Embryonic Development and Survival of Siberian Sturgeon × Russian Sturgeon ( Acipenser baerii × Acipenser gueldenstaedtii ) Hybrids Cultured in a RAS System

• Published in: Animals
• Main Authors: Dorota Fopp-Bayat, Tomasz Ciemniewski, Beata Irena Cejko
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2022
• Subjects: Acipenser; artificial reproduction; hybrids; embryo survival; Veterinary medicine; SF600-1100; Zoology; QL1-991; Acipenser baerii; Siberian sturgeon
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13010042; https://doaj.org/article/0b658e211ea24d699bc1af98e6957d7f

The aim of this study was to describe the selected stages of embryonic development in Siberian sturgeon ( Acipenser baerii ) and hybrids of Siberian sturgeons and Russian sturgeons ( Acipenser baerii × Acipenser gueldenstaedtii ). For this purpose, embryos representing nine distinct developmental stages (stage 1—2.0 hpf, stage 2—5.5 hpf, stage 3—13.0 hpf, stage 4—20.0 hpf, stage 5—24.0 hpf, stage 6—26.0 hpf, stage 7—35.0 hpf, stage 8—55.0 hpf, and, stage 9—160.0 hpf; hpf—hours postfertilization) were sampled from each group (group A, group B, and group C) during incubation. Stages of embryogenesis were identified based on a 30-point scale of embryonic development in sturgeons. A total of 13 developmental stages were identified, including early cleavage, blastula formation, early and late gastrulation, onset of neurulation, beginning of organogenesis, and prelarvae. During gastrulation, the survival of hybrid embryos was highest in group B (93.8%) and lowest in group A (86.7%). Embryonic deformation was not observed during experimental incubation. The archived data relating to the embryonic development of Siberian sturgeon × Russian sturgeon hybrids could be applied to identify the individual stages of embryogenesis in hybrid sturgeons during egg incubation.