Isolation and characterization of microsatellites in Chinese sturgeon, Acipenser sinensis

From (GATA)(n) and (AAAG)(n) enriched genomic libraries for the Chinese sturgeon (Acipenser sinensis), 50 primer pairs were developed using the fast isolation by AFLP of sequences containing repeats (FIASCO) protocol. Forty-six primer pairs exhibited highly polymorphic with two to 11 alleles per locus, while the rest four displayed monomorphic. These markers yielded 246 alleles in a survey of eight specimens of wild A. sinensis. Average observed heterozygosity ranged from 0.13 to 1.00. These loci should provide sufficient levels of genetic diversity to allow parentage analysis for artificial stocking management and delineation of fine-scale population structure.

Microsatellites assessment of Chinese sturgeon (Acipenser sinensis Gray) genetic variability

Four microsatellites were used to examine the genetic variability of the spawning stocks of Chinese sturgeon, Acipenser sinensis, from the Yangtze River sampled over a 3-year period (1999-2001). Within 60 individuals, a total of 28 alleles were detected over four polymorphic microsatellite loci. The number of alleles per locus ranged from 4 to 15, with an average allele number of 7. The number of genotypes per locus ranged from 6 to 41. The genetic diversity of four microsatellite loci varied from 0.34 to 0.67, with an average value of 0.54. For the four microsatellite loci, the deviation from the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium was mainly due to null alleles. The mean number of alleles per locus and the mean heterozygosity were lower than the average values known for anadromous fishes. Fish were clustered according to their microsatellite characteristics using an unsupervised 'Artificial Neural Networks' method entitled 'Self-organizing Map'. The results revealed no significant genetic differentiation considering genetic distance among samples collected during different years. Lack of heterogeneity among different annual groups of spawning stocks was explained by the complex age structure (from 8 to 27 years for males and 12 to 35 years for females) of Chinese sturgeon, leading to formulate an hypothesis about the maintenance of genetic diversity and stability in long-lived animals.

Effects of feeding rate on growth performance of white sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) larvae

Four 1-week trials were conducted to determine the effects of feeding rates on growth performance and body proximate composition of white sturgeon larvae during each of the first 4 weeks after initiation of feeding. Feeding rates (% body weight day(-1)) were 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, and 60 for trial I; 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 for trial II; and 2.5, 5.0, 7.5, 10.5, 12.5, and 15.0 for trials III and TV Four tanks with 200 larvae each were randomly assigned to each of the six feeding rates. Average initial body weights of the larvae were 49, 94, 180, and 366 mg, respectively, for trials I-IV. The larvae were kept at 19-20 degreesC in circular tanks and fed continuously one of two commercial salmonid soft-moist feeds using automatic feeders. Proximate composition (%) of the feeds for trials I-III and IV were 13.9 and 14.9 moisture, 52.5 and 50.0 crude protein, 10.3 and 12.9 crude fat, and 8.1 and 8.7 ash, respectively. Except mortality in trial I, gain per food fed in trial III, and body ash in all trials, growth performance and body composition were significantly (P<0.05) affected by all feeding rates. Broken line analysis on specific growth rates indicated the optimum feeding rates of white sturgeon larvae to be 26%, 13%, 11%, and 6% body weight day-respectively, for weeks 1, 2, 3, and 4 after initiation of feeding. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Ontogenetic behavior and migration of Chinese sturgeon, Acipenser sinensis

The Chinese sturgeon, Acipenser sinensis, is an anadromous protected species that presently only spawns in the Yangtze River. Using laboratory experiments, we examined the behavioral preference of young Chinese sturgeon to physical habitat (water depth, illumination intensity, substrate color, and cover) and monitored their downstream migration. Hatchling free embryos were photopositive, preferred open habitat, and immediately upon hatching, swam far above the bottom using swim-up and drift. Downstream migration peaked on days 0-1, decreased about 50% or more during days 2-7, and ceased by day 8. Days 0-1 migrants were active both day and night, but days 2-7 migrants were most active during the day. After ceasing migration, days 8-11 embryos were photonegative, preferred dark substrate and sought cover. Free embryos developed into larvae and began feeding on day 12, when another shift in behavior occurred-larvae returned to photopositive behavior and preferred white substrate. The selective factor favoring migration of free embryos upon hatching and swimming far above the bottom may be avoidance of benthic predatory fishes. Free embryos, which must rely on yolk energy for activity and growth, only used 19 cumulative temperature degree-days for peak migration compared to 234 degree-days for growth to first feeding larvae, a 1 : 12 ratio of cumulative temperature units. This ratio suggests that sturgeon species with large migratory embryos, like Chinese sturgeon, which require a high level of energy to swim during migration, may migrate only a short time to conserve most yolk energy for growth.

