Trials of improved feeding techniques for Japanese eel larvae based on its olfaction characteristics

• Project/Area Number: 16K14967
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Aquatic bioproduction science
• Research Institution: The University of Tokyo
• Principal Investigator: Watanabe Soichi 東京大学, 大学院農学生命科学研究科(農学部), 准教授 (20507884)
• Project Period (FY): 2016-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Project Status: Completed (Fiscal Year 2017)
• Budget Amount: ¥3,510,000 (Direct Cost: ¥2,700,000、Indirect Cost: ¥810,000); Fiscal Year 2017: ¥1,560,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,200,000、Indirect Cost: ¥360,000); Fiscal Year 2016: ¥1,950,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,500,000、Indirect Cost: ¥450,000)
• Keywords: 種苗生産 / 飼料 / 嗅覚 / ニホンウナギ

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We aimed to clarify the olfaction characteristics of artificial Japanese eel larvae to assess the possibility of improvement of feeding techniques for eel larvae by stimulating olfactory system. To know the olfaction characteristics of eel larvae, several methods to detect the response of olfactory cells were examined in this study, and whole-mount immunohistochemistry of phosphorylated-ERK can be applicable to detect the chemo-reception of the sensory cells in the olfactory epithelia of eel larvae. Newly-developed video acquisition system with infra-red illumination enables us to assess the feeding activities of eel larva under very low visible light conditions as its natural habitat. Further investigation is needed to assess the contribution of olfaction in the feeding activity of Japanese eel larvae; however, useful techniques for the research on eel larvae were established in this study.

Research Products

• [Journal Article] Spatial mRNA Expression and Response to Fasting and Refeeding of Neutral Amino Acid Transporters slc6a18 and slc6a19a in the Intestinal Epithelium of Mozambique tilapia (2018)
  • Author(s): Orozco Zenith Gaye A.、Soma Satoshi、Kaneko Toyoji、Watanabe Soichi
  • Journal Title: Frontiers in Physiology, section Aquatic Physiology Volume: 印刷中 Pages: 212-212
  • DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2018.00212
  • Peer Reviewed / Open Access
• [Journal Article] Effects of fasting and refeeding on gene expression of slc15a1a, a gene encoding an oligopeptide transporter (Pept1), in the intestine of Mozambique tilapia (2017)
  • Author(s): Zenith Zaye Almeda Orozco, Satoshi Soma, Toyoji Kaneko, Soichi Watanabe
  • Journal Title: Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology B-Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Volume: 203 Pages: 76-83
  • DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpb.2016.09.006
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Journal Article] Prolactin and cortisol mediate the maintenance of hyperosmoregulatory ionocytes in gills of Mozambique tilapia: Exploring with an improved gill incubation system (2016)
  • Author(s): Watanabe Soichi, Kohei Itoh and Toyoji Kaneko
  • Journal Title: General and Comparative Endocrinology Volume: 232 Pages: 151-159
  • DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2016.04.024
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Journal Article] Hormonal regulation of aquaporin 3 in tilapia gill: opposing actions of prolactin and cortisol (2016)
  • Author(s): Breves, J., Inokuchi, M., Yamaguchi, Y., Seale, A.P., Hunt, B., Watanabe, S., Lerner, D., Kaneko, K., and Grau, E.G.
  • Journal Title: J. Endocrinol. Volume: 230 Issue: 3 Pages: 325-337
  • DOI: 10.1530/joe-16-0162
  • Peer Reviewed / Int'l Joint Research
• [Journal Article] Morphofunctional features of ionocytes in Japanese eel Anguilla japonica leptocephali acclimated to half-diluted and full-strength seawater (2016)
  • Author(s): Kuroki, M., Seo M.Y., Okamura, A., Watanabe, S., Tsukamoto, K., Kaneko, T.
  • Journal Title: Ichthyological Research Volume: 63 Issue: 4 Pages: 487-495
  • DOI: 10.1007/s10228-016-0520-0
  • NAID: 40020979343
  • Peer Reviewed / Acknowledgement Compliant
• [Presentation] 人工ニホンウナギ仔魚の微小照明条件下での遊泳特性 (2018)
  • Author(s): 畔柳美月、山田祥朗、渡邊壮一
  • Organizer: 東アジア鰻学会研究発表会
• [Presentation] レプト期のニホンウナギはどこで味を感じているのか？ (2017)
  • Author(s): 畔柳美月、倉石 祐、金子豊二、渡邊壮一
  • Organizer: 東アジア鰻学会公開シンポジウム
• [Presentation] Rise of plasma potassium level directly stimulates branchial K+ excreting system in freshwater-acclimated Mozambique tilapia (2017)
  • Author(s): Ishii, M., Watanabe, S., Furukawa, F., and Kaneko, T.
  • Organizer: The JSFS 85th Anniversary-Commemorative International Symposium
  • Int'l Joint Research
• [Presentation] Gene expressions of slc15a1a and b, genes that encode oligopeptide transporters, in the intestine of Mozambique tilapia in relation to nutrient condition (2017)
  • Author(s): Orozco, Z.G.A., Soma, S., Kaneko, T., and Watanabe, S.
  • Organizer: The JSFS 85th Anniversary-Commemorative International Symposium
  • Int'l Joint Research
• [Book] 魚類学 (2017)
  • Author(s): 矢部衞、桑村哲生
  • Total Pages: 377
  • Publisher: 恒星社厚生閣
  • ISBN: 9784769916109
• [Book] 循環式陸上養殖 (2017)
  • Author(s): 山本義久、森田哲男、陸上養殖研究会
  • Total Pages: 307
  • Publisher: 緑書房
  • ISBN: 9784895312943