Basic Methods for the Study of Reproductive Ecology of Fish in Aquaria

Captive-rearing observations are valuable for revealing aspects of fish behavior and ecology when continuous field investigations are impossible. Here, a ...

Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology

To develop a novel method of detecting rectal cancer, we assessed relationships between intra-abdominal fat distribution and rectal cancer in Japanese patients. Subjects comprised 38 patients with rectal cancer apparent on CT-colonography and 110 other cases. The intra-abdominal fat area was determined by calculating pixel distribution with attenuation values from -140 HU to -40 HU. The area of intra-abdominal fat was measured on axial images using an interslice gap of 10 mm. Profile curves of intra-abdominal fat were in the plane direction from diaphragm to anus. Of note is the fact that Ogura's peak, a secondary small peak around the rectal cancer, was apparent on the profile of intra-abdominal fat, with 73.7% of rectal cancers displaying Ogura's peak. In comparison, only 19.1% of other cases displayed Ogura's peak on this profile. The relationship between fat and rectal cancer is difficult to explain. However, making good use of these results showing intra-abdominal fat distribution, a computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) system for detecting rectal cancer according to the presence of Ogura's peak has potential as a method of mass screening. As only 148 cases were investigated in the present study, the accumulation of additional data is needed. More detailed studies with larger patient populations are warranted.

[Evaluation of Intra-abdominal fat distribution using X-ray CT data for detection of rectal cancer].

The effects of restricted feeding (20 g/day from gestational day (GD) 6 to 28) on pregnancy outcome and blood parameters were examined in pregnant rabbits. As compared with the group which was allowed free access to diet throughout the gestational period (NT group), the group subjected to restricted feeding (R group) showed significantly lower values in many parameters such as total protein, albumin and triglyceride on GDs 22 and 28, reflecting low nutritive conditions. In addition, there were significant changes in blood coagulation-related parameters, suggesting an imbalance between coagulation and anti-coagulation factors. Moreover, abortions occurred in about half of the animals of the R group between GDs 23 and 27. When aborted rabbits were compared with those which could maintain pregnancy under restricted feeding, total protein, albumin, platelets and antithrombin III values and especially blood progesterone concentration were significantly lower in aborted rabbits on GD 22, prior to occurrence of abortion. These results suggested that abortions due to restricted feeding might be brought about by lower nutritive conditions, an imbalance of blood coagulation-related factors and lower blood progesterone concentrations.

Effects of restricted feeding on blood parameters in pregnant rabbits.

Changes in clinical pathology parameters, particularly those related to blood coagulation, were examined throughout the gestation period in New Zealand White rabbits. As compared with the non-pregnant group, the following major changes were observed in the pregnant group. For blood coagulation-related parameters, platelets increased progressively and fibrinogen increased slightly from organogenesis, prothrombin time was significantly prolonged during organogenesis and shortened in the late fetal growth stage, activated partial thromboplastin time was significantly prolonged during the fetal growth stage, and antithrombin III increased during and after late organogenesis. Such changes in blood coagulation-related parameters during the later stages of gestation seem to be physiological responses in preparation for protecting against excessive haemorrhage or haemostasis at parturition. For the other haematological and blood chemical parameters as well as progesterone, red blood cell counts, haemoglobin and haematocrit began to decrease during organogenesis and continued to decrease thereafter. Reticulocyte counts significantly increased during organogenesis and decreased thereafter. White blood cell parameters, except for neutrophils, showed significant decreases during the fetal growth stage. Serum progesterone concentration reached its highest level early in organogenesis and decreased thereafter. Total protein, albumin, glucose, cholesterol, calcium, blood urea nitrogen and creatinine decreased significantly during the middle and/or late periods of gestation. In conclusion, the data obtained from the present study can be used as background data for effective evaluation of reproductive toxicology in rabbits, and pregnant rabbits may serve as models of pregnant women in research pertaining to clinical pathology and gestation.

Changes in blood parameters in New Zealand White rabbits during pregnancy.

