How Cold Shock Affects Ploidy Level and Early Ontogenetic Development of the Sterlet, A. ruthenus L.

The objective of the present research was to study the effect of cold shock (3 °C and 6 °C) on fertilized eggs of the sterlet, Acipenser ruthenus L. Cold shock was applied for various durations (30, 60 and 90 min) and the ploidy levels, survival, and genotypes of the treated embryos/larvae were recorded. Analysis of ploidy levels confirmed the presence of diploid, triploid, and mosaic (1n/2n, 2n/3n, and 1n/2n/3n) genotypes in experimental groups, while it was strictly diploid in control groups. Microsatellite genotyping confirmed both the incidence of polyspermy and retention of the 2nd polar body in experimental groups. However, patterns of inheritance in all diploid offspring in experimental and control groups revealed classical Mendelian disomic inheritance. Interestingly, the observed mosaic sterlets had normal morphology and were alive. However, some larvae had abnormal morphology which may be due to haploid syndrome. In all treatment groups (treatments: 3 °C–30 min; 3 °C–60 min; 3 °C–90 min; 6 °C–60 min), where the percentage of polyploid/mosaic larvae were high, the mortality was also high. Whereas, in the control groups (where there were only diploid (2n) larvae), the mortality was relatively low

Microsatellite DNA polymorphism in sturgeon species and their hybrids reared in Polish aquaculture farms

ABSTRACT Highly variable microsatellite DNA loci show high levels of variation per locus and provide molecular markers for species and for populations of small effective size. In this study we applied microsatellite markers to identify specimens belonging to several sturgeon species and their interspecific hybrids. Nine microsatellite loci were analysed for five species (beluga, Siberian sturgeon, Russian sturgeon, sterlet and paddlefish) and for their three interspecific hybrids: Siberian sturgeon x Russian sturgeon, beluga x sterlet (called bester) and for beluga x bester. Certain alleles at five loci: Afu-22, were diagnostic for the examined sturgeon species and their interspecific hybrids

Hematological and blood gas profiles of triploid Siberian sturgeon (Acipenser baerii Brandt)

The aim of the study was to determine the impact of triploidization on hematological and blood gas parameters in Siberian sturgeon, Acipenser baerii Brandt. The study material was comprised of juvenile Siberian sturgeon specimens with total body lengths of 22.3 ± 2.9 cm and mean body weights of 75.3 ± 40.7 g. Triploidization was confirmed to result in significant changes in the hematological profile of Siberian sturgeon. In comparison to the diploid group, the fish with higher levels of ploidy exhibited lower erythrocyte counts, increased hemoglobin concentration, and increased values of mean corpuscular hemoglobin and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration. A significant decrease in the percentage share of lymphocytes and an increase in the percentage share of granulocytes in the peripheral blood were also observed, which indicate disturbances in the immune response (particularly in the adaptive immune system) and greater susceptibility to stress. Triploidization did not, however, cause significant differences in the blood gas profile