Changes in serum thyroid hormone levels and thyroid gland activity of artificially maturing female Japanese eel (Anguilla japonica)

In order to evaluate the involvement of the thyroid gland in reproduction, thyroid functioning was described in female cultivated Japanese eel (Anguilla japonica) in progressive stages of sexual maturation induced by chum salmon pituitary homogenate (SPH) treatment. Serum thyroid hormones, thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3) were also measured in each stage. Thyroid gland activity (epithelial cell height) was high before SPH injection (previtellogenic stage), further increasing at the early vitellogenic stage, thereafter decreasing to late vitellogenic and migratory nucleus stages. The profiles of both T3 and T4 changed during vitellogenesis, being high during previtellogenic and early vitellogenic stages, and subsequently declining, thus mimicking thyroid gland activity. These results suggest that the thyroid has relation with eel ovarian development during artificial maturation.

Locomotor activity rhythm in the Japanese eel Anguilla japonica elvers

Under artificial LD cycles （6, 12, 18 L）, the elvers of Japanese eel, Anguilla japonica, showed a 24 h cycle of locomotor activity rhythm being most active at light transitions ： the eels＇ activity rose to a primary peak after lights-off, followed by a quiescent period during which they buried into the shelters or lying motionlessly on sand for most of the time, and then reached a secondary peak before lights-on. Elvers could resynchronize their activity rhythm with a new photo cycle within 4 d. Moreover, their activity level at dark phase significantly increased as the light period was prolonged ： higher activity levels during shorter dark period. However, the elvers did not display clearly the existence of a circadian rhythm under constant light or dark conditions. The timing of daily activity rhythm evidenced in the Japanese eels may occur through the action of the LD cycles with a weak participation of an endogenous circadian system. In all the LD cycles, over 99% of the activity occurred in the dark phase, indicating that the eels were always nocturnally active no matter what time of day it might be. Under 12 L conditions, the eels＇ activity level and the time outside sand were significantly elevated both at light and dark phases as temperature increased from 10 - 15 to 20 - 25 ℃. The activity rhythm pattern （ i. e. , two peaks occurring around light transitions） did not apparently change among temperatures. However, in contrast with the primary activity peaks immediately after lights-off at 20 and 25 ℃, the timing of the primary peaks at 10 and 15 ℃ showed a latency of a few hours following lights-off, indicating the inhibiting effect of low temperature on the eels＇ activity.

Effect of estradiol-17β on pituitary-thyroidal axis of Japanese eel (Anguilla japonica)

The effect of estradiol-17β (E2)treatment on the pituitary-thyroidal axis has been investi- gated in female Japanese eels in seawater. The eels were injected with 1 mg/kg body weight (BW) weekly for two to eight weeks; another group was treated with 5 mg/kg BW weekly for eight weeks and sacrificed three days after the last injection. In the pituitary, using RT-PCR systern, the thyroid stim- ulating hormone 3 subunit mRNA (TSHβ MRNA) level is slowly increased in the low-dose E2 treatment group. A significant increase in values occurred after eight weeks E2 injections. The histological structure of the thyroid follicles suggests a hypo-activity as shown by a reduced epithelial cell height in eels injected with E2 after six and eight times, and eventually reached a minimum level after eight weeks. Using ra- dioimmunoassay of thyroxine (T4),triiodothyronine (T3) in the serum, a slowly decrease of both hor- mones is demonstrated. On the other hand, the TSHβ mRNA level is significantly increased from initial in the high-dose E2 treatment group. The histological structure of the thyroid follicles suggests a hypo- activity, and a sharp decrease of the both hormones is also indicated. These data suggest that the expres- sion of TSHβ mRNA level is increased and thyroid hormone release is depressed by E2, the effects de- pend upon E2 inection period and dose. Furthermore, E2 could not directly influence the TSHβ mRNA expression and, TSH transcription might be controlled by a negative feedback of thyroid hormone.

