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Somatic Index (somatic + index)

Distribution by Scientific Domains

Earth and Environmental Science	83%

Selected Abstracts

Life-cycle exposure of fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas) to an ethinylestradiol concentration below 1 ng/L reduces egg fertilization success and demasculinizes males

ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY, Issue 2 2005
Joanne L. Parrott
Abstract Forty-eight hours after fertilization, fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas) eggs were exposed to the synthetic estrogen 17,-ethinylestradiol (EE2) at nominal concentrations of 0.32 and 0.96 ng/L and measured concentrations of 3.5, 9.6, and 23 ng/L. The fish were observed through the larval, juvenile, and adult stages. Growth, secondary sex characteristics, the liver somatic index, the gonadosomatic index, and fecundity were examined after several lengths of exposure. No significant changes were seen in fry or juvenile growth from 8 to 30 days posthatch (dph). An increase in the ovipositor index (a female secondary sex characteristic) was the most sensitive early response at 60 dph and was seen in fish exposed to EE2 concentrations , 3.5 ng/L. Continuation of the EE2 exposure until 150 dph, through maturation and reproduction, allowed measurement of two sensitive end points: decreased egg fertilization and sex ratio (skewed toward females), both of which were significantly affected at the lowest EE2 concentration tested, 0.32 ng/L. The next most sensitive end point was demasculinization (decreased male secondary sex characteristic index) of males exposed to an EE2 concentration of 0.96 ng/L. The effects of low concentrations of EE2 (0.32 and 0.96 ng/L) were manifested in male fish (decreased male sex characteristics and reduced egg fertilization success), whereas female fish showed no changes in the gonadosomatic index. Exposure to higher EE2 concentrations negatively affected females, as shown by a reduced gonadosomatic index at 150 dph in fish exposed to ,3.5 ng/L EE2. Although there were some end points that showed changes at 60 dph, the reproductive end points and external sex characteristics measured in mature fish at 150 dph were more sensitive, with response thresholds of EE2 ranging from 0.32 to 0.96 ng/L. The concentrations of EE2 that negatively affected fathead minnows were similar to or lower than those detected in many municipal wastewater effluents. In conclusion, life-cycle exposure of fathead minnows proved to be a very sensitive bioassay, and responses were seen at concentrations of less than 1 ng/L, which are environmentally relevant concentrations of EE2. © 2005 Government of Canada. Exclusive worldwide publication rights in the article have been transferred to John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Environ Toxicol 20: 131,141, 2005. [source]

Effects of ethynylestradiol on the reproductive physiology in zebrafish (Danio rerio): Time dependency and reversibility

ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY & CHEMISTRY, Issue 4 2002
Kris Van den Belt
Abstract Environmental pollution with natural or synthetic estrogens may pose a serious threat to reproduction of wildlife species. This study describes the effects of 17-,-ethynylestradiol (EE2) on fish reproductive organs in a laboratory model. Adult zebrafish were semistatically exposed to nominal concentrations of 0, 10, and 25 ng/L EE2 for 24 d and then transferred to EE2-free medium. Gonadosomatic index (GSI), plasma vitellogenin concentration (VTG), and histology of the gonads (control and 10 ng/L only) were examined as a function of time. It was found that EE2 has an adverse impact on both male and female reproductive organs. Notably in females, gonadal changes were observed through histological evaluation after 3 d of exposure to 10 ng/L EE2, and this was followed by a reduction of GSI at day 6 of exposure. In males, a reduction of GSI and altered testis histology was found after 24 d of exposure to 10 ng/L. The observed effects on the ovary after EE2 exposure, combined with complete recovery after 24 d, is considered to be triggered by feedback at the level of the pituitary. In both males and females, VTG was induced in response to EE2 and normalized during the recovery period. The observed correlation between VTG and ovarian somatic index (OSI) demonstrates that excessive VTG induction may be predictive for adverse effects of EE2 on ovarian function in female zebrafish. These results indicate that long-term stimulation by synthetic estrogens such as EE2 might impair reproductive function in zebrafish in a reversible manner. [source]

Age and growth, mortality, reproduction and relative yield per recruit of the bogue, Boops boops Linné, 1758 (Sparidae), from the Algarve (south of Portugal) longline fishery

