• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.27 no.4
• /
• pp.479-487
• /
• 2014

Leptin plays an important role in energy homeostasis and reproductive function in fish, especially in reproduction. Migrating fish, such as salmonoids, are affected by external environmental factors, and salinity changes are a particularly important influence on spawning migrations. The aim of this study was to test whether changes in salinity affect the expression of leptin, estrogen receptors (ERs), and vitellogenin (VTG) in chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta). The expression and activity of leptin, the expression of ERs and VTG, and the levels of estradiol-$17{\beta}$ and cortisol increased after the fish were transferred to FW, demonstrating that changes in salinity stimulate the HPG axis in migrating female chum salmon. These findings reveal details about the role of elevated leptin levels and sex steroid hormones in stimulating sexual maturation and reproduction in response to salinity changes in chum salmon.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.25 no.2
• /
• pp.170-176
• /
• 2012

Genetic diversities, population genetic structures and demographic histories of the thread-sail filefish Stephanolepis cirrhifer were investigated by nucleotide sequencing of 336 base pairs of the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) control region in 111 individuals collected from six populations in Korean coastal waters. A total of 70 haplotypes were defined by 58 variable nucleotide sites. The neighbor-joining tree of the 70 haplotypes was shallow and did not provide evidence of geographical associations. Expansion of S. cirrhifer populations began approximate 51,000 to 102,000 years before present, correlating with the period of sea level rise since the late Pleistocene glacial maximum. High levels of haplotype diversities ($0.974{\pm}0.029$ to $1.000{\pm}0.076$) and nucleotide diversities (0.014 to 0.019), and low levels of genetic differentiation among populations inferred from pairwise population FST values (-0.007 to 0.107), support an expansion of the S. cirrhifer population. Hierarchical analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) revealed weak but significant genetic structures among three groups ($F_{CT}$ = 0.028, p<0.05), and no genetic variation within groups (0.53%; $F_{SC}$ = 0.005, p = 0.23). These results may help establish appropriate fishery management strategies for stocks of S. cirrhifer and related species.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.25 no.8
• /
• pp.1138-1144
• /
• 2012

This study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of the dipeptide form of phenylalanine as a new source of amino acid in terms of growth performance and whole-body amino acid composition in comparison to the free form for red seabream (Pagrus major). Fish ($1.46{\pm}0.001g$) were fed four isonitrogenous and isocaloric experimental diets containing 0.7 or 1.4% phenylalanine either in free or dipeptide form. A feeding trial was carried out in three replicates and the fish were fed to apparent satiation for six weeks. At the end of the feeding trial, feed intake of fish was influenced by both phenylalanine form and level and significantly higher values were obtained at an inclusion level of 0.7% and by the use of dipeptide form. However, the other growth parameters did not significantly differ among treatments. Whole-body amino acid compositions revealed no significant changes in concentrations of both essential and non-essential amino acids regardless of the increase in phenylalanine levels or the use of its different forms. The finding in this study indicates that juvenile red seabream can utilize dipeptide phenylalanine as efficiently as free form without any undesirable effects on growth performance or whole-body amino acid composition.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.21 no.9
• /
• pp.1367-1375
• /
• 2008

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of phytase in diets containing cottonseed and soybean meal (CS) on growth performance, feed utilization and digestibility of protein and phosphorus in juvenile olive flounder (initial body weight 2.5 g), Paralichthys olivaceus. Four experimental diets replacing 0%, 30%, 30% and 40% fish meal protein with CS in equal proportion were formulated to be isonitrogenous and isocaloric (designated as CS0, CS30, CS30+P, CS40+P, respectively). Phytase of 1,000 FTU/kg was supplemented in diets CS30+P and CS40+P. Three groups of fish (25 fish per group) were fed one of the experimental diets for 10 weeks. No significant differences were observed in growth performance of fish groups except for the CS40+P diet. Apparent digestibility coefficients of protein and phosphorus in fish fed phytase-containing diets were significantly higher than those of fish fed the CS0 diet. Serum cholesterol was significantly reduced in fish fed the CS-containing diets. Antioxidant activities in the diets and liver of fish were significantly increased with the increment of dietary CS. Gossypol was only detected and found in liver of the fish fed the CS-containing diets. The findings suggest that supplementation of microbial phytase could improve the apparent digestibility of protein and phosphorus in juvenile olive flounder fed the CS-containing diets.

• Animal cells and systems
• /
• v.12 no.3
• /
• pp.171-180
• /
• 2008

The complete larval development of Pagurus japonicus(Stimpson) is described, based on laboratory rearing. The species has four zoeal stages and a megalopa. The larvae are described and illustrated, and detailed comparisons with other pagurid larvae in the Korean coast are made.

