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Development of digestive enzymes in larvae of Mayan cichlid Cichlasoma urophthalmus

Fish Physiology and Biochemistry volume 37, pages 197–208 (2011)Cite this article

Abstract

The development of digestive enzymes during the early ontogeny of the Mayan cichlid (Cichlasoma urophthalmus) was studied using biochemical and electrophoretic techniques. From yolk absorption (6 days after hatching: dah), larvae were fed Artemia nauplii until 15 dah, afterward they were fed with commercial microparticulated trout food (45% protein and 16% lipids) from 16 to 60 dah. Several samples were collected including yolk-sac larvae (considered as day 1 after hatching) and specimens up to 60 dah. Most digestive enzymes were present from yolk absorption (5–6 dah), except for the specific acid proteases activity (pepsin-like), which increase rapidly from 8 dah up to 20 dah. Three alkaline proteases isoforms (24.0, 24.8, 84.5 kDa) were detected at 8 dah using SDS–PAGE zymogram, corresponding to trypsin, chymotrypsin and probably leucine aminopeptidase enzymes, and only one isoform was detected (relative electromobility, Rf = 0.54) for acid proteases (pepsin-like) from 3 dah onwards using PAGE zymogram. We concluded that C. urophthamus is a precocious fish with a great capacity to digest all kinds of food items, including artificial diets provided from 13 dah.

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Acknowledgments

First author thanks to the Programa Estatal de Nuevos Talentos, of the Consejo de Ciencia y Tecnología, of the state of Tabasco for the fellowship grant. This study was financed by FOMIX CONACYT-Government of the State of Tabasco, through the research project TAB-2005-C06-16260 and partial funding for this research was provided by the Aquaculture Collaborative Research Support. Program accession number # 1373. The Aquaculture CRSP is funded in part by United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Grant No. LAG-G-00-96-90015-00 and by participating institutions. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the US Agency of International Development.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratorio de Acuicultura Tropical-DACBIOL, Universidad Juárez Autónoma de Tabasco, Carretera Villahermosa Cárdenas km 0.5, 86139, Villahermosa, Tabasco, México

    G. López-Ramírez, C. A. Cuenca-Soria, C. A. Alvarez-González, N. Perales-García, G. Márquez-Couturier, L. Arias-Rodríguez, J. R. Indy & W. M. Contreras-Sánchez

  2. Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas del Noroeste, Mar Bermejo 145, Colonia Playa Palo de Santa Rita, 23090, La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico

    D. Tovar-Ramírez

  3. Centro Interdisciplinario de Ciencias Marinas (CICIMAR-IPN), Av. IPN s/n, Col. Playa Palo de Santa Rita, 23096, La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico

    C. A. Cuenca-Soria & J. L. Ortiz-Galindo

  4. IRTA-Sant Carles de la Ràpita, Crta. Poble Nou km 5.5, 43540, Sant Carles de la Rapita, Tarragona, Spain

    E. Gisbert

  5. Departamento de Biología Aplicada, Escuela Politécnica Superior. La Cañada de San Urbano, Universidad de Almería, 04120, Almería, Spain

    F. J. Moyano

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  1. G. López-Ramírez
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  2. C. A. Cuenca-Soria
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  3. C. A. Alvarez-González
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Correspondence to C. A. Alvarez-González.

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López-Ramírez, G., Cuenca-Soria, C.A., Alvarez-González, C.A. et al. Development of digestive enzymes in larvae of Mayan cichlid Cichlasoma urophthalmus . Fish Physiol Biochem 37, 197–208 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10695-010-9431-6

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