• Animal cells and systems
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.117-124
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• 2007

The present study demonstrates the changes in body weight (BW) and plasma sex steroid hormone profiles during artificial maturation induced by human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) or salmon pituitary extract (SPE) injections in cultured eel, Anguilla japonica, kept in seawater for 3 months. In the weekly SPE-injected female group, BW was relatively stable during vitellogenesis. Following induction of vitellogenesis, females exhibited a rapid increase of BW, and the oocytes were observed to be in the migratory nucleus stage at the end of the experiment. Plasma testosterone (T) and $estradiol-17{\beta}$ ($E_2$) levels increased slightly during vitellogenesis and peaked at an average of 5.82 ng/mL and 4.76 ng/mL, respectively, at the end of the experiment. In the weekly control and HCG-injected female groups, BW slowly decreased during the experimental period, and the oocytes of the two groups were observed to be at the primary yolk globule stage. In the weekly HCG-injected female group, plasma T and $E_2$ levels increased slightly during vitellogenesis and decreased afterward. In the control female group, however, plasma T and $E_2$ levels were not altered during the experimental period. Furthermore, plasma $17{\alpha},20{\beta}-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one$ (DHP) was not detected in all experimental groups. Fertility and hatching rates of SPE-injected females were significantly higher in those that ovulated 15 h after DHP injection than 18 h. These results indicate that long rearing in seawater increases responsiveness to SPE in ovarian maturation of the Japanese eel, resulting in shortened period from completion of vitellogenesis by sex steroid hormone production.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.237-242
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• 2011

To evaluate the proximate composition and main nutritive ingredients (vitamin A, $V_A$; vitamin E, $V_E$; cholesterol; the composition of fatty acids) between eels cultured in different domestic eel farms, we analyzed edible parts of eels that were cultured in three "Water Recirculation System (WRS)" farms and three "Still-Water System (SWS)" farms. We found differences in crude protein, crude lipids and the ash content of eel meat between the farms, but water content showed no significant difference. $V_A$ and $V_E$ contents did not show meaningful differences between the two culture methods, but there was a noticeable distinction between the eel farms. In particular, $V_E$ content showed significant differences between the eels of each farm (highest farm, about 25 mg/100 g dry wt; lowest farm, about 1 mg/100 g dry wt). The fatty acids of cultured eels were composed of monoenes (MUFA, 55-60%), saturates (SFA, 30-33%), $\omega$-6 highly unsaturates (HUFA, 1.6-2%) and $\omega$-3 HUFA (8-9.2%). The MUFA content of WRS eels ($59.9{\pm}1.97%$) was higher than that of SWS eels ($55.8{\pm}0.48%$). The contents of other fatty acids were higher in SWS eels (SFA, $33.0{\pm}0.52%$; $\omega$-6FUFA, $1.98{\pm}0.2%$; $\omega$-3 HUFA, $9.2{\pm}0.67%$) than in WRS eels (SFA, $30.5{\pm}1.34%$; $\omega$-6 HUFA, $1.62{\pm}0.19%$; $\omega$-3 HUFA, $8.0{\pm}0.5%$).

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.12-19
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• 2022

In the present study, we investigated the effects of recombinant eel gonadotropins (rec-GTHs) on maturation induction in immature ovarian culture in vitro and sex steroid hormones in vivo in the Japanese eel Anguilla japonica. To study the in vitro effects of rec-GTHs on estradiol-17β (E2) production in immature ovarian tissues, ovarian tissues were incubated with different doses of rec-follicle-stimulating hormone (rec-FSH) or rec-luteinizing hormone (rec-LH). The results revealed that the E2 levels in the rec-FSH (0.1, 0.5, or 1 ㎍/mL)- and rec-LH (0.1 or 0.5 ㎍/mL)-treated groups were significantly higher than those in the female eels from the control group. Furthermore, to investigate the in vivo effects of rec-GTHs on the gonadosomatic index (GSI) and plasma sex steroid hormone levels, the eels were injected intraperitoneally with eel's ringer (control), salmon pituitary extract (SPE; for female eels), human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG; for male eels), rec-FSH, rec-LH, and rec-FSH + rec-LH once a week. The results revealed that except for the SPE and the hCG groups, none of the groups exhibited a significant difference in GSI values. However, in vivo plasma E2 levels increased at the end of 4 weeks after rec-FSH treatment in female eels. Based on these results, it is suggested that rec-GTHs may have a positive effect on sexual maturation in female eels; however, further studies on complementary rec-protein production systems and additional glycosylation of rec-hormones are needed to elucidate hormone bioactivity in vivo and in vitro.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.56 no.4
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• pp.401-410
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• 2023

