Plasma chemistry, lipid metabolism and vitellogenin gene expression of captive Sterlet sturgeon Acipenser ruthenus were studied in different maturity stages. A total of 32 fish were sampled, and maturity stages were identified on the basis of histological criteria and direct observation. Females were classified to four groups: previtellogenic, vitellogenic, post-vitellogenic, and atresia. Blood, gonad and liver tissue samples were taken through non-lethal biopsy. Our results showed that plasma levels of glucose, cholesterol, triacylglycerol, high-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein, very low-density lipoprotein, calcium, phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase activity, albumin and total protein increased during ovarian development and were highest at post-vitellogenic stage. The lowest amounts in atresia stage demonstrate that lipid and energy imbalance was related to reabsorption and digestion of the yolk. These results suggested that the VLDL was the main plasma lipoprotein component of Sterlet. We determined that lipoprotein lipase and hepatic lipase activity increased during vitellogenesis process which suggested the role of lipase enzymes in regulating blood lipid metabolism. RT-PCR analysis indicates that Vitellogenin (VTG) mRNA could be detected both in livers and ovaries of female Sterlet. Throughout the study, the expression level of VTG gene showed an increase both in ovaries and in livers reaching its peak at late vitellogenesis stage. This strongly indicated a relation between VTG mRNA and ovarian development.
Keywords: Biochemical; Lipid; Lipoprotein; Oogenesis; Sturgeon; VTG mRNA.