Growth of juvenile Chinese sturgeon Acipenser sinensis fed live and formulated diets

Triplicate groups of 3.8-g juvenile Chinese sturgeon Acipenser sinensis were reared for 8 weeks in indoor flow-through systems on one of four diets: a natural diet consisting solely of live tubificid worms, a semimoist practical diet, a dry practical diet, and a purified diet. The formulated diets were prepared in the laboratory and had protein contents of 47-50%. Except for the group fed the purified diet, fish showed high survival (94-96%) and growth (final weight, 41-45 g). Survival and specific growth rate did not differ significantly between groups fed the natural, semimoist, and dry practical diets, but were significantly (P < 0.05) lower in fish fed the purified diet. Proximate analysis showed that fish fed purified diet had lower protein and lipid levels but a higher moisture content than fish fed other diets. Our results demonstrated that growth and survival of cultured juvenile Chinese sturgeon fed practical diets were comparable with those fed live tubificid worms. However, Chinese sturgeon fed a purified diet showed inferior growth and survival.

Effect of feeding strategy and carbohydrate source on carbohydrate utilization by white sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) and hybrid tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus X O-aureus)

Two 8-week growth trials were conducted to determine the effect of continuous (CF) versus 2 meals day(-1) (MF) feeding and 30% starch versus 30% glucose diets on the carbohydrate utilization of 9.0-g white sturgeon and 0.56-g hybrid tilapia. The two trials were conducted under similar conditions except that sturgeon were kept at 18.5 degrees C in a flow-through system and tilapia were kept at 26 degrees C in a recirculating system. Significantly (P less than or equal to 0.05) higher specific growth rate (SGR), feed efficiency (FE), protein efficiency ratio (PER), body lipid content and liver glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) and 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (6PGDH) activities were observed in the CF than MF sturgeon. Only SGR, FE and PER were higher in sturgeon fed the starch than the glucose diets. Only higher liver G6PDH and malic enzyme (ME) activities were observed in the CF than MF tilapia but higher SGR, FE, PER and liver G6PDH, 6PGDH and ME activities were observed in tilapia fed the starch diet than those fed the glucose diet. This suggested that carbohydrate utilization by sturgeon was more affected by feeding strategy whereas tilapia was more affected by carbohydrate source. Furthermore, white sturgeon can utilize carbohydrates better than hybrid tilapia regardless of feeding strategy and carbohydrate source.

Molecular phylogenetic systematics of twelve species of acipenseriformes based on mtDNA ND4L-ND4 gene sequence analysis

Acipenseriformes is an endangered primitive fish group, which occupies a special place in the history of ideas concerning fish evolution, even in vertebrate evolution. However, the classification and evolution of the fishes have been debated. The mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) ND4L and partial ND4 genes were first sequenced in twelve species of the order Acipenseriformes, including endemic Chinese species. The following points were drawn from DNA sequences analysis: (i) the two species of Huso can be ascribed to Acipenser; (ii) A. dabryanus is the mostly closely related to A. sinensis, and most likely the landlocked form of A. sinensis; (iii) genus Acipenser in trans-Pacific region might have a common origin; (iv) mtDNA ND4L and ND4 genes are the ideal genetic markers for phylogenetic analysis of the order Acipenseriformes.

葛洲坝产卵场中华鲟繁殖群体数量与繁殖规模估算及其变动趋势分析

采用声学探测的方法,进行中华鲟(Acipenser sinensis)繁殖群体数量的估算。2005～2007年,第1次产卵前的资源量分别为235尾、217尾和203尾;第1次产卵后的资源量分别为157尾、157尾和102尾。采用食卵鱼解剖统计和股分析的方法对中华鲟的自然繁殖规模进行估算,其结果为,2005～2007年间中华鲟的产卵量分别为356万粒、119.6万粒和238.6万粒。结合历史相关研究数据,对近10年的中华鲟繁殖群体数量和繁殖规模的变动趋势进行分析,结果显示,在20世纪90年代中期,第1次产卵

4龄中华鲟垂体的EST分析(英文)

表达序列标签(Expressed sequencetag,EST)是鉴定基因表达规律和发现新基因的一种有效的分子生物学手段。为了能在中华鲟(Acipenser sinensis Gray)中发现与生长和生殖内分泌调控相关的基因,我们构建了中华鲟垂体的SMARTcDNA质粒文库。垂体是调节生长和生殖内分泌的重要器官。在本研究中,通过测序筛选得到了944个EST克隆,将所得EST与GenBank数据库中的序列进行比对,结果表明,802(84.96%)个克隆可以找到同源序列,共代表461个基因,其中含132个已