Gene-associated microsatellite markers confi rm panmixia and indicate a diff erent pattern of spatially varying selection in the endangered Japanese eel Anguilla japonica

The Japanese eel(Anguilla japonica)is a commercially important fi sh species in East Asia and its recruitment has been rapidly declining since 1990s.Clarifying the genetic population structure of A.japonica is the basis of multinational cooperation on its management and protection,due to its large distribution range.Gene-associated markers have been proved powerful in delineating fi ne-scale population genetic structure and spatially varying selection.In the present study,we developed 24 polymorphic gene-associated microsatellite markers including 18 loci associated with the genes under selection in the two North Atlantic eel species(Anguilla anguilla and Anguilla rostrata)and 6 loci based on transcript sequences.A total of 13 geographic populations were sampled across its distribution range,including 11 samples from China(9 from China’s mainland and 2 from Taiwan region),and 2 samples from Japan.A total of 416 individuals(mostly glass eels)were collected and genotyped at the 24 microsatellites.All measures of diff erentiation were accordant with a panmictic scenario(F ST=-0.001)in A.japonica.No footprints of spatially varying selection were found,indicating that the selection pattern in A.japonica might be diff erent from that in the two North Atlantic eel species.We suggest that A.japonica should be managed as a single unit and management and conservation eff orts must be coordinated at the international level,as overexploitation in any region will decrease its recruitment across the whole distributional range.

Acute Toxicity and Bactericidal Property of Tetrakis Hydroxymethyl Phosphonium Sulfate in Japanese Eel

[ Objective] To understand the toxicity and sterilization effects of the tetrakis hydroxmethyl phosphonium sulfate （THPS） as a novel quatemary phosphonium biocide. [ Method] Under hydrostatic conditions, the acute toxicity and bactericidal property of THPS on the Fiexibacter coiumnaris （ F. columnaris） were observed in Japanese eel. The semi-lethal concentration （LCso）, safe concentration （Sc）, minimum inhibitory concentration （MIC）, minimum bactericidal concentration （MBC） and the sterilization rate of THPS were calculated, respectively. [ Result ] The LCso of THPS at 24, 48 and 96 h were 11.9, 9.9 and 9.1 mg/L, respectively. The Sc of THPS at 24 h was 2.1 mg/L; the MIC and MBC of THPS to the F. columnaris were 0.36 and 0.72 mg/L; and the sterilization rate was 100% at a concentration of 0.7 mg/L at 12 h. The sterilization rate of THPS had no great change with pH values varying from 5.5 to 9.5. [ Condusion] The THPS is a novel, safe and effective biocide for prevention and treatment of bacterial diseases of Japanese eel.

Reproductive farming technology in Japanese eel and chub mackerel

Japanese eel(Anguilla japonica)and chub mackerel(Scomber japonicus)are commercially valuable species in Asian aquaculture.The reduction in eel and chub mackerel resources has been a serious problem in recent years that should be addressed by reducing the catch of their natural populations to halt their decline and reach the Sustainable Development Goals.Furthermore,securing sufficient food supply by aquaculture is an important step in addressing the increasing demand for fish products in recent years.Traditionally,juveniles of the Japanese eel and chub mackerel have been captured to be raised in aquaculture.Owing to the extensive research on these species,new technologies have been developed for full-lifecycle aquaculture of Japanese eel in 2011 and chub mackerel in 2014.These technologies are expected to stop the decline of natural resources and provide a stable food supply.Recently,seed production of these species has increased owing to the development of successful broodstock management and larval rearing techniques.Fundamental information on oocyte maturation and ovulation and its application for artificial induction of sexual maturation is needed to produce good quality seeds of the Japanese eel and chub mackerel.Here,hormonal mechanisms and previously and newly developed methods for artificial seed production have been described.

Gonadal development and silvering of the Japanese Eel(Anguilla japonica)in the Yangtze River during downstream migration

The Yangtze River and its branches are important habitats for the Japanese Eel(Anguilla japonica),however,there are few data on gonadal development and silvering indices of eels during the downstream spawning migration.This study investigates gonadal development in 121 Japanese eels caught downstream from the Jingjiang Reach of the Yangtze River in October 2012.We found that in females the ovaries of most of the out-migrating population developed earlier than the testes in males,that is,the ovaries reached stage 3(F3)or early stage 4(eF4),while the testes were at stage 2(M2)or stage 3(M3).Gonadal development in eels collected in 2012 was earlier than that of samples caught from the same region in 2007e2008 and from the Pearl River Estuary in 1972e1973.The average age,body size and gonadal-somatic index of females were significantly greater than those in males.For both females and males,there were no significant differences between the two stages of gonadal development in any of the morphological indices,which indicates that gonadal development of the Japanese Eel is independent of body size.These results help us to understand the spawning population of Japanese Eels in the Yangtze River.