• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.81-89
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• 2008

An experiment was conducted for 80 days to determine the effect of feeding and starvation on the survival, growth, gonad-somatic index (GSI), hepato-somatic index (HSI), viscera index (LSI), the morphometric changes and hematological parameter in a cultured catfish, Silurus asotus. The survival and growth of the starved group was lower than those of the fed group during the experiment. Starvation resulted in retardation of growth, which provides examples of the reduction of final body weight, growth rate of body weight, specific growth rate and condition factor, whereas the fed group continued to grow and remained in good condition. Blood analysis (cortisol, glucose, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, red blood cell and hemoglobin) showed significant differences between the fed and starved groups at the end of the experiment. These results suggest that all nutritional parameters used for starvation and feeding in this study appear to be a useful index of nutritional status in the cultured catfish.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.455-459
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• 2014

A feeding trial was conducted to determine the optimum dietary protein requirement of young far eastern catfish Silurus asotus. Five isocaloric diets were formulated to contain graded levels of protein (35, 40, 45, 50, and 55%). Triplicate groups of fish (initial body weight of 44 g) were hand-fed to apparent satiation for 9-weeks. Weight gain and specific growth rate of fish fed 55% protein diet were significantly higher than those of fish fed 35 and 40% protein diets, but not significantly different from those of fish fed 45 and 50% protein diets. The feed efficiency of fish fed 50 and 55% protein diets was significantly higher than that of fish fed 35, 40 and 45% protein diets. The protein efficiency ratio of fish fed 40% protein diet was significantly higher than that of fish fed 45, 50 and 55% protein diets, but not significantly different from that of fish fed 35% protein diet. The dietary protein level significantly affected whole body lipid and moisture contents. The results of this study suggest that the 45% protein in the diet is optimal for maximum growth of young far eastern catfish weighing in the range of 44 to 227 g.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.95-104
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• 1998

The dynamic properties of the 3rd-order neuron of the retina was investigated by using conventional intracellular recording techniques. Experiments were performed in the superfused retina-eyecup preparation of the channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus. The cornea, iris, lens, and vitreous were removed by absorption with Kimwipe tissue under the dissection microscope thereby exposing the retina in a hemi -eyecup. The electrical signal was amplified by electrometer, viewed on oscilloscope. Regular signals from the cells were recorded on a penwriter and stored by data recorder and computer. Full-field, spot or annular light stimuli were generated on a computer monitor and focused onto the retina. Baclofen hyperpolarized the dark membrane potential, suppressed sustained component and enhanced transient component of the ON-sustained cell with a large transient component, but did not affect the surround antagonism of the cell. Baclofen selectively suppressed responses evoked by moving bar light stimuli on the ON-OFF transient cell. The results suggest that transient cells have directional selectivity in the inner retina. These dynamic properties of amacrine and ganglion cells were modulated by baclofen. Therefore, it is presumed that there is baclofen-induced directional selectivity in ON-OFF transient cells in the catfish retina.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.399-406
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• 2017

This study was conducted to investigate egg development and larvae morphological development of catfish and to provide basic data to clarify the genetic relationship with Siluriformes fish. The mother fish that was used in this study was caught in the stream of Nakdong River in Uiseong-gun, Gyeongbuk. The temperature range of the breeding was $23.0-25.0^{\circ}C$ (mean $24.0{\pm}1.0^{\circ}C$) and egg size was 1.62-1.70 mm (mean $1.66{\pm}0.05$, n=30). Eggs of catfish began hatching at 54 hours and 40 minutes after fertilization. Immediately after hatching, the total length of larvae was 3.60-3.65 mm (mean $3.62{\pm}0.03$, n=5) and had an egg yolk without swimming ability. On the third day after hatching, the larvae at the medium stage was 8.00-8.65 mm (mean $8.32{\pm}0.45$) in total length, and two pairs of whiskers formed around the mouth were elongated. On the 12th day after hatching, the larvae at the juvenile stage was 16.5-17.0 mm (mean $16.7{\pm}0.35$) in total length, and the stem of each fin was in the range, and the juvenile at this period was morphologically similar to the mother fish.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.249-255
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• 2019

Cadmium is a strong toxic heavy metal which presents in paints and liquid wastes and causes oxidative stress in fish. On the other hand, lead is widely used for different purposes, e.g. lead pipes, it targets vital organs such as liver and kidney causing biochemical alterations. The present study evaluates the effects of 60 days exposure to Cd and Pb either single or combined together in African catfish. Sixty-four fishes were divided into 3 groups and exposed to $CdCl_2$ (7.02 mg/L) or $PbCl_2$ (69.3 mg/L) or a combination of them along with control group. Activities of acid phosphatase (ACP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PDH) were estimated. Moreover, gill, liver and kidney were assayed for activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and levels of glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA). Individual exposure showed that both Cd and Pb significantly decreased LDH activity and SOD activity in the kidney. Pb significantly increased G-6-PDH activity and decreased GSH level in the gill. CAT activity in liver and kidney elevated significantly on Cd exposure while lead caused a significant depletion in the liver and significant elevation in the kidney. Both Cd and Pb significantly increased MDA levels in liver and kidney while Pb increased its level in gills. The combined exposure resulted in normalization of LDH, G-6-PDH activity, and CAT activity in liver and kidney as well as GSH level in both tissues and MDA in gill and kidney. The combination increased SOD activity and MDA level in liver and decreased SOD activity in kidney and GSH level in gills. In conclusion, the antioxidant system of African catfish was adversely affected by prolonged exposure to Cd and Pb. The combined exposure caused less damage than individual exposure and returned most parameters to those of controls.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.545-553
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• 2019

