Early nutritional programming in sterlet sturgeon (Acipenser ruthenus) with dietary soybean meal: Assessment of growth performance, body composition, and expression of GH, IGF-I, and Ghrelin genes.

This study was performed to assess the impacts of introducing diets containing different levels of soybean meal (SBM) to sterlet sturgeon (Acipenser ruthenus) larvae on growth performance, body composition, and molecular responses in the juvenile stage. The sterlet larvae (57.68 ± 0.66 mg) were weaned onto the formulated diets as follows: a control diet containing 60% fishmeal (FM), and three experimental diets with replacement levels of 15% (SBM15), 30% (SBM30), and 45% (SBM45) of FM with SBM. Then, a total of 260 fish (initial weight: 323.33 ± 11.76 mg) were fed the four different diets for 28 days in triplicates (phase 1, nutritional programming, NP). All treatments were then fed with the FM diet in phase 2 (common phase), and in phase 3 (challenge phase), all experimental groups (6.14 ± 0.08 g) were transitioned to SBM45 for 28 days. At the end of phases 1 and 2, growth performance showed no significant differences among the groups (P > 0.05), while significantly improved in SBM45 than the control at the end of phase 3 (P < 0.05). No significant differences were found among the groups in any phases for whole body composition (P > 0.05). Additionally, the total saturated fatty acids were significantly higher in SBM-based diets than FM at the end of phase 3 (P < 0.05). The mRNA of GH, IGF-I was significantly affected by variation of FM replacement level (P < 0.05). The expression level of Ghrelin was up-regulated in fish fed SBM at the end of phase 3 (P < 0.05). Our findings revealed that NP can positively enhance the adaptation of juvenile sterlet sturgeon to 45% SBM when exposed to the same diets at the larval stage. Further research is being carried out to provide valuable insights into the underlying mechanisms of digestive performance for this species.

Antifouling coating based on biopolymers (PCL/ PLA) and bioactive extract from the sea cucumber Stichopus herrmanni.

An important challenge to decrease the toxic effects of the common biocides in marine environments and to achieve suitable ecofriendly natural antifouling coatings is to find effective natural antifoulants and efficient biodegradable coatings. In this study, antifouling activities of nine bioactive extracts (non-polar to polar) from different organs of the sea cucumber Stichopus herrmanni were tested against five bacterial strains, barnacle and brine shrimp larvae. The ethyl acetate extract of the body wall showed the highest in-vitro antifouling activity including high antibacterial and anti-barnacle activities and low toxicity against the brine shrimp as non-target organism. Based on these results, 10 phr of the ethyl acetate extract from S.herrmanni was added to different coatings consisting of polycaprolactone (PCL)/polylactic acid (PLA) blends containing various compositions of PLA (0, 10, and 20 wt.%). Polyvinyl chloride panels were coated with the prepared antifouling coatings and immersed in seawater for three months. Panel coated with PCL 80% /PLA 20% containing 10 phr of the antifoulant (panel-5), showed the highest resistance against fouling settlement with fouling coverage of 41.66% (P < 0.05). In addition, the lowest fouling weight was measured in panel-5 as well (81.00 ± 9.85 g) (P < 0.05). These findings indicate the antibacterial and antifouling potential of semi-polar bioactive extracts from the S. herrmanni body wall as natural antifoulants, as well as the enhanced antifouling performance of PCL/the natural antifoulant coatings by adding PLA.

Growth performance and plasma metabolites in juvenile Siberian sturgeon Acipenser baerii (Brandt, 1869) subjected to various feeding strategies at different sizes.

The effect of various feeding strategies was evaluated on growth performance and biochemical parameters in two sizes of Siberian sturgeon (465.75 ± 11.18 and 250.40 ± 12 g) during 45 days. Fish were distributed into six experimental treatments including large fish with satiation feeding (LA), small fish with satiation feeding (SA), large fish with 50% satiation feeding (LR), small fish with 50% satiation feeding (SR), large starved fish (LS), and small starved fish (SS). Differences in final weight between LA and LR treatments were not noticeable, whereas SA and SR treatments showed significant differences. Growth parameters were more affected in small fish. In condition factor and weight gain in starved treatments, a considerable reduction occurred by interaction between feeding strategies and fish size, so the lowest values were obtained in SS treatment. Glucose levels significantly decreased in small fish during the starvation. Interaction between feeding strategy and fish size indicated the highest and lowest albumin level in SA and SS treatment, respectively. Cholesterol, triglyceride, total protein, and globulin showed no significant differences. It can be deduced that small fish are more sensitive to starvation than the large fish. Since glucose and albumin showed significant decrease in starved small fish, these parameters can help to monitor nutritional status and feeding practices. It was indicated that in both sizes of Siberian sturgeon, feeding 50% satiation reduced the food cost without negative impact on physiological condition, and it can be considered as an appropriate strategy to face unfavorable circumstances.

Histological characterization of the special venom secretory cells in the stinger of rays in the northern waters of Persian Gulf and Oman Sea.

Rays are common elasmobranches in the northern waters of Persian Gulf and Oman Sea that may have one or more mineralized serrated stingers on the whip-like tail. The stingers are covered by epidermal cells among which some can produce venom. When these animals are dorsally touched, the stinger can be introduced into the aggressor by a whip reflex mechanism of the tail when the pectoral fins are touched, causing severe mechanical injuries and inoculating the venom. The exact localization of the venom secretory cells in the stinger of different species is controversial, but it is known that the cells are preferentially located in the ventro-lateral grooves in marine stingrays. A comparative morphological characterization of the stinger epidermal tissue of different ray species in the northern part of Persian Gulf and Oman Sea was carried out in this study. EDTA was used for decalcification of stings and conventional histological processes were subsequently employed. The results indicated that structure of dermis and epidermis layers of stings in all species are similar to the structure of corresponding layers in other parts of fish's body. The results of the present study have shown that all examined species of Dasyatidae family, but not Myliobatidae and Gymnuridae families, had venom secretory cells. Distribution of venom secretory cells varies in each species and is often located around or inside the stinger ventro-lateral grooves. These differences among the stingers of various species may explain the envenomation severity in these species.

Study of patient's injuries by stingrays, lethal activity determination and cardiac effects induced by Himantura gerrardi venom.

Stingrays are common inhabitants in the northern waters of the Persian Gulf and Oman Sea. In the present study, the clinical aspects of injuries induced in three patients bitten by stingrays in Hormozgan province waters were first examined. The LD(50) of crude venom extract obtained from the most common stingray in Hormozgan province (Himantura gerrardi) was then estimated by up-and-down dosing and double dose methods in mice. Third and finally, the cardiac symptoms induced by injection of the extract from the venomous spines were evaluated in rats. Intense pain was noticed in all human cases. Redness was observed in two cases, and spasm and seizure were each recorded in only one case. LD(50) of the venom extract in mice was about 100 mg kg(-1). The observed cardiac symptoms in rats included an increase in pulse rate and various changes in electrocardiogram (ECG) parameters such as T and Q values, and PR and RR intervals.