Temperature Dependent of Mitotic Interval for Grass Puffer, Takifugu niphobles

The objective of this study was to determine the mitotic intervals (τ₀) of two consecutive cell divisions and synchronous embryonic cleavage in grass puffer, Takifugu niphobles at different water temperatures (18, 20, 22, and 24℃). The color of the fertilized egg was light yellowish. The egg type was demersal and unadhesive. Egg weight was 0.09±0.002 mg. The sizes of unfertilized eggs were smaller than fertilized eggs in major axis and minor axis at 20℃ (p<0.05). The size of the fertilized egg of 18℃ water temperature group at the blastodisc stage was the smallest (p<0.05), but no significant differences were observed in the other water temperatures group except 18℃ water temperature group (p>0.05). The first cleavage stages at 18, 20, 22, and 24℃ were at 75, 90, 105, and 120 mins, respectively. As water temperature was increased, embryonic development and formation time of the first cleavage furrow were accelerated. There were negative correlation between τ₀ and water temperature for grass puffer (Y=-1.225X+70.05, R²=0.988, n=10, where Y was τ₀ and X was temperature). This study confirmed that successful hatching of grass puffer was related to water temperature. Chromosome manipulation will be helpful for this species using cleavage frequency and τ₀.