Escala y talla de primera madurez gonadal en “NAVAJA” Tagelus dombeii (Lamarck, 1818), entre las zonas Parachique - Las Delicias, 2009

Para el estudio de la gametogénesis, escala de madurez y estimación de la talla de primera madurez gonadal de “navaja” Tagelus dombeii, las muestras procedieron de las zonas Caleta de Parachique y Las Delicias, y fueron colectadas a bordo de embarcaciones marisqueras por buzos artesanales, durante Enero – Diciembre del año 2009. La zona para tomar las muestras comprendieron desde los grados 05º 40' 33.3'' (LS) hasta 05º 49' 21.8'' (LS). En el estudio de la gametogénesis, se observó que los ovarios presentaron tres tipos de ovocitos: ovocito inmaduro (OI), ovocito en maduración (OEM) y ovocito maduro (OM), además del ovocito atrésico (OA) para las hembras, mientras que para los machos las células sexuales encontradas fueron: espermatogonio = SG, espermatocito = SC y espermatozoide = SP. La escala microscópica de madurez gonadal para “navaja” T. dombeii fue establecida con seis estadios, siendo estos: Virginal = 0, Reposo = I, En Maduración = II, Maduro =III, Desovante/Expulsante = IV y Recuperación = V. Así mismo, se estableció, que la talla de primera madurez gonadal es de 61 mm de longitud total (LT) para las hembras y 58 mm para machos, obteniendo un promedio de 58 mm LT. Mientras que la talla de primer desove/expulsión fue de: 67 mm (LT) para hembras y 66 mm LT para machos siendo promedio para ambos sexos de 66 mm LT. Además, se reporta la capacidad de T. dombeii de cambiar el sexo de hembra a macho (hermafroditismo protógino).

Escalas de madurez gonadal recursos demersales y costeros

Cartilla ilustrada que describe la dinámica de maduración y nueva escala de madurez validada de merluza y otros recursos demersales como cachema, cabrilla, lenguado entre otros.

Escala de madurez gonadal recursos pelágicos

Cartilla ilustrada que describe la dinámica de maduración y nueva escala de madurez validada de anchoveta y otros recursos pelágicos del mar peruano como bonito, jurel, caballa entre otros.

Seguimiento en cautiverio de la maduración gonadal y desove del lenguado Paralichthys adspersus (Steindachner)

Se describe el método de observaciones in vivo de la madurez gonadal de Paralichthys adspersus. Las observaciones microscópicas de las gónadas se realizaron con muestras provenientes de las canulaciones intra-ováricas e intra-testiculares, se analizó y describió el desarrollo ovocitario y espermatogénico en individuos mantenidos en condiciones de laboratorio para determinar el estado de madurez gonadal y el momento adecuado para la inducción hormonal. Se interpreta el significado de la atresia ovocitaria en las gónadas de lenguado.

Biología y Pesquería de Ethmidium maculatum “machete” procedente de la pesca artesanal en la Región La Libertad durante el 2010

Se determinaron las características de la Biología y Pesquería de Ethmidium maculatum “machete” procedente de la pesca artesanal en la Región La Libertad durante el 2010. Se trabajó con una base de datos de 1 508 individuos, obtenidos al azar de los desembarques artesanales de Caleta Puerto Morín, Puerto Salaverry, Caleta Huanchaco, Puerto Malabrigo y Puerto Pacasmayo. Para el análisis biológico se consideraron 10 ejemplares máximo por rango de talla. Para determinar el alimento y hábitos alimentarios se realizaron análisis de estimación porcentual y frecuencia de ocurrencia; para determinar las características reproductivas, se analizaron los estadios de madurez gonadal e índice gonadosomático; se determinó el grado de bienestar mediante el factor de condición de Fulton; las constantes de crecimiento fueron calculadas mediante el uso del software FISAT II. La talla media de captura fue inferior a la talla mínima legal establecida. Se tipificó a la especie en estudio como zooplanctonófaga. La proporción sexual fue favorable a las hembras; predominó el estadio desovante y la especie evidenció actividad reproductiva con mayor intensidad a fines de invierno. El crecimiento para hembras y machos fue alométrico. Se reportó un volumen de desembarque de 26 779 kg, y las principales zonas de pesca fueron: Chao, El Carmelo, Buenos Aires, Las Delicias, Salaverry, Los Brujos y Huanchaco.

