Impact of dietary fatty acids on muscle composition, liver lipids, milt composition and sperm performance in European eel

I.A.E. Butts, R. Baeza, J.G. Støttrup, M. Krüger-Johnsen, C. Jacobsen, L. Pérez, J.F. Asturiano, J. Tomkiewicz

In order for European eel aquaculture to be sustainable, the life cycle should be completed in captivity. Development of broodstock diets may improve the species’ reproductive success in captivity, through the production of high-quality gametes. Here, our aim was to evaluate the influence of dietary regime on muscle composition, and liver lipids prior to induced maturation, and the resulting sperm composition and performance. To accomplish this fish were reared on three “enhanced” diets and one commercial diet, each with different levels of fatty acids, arachidonic acid (ARA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Neutral lipids from the muscle and liver incorporated the majority of the fatty acid profile, while phospholipids incorporated only certain fatty acids. Diet had an effect on the majority of sperm fatty acids, on the total volume of extractable milt, and on the percentage of motile sperm.
Here, our results suggest that the total volume of extractable milt is a DHA-dependent process, as we found the diet with the highest DHA level induced the most milt while the diet with the lowest DHA level induced the least amount of milt. The diet with the highest level of ARA induced medium milt volumes but had the highest sperm motility. EPA also seems important for sperm quality parameters since diets with higher EPA percentages had a higher volume of milt and higher sperm motility. In conclusion, dietary fatty acids had an influence on fatty acids in the tissues of male eel and this impacted sperm performance.

The 5th International Workshop on the Biology of Fish Gametes   NEW!!!
Ancona (Italy),7th – 11th September 2015.
http://fishgametes2015.com/

FIRST ANNOUNCEMENT

Dear Colleagues,

On behalf of the organizing committee, it is our great pleasure and honor to welcome you to join the 5th International Workshop on the Biology of Fish Gametes that will be held in Ancona (Italy) from September 7 to 11, 2015.

The congress will cover issues on the following topics:

– Oogenesis: the molecular basis behind oocyte growth, egg quality, fertilization and embryo development
– Spermatology: basic and strategic research leading to high quality sperm
– Anthropogenic contaminants in the environment: effects on fish gametes
– Progress and perspectives on fish gametes cryopreservation
– Reproduction and development in ornamental fish and invertebrates
– Fish germ cell: from basic sciences to applied biotechnologies
– Epigenetic programming: from gametes to embryo

We would like to invite contributors like you to submit papers to the conference through this email address according to the Instructions for Authors page on our website. The due date for abstract submissions is June 15th, 2015.

All accepted papers will be published in a special issue of General and Comparative Endocrinology to ensure the widest dissemination of your published work.

We sincerely wish you are planning to join us for this great event and we look forward to seeing you in Ancona!

Should you need further information, please refer to the conference’s website (http://fishgametes2015.com/) or do not hesitate to contact us.

Telephone:
+39 071 220 4990
+39 071 220 4334
+39 071 220 4643

Email:
fishgametes2015@gmail.com
Program Coordinator

Oliana Carnevali
Prof. Developmental Biology

The Sixth Call for STSM (Short-Term Scientific Mission)-Applications

The COST network “AQUAGAMETE” is pleased to announce the 6th call for STSM applications.

Please note the special characteristics of this express call:

1) Deadline for applications is the 25th of January
2) Missions will have to be completed before the 15th of April

We encourage all potential applicants to consider the objectives of AQUAGAMETE and to apply according to the STSM guidelines (see COST Vademecum).

The deadline for applications is the 25th of January. Applications will be evaluated until 26th of January. The missions which are approved for funding in this call have to be performed in the period from 1st of February to 15th of April 2015.

The following documents (in English) are required for a valid application:

1. COST STSM application form submitted via following web site:
https://e-services.cost.eu/w3/index.php?id=91
2. Project proposal with details on the working plan with an indication of the WG(s) and specific objectives of the Action related with their work (see http://aquagamete.webs.upv.es/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/FA1205-MoU.pdf)
3. Financial request justification (how much the grantee expects to spend in travelling, accommodation and meals during the stay);
4. A letter of motivation;
5. A letter of support from the host institution;
6. A short CV including a list of publications and the date of PhD defence (PhD title is not required).
The applications should be submitted to the STSM coordinator (psenicka@frov.jcu.cz) and office of the Chair of COST action Juan F. Asturiano aquagamete@gmail.com.

Notes:
Within 2 weeks after end of the STSM, the grantee is required to send the following documents to the STSM coordinator and his/her host, with aquagamete@gmail.com in cc-:

1) A copy of the grantee’s passport.
2) Complete postal address of grantee.
3) A short (300 words) scientific report reviewed and signed by the host. It should contain a summary of the results reached during the visit.
4) A few (2-4) representative pictures (related to the work done, not sightseeing, please).
The report and pictures will be published at the AQUAGAMETE website.

Each publication produced with support of a STSM has to acknowledge the support of the COST Action. See acknowledgements text section down.

For more information, visit the following web site: https://e-services.cost.eu/stsm

Acknowledgements text
Two versions, short (for posters, i.e.) and long (for papers) are proposed:
Partially funded by……./Person A had a grant from… COST Office (Food and Agriculture COST Action FA1205: AQUAGAMETE).
Partially funded by……./Person A had a grant from… COST Office (Food and Agriculture COST Action FA1205: Assessing and improving the quality of aquatic animal gametes to enhance aquatic resources. The need to harmonize and standardize evolving methodologies, and improve transfer from academia to industry; AQUAGAMETE).

