Growth dynamics of white muscle fibres in relation to somatic growth of larvae of European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax, L.).

The body length and diameter of muscle fibres from the right hypaxial tail myomeres were measured in 100 sea bass larvae (Dicentrarchus labrax, L.) at ages of 40 to 90 days, from a fish farm in Croatia. The larvae were kept at a temperature of 19-20 degrees C and fed with standard feed for their respective ages. Body lengths of larvae 40-90 days old varied from 8 to 42 mm, increasing significantly in 10-day intervals (p < 0.001), except between days 50 and 60 when there was no increase in the body length. The measured diameters of muscle fibres ranged from 10 to 80 microm, the mean value increasing except between days 50 and 60. The fibre diameter in larvae aged up to 60 days was 10-40 microm, while that in larvae older than 70 days was 51-80 microm. In 90-day-old larvae there were no fibres of 10-20 microm in diameter; however, the number of fibers of 61-80 microm diameter increased. A statistically significant concordance was determined between the body length and fibre diameter of larvae 70 to 90 days old. Between days 50 and 60, arrested growth of the larval body and corresponding decrease in fibre diameter was observed. From day 45 until days 59, larvae were fed with Artemia nauplii and microparticles of formulated diets. From the day 60, minced fish was added to formulated diets. This change in diet probably resulted in the observed growth arrest.

Estrogen and progesterone receptors as prognostic factors in breast cancer.

The relation between estrogen receptors (ER) and/or progesterone receptors (PgR) and some clinical factors such as tumor size, axillary node involvement, histological tumor grade, and disease-free interval (DFI) in 500 patients with operable (TNM stage I-III) breast cancer was studied. ER-positive (ER+) tumors were commoner in older patients, whereas PgR-positive (PgR+) tumors were similarly distributed within the age groups. The concentration of ER+ protein also increased with age in contrast to PgR+ protein concentration. However, receptor status was not associated with menopausal status independently of age. Axillary node involvement influenced neither ER nor PgR status, but there was a statistically significant relation between tumor size and positivity of ER or PgR. There was no association between histologic tumor grade and either steroid receptor phenotype. DFI was longer in patients with ER+ than those with ER- tumors, independently of axillary nodal status. The positivity of PgR in patients with ER+ tumors contributed to an even longer DFI, suggesting that the combination of ER/PgR is a better indicator of DFI than ER or PgR alone.

Yersinia ruckeri septicaemia in experimentally infected carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) fingerlings.

The presence of Yersinia ruckeri, the causal agent of enteric redmouth disease (ERM) in salmonids and a few other freshwater fish, has so far been reported from a variety of sources including the intestine of healthy carp. Since there are no data on the pathogenicity of this bacterium for carp, 15 fingerlings were experimentally infected by intraperitoneal injection of about 5 x 10(5) cells. Thirteen injected fish were moribund or died within 4 days with septicaemic lesions. Two survivors were sampled on Day 28 after infection. Yersinia ruckeri was reisolated from the internal organs of all experimental fish. By histopathological examination moribund fish had generalised bacteriaemia with inflammation, degeneration and necrotic foci in kidney, liver and spleen, corresponding to findings described previously in ERM of rainbow trout. Survivors of challenge on Day 28 had a chronic disease characterised by prominent peritonitis and enteritis, exhaustion of the erythroid, granuloid and lymphoid components in haematopoietic kidney tissue as well as focal degeneration and necrosis in organs. These data indicate a high sensitivity of carp to intraperitoneal infection with a relatively low dose of Y. ruckeri.

[Relation between grades of histologic differentiation and hormone receptors in breast cancer]. / Odnos izmedu stupnja histoloske diferenciranosti i hormonskih receptora kod raka dojke.

The relationship between the grade of histologic differentiation of the tumor and estrogen (ER) and progesterone (PgR) receptor values was analyzed in 261 patients with breast cancer of the invasive duct type. There was a statistically significant difference in concentration and incidence of positive and negative ER and PgR with regard to histologic grade. The concentration and number of positive hormone receptors increased with better differentiation of the tumor. A statistically significant correlation between histologic grade, hormone receptor values and axillary nodal involvement was obtained only in patients with no metastases to axillary lymph nodes.

