Partial characterization of digestive proteases in juveniles of Microphis brachyurus (short-tailed pipefish) (Syngnathiformes: Syngnathidae)

Short-tailed pipe fish (Microphis brachyurus) is a freshwater organism with high economic potential for the aquarium hobby, so it is necessary to implement methods to promote its culture through studies of digestive physiology. General activities of acid and alkaline proteases were evaluated, as well as the effect of pH, temperature and inhibitors. The optimal pH of stomach proteases was 2, while the optimal pH of intestinal proteases was 10. Optimal temperature for the acidic proteases was 35 ºC, while for alkaline proteases it was 45 ºC. Thermal stability showed high resistance at 35 ºC for both acid and alkaline proteases (above 100% residual activity). Acid proteases are resistant at pH 2 (50% of residual activity), meanwhile alkaline proteases were highly resistant at pH 10 (90% of residual activity). Acid proteases were inhibited by 80% with pepstatin A and alkaline proteases were inhibited with TLCK and TPCK for trypsin (75%) and chymotrypsin (80%), respectively. Finally, metallo-proteases were 75% partially inhibited some serine proteases by 75% with EDTA. In conclusion, M. brachyurus has a good digestive capacity, since they can degrade a wide variety of proteins due to their greater proteolytic activity.(AU)

El pez pipa (Microphis brachyurus) es un organismo dulceacuícola con alto potencial económico para la acuarofilia; sin embargo, es necesario implementar su cultivo a través de estudios de fisiología digestiva. Se evaluó el efecto del pH, temperatura e inhibidores sobre las actividades enzimáticas de proteasas ácidas y alcalinas. El pH óptimo de proteasas estomacales es de 2, mientras que el de proteases intestinales es de 10. La temperatura óptima de proteasas ácidas es de 35 ºC y las alcalinas de 45 ºC. La estabilidad térmica para proteasas ácidas y alcalinas es a los 35 ºC (más de 100% de actividad residual). La estabilidad a los diferentes pH de las proteasas ácidas es en 2 (50 % de la actividad residual), mientras que para las proteasas alcalinas es en 10 (90 % de la actividad residual). Las proteasas ácidas fueron inhibidas en 80% con pepstatina A y las proteasas alcalinas fueron altamente inhibidas con TLCK para tripsina (75%) y TPCK quimitripsina (80%). Finalmente, las metaloproteasas fueron inactivadas con EDTA en 70%. En conclusión, M. brachyurus tiene una buena capacidad digestiva al degradar una amplia variedad de proteinas debido a su alta actividad proteolítica.(AU)

The sagittal otolith morphology observations of sturgeon species in Iranian waters of the Caspian Sea / Observaciones sobre la morfologia de otolitos sagitales de varias especies de esturion en las aguas iranies del Mar Caspio

The morphology of the sagittal otolith of Great sturgeon (Huso huso), Persian sturgeon (Acipenser persicus) and starry sturgeon (Acipenser stellatus) species from the Iranian waters of the Caspian Sea were studied. Three otolith measurements and three shape indices were recorded from 90 sturgeon specimens. Fish biometry traits were measured and relationship between sagittal otolith length (OL)-total length (TL), and sagittal otolith weight (WO)-body weight of fish (BW) were estimated. Sagittal otolith has a triangle shape with irregular edges in great sturgeon, elongate triangle with smooth surfaces in Persian sturgeon, and relatively circular with smooth surface in starry sturgeon. The ratio of the WO/BW in starry sturgeon was significantly higher ( P <0.05) than great sturgeon and Persian sturgeon. There is a direct proportional relationship between BW and WO in Persian sturgeon (r2=0.7), great sturgeon (r2=0.9) and starry sturgeon (r2=0.9). Regression line slope for these relationships in starry sturgeon were less than Persian sturgeon and great sturgeon. Furtheremore, there is significant linear regression between OL-TL. Results showed that it is possible to identify Caspian sturgeon species based on body morphometry and sagittal otolith characteristics.