Condición reproductiva de la merluza peruana en el verano 2004: Crucero BIC Olaya 0401-02

El crucero se realizó del 14 enero al 7 febrero 2004, entre 3°30’ y 8°S. Se efectuaron 57 operaciones positivas de arrastres de fondo; se estudiaron ejemplares adultos de merluza desde los 20 cm LT. Los núcleos más importantes de actividad reproductiva (AR) correspondieron a la sub-área A (3°30’S a 4°S). Se presentan los resultados de distribución espacial de cardúmenes activos, así como la actividad reproductiva por tallas, grado latitudinal y estrato de profundidad. Se calculó la fecundidad parcial (62.878) y fecundidad relativa (237). Se discute los valores hallados del potencial reproductivo y las fluctuaciones del estado de madurez gonadal en el momento de la evaluación.

Protocolo para la evaluación de concha de abanico Argopecten purpuratus (LAMARCK, 1819)

La Unidad de Investigaciones de Invertebrados Marinos en conjunto con las sedes descentralizadas del Instituto del Mar del Perú, IMARPE, con fines de establecer y estandarizar los procedimientos para la estimación de la población y biomasa de concha de abanico (Argopecten purpuratus) en áreas silvestres, elaboró este protocolo que describe los pasos a seguir desde la planificación en escritorio, la ejecución a bordo de embarcaciones, pasando por los cálculos estadísticos, hasta la elaboración del informe ejecutivo. La estimación de la población y biomasa de concha de abanico, en áreas silvestres se realiza dentro del contexto de evaluación poblacional, que involucra este primer aspecto e incorpora: estructura poblacional por tallas y madurez gonadal, relaciones biométricas y biológicas, y las condiciones ambientales predominantes del ambiente marino. La correcta aplicación de estos procedimientos conducirá a la obtención de información confiable.

Estudio de la diferenciación y madurez sexual en la langosta de agua dulce, Cherax quadricarinatus (Decapoda, Astacidea, Parastacidae) y su aplicación en acuicultura

Cherax quadricarinatus, es una especie de langosta de agua dulce nativa de Australia y Papua Nueva Guinea que se cultiva en varios países incluyendo Argentina, por lo que las investigaciones acerca de su biología reproductiva están orientadas a conocer las condiciones óptimas de cultivo, y desarrollar técnicas para su reproducción y crecimiento. El objetivo general fue determinar el momento del desarrollo en que ocurre la diferenciación sexual y el posible rol regulador de la temperatura, caracterizar el proceso de diferenciación gonadal y madurez sexual, y los cambios morfométricos asociados. Los resultados indicaron que la diferenciación sexual secundaria ocurre a partir de los 0,23 g aproximadamente, correspondiente al estadio juvenil VI ó VII. La temperatura no ejerció un claro efecto sobre la diferenciación sexual. Las hembras, desde la diferenciación gonadal hasta su maduración, presentaron tres morfotipos ováricos. En función de la coloración ovárica, la estructura histológica y la proporción de los distintos tipos celulares se distinguieron cuatro estadios de desarrollo ovárico: I (blanco-transparente), II (crema pálido-naranja pálido), III (naranja con oocitos verdes) y IV (verde oliva). En los machos se identificaron tres estadios de desarrollo y dos tipos de appendices masculinae ó papilas fálicas. Se reconocieron diferentes patrones de intersexualidad y cuatro posibles combinaciones de aberturas genitales que permitieron definir cuatro tipos de intersexo: intersexo hembra (I), intersexo macho (II), y dos tipos de intersexo macho-hembra (III y IV). Los resultados del análisis morfométrico mostraron que los intersexos hembras representan un tipo sexual morfométricamente diferenciado de las hembras y los machos, aunque desde el punto de vista funcional son hembras. Los cambios en las relaciones morfométricas de las dimensiones de los quelípedos se vincularon con el inicio de la la madurez sexual desde el punto de vista histológico en los machos e intersexos hembra.