JOURNAL OF APPLIED ICHTHYOLOGY, Issue 5 2006
P. Monteiro
Summary Samples of Boops boops ranging from 7.4 to 30.5 cm were obtained mainly by longline, supplemented by beach seining in the Ria Formosa lagoon, and by market sampling in the Algarve (southern Portugal). The macroscopic analyses of the gonads and the gonad somatic index showed that the south coast of Portugal B. boops spawn mainly from late winter to spring, between February and May. The length at first maturity was similar for males and females and the value for both sexes combined was estimated to be 15.22 cm, corresponding to an age range of 1,3. Age was determined by reading growth bands on otoliths. Age determination was validated by marginal increment analysis. The estimated parameters were L, = 28.06, K = 0.22 and t0 = ,1.42. Mortality rates were calculated for fish captured with longlines, and the estimated parameters were M = 0.33, Z = 1.04 and F = 0.71. Relative yield per recruit analysis and sensitivity analysis showed that the resource is moderately exploited. From the perspective of sustainability, these results provide support for the use of longlines as a gear that is among the least harmful for species such as the bogue. [source]

Proximate Composition, Lipid Oxidation, and Sensory Characteristics of Fillets from Rainbow Trout Oncorhynchus mykiss Fed Diets Containing 10% to 30% Lipid

JOURNAL OF THE WORLD AQUACULTURE SOCIETY, Issue 3 2003
Sage Chaiyapechara
This study was conducted to determine the effects of increasing dietary lipid concentrations on fillet characteristics of post-juvenile rainbow trout. A feeding trial was conducted with fish meal based diets containing 10, 15, 20, 25, or 30% lipid for 24 wk. Menhaden oil was the lipid ingredient. Weight gain was significantly greater in fish fed the 30% lipid diet than in fish fed either 10%, 15% or 20% lipid diets. There were no significant differences in visceral somatic index. Fillet lipid concentration of fish fed the 30% lipid diet (9.2-g lipid/ 100-g fillet) was significantly higher (P < 0.05) than fish fed either the 10% or 15% lipid diets (5.8- and 6.9-g lipid/100-g fillet, respectively). In samples stored for 3 d at 5 C or S wk at -20 C, sensory panelists reported that the cooked fillets from fish fed the 30% lipid diet were "more fishy" than fish fed the 15% lipid diet, and preferred the cooked fillets from the 15% lipid treatment over the 30% lipid treatment. Triangle tests and fillet colorimetry showed no significant differences between fillets from fish fed the 15% and 30% lipid diets at any sampling time point. No significant differences in fillet concentrations of thiobarbituric reactive substances were observed among dietary treatments stored at either 5 C or -20 C. These results suggest that two main effects of feeding a 30% lipid diet (with fish oil as the lipid source) are a higher lipid concentration in the fillet and a "fishier" aroma compared to fillets from fish fed a 15% lipid diet. [source]

Tolerance of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) to dietborne endosulfan assessed by haematology, biochemistry, histology and growth

AQUACULTURE NUTRITION, Issue 5 2010
A.-K. LUNDEBYE
Abstract The inclusion of plant-based ingredients in commercial fish feeds may pose a challenge because of the presence of undesirable substances, such as the pesticide endosulfan. Waterborne endosulfan is highly toxic to fish, whereas dietborne exposure has varied toxicity in different species. To investigate the systemic effects of endosulfan exposure, quadruplicate groups of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) were fed either 0 (control), 0.005 mg kg,1; the European Union's maximum limit, or 10 or 20 times this level (0.05 and 0.1 mg kg,1 respectively) for 95 days. There were no significant differences (P > 0.05) in liver somatic index, spleen somatic index, condition factor or growth among treatments. There were no indications of liver damage in fish from any of the groups in the biomarkers measured: plasma aspartate aminotransferase, plasma alanine aminotransferase and histopathology. Similarly, there were no apparent treatment-related effects on the haematological parameters Hct, Hb, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration and mean corpuscular haemoglobin, and blood sodium, potassium, calcium and chloride levels were not significantly (P > 0.05) different among groups. Lipid digestibility, but not energy, protein, or glycogen digestibility, was significantly (P < 0.05) reduced at the highest exposure concentration. However, no significant differences were observed in lipid production value or lipid efficiency ratio. In contrast to previous studies, clinical histological abnormalities were not observed in the intestine, liver or spleen of endosulfan-treated fish. [source]

Dietary magnesium did not affect calcium and phosphorus content in juvenile grouper, Epinephelus coioides

AQUACULTURE NUTRITION, Issue 4 2010
C.-X. YE
Abstract Most of magnesium (Mg) in fish is located in the bone. Dietary calcium (Ca) and phosphorous (P) has been reported to affect scales and vertebrae Mg dramatically in juvenile grouper, but the effect of dietary Mg on tissue Ca and P is unknown. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of dietary Mg supplement on growth, feed efficiency, morphometry, and the ash and Ca, P, sodium (Na) content in scales and vertebrae of juvenile grouper. Seven experimental diets were formulated to contain graded levels of Mg by supplementing the basal diet with 0, 200, 400, 600, 800, 1000 and 2000 mg kg,1 Mg in the form of Mg sulphate (MgSO4·7H2O). Juvenile grouper with an initial body weight of 11.8 ± 0.1 g were fed to apparent satiation twice per day for 10 weeks. Dietary Mg supplement had no significant effect on growth, feed efficiency, and Mg concentration in scales and vertebrae of grouper, which indicates the Mg requirement of grouper was met in fish fed the basal diet. Mg supplements had significant effect on morphometry index such as body length, condition factor, viscera somatic index and mesenteric fat index. Extra dietary Mg supplement to the basal diet had no negative effect on ash, Ca and P concentrations in scales and vertebrae. [source]