• Animal cells and systems
• /
• v.6 no.2
• /
• pp.125-143
• /
• 2002

Heterotrophic flagellates occurring in the marine sediments of Inchon and Ganghwa Island are reported. Fifty-six species from 38 genera were encountered in this survey and two new taxa were recorded: Cyranomonas australis sp. nov. and Gweamonas unicus sp. nov. There was little evidence for endemism because all flagellates including the two new taxa described here have been found from other habitats in Australia which are geographically remote from Korea. This study supports the model that free-living heterotrophic flagellates have a world-wide distribution.

• Animal Systematics, Evolution and Diversity
• /
• v.18 no.1
• /
• pp.59-63
• /
• 2002

Some marine sponges were collected from intertidal zone of Jeju Island with hands during the period from 2000 to 2002 Among them, two species, Strongylacidon conulosa Bergquist and Fromont, 1988 and Haliclona brøndstedi Bergquist and Warne, 1980 are newly recorded in Korea.

• Animal Systematics, Evolution and Diversity
• /
• v.22 no.1
• /
• pp.109-115
• /
• 2006

Two marine gastrotrich species are reported from sublittoral sand bottom of Korea: Diplodasys ankeli Wilke, 1954 and D. meloriae Todaro, Balsamo and Tongiorgi, 1992. Both species are redescribed in detail, with the discussion on the intraspecific variability between Korean specimens and the original description or among Korean specimens. The genus Diplodasys is newly recorded from Korea as well as the Northwest Pacific.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.20 no.3
• /
• pp.424-431
• /
• 2007

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of short road transportation in an open truck during hot season on live weight shrink, physiological responses, and carcass and meat quality of Omani sheep at 6 and 12 months of age. Thirty-six male sheep, 18 of each age group, were used. Age groups were assigned randomly to transported and not-transported groups. The transported group was transported to the slaughterhouse the day of slaughter in an open truck covering a distance of approximately 100 km. The average temperature during transportation was $37^{\circ}C$. The not-transported group was kept in a lairage of a commercial slaughterhouse with ad libitum feed and water for 48 h prior to slaughter. Blood samples were collected from sheep before loading and prior to slaughter via jugular venipuncture to assess their physiological response to transport in relation to hormonal levels. Animals were weighed just before loading onto a truck and after transport to assess shrinkage. Muscle ultimate pH, expressed juice, cooking loss percentage, WB-shear force value, sarcomere length and colour L*, a*, b* were measured on samples from longissimus dorsi, biceps femoris and semitendinosus muscles collected at 24 h postmortem at $1-3^{\circ}C$. Live weight shrinkage losses were 1.09 and 1.52 kg for 6 and 12 month transported sheep, respectively. The transported sheep had significantly (p<0.05) higher cortisol, adrenaline, noradrenaline, and dopamine concentration levels prior to slaughter at both ages than the not-transported sheep. Transportation significantly influenced meat quality characteristics of three muscles. Muscle ultimate pH and shear force values were significantly higher, while CIE L*, a*, b*, expressed juice and cooking loss were lower in transported than not-transported sheep. Age had a significant effect on meat quality characteristics of Omani sheep. These results indicated that short-term pre-slaughter transport at high ambient temperatures can cause noticeable changes in physiological and muscle metabolism responses in sheep.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.18 no.7
• /
• pp.1036-1040
• /
• 2005

Near-infrared reflectance spectroscopic (NIRS) calibrations were developed for accurate and fast prediction of whole broiler chicken carcass composition. The Feed and Forage Foss systems Model 5000 Reflectance Transport Model 5000 with near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS)-WinISI II windows software was used for this purpose. One equation was developed for the prediction of each carcass component. One hundred and fifty freeze dried broiler whole carcass samples were ground in a Cyclotech 1,093 sample mill and analyzed for dry matter, protein, fat, calcium and phosphate. Samples were divided into two sets: a calibration set from which equations were derived and a prediction set used to validate these equations. The chemical analysis values (mean${\pm}$SD) were calculated based on dry matter basis as follows: dry matter: 33.41${\pm}$2.78 (range: 26.41-43.47), protein: 54.04${\pm}$6.63 (range: 36.20-76.09), fat 35.44${\pm}$8.34 (range: 7.50-55.03), calcium 2.55${\pm}$0.65 (range: 0.99-4.41), phosphorus 1.38${\pm}$0.26 (range: 0.60-2.28). One hundred and three samples were used to calibrate the equations and prediction values. The software used was modified to obtain partial least square regression statistics, as it is the most suitable for natural products analysis. The coefficients of determination ($R^2$) and the standard errors of prediction were 0.82 and 1.83 for the dry matter, 0.96 and 1.98 for protein, 0.99 and 1.07 for fat, 0.90 and 0.30 for calcium and 0.91 and 0.11 for phosphorus, respectively. The present study indicated that NIRS can be calibrated to predict the whole broiler carcass chemical composition, including minerals in a rapid, accurate, and cost effective manner. It neither requires skilled operators nor generates hazardous waste. These findings may have practical importance to improve instrumental procedures for quick evaluation of broiler carcass composition.