spacer gif spacer gif spacer gif spacer gif Propose a Workshop for 2011 spacer gif
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


spacer gif
     Home     Help     Feedback     Subscriptions     Archive     Search     Table of Contents    

First published online April 23, 2004
Journal of Experimental Biology 207, 1843-1853 (2004)
Published by The Company of Biologists 2004
doi: 10.1242/jeb.00954
This Article
Right arrow Figures Only
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Quintana, L.
Right arrow Articles by Macadar, O.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Quintana, L.
Right arrow Articles by Macadar, O.
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Complore   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us   Add to Digg   Add to Reddit   Add to Technorati   Add to Twitter  
What's this?

Temperature induces gonadal maturation and affects electrophysiological sexual maturity indicators in Brachyhypopomus pinnicaudatus from a temperate climate

Laura Quintana1,*, Ana Silva1,2, Nibia Berois3 and Omar Macadar1

1 Depto de Neurofisiología, Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable, Unidad Asociada de Facultad de Ciencias–Universidad de la República, Avda, Italia 3318, Montevideo, Uruguay
2 Depto de Fisiología, Facultad de Ciencias-Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
3 Sección de Biología Celular, Facultad de Ciencias-Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay

* Author for correspondence (e-mail: lauraq{at}iibce.edu.uy)

Accepted 24 February 2004

In contrast to most of the previous studies in gymnotiform reproduction, which have been conducted in the tropical region, this study examines a gymnotid from the temperate region in both the natural habitat and the laboratory. The gonadal histology of Brachyhypopomus pinnicaudatus is described for the first time. The male had a paired, lobular testis of the unrestricted spermatogonial type, and females a paired saccular cystovary. Analysis of gonads and their annual cycle enabled us to confirm the breeding season and to conclude that this species is a multiple spawner. Water temperature and photoperiod showed the expected annual cycles for the region. High temperature and a 14 h:10 h L:D photoperiod in the natural habitat coincided with (1) mature gonadal stages, (2) electrophysiological sexual dimorphism: males present a lengthened negative phase in their electric organ discharge (EOD) and (3) decreased temperature sensitivity of the EOD: the waveform does not change when temperature increases above 20°C. Acclimation to sustained high temperature (30 days, 28°C, 12 h:12 h L:D, low conductivity) induced gonad maturation along with EOD dimorphism. Our data show that high environmental temperature is enough to trigger sexual maturity in Brachyhypopomus pinnicaudatus from a temperate climate.

Key words: breeding, temperature sensitivity, electric fish, Brachyhypopomus pinnicaudatus, EOD


Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Complore Complore   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us   Add to Digg Digg   Add to Reddit Reddit   Add to Technorati Technorati   Add to Twitter Twitter    What's this?


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Biol. Reprod.Home page
E. R. d. Alvarenga and L. R. d. Franca
Effects of Different Temperatures on Testis Structure and Function, with Emphasis on Somatic Cells, in Sexually Mature Nile Tilapias (Oreochromis niloticus)
Biol Reprod, March 1, 2009; 80(3): 537 - 544.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


© The Company of Biologists Ltd 2004