Ontogeny and homology of the skeletal elements that form the sucking disc of remoras (Teleostei,Echeneoidei, Echeneidae)

The sucking disc of the sharksuckers of the family Echeneidae is one of the most remarkable and most highly modified skeletal structures among vertebrates. We studied the development of the sucking disc based on a series of larval, juvenile, and adult echeneids ranging from 9.3 mm to 175 mm standard length. We revisited the question of the homology of the different skeletal parts that form the disc using an ontogenetic approach. We compared the initial stages of development of the disc with early developmental stages of the spinous dorsal fin in a representative of the morphologically basal percomorph Morone. We demonstrate that the “interneural rays” of echeneids are homologous with the proximal‐middle radials of Morone and other teleosts and that the “intercalary bones” of sharksuckers are homologous with the distal radials of Morone and other teleosts. The “intercalary bones” or distal radials develop a pair of large wing‐like lateral extensions in echeneids, not present in this form in any other teleost. Finally the “pectinated lamellae” are homologous with the fin spines of Morone and other acanthomorphs. The main part of each pectinated lamella is formed by bilateral extensions of the base of the fin spine just above its proximal tip, each of which develops a row of spinous projections, or spinules, along its posterior margin. The number of rows and the number of spinules increase with size, and they become autogenous from the body of the lamellae. We also provide a historical review of previous studies on the homology of the echeneid sucking disc and demonstrate that the most recent hypotheses, published in 2002, 2005 and 2006, are erroneous. J. Morphol. 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

鳗鲡赤鳍病病原菌的分离鉴定和耐药性的研究

从汕头地区5个养鳗场的患赤鳍病的病鳗中均分离到病原菌是嗜水气单胞菌(Aeromonas hydrophila(chester)stanler),将有毒力的87株病原菌对养鰻场常用抗菌剂进行耐药性试验,结果表明,4种抗菌剂的MIC、MIC_(50)和耐药率分别是:土霉素109.3μg/ml、50.0μg/ml和78.8％;氯霉素123.3μg/ml、63.0μg/ml和90.7％;复方磺胺甲基(口恶)唑(TMP/SMZ)720/3600μg/ml、126/630μg/ml和42.5％;痢特灵79.7μg/ml、63.0μg/ml和65.5％。4种被测抗菌剂的平均MIG分别是对照敏感菌株的109.3,102.7,72和26.6倍。上述试验结果显示了由于滥用药物的严重后果     

FAB CID-MS/MS characterization of tetrasaccharide tri- and tetrasulfate derived from the antigenic determinant recognized by the anti-chondroitin sulfate monoclonal antibody MO-225

The fast atom bombardment (FAB) collision induced dissociation (CID)-mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry (MS/MS) technique was successfully applied to characterize and identify the structures of the immunoreactive trisulfated and tetrasulfated tetrasaccharides that were obtained from the chondroitin sulfate in a shark fin using a treatment with chondroitinase ABC.Abbreviations FABMS fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry - CID collision induced dissociation - MS/MS mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry - UA2S-GalNAc6S 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-3-O-(2-O-sulfo--d-gluco-4-enepyranosyluronic acid)-6-O-sulfo-d-galactose - UA-GalNAc4S 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-3-O-(-d-gluco-4-enepyranosyluronic acid)-4-O-sulfo-d-galactose - UA-GalNAcDiS 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-3-O-(-d-gluco-4-enepyranosyluronic acid)-4,6-di-O-sulfo-d-galactose     

Comparison of ageing methods and growth rates for largemouth bass,Micropterus salmoides Lacépède,from northern latitudes

Synopsis Ages determined by counts of apparent annuli on scales, sagittae, vertebrae, pectoral fin ray and dorsal fin spine cross sections of largemouth bass from northern populations, which are older and slower growing fish than in the southern parts of its native range, were compared to establish the accuracy of each method. Linear regression techniques indicated strong agreement (r> 0.9) among ages assigned from the examination of scales, sagittae, and vertebrae. The pattern of growth zones on pectoral fin ray and dorsal fm spine cross sections proved too variable for accurate age determination. Limited data suggest that ages greater than 7+ assigned from scales were more likely to underestimate true ages than the other body parts used, although none of these methods gave satisfactory results. Examination of scales from recovered tagged fish, and the similarity between back-calculated lengths of fish through age 7+ to annulus I and observed lengths of juvenile largemouth bass near the end of their first growing season, support the validity of ages determined from scales. Despite a very limited amount of habitat suitable for largemouth bass and severe climatic conditions, growth of this species in Tadenac Lake was similar to growth in other waters north of the Great Lakes. Differences in physical characteristics among these waters does not appear to influence growth rates of largemouth bass, but probably affects production and biomass.     

A new rheophilic South American darter (Crenuchidae: Characidium) from the rio Juruena basin,Brazil, with comments on morphological adaptations to life in fast-flowing waters

Characidium iaquira, a new species from the upper rio Juruena, rio Tapajós basin, Brazil, is described. The new species can be promptly distinguished from all congeners by having a unique v-shaped dark mark lying along the caudal-fin extension, in medium- and large-sized specimens, and a remarkable iridescent green colouration in life. Characidium iaquira is closely related to Characidium crandellii and Characidium declivirostre by sharing unambiguous synapomorphies such as branchiostegal membranes united to each other across the isthmus, a scaleless area extending from the isthmus to the pectoral girdle, and dermal flaps surrounding anterior and posterior naris independent, but touching each other distally. Morphological specializations of the paired fins in the three riffle-dwellers species are discussed, including the wing-like shape, robustness, and inclination of the pectoral fin.     

Biomimetic injectable HUVEC‐adipocytes/collagen/alginate microsphere co‐cultures for adipose tissue engineering

Engineering adipose tissue that has the ability to engraft and establish a vascular supply is a laudable goal that has broad clinical relevance, particularly for tissue reconstruction. In this article, we developed novel microtissues from surface‐coated adipocyte/collagen/alginate microspheres and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) co‐cultures that resembled the components and structure of natural adipose tissue. Firstly, collagen/alginate hydrogel microspheres embedded with viable adipocytes were obtained to mimic fat lobules. Secondly, collagen fibrils were allowed to self‐assemble on the surface of the microspheres to mimic collagen fibrils surrounding the fat lobules in the natural adipose tissue and facilitate HUVEC attachment and co‐cultures formation. Thirdly, the channels formed by the gap among the microspheres served as the room for in vitro prevascularization and in vivo blood vessel development. The endothelial cell layer outside the microspheres was a starting point of rapid vascular ingrowth. Adipose tissue formation was analyzed for 12 weeks at 4‐week intervals by subcutaneous injection into the head of node mice. The vasculature in the regenerated tissue showed functional anastomosis with host blood vessels. Long‐term stability of volume and weight of the injection was observed, indicating that the vasculature formed within the constructs benefited the formation, maturity, and maintenance of adipose tissue. This study provides a microsurgical method for adipose regeneration and construction of biomimetic model for drug screening studies. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2013; 110: 1430–1443. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.