Changes in blood parameters, especially those related to blood coagulations, were examined on gestational days (GDs) 6, 18 and 28 in Japanese White rabbits. As compared with the non-pregnant group, the following changes were observed in the pregnant group. For blood coagulation-related parameters, fibrinogen, platelets and antithrombin time III (ATIII) was significantly increased on GD 18 and/or GD 28, and activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) was significantly prolonged on GDs 18 and 28. For the other hematological and blood chemical parameters, hemoglobin and hematocrit values were significantly decreased on GDs 18 and 28. Reticulocyte counts significantly and prominently increased on GD 18 and then decreased to significantly lower levels than those in the non-pregnant group on GD 28. Eosinophils and basophil showed significant decreases on GD 18 and/or GD 28. The serum progesterone concentration reached its highest level on GD 18. Total protein (TP), albumin, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), cholesterol, calcium, glucose and blood urea nitrogen were significantly decreased on GD 18 and/or GD 28. These results were almost similar to those in the pregnant New Zealand White rabbits (Mizoguchi et al., 2010).

Changes in blood parameters in pregnant Japanese White rabbits.

In our previous study on the effects of restricted feeding on pregnant rabbits (Matsuoka et al., 2009), animals given 20 g/day of diet on and after gestation day 6 (GD 6) showed significant changes in blood coagulation-related parameters suggesting a tendency to bleed and a decrease in serum concentration of progesterone, an important factor to maintain pregnancy, on GD 22, and a half of them showed serum progesterone concentrations less than 4.0 ng/ml which resulted in abortions on and after GD 23. In the present study, the effects of restricted feeding of 20 g/day from GD 6 to GD 22 on embryo-fetal and placental development on GD 23 as well as on blood coagulation-related parameters and serum progesterone concentrations on GD 22 were examined in pregnant rabbits. As compared with the non-restricted feeding (Not-treated, NT) group, the restricted feeding (RF) group showed lower values of platelets, fibrinogen, activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) and antithrombin III (ATIII) and a longer prothrombin time (PT), reflecting an inhibition of blood coagulation, and a decrease in serum progesterone concentration on GD 22. Cesarean section performed on GD 23 revealed that the RF group showed a tendency towards an increase in the embryo-fetal death index and lower body weights and placental volumes compared with the NT group. Histological examination of the placenta in the RF group revealed that the labyrinth zone was thin and many glycogen-containing cells still remained in the basal zone, suggesting a delay in placental growth.

Effects of restricted feeding on fetal and placental development in pregnant rabbits.

Size-advantage and low-density models have been used to explain how mating systems favor hermaphroditism or gonochorism. However, these models do not indicate historical transitions in sexuality. Here, we investigate the evolution of bidirectional sex change and gonochorism by phylogenetic analysis using the mitochondrial gene of the gobiids Trimma (31 species), Priolepis (eight species), and Trimmatom (two species). Trimma and Priolepis formed a clade within the sister group Trimmatom. Gonadal histology and rearing experiments revealed that Trimma marinae, Trimma nasa, and Trimmatom spp. were gonochoric, whereas all other Trimma and Priolepis spp. were bidirectional sex changers or inferred ones. A maximum-likelihood reconstruction analysis demonstrated that the common ancestor of the three genera was gonochoristic. Bidirectional sex change probably evolved from gonochorism in a common ancestor of Trimma and Priolepis. As the gonads of bidirectional sex changers simultaneously contain mature ovarian and immature testicular components or vice versa, individuals are always potentially capable of functioning as females or males, respectively. Monogamy under low-density conditions may have been the ecological condition for the evolution of bidirectional sex change in a common ancestor. As T. marinae and T. nasa are a monophyletic group, gonochorism should have evolved from bidirectional sex change in a common ancestor.

Kazuya Fukuda

Laboratory of Fish Behavioral Ecology,
Tateyama Station,
Field Science Center,
Laboratory of Fish Behavioral Ecology, Tateyama Station, Field Science Center

Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology

Basic Methods for the Study of Reproductive Ecology of Fish in Aquaria

Kazuya Fukuda

.css-o250i3{font-size:18px;font-family:Open Sans,sans-serif;line-height:21.6px;}Laboratory of Fish Behavioral Ecology,Tateyama Station,Field Science Center,Laboratory of Fish Behavioral Ecology, Tateyama Station, Field Science Center

Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology

Basic Methods for the Study of Reproductive Ecology of Fish in Aquaria

Laboratory of Fish Behavioral Ecology,
Tateyama Station,
Field Science Center,
Laboratory of Fish Behavioral Ecology, Tateyama Station, Field Science Center