This study examined the characteristics of eel Anguilla japonica sperm using the CASA (computer-assisted sperm analysis) system and attempted to provide the composition for artificial seminal plasma by regulating of inorganic elements. Sperm samples were first divided into four groups based on motility and progressive motility: (A) 0-10%, (B) 10-40%, (C) 40-70%, and (D) 70-100%. For observing sperm velocity variations, VCL, which is curve motion velocity, showed the highest values in all groups. The directional factor, beat cross frequency, was lower in higher activity groups, showing an opposite correlation with sperm activity. The head sizes of spermatozoa in higher activity groups were significantly larger than those in lower activity groups. The Na⁺ and K⁺ ions were important in the inorganic composition of seminal plasma in this species. Furthermore, regulating the composition in artificial seminal plasma improved the formula compared to the existing element, exhibiting 120 mM Na and 30 mM K when the sperm was conserved for a long time and 120 mM NA and 40 mM K when the sperm was conserved for a short time.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.56 no.5
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• pp.634-643
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• 2023

The effects of dietary supplementation with fermented blood meal (FBM) in two forms were evaluated on the growth performance, hematological parameters, innate immune response, antioxidant capacity, digestive enzyme activity and intestinal histology of Japanese eel Anguilla japonica. A commercial powder feed was used as a basal diet (Con). Six other diets were prepared by supplementing 2, 4 and 6% FBM either in powder or liquid form to the Con diet (designated as P2, P4, P6, L2, L4 and L6, respectively). In total 420 eels (initial mean body weight: 55.1±1.71 g) were distributed into 21 tanks (450L) at a density of 20 eels per tank. Three replicate groups of fish were fed one of the seven diets twice daily for 12 weeks. No significant differences were observed in the growth performance and survival among all groups. Fish fed FBM-containing diets showed significantly improved hematological parameters, innate immunity and antioxidant capacity than those in the Con group. Fish fed FBM-containing diets showed significantly enhanced digestive enzyme activity, villus length and goblet cells than those in fish fed Con diet. These results indicate that both powder and liquid FBM could be a good functional feed additive to improve innate immunity and digestion in Japanese eel.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.265-275
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• 2009

G Protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) mediating wide ranges of physiological responses is one of the most attractive targets for drug development. Rhodopsin, a dim-light photoreceptor, has been extensively used as a model system for structural and functional study of GPCRs. Fish have rhodopsin finely-tuned to their habitats where the intensity and the wavelength of lights are changed depending on its water-depth. To study the detailed molecular characteristics of GPCR architecture and to understand the fishery light-sensing system, genes encoding rod opsins were isolated from fishes living under different photic environments. Full-length rod opsin genes were obtained by combination of PCR amplification and DNA walking strategy of genomic DNA isolated from olive flounder, P. olivaceus, Japanese eel, A. japonica, and Common carp C. carpio. Deduced amino acid sequences showed a typical feature of rod opsins including the sites for Schiffs base formation (Lys296) and its counter ion (Glu113), disulfide formation (Cys110 and Cys187), and palmitoylation (Cys322 and Cys323) although Cys322 is replaced by Phe in Japanese eel. Comparison of opsins by amino acid sequence alignment indicated the closest similarity between P. olivaceus and H. hippoglossus (94%), A. japonica and A. anguilla (98%), and C. carpio and C. auratus (95%), respectively.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.446-455
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• 2004

The ichthyofauna and community structure in Hongcheon river, Korea, was investigated from April to October 2002. During the surveyed period, 52 species belonging 11 families were collected. There were 23 Korean endemic species (44.23%), including Rhodeus uyekii, Acheilognathus signifer, A. yamatsutae, Coreoleuciscus splendidus, Koreocobitis rotundicaudata and Silurus microdorsalis. Dominant species were Zacco platypus (20.38%), and subdominant species were Z. temmincki (19.62%). Also, Rhynchocypris oxycephalus (8.45%), Pungtungia herzi (8.01%), C. splendidus (6.63%) were numerous. Of the 6 introduced fishes in Hongcheon river Carassius cuvieri, Lepomis macrochirus and Micropterus salmoides were originated from foreign countries but Anguilla japonica, Gymnogobius urotaenia, Rhinogobius giurinus were introduced from other native river systems. According to the fish distribution, the fish community of Hongcheon river was divided into 4 groups by principle component analysis (PCA).