Se estudió la morfología del otolito sagital del gran esturión (Huso huso), el esturión persa (Acipenser persicus) y el esturión estrellado (Acipenser stellatus) de las aguas iraníes del Mar Caspio. Se registraron tres mediciones de otolitos y tres índices de forma, de 90 especímenes de esturión. Se midieron los rasgos de la biometría de los peces y se estimó la relación entre la longitud del otolito sagital (LO) - longitud total (LT) y el peso del otolito (PO) - peso del cuerpo de los peces (PC). El otolito sagital tiene forma de triángulo con márgenes irregulares en el gran estu- rión (Huso huso), triángulo alargado con superficies lisas en estu- rión persa y relativamente circular con superficie lisa en esturión estrellado. La relación del PO / PC en el esturión estrellado fue significativamente mayor (P <0.05) que el gran esturión y el estu- rión persa. Existe una relación directamente proporcional entre PC y PO en el esturión persa (r2 = 0.7), el gran esturión (r2 = 0.9) y el esturión estrellado (r2 = 0.9). La pendiente de la línea de regresión para estas relaciones en el esturión estrellado fue menor que el esturión persa y el gran esturión. Por otra parte, existe una regresión lineal significativa entre LO-LT. Los resultados mostraron que es posible identificar especies de esturión del Caspio basadas en la morfometría corporal y las características del otolito sagital.

Effects of different dietary of protein and lipid levels on the growth of freshwater prawns (Macrobrachium carcinus) broodstock / Efecto de diferentes niveles dietéticos de proteína y lípidos en el crecimiento de reproductores del langostino de agua dulce (Macrobrachium carcinus)

Objective. Evaluate the effects of varying dietary protein and lipid levels on the growth and body composition of adult freshwater prawns, Macrobrachium carcinus (Linnaeus 1758), in a recirculation system for 11 weeks (77 days). Materials and methods. The experimental treatments were assigned in triplicate. Six test diets were formulated with three different protein levels (35, 40 and 45%) and two lipid levels (8 and 13%). Results. The highest survival rate, growth indices and feed utilization were observed for M. carcinus adults fed protein:lipid diets of 35:13, 40:13 and 45:13, and the lowest values for these parameters were recorded for prawns fed diets with the lowest lipid levels; the differences in these parameters between these types of diets were significant (p<0.05). A non-significant tendency for an increased percentage of protein in the body with an increased dietary protein level was observed. The percentage of lipids decreased with an increasing dietary protein level, and no definite trends in ash content were found. Conclusions. The results suggest that a diet with 35% dietary crude protein and 13% lipids enhances the growth and body composition of adult M. carcinus.

Objetivo. Evaluar los efectos de diversos niveles dietéticos de proteína y lípidos en el crecimiento y composición corporal de reproductores del langostino de agua dulce Macrobrachium carcinus (Linnaeus 1758), en un sistema de recirculación durante 11 semanas (77 días). Materiales y métodos. Los tratamientos experimentales fueron asignados por triplicado. Seis dietas de prueba fueron formuladas con tres niveles diferentes de proteínas (35, 40 y 45%) y dos niveles de lípidos (8 y 13%). Resultados. Se observó la tasa más alta de supervivencia, índices de crecimiento y utilización del alimento para ejemplares adultos de M. carcinus alimentados con niveles dietarios de proteína: lípidos de 35:13, 40:13 y 45:13, mientras que el valor más bajo en estos parámetros se registró en langostinos alimentados con el nivel más bajo de lípidos; las diferencias en estos parámetros entre estos tipos de dietas fueron significativas (p<0.05). Se observó una tendencia no significativa en un aumento del porcentaje de proteína en el cuerpo con un nivel mayor de proteína dietética. El porcentaje de lípidos disminuyó con un nivel de proteína dietario creciente, y no se encontró ninguna tendencia definida en el contenido de cenizas. Conclusiones. Los resultados sugieren que una combinación de dieta de proteína cruda del 35% y 13% de lípidos mejora el crecimiento y composición corporal de M. carcinus adultos.

Reproductive performance of the Mesa silverside (Chirostoma jordani Woolman, 1894) under natural and controlled photoperiods

Chirostoma jordani is a native annual species inhabiting lacustrine waters of the Central Mexico Plateau. It is widely distributed and is currently facing high environmental pressures. Five experiments were performed to study the reproductive performance of this species. Four of the experiments were conducted in 270-L indoor recirculation tanks. Two males and one female at the first stage of reproduction were included in each test. A photoperiod of 14 light hours and 10 dark hours was used. In a fifth experiment, 10 females and 15 males were kept in an outdoor 3,000-L recirculation tank under natural photoperiod. The number of spawns, fertilised eggs and 30-day-old juveniles were counted and the survival rate was calculated. The results indicated significant differences (P< 0.05) between treatments. Higher spawn numbers and greater egg production were observed under controlled photoperiod, and higher numbers of juveniles and a higher survival rate were observed under natural photoperiod. The trials exhibited different patterns of egg production during the experiment. The egg production in the natural-photoperiod trials followed a polynomial curve model. In contrast, the trials under the controlled photoperiod showed an irregular pattern of increases and decreases in egg production.