Various biometric and geometric measures were used to discriminate between the morphologically similar river puffer, Takifugu obscurus, tiger puffer, T. rubripes, their hybrids, and their triploid hybrids. The hybrids and triploid hybrids had greater anal fin width, nostril width, and snout length than the parental species (p<0.05). However, they had less caudal peduncle depth, inter-orbital width, head length, and head width (p<0.05). The morphometric and meristic characteristics of the hybrids and triploid hybrids were either intermediate between the parental species or more similar to those of one parental species. However, the external morphology of the hybrids and triploid hybrids was predominantly maternal. The triploid hybrids had asymmetry in the fin rays and gill raker numbers. This study identified phenotypic characteristics by distinguishing the morphological variables of river puffer, tiger puffer, their hybrids, and their triploid hybrids.

Totally, twenty seven specimens of tiger puffer, Fugu rubripes rubripes were collected at Jagalchi fish market in Pusan, Korea during January, April and September in 1995. Anatomical distribution of pufferfish toxin in tiger puffer was examined by mouse bioassay. The frequency rate of toxic specimens containing ≥ 10 MU/g was 14.8% in liver; 16.7% in gonad; and 14.8% in skin, and no toxin was detected in muscle. The highest toxin level found was 160 MU/g in liver, 600 MU/g in gonad and 26 MU/g in skin, and each average toxin level (mean ± standard error) was 7 ± 6, 50 ± 35 and 5 ± 1 MU/g, respectively. Some specimens collected in January and April were toxic, while none of the specimens collected in September showed its toxicity. Although toxicity of tiger puffer showed the seasonal variation, tested tiger puffer was evaluated as a safe seafood for consumption, in that an acceptable level of toxin was found in the edible muscle and skin.

A comparison of the growth, hematological values, fatty acids, and gonadal and growth hormonal changes of river puffer, Takifugu obscurus, tiger puffer, T. rubripes, their hybrids (river puffer × tiger puffer) and hybrid triploids was performed during 3 months of their early growth period. Several features were observed during these 3 months: hybrids showed the highest levels of specific growth rate, 1.48%; hybrid triploids showed the smallest change in viscera fat (P<0.05), but GSI was not significantly different among groups (P>0.05). Considering hematological parameters, hybrid triploids had increased mean corpuscular volume and mean corpuscular hemoglobin (P<0.05), but other parameters were not significantly different between groups (P>0.05). With respect to fatty acids, puffer fish, hybrids and hybrid triploids contained fatty acids such as SFAs, MUFAs, n-3 PUFAs and n-6 PUFAs. There were significantly different amounts of total fatty acids between groups (P<0.05), however, rates of changes in fatty acids did not differ significantly between groups (P>0.05). Gonadal hormone (estradiol and testosterone) changes in the river puffer and tiger puffer were significantly higher than that observed in hybrids and hybrid triploids. The hybrids and tiger puffers had higher amounts of growth hormone (thyroid stimulating hormone and thyroxine) than the hybrid triploids and river puffers (P<0.05).

In fish, light (photoperiod, intensity and spectra) is main regulator in many physiological actions including growth. We investigate the effect of light spectra on the somatic growth and growth-related gene expression in the rearing tiger puffer. Fish was reared under different light spectra (blue, green and red) for 8 weeks. Fish body weight and total length were promoted when reared under green light condition than red light condition. Expression of somatostatins (ss1 and ss2) in brain were showed higher expression under red light condition than green light condition. The ss3 mRNA was observed only higher expression in blue light condition. Expression of growth hormone (gh) in pituitary was detected no different levels between experimental groups. However, the fish of green light condition group was showed more high weight gain and feed efficiency than other light condition groups. Our present results suggest that somatic growth of tiger puffer is induced under green light condition because of inhibiting ss mRNA expression in brain by effect of green wavelength.

이 연구는 자주복의 개체발생 단계에 따른 소화관 외부형태의 변화와 소화관의 발달 양상을 조직학적으로 조사하였다. 부화 직전 수정란의 소화관은 난황낭과 배체의 척추 사이에 위치하였고, 형태는 거의 직선상 이었다. 입은 부화 후 2일째, 항문은 부화 후 4일째 열렸다. 부화 후 4일째 소화관은 식도, 전장, 중장 그리고 직장으로 구분이 되었고, 전장과 중장이 괄약근에 의해 구분되었다. 부화 후 5일째 자어는 전장과 중장 사이가 배측으로 굴곡되었고, 식도상피

Experiments were performed to study the effects of diluents, cryoprotectant, equilibration time, thawing temperature and addition of BSA and egg yolk. Among the various diluents, Alsever's solution was the best for sperm cryopreservation. A combination of Alsever's solution and 15% ethylene glycol showed the better results than others did. Sperm activity indection and survival rate gradually decreased with the equilibration time. The appropriate thawing temperature was 30 C. These results indicate that sperm cryopreservation methods can be developed in tiger puffer.