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UN SDG
Turkish Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 2017, Vol 17, Num, 5     (Pages: 959-966)

Morphological Differences of White Muscle Fibers and Genetic Diversity of Fast and Slow Growing Atlantic Sturgeons (Acipenser oxyrinchus)

Dobrochna Adamek 1 ,Małgorzata Rzepkowska 1 ,Hanna Panagiotopoulou 2-3 ,Teresa Ostaszewska 1 ,Magdalena Fajkowska 1 ,Maciej Kamaszewski 1 ,Ryszard Kolman 4

1 Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Departament of Ichthyobiology, Fisheries and Aquaculture Biotechnology, Faculty of Animal Sciences, 02-786 Warsaw, Poland
2 Polish Academy of Sciences, Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Pawińskiego 6 5a, 02-106 Warsaw, Poland
3 Polish Academy of Sciences, Museum and Institute of Zoology, Wilcza 64, 00-679 Warsaw, Poland
4 Inland Fisheries Institute in Olsztyn, Department of Ichthyology, Oczapowskiego 10, 9 10-718 Olsztyn-Kortowo, Poland
DOI : 10.4194/1303-2712-v17_5_11 Viewed : 7006 - Downloaded : 3767

The aim of this study was to establish causes of variation in body weight of Atlantic sturgeons reared for reintroduction program. Substantial disproportion of individuals released into freshwaters may influence reintroduction success. Histological analysis of white muscle was conducted due to large share of this tissue in body weight. Comparison of morphological
structure of white muscle tissue showed significant statistical differences between the fast and the slow growing sturgeons. Mosaic hyperplasia (MH) was observed in white muscle tissue in both sturgeon groups, but the number of proliferating myonuclei was significantly higher in slow growing individuals. Genetic analysis applying 16 microsatellite loci revealed comparable levels of polymorphism and assigned the studied individuals into kin groups consisting of both fast and slow growing sturgeons. The study revealed that the slow growing group had higher growth potential in further stages of development, but the fast growing sturgeons based on the histological analysis of muscle fiber distribution were more advanced in muscle tissue growth. Moreover, difference in growth rate could be caused by complex polygenic inheritance of the trait.

Keywords : Atlantic sturgeon, growth, white muscle fibers, microsatellite DNA.