Differences in the Behavior of Luteinizing Hormones of Various Species at the Rat Gonadal Cell Receptor Site

The ability of different LH-like hormones, such as hCG, PMSG/equine (e) CG, ovine (o) LH, eLH, and rat (r) LH, to bind to and stimulate steroidogenesis in two types of rat gonadal cells was studied under the same experimental conditions. In both Leydig and granulosa cells, the maximal steroidogenic responses elicited by optimal doses of different LHs present during a 2-h incubation were comparable. However, if the cells were exposed to the different LHs for a brief period and then subjected to interference with hormone action by removing the unbound hormone from the medium by washing or adding specific antisera, differences were observed in the amount of steroid produced during subsequent incubation in hormone-free medium. Thus, in the case of hCG, either of these procedures carried out at 15 or 30 min of incubation had little inhibitory effect on the amount of steroid produced at 2 h, the latter being similar to that produced by cells incubated in the continued presence of hCG for 2 h. With eCG and rLH, the effect was dramatic, in that there was a total inhibition of subsequent steroidogenic response. In cells exposed to eLH and oLH, inhibition of subsequent steroidogenesis due to either removal of the free-hormone or addition of specific antisera at 15 or 30 min was only partial. Although all of the antisera used were equally effective in inhibiting the steroidogenic response to respective gonadotropins when added along with hormones at the beginning of incubation, differences were observed in the degree of inhibition of this response when the same antisera were added at later times of incubation. Thus, when antisera were added 60 min after the hormone, the inhibition of steroidogenesis was total (100%) for eCG, partial (10–40%) for eLH and oLH, and totally lacking in cells treated with hCG. From this, it appears that hCG bound to the receptor probably becomes unavailable for binding to its antibody with time, while in the case of eCG and other LHs used, the antibody can still inhibit the biological activity of the hormone. Studies with 125I-labeled hormones further supported the conclusion that hCG differs from all other LHs in being most tightly bound and, hence, least dissociable, while eCG and rLH dissociate most readily; oLH and eLH can be placed in between these hormones in the extent of their dissociability. (Endocrinology 116: 597–603,1985)

Biology and Molecular Markers of Malignant Gonadal Germ Cell Tumors

Germ cell tumors occur both in the gonads of both sexes and in extra-gonadal sites during adoles-cence and early adulthood. Malignant ovarian germ cell tumors are rare neoplasms accounting for less than 5% of all cases of ovarian malignancy. In contrast, testicular cancer is the most common malignancy among young males. Most of patients survive the disease. Prognostic factors of gonadal germ cell tumors include histology, clinical stage, size of the primary tumor and residua, and levels of tumor markers. Germ cell tumors include heterogeneous histological subgroups. The most common subgroup includes germinomas (ovarian dysgerminoma and testicular seminoma); other subgroups are yolk sac tumors, embryonal carcinomas, immature teratomas and mixed tumors. The origin of germ cell tumors is most likely primordial germ cells. Factors behind germ cell tumor development and differentiation are still poorly known. The purpose of this study was to define novel diagnostic and prognostic factors for malignant gonadal germ cell tumors. In addition, the aim was to shed further light into the molecular mechanisms regulating gonadal germ cell tumorigenesis and differentiation by studying the roles of GATA transcription factors, pluripotent factors Oct-3/4 and AP-2γ, and estrogen receptors. This study revealed the prognostic value of CA-125 in malignant ovarian germ cell tumors. In addition advanced age and residual tumor had more adverse outcome. Several novel markers for histological diagnosis were defined. In the fetal development transcription factor GATA-4 was expressed in early fetal gonocytes and in testicular carcinoma precursor cells. In addition, GATA-4 was expressed in both gonadal germinomas, thus it may play a role in the development and differentiation of the germinoma tumor subtype. Pluripotent factors Oct-3/4 and AP-2γ were expressed in dysgerminomas, thus they could be used in the differential diagnosis of the germ cell tumors. Malignant ovarian germ cell tumors expressed estrogen receptors and their co-regulator SNURF. In addition, estrogen receptor expression was up-regulated by estradiol stimulation. Thus, gonadal steroid hormone burst in puberty may play a role in germ cell tumor development in the ovary. This study shed further light in to the molecular pathology of malignant gonadal germ cell tumors. In addition, some novel diagnostic and prognostic factors were defined. This data may be used in the differential diagnosis of germ cell tumor patients.

