USE OF GABA TO ENHANCE ROTIFER REPRODUCTION IN
ENRICHMENT CULTURE
W.G. Gallardo, A. Hagiwara, T.W. Snell-2001
Aquaculture Research, 32(3): 243-246
Abstract:
Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) has been shown to
enhance the reproduction of the rotifer Brachionus plicatilis Muller in
stressful culture conditions. During the enrichment of rotifers for feeding
to marine fish larvae, they are usually stressed as a result of exposure to
different marine oils and high population densities. This typically results
in decreased rotifer survival, reproduction and swimming activity. In the
present study, we used GABA to increase rotifer reproduction and the
swimming activity of rotifers in enrichment cultures. GABA treatment 24 h
before high density enrichment enhanced reproduction during enrichment
culture, but not when carried out simultaneously with enrichment. Swimming
activity was not significantly affected by GABA treatment 24 h before or
simultaneously with nutrient enrichment.
(Graduate School of Marine Science and Engineering,
Nagasaki University, Bunkyo-machi 1-14, Nagasaki 852-8131, Japan)