TWO BAITS ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF OLFACTORY ORGANS AND OLFACTORY SENSING ABILITY OF YANGTZE STURGEON (ACIPENSER DABRYANUS)

This study aimed to explore the effects of water earthworm domestication and formulated feed domestication on the olfactory system of Acipenser dabryanus. Firstly, the study observed the development of the olfactory organ by using histological methods. Subsequently, olfactory sensitivity was measured through olfactory electrophysiological techniques. Finally, behavioral selection experiments were conducted to compare the feeding preferences between these two groups of Acipenser dabryanus. The experimental findings revealed that compared to the same feed group, the group of 64-day-old water earthworm domesticated Acipenser dabryanus had a larger surface area of olfactory epithelial cells, more sensory cells, and a thicker ciliated layer; There was no striking difference in the olfactory sensitivity in these two groups of Acipenser dabryanus to alanine (P<0.05), while the water earthworm group had a more noticeable olfactory sensitivity to glycine and arginine compared to the feed group (P<0.05). Both groups of Acipenser dabryanus exhibited significant feeding preferences for their respective domesticated bait (P<0.05). The research findings demonstrated that domestication with different baits can exert certain influence on the development of the olfactory organs and olfactory perception ability of the Acipenser dabryanus. Additionally, the olfactory organs of Acipenser dabryanus domesticated with water earthworms have a stronger ability to receive and transduce signals. The bait domestication of Acipenser dabryanus fed with formula feed before enhancement and releasing is not only advantageous for improving its olfactory perception of natural food after enhancement and releasing, but also beneficial for reinforcing its feeding ability in the wild.