Fumonisin B1 causes multiple lesions in common carp (Cyprinus carpio).

Year-1 carp were fed ratios containing 100mg/kg and 10 mg/kg of added fumonisin B1 for 42 days. The experimental and control fish were examined clinically during the experiment and at the end all fish were necropsied and histological changes recorded. Blood vessels, liver, exocrine and endocrine pancreas, excretory and haematopoietic kidney, heart and brain were sensitive both to 100 and 10mg/kg of FB1 in the diet and the rodlet cell (RC) frequency was considerably increased in and around damaged tissues. Many damaged blood vessels contained stacks of RCs above the endothelium. Other changes subsequent to fumonisin exposure that have not been previously reported include scattered lesions in the exocrine and endocrine pancreas, and interrenal tissue, probably due to ischemia and/or increased endothelial permeability. Presented findings indicate the need for more intensive studies of fumonisin-induced toxicity in cultured fish.

Histochemical analyses of digestive enzymes in the intestine of adult large-scaled gurnard (lepidotrigla cavillone, lacepède, 1801).

Localization and activity levels of the following digestive enzymes in the intestine of free-living large-scaled gurnard were determined: non-specific esterase, alkaline and acid phosphatase as well as aminopeptidase. Enzymatic activity of the four enzymes was confirmed in all intestine parts but with different distribution through the enterocytes and varying in diverse intensity according to intestine part. This research is part of a broader research project on the biology of economically important fish from the Adriatic Sea. Our study reveals that in the large-scaled gurnard, the middle and posterior intestinal segments play the major role in digestion and absorption of proteins, whereas all parts of the intestine participate in lipid absorption and intracellular digestion. The high protein and lipid content in the diet of the large-scaled gurnard is most likely responsible for high activities of esterase, alkaline phosphatase and aminopeptidase, as they are involved in digestion and absorption of proteins and lipids.

Osteological development of the garfish (Belone belone) larvae.

Garfish, Belone belone (Linnaeus, 1761) is an elongate, slander fish inhabiting the Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean Sea. These fish from the Belonidae (Actinopterygii) family have important commercial value for Croatian fisheries. Samples for research were collected from experimental hatching in the Novigrad Sea. Preparation techniques included fixation in buffered formalin, trypsin clearing and staining with alcian blue and alizarin red. As little is known of garfish osteology and bone morphology, the main goal of this study was to describe ossification process in garfish fry. At hatching, no skeletal structure is present. Newly-hatched larvae also had no osteological elements. Ossification started at 7 day post-hatching (DPH) [total length (TL) 18 mm] with head bones and vertebral neural arch. Head skeleton continued to develop mostly over the period from 7 to 10 DPH. At 21 DPH (TL 49 mm), ossification process seemed to be finished, but it was not possible to distinguish borders of all bones. The primary interest of our research was to understand the growth dynamics as well as transformation of supporting body elements from cartilage to bone. At the end, developmental characteristics and functional aspects of this formation in different fish species are discussed.

The development of the digestive tract in larval European catfish (Silurus glanis L.).

The European catfish, Silurus glanis L., has become an important aqua cultural fish in Croatia, and it is cultivated extensively in ponds in polyculture with carps. The development of the digestive tract in S. glanis was studied with the aim of improving intensive fish production. Research was carried out on S. glanis larval stadium from 1- to 19-day post-hatching (DPH). The main histological methods used were: haematoxylin and eosin staining, periodic acid Schiff staining (PAS), Alcian blue (AB) and toluidin blue staining (TB). A yolk sac was present during the first 5 days (1-5-DPH). During the initial 3-DPH period, there was no trace PAS and AB activity in the digestive tract. Differentiation of the digestive tract began at 3- to 5-DPH. The oesophagus was positive for AB at 5-DPH, PAS and TB after 7-DPH. Differentiation of enterocytes began at 5-DPG and the intestines were complete at 11-DPH. Development of liver and pancreas was also studied. The analysis of data obtained in this study suggests that after 5-DPH catfish larvae have morphologically completed digestive tracts.