导乌鳢(Channa argus)三倍体,以探索人工诱导乌鳢三倍体的理想热休克条件。采用DNA含量测定法和红细胞核大小鉴定法对获得的鱼苗倍性进行鉴定,同时对普通二倍体乌鳢群体与三倍体群体的生长差异进行了比较研究。结果表明,(1)热休克法适宜诱导条件为,(28±0.5)℃培育水温授精后4 min,在水温42℃条件下持续处理3 min,三倍体诱导率最高,达到87.69%;(2)三倍体与二倍体DNA含量差异极显著(P0.01),其比值为1.50︰1.00;(3)三倍体和二倍体在红细胞核长径、红细胞核体积、红细胞核面积等6项指标上存在极显著差异(P0.01);与二倍体相比,三倍体红细胞体积和核体积分别是其1.69倍和1.60倍;(4)在4月龄与8月龄,三倍体的体长和体重比二倍体稍高,但两者差异不显著(P0.05)。本实验结果为进一步开展乌鳢倍性育种奠定了基础。     

斑鳢、乌鳢及其杂种细胞核DNA流式含量分析

以斑鳢(Channa maculata)、乌鳢(C.argus)及其正交杂种斑乌鳢(斑鳢♀×乌鳢♂)和反交杂种乌斑鳢(乌鳢♀×斑鳢♂)的红细胞为材料,以鸡(Gallus gallus)血细胞为DNA标准(2.5 pg/2c,2c指2倍体),采用流式细胞仪测定了这4种鱼的细胞核DNA含量。斑鳢、乌鳢、斑乌鳢及乌斑鳢这4种鱼血细胞DNA的绝对含量分别为(1.488±0.035)pg/2c、(1.489±0.034)pg/2c、(1.522±0.077)pg/2c和(1.520±0.033)pg/2c。斑鳢和乌鳢的细胞核DNA含量差异不显著(P0.05),斑鳢和乌鳢与两种杂交鳢的DNA含量差异显著(P0.05),两种杂交鳢之间的细胞核DNA含量差异不显著(P0.05)。杂交鳢细胞核DNA含量显著高于亲本,可以作为杂种鉴定的依据。     

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.     

乌鳢和斑鳢微卫星制备及其对自交与杂交F1代的初步鉴定

通过磁珠富集法分离了乌鳢(Channa argus)和斑鳢(C.maculate)的微卫星DNA序列,根据这些微卫星DNA序列的两翼序列,采用Primer 3.0或Primer 5.O软件设计出乌鳢与斑鳢的微卫星引物各31对.用62对微卫星引物对乌鳢和斑鳢自交与杂交F1代的4个组合进行扩增,10对引物无扩增产物,其余5...     

Phylogeographic structure of the dwarf snakehead (Channa gachua) around Gulf of Tonkin: Historical biogeography and pronounced effects of sea‐level changes

Geological events, landscape features, and climate fluctuations have shaped the distribution of genetic diversity and evolutionary history in freshwater fish, but little attention has been paid to that around the Gulf of Tonkin; therefore, we investigated the phylogeographic structure of the dwarf snakehead (Channa gachua) on Hainan Island and mainland China, as well as two populations in Vietnam. We attempted to elucidate the origins of freshwater fish in South Hainan by incorporating genetic data from DNA markers on both the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene (cyt b) and the nuclear recombination‐activating gene 1 (RAG‐1). Mitochondrial phylogenetic analysis identified two major lineages (lineages A and B), which may represent separate species. Divergence data suggested that C. gachua populations diverged between 0.516 and 2.376 myr. The divergence of the two cryptic species is congruent with sea‐level rise, which subsequently isolated Hainan from the mainland. During the Pleistocene glaciations, the entire region of the Gulf of Tonkin and the Qiongzhou Strait became part of the coastal plain of the Asian continent, which might have resulted in the current distribution patterns and dispersal routes of C. gachua populations. The formation of three sublineages in lineage A indicated that the Gulf of Tonkin was a geographical barrier between Hainan Island and mainland China but not between Vietnam and Hainan Island. The results of this study may help to elucidate the origins of freshwater fish in South Hainan and the phylogeographic structure of C. gachua.     

Dietary niacin requirement of fingerling Channa punctatus (Bloch)

A 16‐week experiment was accomplished to determine the dietary niacin requirement of fingerling Channa punctatus (6.8 ± 0.92 cm; 4.65 ± 0.46 g) by feeding seven casein‐gelatin based isonitrogenous (450 g/kg CP) and isoenergetic (18.39 kJ/g GE) diets with graded levels of niacin (0, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60 mg/kg diet) twice a day to apparent satiation to triplicate groups of fish. Significantly best absolute weight gain (AWG; 38.19 g/fish), feed conversion ratio (FCR; 1.42) and protein retention efficiency (PRE; 26.47%) were registered in fish fed 40 mg niacin/kg diet. Also, fish fed above diet exhibited maximum carcass protein. Hemoglobin (Hb), RBCs counts and hematocrit (Hct) were improved with the incremental levels of dietary niacin up to 40 mg/kg. However, liver niacin content showed the positive correlation up to 50 mg/kg niacin and then leveled off. Fingerling C. punctatus fed niacin‐free diet showed retarded growth, poor feed utilization, high mortality, difficult motion and skin haemorrhage. Broken‐line regression analysis of AWG, FCR and PRE indicated that fingerling C. punctatus require niacin in the range of 37.1–42.1, whereas that of liver niacin concentration indicated the niacin requirement at 52.3 mg/kg dry diet.     

Retinofugal and retinopetal projections in the teleost Channa micropeltes (Channiformes)

Summary Retinofugal and retinopetal projections were investigated in the teleost fish Channa micropeltes (Channiformes) by means of the cobaltous lysine and horseradish peroxidase (HRP) tracing techniques. Retinofugal fibers cross completely in the optic chiasma. A conspicious lamination is present in those parts of the optic tract that give rise to the marginal branches of the optic tract. This layering of optic fibers continues in the marginal branches to mesencephalic levels. Retinal projections to the preoptic and hypothalamic regions are sparse; they are more pronounced in the area of pretectal nuclei. The medial pretectal complex and the cortical pretectal nucleus are more fully differentiated than in other teleostean species. Further targets include the thalamus and the optic tectum. The course of major optic sub-tracts and smaller fascicles is described. Retinopetal neurons are located contralaterally in a rostral and a caudal part of the nucleus olfactoretinalis, and in a circumscribed nucleus thalamoretinalis. The present findings are compared with reports on other teleost species.