Nutritional, physiological, and histological responses in Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L. fed diets with genetically modified maize

AQUACULTURE NUTRITION, Issue 3 2007
G.-I. HEMRE
Abstract The objective of this study was to evaluate whether standard fish meal diets prepared with increasing levels of genetically modified (GM; 150 and 300 g kg,1) maize (event MON810®) as a starch source, showed any nutritional or physiological adverse effects on Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L. postsmolt. The diets with low or high inclusions of GM maize and its near-isogenic parental line (nongenetically modified; nGM maize), were balanced with Suprex maize (Reference) to obtain compositional equivalency of diet starch, sugars and all other nutrients. Total starch level in all diets was 160 g kg,1. After 82 days of feeding, fish growth was high in all groups, however fish fed the GM maize showed slight but significant lower feed intake, which was followed by slight but significant lower specific growth rate and final body weights, compared with fish fed nGM maize, none of the groups varied significantly from fish fed the Reference diet. There was no variation in feed conversion ratios (FCR), protein and lipid efficiency ratios (PER and LER), or protein- and lipid-productive values (PPV and LPV) in this study. No significant effect of maize type was detected on apparent digestibility coefficients (ADC) of dry matter, protein or lipid. Hematological analysis and plasma nutrients varied within normal ranges for Atlantic salmon in all diet groups, except for somewhat elevated aspartate aminotransferase (ASAT) values in all groups. Hepatosomatic index (HSI) with values ranging from 1.37 to 1.60, was significantly higher for the high GM maize group compared with the high nGM maize group but not when compared with the Reference diet group. Lowered spleen (SSI) and head-kidney somatic indices (H-KSI) were registered when fed GM compared with nGM maize, the Reference treatment was however, equal to both. Distal intestine somatic index (DISI) was significantly higher for GM maize-fed fish compared with nGM maize-fed fish, but not significantly different from the Reference diet group. Histological evaluation of the mid- and distal intestine, liver, spleen and head-kidney did not reveal any diet-related morphological changes. Maltase activities in the mid- and distal intestinal tissue homogenates were affected by diet, the fish fed high GM maize having higher activities compared with high nGM maize-fed fish. Leucine aminopeptidase (LAP) and alkaline phosphatase (AP) activities were not affected by diet. Sodium-dependent d -glucose uptake in brush border membrane vesicles (BBMV) isolated from pyloric caeca of fish fed high GM maize was significantly higher than that found in fish fed the analogous diet with high nGM maize. Based on the present findings, the conclusions made are: Atlantic salmon smolts fed GM maize (event MON810®), its near-isogenic parental line and suprex maize (Reference diet), all resulted in high growth rates, ADC and feed utilization. Health, when evaluated by means of mortality (low), normal ranges of blood and plasma parameters, except somewhat elevated ASAT values and minor variations in organ sizes, were considered good in all diet groups. The changes in the glucose transport mechanism and intestinal maltase enzyme activity in the gastrointestinal tract warrant further studies. [source]

Induction of triploidy in large yellow crocker Pseudosciaena crocea (Richardson, 1846): effects of pressure shocks and growth performance in the first rearing year

AQUACULTURE RESEARCH, Issue 13 2008
Jianhe Xu
Abstract The precociously sexual maturation in large yellow crocker Pseudosciaena crocea has become a serious problem. In an attempt to solve this problem, the production of sterile triploids could be an effective strategy. In this study, triploid P. crocea was obtained by subjecting fertilized eggs to pressure shock. Flow-cytometry analysis was used to assess ploidy level. In terms of triploid rate and hatching rate, the optimal conditions of pressure shock for triploidy induction in P. crocea were 7500 psi for 3 min shock at 3 min after fertilization at 20 °C. With the application of these parameters, 100% triploid fish were produced. During the first rearing year, triploid P. crocea had a similar growth performance compared with its diploid counterpart before the age of 8 months and showed a significant advantage at the age of 10 and 12 months in body weight and body length (P<0.05). At the age of 12 months, the carcass weight of triploids was markedly higher than that of diploid control, and gonadal somatic index was significantly lower than that of their diploid control. During the first rearing year, survival in triploid group was 76.44%, inferior to its diploid control (83.21%). [source]