STSM_6th_call
evaluation_6th_call_STSMs
COST_Vademecum_Part_1
FA1205 MoU

Second announcement and programme

DATES: 16th to 20th March 2015
PLACE: Faculty of Fisheries and Protection of Waters USB, Vodnany, Czech Republic

Deadline for applications extended to January 20th.

MAIN TRAINERS FOR PRACTICE:
• H. Gadêlha: Wolfson Centre for Mathematical Biology, Mathematical Institute, University of Oxford
• C. Matthews, IBDML, CNRS, Marseille, France.
• C. Rouvière, Biologie du développement, CNRS, Villefranche sur mer, France.
• G. Prulières: Biologie du développement, CNRS, Villefranche sur mer, France.

LECTURERS:
• J. Cosson and G. Prokopchuk, FFPW USB, Vodnany, Czech Republic
 Sperm motility recording; use of high-speed video camera
• C. Soler Vázquez, PROISER R+D S.L., Valencia, Spain
 Presentation of some soft-wares = CASA (sperm motility parameters) and cell morphometry
• G. Prulières, Biologie du développement, CNRS, Villefranche sur mer, France
 Application of fluorescence and confocal microscopy to aquatic eggs
• R. Rychtarikova, FFPW USB, ICS, Nove Hrady, Czech Republic
 Analysis of cell interior – 3D reconstruction
• D. Stys, FFPW USB, ICS, Nove Hrady, Czech Republic
 Principles of image build-up in the microscope
• T. Nahlik, FFPW USB, ICS, Nove Hrady, Czech Republic
 Training on the use of software dedicated to follow-up of microscope images
• H. Gadêlha, Dept of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics, Cambridge, UK
 Modelisation and quantitative predictions of cell behavior
• B. Dzyuba, FFPW USB, Vodnany, Czech Republic
 Applications of CASA analysis to fish spermatozoa

TRAINEES: 12 maximum

PROGRAM MONDAY 16. 3. 2015
9:30 – 10:00 Registration (local fees)
10:00 – 10:30 Welcome introduction: Presentation of participants / round table
10:30 – 10:45 Coffee break
10:45 – 12:30 Presentation by D. Stys: Principles of image build-up in the microscope
12:30 – 13:30 Lunch break
13:30 – 15:30 Presentation by C. Soler Vázquez: Presentation of some soft-wares = CASA (sperm motility parameters) and cell morphometry
15:30 – 15:50 Coffee break
15:50 – 17:50 Presentations by C. Matthews and C. Rouvière: Fluorescence & overview of Fluorophores

PROGRAM TUESDAY 17. 3. 2015
9:00 – 10:30 Presentations by C. Matthews and C. Rouvière: Microscopy technics (Bright field / dark field / DIC / Phase / polarization / fluorescence)
10:30 – 10:45 Coffee break
10:45 – 12:30 Presentations by C. Matthews and C. Rouvière: Confocal microscopy
12:30 – 13:30 Lunch break
13:30 – 15:30 Practice 1 Group A; Practice 2 Group B; Practice 4 Groups C+D
15:30 – 15:50 Coffee break
15:50 – 17:50 Practice 1 Group C; Practice 2 Group D; Practice 4 Groups A+B

WEDNESDAY 18. 3. 2015
9:00 – 10:30 Presentations by C. Matthews and C. Rouvière: Optical sectioning microscopies
10:30 – 10:45 Coffee break
10:45 – 12:30 Presentations by C. Matthews and C. Rouvière: Image treatment and analysis
12:30 – 13:30 Lunch break
13:30 – 15:30 Practice 1 Group B; Practice 2 Group A; Practice 5 Groups C+D
15:30 – 15:50 Coffee break
15:50 – 17:50 Practice 1 Group D; Practice 2 Group C; Practice 5 Groups A+B
18:00 – 19:00 Practice 6 Groups A+B

THURSDAY 19. 3. 2015
9:00 – 10:30 Presentation by G. Prulière: Application of fluorescence and confocal microscopy to aquatic eggs
10:30 – 10:45 Coffee break
10:45 – 12:30 Practice 1, ImageJ software
12:30 – 13:30 Lunch break
13:30 – 15:30 Practice 2, “ImageJ” software
15:30 – 15:50 Coffee break
15:50 – 17:30 Practice / ImageJ macro
18:00 – 19:00 Practice 6 Group C+D

FRIDAY 20. 3. 2015
9:00 – 10:30 Presentation by R. Rychtarikova: Analysis of cell interior – 3D reconstruction
10:30 – 10:45 Coffee break
10:45 – 12:30 Presentation by H. Gadêlha: Modelisation and quantitative predictions of cell behavior
12:30 – 13:30 Lunch break
13:30 – 15:30 Presentation & training by T. Nahlik: Training on the use of software dedicated to follow-up of microscope images
15:30 – 15:50 Coffee break
15:50 – 17:00 Training by T. Nahlik (continued)

PRACTICE GROUPS:
 4 people/ each group called A, B, C, D
 Practice 1: Setting up the microscope, alignment, observations using different optical techniques
 Practice 2: Confocal microscopy
 Practice 3: Sperm motility (CASA)
 Practice 4: fixation and immuno-staining on fixed oocytes 1/2
 Practice 5: immuno-staining and mounting 2/2
 Practice 6: quantitative cell behavior modelisation

Second announcement and programme Vodnany