Studies on follicular atresia: role of gonadotropins and gonadal steroids in regulating cathepsin-D activity of preovulatory follicles in the rat

Preovulatory follicular atresia was studied using pregnant mare serum gonadotropin (PMSG)-primed rats (15 IU/rat) which were deprived of hormonal support either by allowing the metabolic clearance of the PMSG or by injecting a specific PMSG antiserum (PMSG a/s). Atresia was monitored by an increase in lysosomal cathepsin-D activity and a decrease in the receptor activity of the granulosa cells (GC) isolated from the preovulatory follicles. It was shown that the increase in lysosomal activity and the decrease in receptor activity seen at 96 h after PMSG (or PMSG plus PMSG a/s) could be arrested both by follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH). Injection of cyanoketone or clomiphene citrate together with FSH/LH prevented this 'rescue' suggesting a role for estrogens in the regulation of atresia. Although the administration of estradiol-17 beta (20 micrograms/rat) together with PMSG a/s could show a 'rescue effect' in terms of reduction in cathepsin-D activity the gonadotropin receptor activities of these granulosa cells were not restored. The injection of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) to 48 h PMSG-primed rats induced atresia as noted by an increase in cathepsin-D activity. However, the exogenous administration of FSH along with DHT prevented this atretic effect suggesting that DHT is not having a direct effect on atresia. Determination of androgen: estrogen content of the granulosa cells and an analysis of the individual profile of androgen and estrogen revealed that the increase in cathepsin-D activity could be correlated only with the decrease in GC estrogen content. This along with the observation that GC showed a loss of estrogen synthesis well before the increase in cathepsin-D activity strongly points out that the lack of estrogen rather than an increase in androgen is the principle factor responsible for the atresia of preovulatory follicles in the rat.

Gonadal cell surface receptor for plasma retinol-binding protein A method for its radioassay and studies on its level during spermatogenesis

A specific membrane receptor for plasma retinol-binding protein has been demonstrated in testicular cells. Prealbumin-2 did not show any specific binding to the membrane. The affinity of retinol-binding protein for receptor drastically decreases upon delivery of retinol and the retinol-binding protein does not enter the cell. The mechanism of delivery of retinol to the target cell by plasma retinol-binding protein has been investigated. The process involves two steps: direct binding of retinol-binding protein to the receptor and uptake of retinol by the target cell with a concomitant drastic reduction in the affinity of the retinol-binding protein to the receptor. Probably the second step of the process needs a cytosolic factor, possibly the cellular retinol-binding protein or an enzyme.The binding of retinol-binding protein to the receptor is saturable and reverible. The interaction shows a Kd value of 2.1 · 10−10 M. The specific binding of a retinol-binding protein with great affinity has been employed in the development of a method for radioassay of the receptor. The receptor level of the gonadal cell has been found to vary with the stage of differentiation. The receptor concentrations in 11-week-old birds and adult birds are comparable. Testoterone treatment of 11-week-old birds produced a substantial increase in the receptor concentration over control, while the protein content increased marginally, indicating that, probably, synthesis of the receptor is specifically induced by testoterone during spermatogenesis, and the concentration of receptor is relatively higher before the formation of the acrosome.

