[Different arousal modes of hibernating Whitmania pigra].

To study the suitable arousal modes of hibernating Whitmania pigra, the biological characteristics, activity of amylase, lipase, and protease as well as morphologic structure of digestive tract were investigated by direct observational method and 3, 5-dinitrosalicylic acid colorimetry, p-nitrophenyl palmitate ester（p-NPP）colorimetry, folin-phenol and histological methods. The results revealed that Wh. pigra activity was increased with increases of the water temperature and prolonging treating duration. Except for the feeding groups of direct arousal mode at 24 h and 48 h, none of the other Wh. pigra groups died. Compared with that of normal groups, the digestive tract structure of hibernating Wh. pigra was looser and the mucosal folds of craw were more sparse. No obvious recovery was observed for the structure of the digestive tract before 48 h of direct arousal mode or the 5th day of 15 °C gradient arousal mode. The mucosal folds of craw increased and the muscularis were incrassated after 72 h of direct arousal mode or the 8th day of 20 °C gradient arousal mode, that indicated the tissue structure was approximately restored to the normal state. The digestive enzyme activities were increased with prolonging treating duration. And the feeding groups recovered faster than that of the no feeding groups. Additionally, the enzyme activities of feeding groups were significantly higher than that of no feeding groups ( P <0.05) and approximately restored to the normal level after 48 h in the direct arousal mode or 20 °C in the gradient arousal mode. In conclusion, both of the two modes can be applied to the arouse of hibernating Wh. pigra, and it should be fed when the temperature is recovered to 15 °C or 20 °C at 2 °C·d⁻¹ in the gradient arousal mode after 72 h in the direct arousal mode to reduce the death ratio and improve effectively the economic profit of Wh. pigra aquaculture.
Competing Interests: The authors of this article and the planning committee members and staff have no relevant financial relationships with commercial interests to disclose.
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