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.23 no.12
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• pp.1454-1459
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• 2013

This study investigated the effects that water temperature and the administration of estradiol-17${\beta}$ (E2) had on the sex ratio and growth of the Japanese eel, Anguilla japonica. Glass eels (total length${\fallingdotseq}$6.5 cm) were differentiated into an E2 group and an E2-free group and then they were reared for about four months at three water temperature levels of $20^{\circ}C$, $24^{\circ}C$, and $28^{\circ}C$. The results showed that the young eels survived normally at the rearing water temperature of ${\geq}24^{\circ}C$, and grew to a mean size of 20 cm (total length). In the E2-free group, temperature was not found to increase the sex ratio (feminizing rates); however, the sex ratio of the E2-administrated group was found to be a little higher at a high temperature ($28^{\circ}C$). The growth of the E2 group was lower than the growth of the E2-free group at $24^{\circ}C$ and the E2 concentration levels in the plasma at $24^{\circ}C$ were found to be significant after the end of the E2 administration period (178 days). Therefore, we thought that long-term administration of E2 must be considered to be the reason for growth decline in spite of the prominent sex ratio effect. Our results indicate that temperature was not related to an increase in the feminizing rate (sex ratio) in the Japanese eel, Anguilla japonica, and other environmental factors (rearing density, salinity, etc.) that have the possibility of inducing ovarian differentiation must be investigated.

• Journal of fish pathology
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.315-325
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• 2007

Histological changes in gill and liver of eel, Anguilla japonica (average weight 96±3.6 g) were examined with formalin bath at 0~500 ppm for 1, 6 and 24 h. Hyperplasia, hypertrophy, cell fusion, desquamation and necrosis of epithelial cells at gill lamella and gill filament were observed from 6 h at 200 ppm, 1 h at 300 ppm, 1 h at 400 ppm and 1 h at 500 ppm. In the exposure of formalin 100 ppm for 24 h, epithelial cells arrangement of gill filament and gill lamella showed thinner and more regular order than the control. trophy and pyknosis of hepatocytes, congestion at sinus or central vein, degeneration of cytoplasm were observed in the liver from 24 h at 100 ppm and 200 ppm, 6 h at 300 ppm, 1 h at 400 ppm and 500 ppm. However, there were not any histological changes at liver of 100 ppm-1, 6 h, 200 ppm-1, 6 h and 300 ppm-1 h compared with the tissue of control.

• Journal of fish pathology
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.237-245
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• 2011

Disease survey was conducted to investigate the cause of high mortality in 23 farms of eel, Anguilla japonica, during the period from 2000 to 2010. Seven kinds of fish pathogens were confirmed in the tested fish, which included: Pseudodactylogyrus sp. (infection rate: 65.5%, 19/29 samples), aquabirnavirus (ABV, 62.5%, 15/24 samples), Edwardsiella sp. (44%, 11/25 samples), anguillid herpesvirus 1 (AngHV1, 16.7%, 2/12 samples), Heterosporis sp. (10.3%, 3/29 samples), Vibrio sp. (8%, 2/25 samples), Trichodina sp. (3.4%, 1/29 samples). The rate of single infection was 44.8% (13/29 samples), while 62.1% (18/29 samples) showed mixed type of infection with 2 to 5 different pathogens. The most predominant mixed infection were Pseudodactylogyrus sp.-Edwardsiella sp. (10.3%, 3/29 samples), Pseudodactylogyrus sp.-ABV (10.3%, 3/29 samples), Edwardsiella sp.-ABV (6.9%, 2/29 samples). Infection by the above infectious parasites, bacteria and virus was confirmed in tested eels of juvenile to adult sizes that were cultured at $25{\sim}30^{\circ}C$ in almost the examined farms.