Timing of exposure to a pulp and paper effluent influences the manifestation of reproductive effects in rainbow trout

ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY & CHEMISTRY, Issue 11 2002
Michael R. Van den Heuvel
Abstract Rainbow trout were exposed to a secondary treated, thermomechanical/bleached kraft pulp and paper effluent in 12,000-L, flow-through exposure tanks at an environmental research facility located at a pulp and paper mill in Kawerau, New Zealand. Trout (age, 2+ years) were obtained from a local hatchery and exposed either to upstream river water or a nominal concentration of 12% (v/v) effluent diluted in upstream river water. Three treatment groups were used: Effluent exposure that started approximately three months before gonadal growth (eight-month total exposure), effluent exposure that started approximately halfway through gonadal development (two-month total exposure), and trout exposed to reference water alone for the total duration of the experiment. Trout were sacrificed just before spawning; exposure, growth, and reproductive endpoints were assessed during and at the termination of the experiment. Reduction in growth was observed in both sexes in the eight-month treatment group relative to the river water reference treatment group. No differences were observed in condition factor or liver size in either treatment. Females in the eightmonth exposure group also had significantly lower ovary weight. The two-month exposure group showed no differences from the reference group in growth or somatic indices. Estradiol and testosterone were reduced in blood samples taken from the eight-month exposure group by four months into the experiment as compared to the reference treatment. Steroid and vitellogenin levels in individual female trout from this treatment were significantly correlated with gonadosomatic indices (GSI) measured at the termination of the experiment. The GSI was not correlated strongly or consistently with pregnenolone, nor were any treatment-related pregnenolone differences observed, indicating that the steroid hormone reductions likely were not related to cholesterol side-chain cleavage. Male trout showed significant induction of vitellogenin and lower 11-ketotestosterone during the experiment (only the eight-month group was examined), but this did not result in any significant differences in testes development. Thus, this study has shown an impact of pulp mill effluent exposure on the reproductive physiology of female trout that appeared to be hormonally mediated. Furthermore, the effect could only be manifest when the exposure was initiated before the start of gonad development. [source]

Heavy metal pollution in Antarctica: a molecular ecotoxicological approach to exposure assessment

JOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY, Issue 2000
C. W. Evans
Trematomus bernacchii sampled from two sites at Ross Island, Antarctica, were assessed for condition (gonadal and hepatic somatic indices and condition factor), pathological state (liver and gill histology), hepatic metal (Zn, Cu, Cd and Ni) concentrations, and metallothionein induction by quantitative competitive (qc) RT-PCR. Fish from a polluted site (Winter Quarters Bay) had pathological anomalies including necrosis and periductal inflammation in their livers, and X-cell disease, epithelial hyperplasia, lamellar fusion and aneurysms in their gills. Such anomalies were less common in fish from a relatively pristine site (Backdoor Bay, Cape Royds). Fish from both sites had similar liver concentrations of Zn, Cu and Cd and qcRT-PCR revealed similar levels of hepatic metallothionein mRNA. Ni in the livers of fish from Winter Quarters Bay were higher than those in fish from Backdoor Bay, but the differences were not great enough to affect hepatic metallothionein mRNA significantly. Despite the polluted state of Winter Quarters Bay waters, it seems that the heavy metals present may have only limited impact on the health status of fish collected from this locality. This may reflect a low bioavailability of the heavy metals in Ross Island marine sediments and suggests that other factors, such as relatively high levels of organic pollutants (PAHs, PCBs) or pathogens from the nearby sewage outlet, may play a more significant role in the aetiology of pathological conditions in fish from Winter Quarters Bay. [source]

Cardiac morphology in relation to amoebic gill disease history in Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L.

JOURNAL OF FISH DISEASES, Issue 4 2002
M D Powell
Fish from cages with histories of heavy and light amoebic gill disease (AGD) outbreaks were harvested and the morphology, histology and activities of lactate dehydrogenase determined. Although fish with a history of heavy AGD were smaller, their heart somatic indices were similar to those of fish with a history of light AGD. However, morphometrically the ratios of ventricle axis length and width and axis length and height were significantly higher, and there was an overall thickening of the muscularis compactum in the ventricle of fish with heavy AGD history. There was no difference in the lactate dehydrogenase activity of the ventricle muscle in the two fish groups. These results suggest that the change in ventricle shape associated with AGD was a possible compensation for an increased afterload where the lengthening of the ventricle was compensated for by an increase in muscle thickness, but without any overall ventricular hypertrophy or gain in ventricular mass. This suggests that AGD may be associated with cardiovascular compromise in affected fish. [source]