长江上游特有鱼类受威胁及优先保护顺序的定量分析

根据本课题组1997~2002年野外渔获物调查数据并结合相关文献资料,运用濒危系数、遗传损失系数和物种价值系数对长江上游16种特有鱼类的优先保护顺序进行了定量分析.结果表明,达到一级急切保护的有达氏鲟(Acipenser dabryanus)、鲈鲤(Percocypris pingi)2种;达到二级急切保护的有宜宾鲴(Xenocypris fangi)、齐口裂腹鱼(Schizothorax prenanti)、四川白甲鱼(Onychostoma angustistomata)及云南鲴(Xenocypris

从线粒体DNA控制区核苷酸序列论达式鲟、亚洲和北美洲中吻鲟的分类地位(英文)

尽管古老的鲟形目鱼类的分类及系统演化一直是中外学者感兴趣的研究课题 ,但迄今仍有诸多谜团未解。其中 ,关于亚洲远东地区和北美地区的中吻鲟 (Acipensermedirostris)的分类地位争论已久。长江水系的达式鲟 (A .dabryanus)和中华鲟 (A .sinensis)及其它鲟属 (Acipenser)鱼类之间的亲缘关系近年来也有异议。为了给上述争议提供更多的科学依据 ,作者测定了线粒体DNA (mtDNA)控制区(D loop) 的核苷酸序列 ,并进行了分子系统学和遗传差异分析。研究结果表

湖鲟微卫星DNA引物应用于中华鲟亲子关系分析的初步研究

利用湖鲟(Acipenser fulvescens)的4对微卫星引物对中华鲟随机个体样本进行PCR扩增,分析电泳结果发现,4对引物均可在中华鲟个体中得到稳定的同源序列,其中2对引物所探测到的等位基因数目较多,在个体间表现出较高的多态性,利用它们产生的DNA指纹图谱,能够对1999年度获得的中华鲟亲鱼样本进行有效的个体区分。并且这两对湖鲟的微卫星引物在对1999年度已知亲本的同一家系中的中华鲟随机个体的分析中,表现为按照孟德尔方式进行共显性遗传。证明这2对微卫星引物可以用于鉴别中华鲟人工放流个体和自然繁殖个

中华鲟、白鲟组织生化成分分析初报

<正> 中华鲟(Acipenser sinensis Cray)隶属鲟形目、鲟科,在生态类群中属河海洄游鱼类,主要分布于我国长江,也见于渤海(烟台)、黄河下游、钱塘江、闽江及珠江等水域。白鲟(Psephurus gladius Martens)隶属鲟形目、白鲟科,也是一种河海洄游性鱼类,主要分布在长江水系中,自四川宜宾至江苏崇明,有时见于大型湖泊(如洞庭湖)。对于这两种我国特有、珍稀、大型的经济鱼类的形态,解剖、地理分布及生态等方面许多研究者曾作过大量的工作,积累了系统的资料(张春霖1928、伍献文192

长江中游鱼类的复殖吸虫Ⅰ.鲟拟动殖吸虫(动殖科)新属、新种的描述

<正> 从1981到1983年,作者等曾多次在湖北省宜都县和黄冈县团风镇两地,从事长江中游鱼类寄生吸虫的调查研究。在70多种鱼中,获得了一批吸虫标本,将陆续整理后发表。本文首先报告在中华鲟Acipenser sinensis Gray中发现的动殖科Zoogonidae Odhner,1911一新属、新种吸虫。动殖科吸虫在我国发现很少,迄今为止,仅顾昌栋、申纪伟(1979,1983),汪溥钦

Molecular characterization of Chinese sturgeon gonadotropins and cellular distribution in pituitaries of mature and immature individuals

Chinese sturgeon (Acipenser sinensis) is a rare and endangered species, and also an important resource for the sturgeon aquaculture industry. To understand molecular characterization of Chinese sturgeon gonadotropins (GTHs), we cloned the full-length cDNAs of gonadotropin subunits common alpha (GTH-alpha), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) from a pituitary cDNA library of mature female. Two subtypes of GTH-alpha were identified. The nucleotide sequences of A. sinensis common alpha I (AsGTH-alpha I), common alpha II (AsGTH-alpha II), FSH beta (AsFSH beta) and LH beta (AsLH beta) subunit cDNAs are 345, 363, 387 and 414 bp in length, and encode mature peptides of 115, 121, 129 and 138 aa, respectively. Then, three polyclonal antibodies were prepared from the in vitro expressed AsGTH-alpha I, AsFSH beta and AsLH beta mature proteins, respectively. Significant expression differences were revealed between immature and mature sturgeon pituitaries. Western blot detection and immunofluoresence localization revealed the existence of three-gonadotropin subunits (AsGTH-alpha, AsFSH beta and AsLH beta) in mature sturgeon pituitaries, but only AsFSH beta was detected in immature individual pituitaries during early stages in the sturgeon life, and obvious difference was observed between males and females. In males, AsFSH beta was expressed in 4-year-old individuals, whereas in females, AsFSH beta was just expressed in 5-year-old individuals. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.