This study was conducted to determine whether the water in which nitrate accumulated during long-term fish culture in an aquaponics system without water exchange could be removed and reused as catfish-culturing water. The catfish (Silurus asotus) were cultured in the urban aquaculture system using BFT (Biofloc Technology) aquaculture and an aquaponics system (two rearing tanks, 3 tons each) without exchanging the rearing water. After 151 days (from March to August) of rearing, 2.8 g of fry had grown to an average weight of 171.3 g (total weight, 56.53 kg) and 235.5 g (total weight 71.1 kg), respectively. The overall survival rate was 65% in the urban aquaculture system. However, the survival rate was 77.7% before separation into the two tanks. The survival rates after the separation were 92.9% and 78.0%. In the early biofloc watermaking process, there was a high mortality rate. After water stabilization, the mortality rate decreased and some mortality occurred during the period when the total amount of suspended solids (TSS) increased. The results of monthly blood analysis of the catfish showed that the AST concentration was significantly higher in April. Blood ALT levels and triglycerides showed no difference in the rearing period and the glucose, cholesterol, and total protein levels were significantly higher in July. There was no difference in the other periods. The plants produced by the aquaponics system using catfish-rearing water were lettuce, basil, chard, and red chicory. These showed smooth growth and a total of 148.85 kg of plants were harvested in five months. It was possible to remove nitric acid from the aquaponics system and reuse it as catfish-rearing water. Maintaining proper plant quantity according to the capacity of the catfish showed that the combination of agricultural and aquatic products was possible.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.598-602
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• 2008

Concentrated catfish Silurus asotus bile (SAB) containing high amounts of ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) and taurocholic acid may have immunosuppressive properties. To investigate the putative immunosuppressive properties of SAB, the anti-proliferation and suppression of early T cell activation markers, and the inhibition of cytokines induced by T cells in response to anti-CD3 mAb activation in mouse splenocytes were examined. The suppression of these activation repertoires are the main properties of calcineurin inhibitors. It was found that SAB effectively suppressed the activation of T cells, and cytokines from T cell activation, at levels similar to cyclosporine A, a calcineurin inhibitor. Although the mechanism in which suppression occurs is not clear, we speculate that SAB from Silurus asotus, which has been known to switch their intake habits to zoophagy during an early adult stage, may explain the suppressive effect of SAB as a result of high amounts of functional UDCA in bile. Our results suggest that the treatment or intake of SAB, either in therapy or as a food supplement, may act as an adjuvant therapy for the prevention of transplant rejection, although further investigation is required before this treatment can be applied clinically.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.109-114
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• 2004

To evaluate the impact of parathion on aquatic organisms, a freshwater bagrid catfish (Pseudobagrus fulvidraco) was exposed to sublethal concentrations $(63,\;95,\;190\;and\;380\;{\mu}g/L)$ of parathion, organophosphorus pesticide for 30 days. Glucose level in the serum of the bagrid catfish was significantly increased than that of control groups in the $190\;{\mu}g/L$ concentration at 30 days and in the $380\;{\mu}g/L$ concentration after 10 days. Bilirubin level was significantly increased in the $190\;{\mu}g/L$ concentration at the end of the experiment. After 10 days, a significant differences of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity increased in the ${\geq}190\;{\mu}g/L$ and $380\;{\mu}g/L$ groups. Though cholesterol concentration was stable, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activities in serum were significantly reduced in the $190\;{\mu}g/L$ at 10 days and in the $380\;{\mu}g/L$ concentration at the end of the experiment. In conclusion, if P. fulvidraco was chronically exposed to ${\geq}190\;{\mu}g/L$ concentration of parathion, the hematological changes may be induced due to the stress response.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.359-365
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• 2015

We investigated the effects of dietary lipid sources on growth and fatty acid composition of juvenile Chinese longsnout catfish. Triplicate groups of fish (initial average weight, 3.8 g) were fed four diets containing either fish oil (FO), soybean oil (SO), linseed oil (LO) and lauric acid (LA) for 10 weeks. There were no differences among the groups in body weight, feed intake, feed efficiency, protein efficiency ratio, and body proximate composition of fish fed the diets containing different lipid sources (P > 0.05) during the study. However, fatty acids compositions of the whole body were influenced by dietary lipid source. Fish fed the SO diet had high concentration of linoleic acid, whereas those of fish fed the LO diet were rich in linolenic acid and arachidonic acid. Fish fed the FO diet had significantly (P < 0.05) higher levels of monounsaturated fatty acids such as 18:1n-9 and 20:1n-9 than those of fish fed the SO and LO diets. Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA; 20:5n-3) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA; 22:6n-3) composition of body were not influenced by dietary lipid source. The results suggest that each of FO, SO, LO or LA can be used as a lipid source in the diets of Chinese longsnout catfish without any negative effects on growth and feed utilization and these data demonstrate the potential impact which dietary fat composition can change the body fatty acid profile.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.417-420
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• 2011

In this experiment, we examined the survival, fertilization, hatching times, and hatching rates of Far Eastern catfish Silurus asotus at pH ranging from 2 to 13 under laboratory conditions. Eggs could be fertilized at pH 3-12. In a hatching experiment, mortality was first observed at pH 13, when all fertilized eggs died within 8 min, followed by pH 2 (30 min), pH 12 (60 min), pH 3 (4 h), and pH 11 (5 h). Hatching only occurred at pH 4-10, with the highest hatching rate at pH 7 (52%) and the lowest at pH 10 (24%). Hatching rates in acid solutions were higher than in alkaline solutions, although the difference was not significant. Hatching was first observed at pH 10, beginning 27 h after fertilization and ending at the 31 h. A clear difference was observed between hatching times, ranging from 31 to 64 h and increasing in order with descending pH.