Differential expression of estrogen receptor alpha in the embryonic adrenal-kidney-gonadal complex of the oviparous lizard, Calotes versicolor (Daud.)

Estrogen signalling is critical for ovarian differentiation in reptiles with temperature-dependent sex determination (TSD). To elucidate the involvement of estrogen in this process, adrenal-kidney-gonadal (AKG) expression of estrogen receptor (ER alpha) was studied at female-producing temperature (FPT) in the developing embryos of the lizard, Calotes versicolor which exhibits a distinct pattern of TSD. The eggs of this lizard were incubated at 31.5 +/- 0.5 degrees C (100% FPT). The torso of embryos containing adrenal-kidney-gonadal complex (AKG) was collected during different stages of development and subjected to Western blotting and immunohistochemistry analysis. The ER alpha, antibody recognized two protein bands with apparent molecular weight similar to 55 and similar to 45 kDa in the total protein extracts of embryonic AKG complex of C. versicolor. The observed results suggest the occurrence of isoforms of ER alpha. The differential expression of two different protein isoforms may reveal their distinct role in cell proliferation during gonadal differentiation. This is the first report to reveal two isoforms of the ER alpha in a reptile during development. Immunohistochemical studies reveal a weak, but specific, cytoplasmic ER alpha immunostaining exclusively in the AKG during late thermo-sensitive period suggesting the responsiveness of AKG to estrogens before gonadal differentiation at FPT. Further, cytoplasmic as well as nuclear expression of ER alpha in the medulla and in oogonia of the cortex (faint activity) at gonadal differentiation stage suggests that the onset of gonadal estrogen activity coincides with sexual differentiation of gonad. Intensity and pattern of the immunoreactions of ER alpha in the medullary region at FPT suggest endogenous production of estrogen which may act in a paracrine fashion to induce neighboring cells into ovarian differentiation pathway. (C) 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Seasonal foods, gonadal maturation, and length-weight relationships for nine fishes commonly captured by shrimp trawl on the Northwest Gulf of Mexico Continental Shelf

Recent emphasis on ecosystem approaches to fisheries management renews interest in, and the need for, trophic information about fish communities. A program was started in 1980 at the National Marine Fisheries Service Galveston Laboratory to develop a trophic database for continental shelf fishes. Collections were made during 1982-1983 that were processed but never published, yet the data remain valid today for historical purposes and for delimiting food web components within ecosystem assessments. I examined spring, summer, and fall foods in offshore populations of nine common species of trawl-susceptible fishes, with particular reference to predation on commercial penaeid shrimps (Farfantepenaeus and Litopenaeus). Diets were evaluated with the Index of Relative Importance (IRI) which combines the occurrence, number, and weight of each food item. Bank sea bass (Centropristis ocyurus) and bighead searobin (Prionotus tribulus) primarily consumed crabs, more so by larger than smaller fish. Inshore lizardfish (Synodus foetens) was almost entirely piscivorous. Ocellated flounder (Ancylopsetta ommata) consumed fishes, crabs, and stomatopods. Dwarf sand perch (Diplectrum bivittatum), blackwing searobin (Prionotus rubio), rock sea bass (Centropristis philadelphica), southern kingfish (Menticirrhus americanus), and red snapper (Lutjanus campechanus) fed mainly on shrimps. Most fish diets varied with respect to size (age), time of day, area sampled, depth, or season. Rimapenaeus and Sicyonia were the most frequently identified shrimp genera - only five Farfantepenaeus and no Litopenaeus were identified in almost 4,300 fish stomachs. I also examined gonadal development and documented fish length-weight relationships. Ripe gonads were most frequently found during summer in dwarf sand perch, during fall in ocellated flounder and bighead searobin, and during spring for other species, except no ripe red snapper or bank sea bass were collected. Rock sea bass was found to be a protogynous hermaphrodite, while dwarf sand perch is a synchronous hermaphrodite. Only ocellated flounder and southern kingfish exhibited sex-related differences in length-weight relationships. (PDF contains 40 pages.)