Mechanism Of Ecoogical Immunity And Aestivation Of Apostichopus Japonicus

Deteriorations of germ plasm, environment and product quality in Aprostichopus japonicus culture become more and more serious. In view of this, studies on defense and neuroendocrine mechanism of A. japonicus were carried out. The interaction among environmental stress, stress hormone and immune functions was investigated systematically. On the base of physiology and molecular, we explored the mechanism of aestivation of A. japonicus. The main results are as follows:1. The recent progress largely derived from immune characters, ecological immunity and aestivation of A. japonicus were reviewed in this paper. Furthermore, new thoughts on ecological immunity and aestivation of A. japonicus were suggested.2. Temperature stress (0, 8, 16, 24, 32oC) and salinity stress (20, 25, 35) on immune enzymes in coelome fluid of A. japonicus were undertaken in laboratory. Activities of immune enzymes were significantly affected by high-temperature stress, but no obvious changes in low-temperature stress. Superoxide dismutase and catalase activity were significantly affected by salinity change, but activities of myeloperoxidase and lysozyme demonstrated that A. japonicus tolerates limited salinity stress. High-temperature stress had greater effect on the immune responses of A. japonicus than low-temperature and salinity stresses.3. Changes of catecholamine content in coelome fluid of A. japonicus caused by temperature stress (8, 16, 24oC) and salinity stress (20, 25, 35) were estimated in laboratory. Activities of adrenalin, noradrenalin and dopamine in coelome fluid of A. japonicus were significantly affected by acute temperature stress, but not by salinity and exposure stress.4. From July 2006 to June 2007, enzymes in coelome fluid of A. japonicus have been measured. Data showed that turning points were in September, October, January, February, April and May. In view of the life characters of A. japonicus, the significant changes of enzymes activity were associated with growth, reproduction and environment.5. From July to November in 2006, the immune characters of A. japonicus were detected in field. Total coelomecyte count in coelome fluid of A. japonicus decreased significantly during aestivation. Activities of immune enzymes in coelome fluid of A. japonicus recorded high values during August and September which corresponds with the highest water temperature record during these months. Activities of adrenalin and noradrenalin increased significantly in the later August and November, but there was no obvious change of dopamine during aestivation. Data showed that the immune characters in coelome fluid of A. japonicus were affected during aestivation.6. From July to November in 2007, gene differences in intestinal tract of A. japonicus during aestivation were cloned with suppression subtractive hybridization. Two percent gels electrophoresis to identify efficiency of adaptor ligation in suppression subtractive hybridization, more than 50% was efficient. Subtractive and unsubtractive cDNA as templates carried out PCR amplification to evaluate subtractive efficiency. The gels electrophoresis results showed that subtractive efficiency was efficient. Data showed that the subtractive library about intestine during aestivation was efficient.