• Journal of Aquaculture
• /
• v.20 no.3
• /
• pp.147-153
• /
• 2007

The present study was performed to evaluate sitological quality of the cultured and wild river puffer, Takifugu obscurus. Proximate composition, the content of extractive nitrogen, the content of nucleotides and their related compounds, total and free amino acid, and fatty acids were analysed and sensory evaluation in the muscle of the river puffer were compared. The cultured river puffer had a higher moisture content compared to the wild fish, while there was no significant difference in crude lipid, crude protein and ash contents. Nucleotides and their related compounds including ATP, ADP, AMP, IMP, HxR and Hx were detected. The result from analyzing ATP-related compound showed difference in total content by wild and cultured river puffer, and IMP content that had largest influence upon the savory taste of sliced raw fish, was higher in the cultured fishes than wild ones. Breaking strength level of the wild river puffer was higher than that of the cultured fish. High levels of C16:0 and C18:0 were shown in all samples and -3 polyunsaturated fatty acid content were not different between the cultured and wild river puffers (P>0.05). Total 17 amino acids were detected in the samples, and most of the samples had high contents of glutamic acid, aspartic acid, lysine and leucine and low contents of cystine, histidine, methionine and tyrosine. The result from surveying free amino acid content of wild and cultured river puffer showed difference in content, but generally taurine and lysine content for the whole free amino acid held the most part. There was no significant difference in texture, flavor and overall acceptance score between the cultured and wild fishes (P>0.05).

• Journal of fish pathology
• /
• v.22 no.1
• /
• pp.67-73
• /
• 2009

It was examined whether the common belief that "cultured puffer fishes do not contain tetrodotoxin (TTX)", the major lethal substance that accidently causes death in consumers of those fishes, is true in river puffer fish Takifugu obscurus. In mouse bioassay, lethal levels of toxins were detected in the ranks: gonad>liver>intestine>muscle>skin in wild puffer fish. In contrast, no mortality occurred in the mouse bioassay on cultured fish. However, there were sleepiness, sluggish behavior, and hind limb paralysis with the tissue extracts of cultured fish suggesting the presence of TTX or other similarly acting toxins. An attempt to confirm the presence of TTX in cultured fish with high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was not very successful. The results suggest possible existence of TTX toxins or similarly acting toxins.

• Journal of Aquaculture
• /
• v.21 no.4
• /
• pp.331-338
• /
• 2008

Monthly changes in the gonadosomatic index (GSI) and hepatosomatic index (HSI) of wild river puffer Takifugu obscurus, and water quality environment in spawning area during breeding season were investigated from March 1995 to February 1996. Monthly changes in GSI and HSI of T. obscurus, that was cultured in low salinity, were calculated. The external morphology of the gonads, germ cell differentiation during gametogenesis and the reproductive cycle with the gonad developmental phases were investigated by histological analysis. The optimum water quality environment in Ganggyung, Choongcheongnam-do, where is spawning ground of wild T. obscurus, was $15-20^{\circ}C$ (water temperature) and 0 psu (salinity). Monthly changes in the GSI in females and males reached a maximum in May, and then rapidly decreased. Therefore, it is assumed that in the natural condition the spawning period of wild T. obscurus is May to June. In females and males, it showed a negative correlationship between the GSI and HSI. The external morphology of the gonads in female and male T. obscurus, that was cultured in low salinity, is composed of a pair of saccular structure. Based on monthly changes in the GSI, it is assumed that in female T. obscurus, that was cultured in low salinity, spawn from March through May. Therefore, it showed a negative correlationship between changes in the GSI and HSI. On the whole, in females and males, it showed a similar pattern between wild and cultured T. obscurus. The reproductive cycle with the gonad developmental phases can be classified into successive five stages in females: the early growing stage, late growing stage, mature stage, ripe and spent stage, and recovery and resting stage. In males, that can be divided into successive four stages: the growing stage, mature stage, ripe and spent stage, and recovery and resting stage. In case of wild T. obscurus, the spawning period has once a year, however, those cultured in the high water temperature ($20-27^{\circ}C$) - low salinity (under 3.3 psu) condition have reproductive characteristics having possibilities of discharge of eggs and sperms year-round as a multiple spawner.