The objectives of study were to explore the effects of exogenous methyltestosterone( MT) on the growth and gonadal development of overwintering Whitmania pigra. Before overwintering,0. 1,1. 0,10. 0,100. 0,150. 0 μg·L^-1 of MT were added to the aquaculture water for 6 weeks. The changes of growth performance,gonad index,endogenous steroid hormones level and internal quality were measured after hibernate for 60 days. Then the tissue slice technique was used to observe the spermary( ovary) of Wh. pigra.The results showed that the body weight,survival rate and gonadal index increased first and then decreased with the increase of exogenous MT concentration; the male gland index was found the highest at the concentration of MT 10. 0 μg·L^-1 and the female gland index was the highest at the concentration of MT 1. 0 μg·L^-1. The survival rate of Wh. pigra peaked at the concentration of MT 10. 0 μg·L^-1.The weight reaches a peak at a concentration of MT 100. 0 μg·L^-1( P<0. 05). The number of primary spermatocytes in the testis was negatively correlated with the concentration of exogenous MT. The number of secondary spermatocytes and sperm cells increased first and then decreased. The concentration of secondary spermatocytes was the highest when the concentration of MT was 100. 0 μg·L^-1.The number and volume of oocytes in the ovary and the yolk granules increased first and then decreased with the increase of exogenous MT concentration,and the highest was observed at the MT concentration of 100. 0 μg·L^-1. The endogenous steroid hormone of Wh.pigra increased first and then decreased with the increase of exogenous MT concentration. The concentration of androgen and progesterone was the highest in MT 100. 0 μg·L^-1 treatment( P<0. 05),and the concentration of estrogen was found the highest in MT 10. 0 μg·L^-1 treatment( P<0. 05). After adding exogenous MT,Wh. pigra moisture content,acid-insoluble ash content,p H and anti-thrombin activity met the quality criterion of medicinal Wh. pigra in Chinese Pharmacopoeia( 2015 edition). In conclusion,the short-term addition of 1. 0-100. 0 μg·L^-1 exogenous MT before hibernation can promote the growth,the development of sperm cells and the antithrombin activity of Wh. pigra.
Animals ; Estrogens ; Female ; Gonads ; Leeches/physiology* ; Male ; Methyltestosterone ; Ovary ; Progesterone

OBJECTIVETo study the oxygen consumption rate and suffocation point of Whitmania pigra.

METHODUsing the method of respiratory chamber, the oxygen consumption rate, oxygen consumption volume and suffocation point were obtained.

RESULTThe oxygen consumption rate(OCR) ranged from 0.049 to 0.094 mg x g(-1) x h(-1), the oxygen consumption volume(OCV) from 0.44 to 0.67 mg x p(-1) x h(-1), and suffocation point(SP) from 0.9 to 1.51 mg x L(-1), when the average weight of W. pigra was 10 g and the water temperature varied from 15 to 35 degrees C. OCR ranged from 0.044 to 0.058 mg x g(-1) x h(-1), OCV from 0.19 to 0.77 mg x p(-1) x h(-1) and SP from 1.4 to 1.57 mg x l(-1) when water temperature was 20 degrees C.

CONCLUSIONOCR rose when the water temperature and weight increased, but SP was justly opposite. The weight was negatively correlated with OCR and positively with OCV. OCR had little difference from day to night.

Animals ; Leeches ; metabolism ; physiology ; Oxygen ; metabolism ; Oxygen Consumption ; physiology ; Temperature ; Water

OBJECTIVETo observe Whitmania pigra growth and intake law in different temperature conditions and patterns.

METHODComparison of W. pigra growth in different weight and different temperature conditions, and observe the intake law of W. pigra within 24 h.

RESULT AND CONCLUSIONThe appropriate temperature for W. pigra growth is 15 - 25 degrees C. Its largest weight of intake increas with the weight of W. pigra and temperature rise, but with the intake rate increase, individual intake reduced. W. pigra intake have the two peaks in 24 h.

Animals ; Circadian Rhythm ; Feeding Behavior ; physiology ; Leeches ; growth & development ; physiology ; Temperature

OBJECTIVETo determine the best spawning temperature and weight of Whitmania pigra and the hatching temperature of its eggs.

METHODObserve the state of W. pigra spawning and hatching were observed under different temperatures and weights conditions.

RESULT AND CONCLUSION25 degrees C is the most appropriate temperature for W. pigra spawning and incubation, the best spawning weight of W. pigra was around 20 g. The temperature influenced the lost weight after spawning significantly and was proportion to the lost weight. The body weight showed no substantial influence to the lost weight after spawning. The egg weight of W. pigra which body weight was below 2.0 g was proportion to the hatching rate. The same relationship was not observed in W. pigra over 2.0 g.

Animals ; Body Weight ; Breeding ; methods ; Female ; Leeches ; growth & development ; physiology ; Male ; Ovum ; growth & development ; Temperature

OBJECTIVETo examine the quality of Whitmania pigra from the different populations to provide the basis for new species selection.

METHODThe contents of the moisture, alcohol extractive, total ash, acid-insoluble ash, and the activity of antiplatelet aggregation enzyme of wild and the breeding W. pigra were determined by the methods were determined in Chinese Pharmacopoeia (2005 edition). The contents xanthine and hypoxanthine by HPLC.

RESULTIt showed that the contents of the alcohol extractive, total ash, acid-insoluble ash, antiplatelet aggregation enzyme, and xanthine and hypoxanthine content of the breeding population in Nanjing are lations. Many quality indexes of the breeding in Zhejiang Tongxiang base were beffer than the wild.

CONCLUSIONThe breeding W. pigra are good in quality, It suggested large-scale promotion of aquaculture.

Animals ; Breeding ; Female ; Hypoxanthine ; analysis ; Leeches ; chemistry ; physiology ; Male ; Xanthine ; analysis

The effects of the feed attractants on Whitmania pigra were studied. The average weight of Wh. pigra were 5.0 g. Arginine was selected as feed attractants, xanthan gum was selected as feed substrate. The times of Wh. pigra going into the inducing room were recorded. The water temperature was 22-25 degrees C during the whole experiment. Arginine that had better inducing effect was chosen to carry on in the gradient experiment. The results showed that the best inducing effect was found when the added amount of arginine was 0.3%, which was close to the arginine content of the natural body fluid of Wh. Pigra and Bellamya purificata, 2.97 mg x g(-1).
Animal Feed ; analysis ; Animals ; Arginine ; analysis ; metabolism ; Body Weight ; Feeding Behavior ; Leeches ; growth & development ; physiology

OBJECTIVEThrough observation of the tissue structures of internal organs and skin of Whitmania pigra, to provide basic method for identification of W. pigra and research of its physiological functions.

METHODThis experiment adopted the W. pigras as the material and carried on dissection observing,and W. pigra's cavity, swallow, esophagus, crop, bowel, rectum, parasomal sac stomach, testicle, seminal vesicle, vasa deferentia duct, ejaculatory ball, prostate gland and skin was observed by the method of the paraffin organization slice and microphotography.

RESULT AND CONCLUSIONThe structures and functions of the skin and the organ of the digestive and reproductive system, as well as the types and distributions of the mucous cells were acquired,which provided abasis for further study on the living behaviour, propagating behaviour and breeding environment of W. pigra.

Animals ; Digestive System ; anatomy & histology ; Genitalia ; anatomy & histology ; physiology ; Leeches ; anatomy & histology ; physiology ; Skin ; anatomy & histology ; Skin Physiological Phenomena