Parasitismo por Mermithidae (Nematoda) em larvas do gênero Chironomus gr. decorus (Diptera: Chironomidae) no Rio dos Peixes, Dois Córregos, SP, Brasil

Registramos a incidência de parasitismo por vermes Mermithidae em larvas de Chironomus gr. decorus (Diptera: Chironomidae), no Rio dos Peixes, Dois Córregos, região centro-oeste do Estado de São Paulo, Brasil. Neste estudo, de um total de 791 larvas amostradas, 205 (25,9%) estavam infectadas por mermitídeos, indicando que larvas de Chironomidae são comumente parasitadas por vermes mermitídeos.

Inferências carioevolutivas sobre grupos crípticos de peixes marinhos e estuarinos

Cytogenetic studies have been revealing a great diversity not detected, until then, in several families of fishes. Many of these groups, especially those that exhibit great diversity, like Perciformes and Siluriformes, possess species with difficult morphologic characterization, called cryptic species, commonly detected through karyotypic analyses, which reveals outstanding interespecific variations with relationship to the number and its chromosomal structures. Thus, the present work intends to contribute for the cytogenetic knowledge of marine and brackish fish species, because they peculiar life habits and by lack of cytogenetic data of your genetic aspects. Therefore, cytogenetic studies were developed in a species of Apogonidae (Perciformes), two species of sea catfishes of the family Ariidae (Siluriformes) and brackish fish Paurachenipterus galeatus (Siluriformes, Auchenipteridae), through C banding, Ag-NOR, use of base-specific flourochromes (DAPI and CMA3), as well as FISH (Fluorescent in situ hybridization) using ribosomal DNA probes 5S and 18S. The present results contribute to a better understanding of the processes of differentiation patterns and chromosome evolution in these groups. The use of other approaches (the morphology and molecular tools) will allow a larger understanding of the genetic and biological diversity of the Brazilian ichthyofauna.

Levantamento cariotípico em espécies de peixes marinhos costeiros de fundo arenoso (Osteichthypes, Perciformes)

Cytogenetics analyses in fish are important because they compose a private group among the vertebrates, occupying a central position in the animal evolution. The Perciforms Order, dominant in the marine and freshwater environment, it constitutes a model potentially useful in the genetic evaluation of populations, as well as in the understanding of its evolutionary processes. In spite of this, cytogenetics studies in this great group is scarce, above all for the inhabitants of sandy bottom and pelagics habits. The present work proposed to contribute for the cytogenetic characterization of nine species of fish marine of sandy bottom of the coast of Rio Grande do Norte (Brazil), identifying the evolutionary patterns related to the karyotype in these species and the existence of filogenetics affinities between them and other Perciformes. The animals were collected in the beaches of the Redinha, Ponta Negra and Búzios (Coast of Rio Grande do Norte) and in Saint Peter and Saint Paul Archipelago. Later on they were submitted to the cytogenetics technical that consist of mitotic estimulation, obtaining of mitotics chromosomes, proceeded by techniques of conventional coloration (Giemsa) and chromosomic bands (Ag-RONs and C band). Diploid number and fundamental number equal to 48 were observed in most of the species: Menticirrhus americanus, Ophioscion punctatissimus, Pareques acuminatus (Sciaenidae); Chloroscombrus chrysurus (Carangidae); Echeneis sp. 2 (Echeneidae); Archosargus probatocephalus (Sparidae) and Orthopristis ruber (Haemulidae). Trachinotus goodei (NF=52) (Carangidae) and Echeneis sp. 1 (Echeneidae) (NF=54) presented variation in NF, staying constant a diploid number equal to 48. RONs was situated in pericentromeric position in whole the scianids, and in the species Echeneis sp. 2 (22° pair), O. ruber and A. probatocephalus (1° pair), coinciding with great heterocromatics blocks in M. americanus (1° pair), P. acuminatus (2° pairl) and O. ruber (1° pair). RONs was also located in the telomeric area of the short arm of the 5° and 11° acrocentrics pairs in T. goodei, 4° and 19° pairs of C. chrysurus, 1° pair (sm) of Echeneis sp. 1. The C band detected centromeric blocks in most of the chromosomes of the species of Sciaenidae, Carangidae and Echeneidae, with great blocks in A. probatocephalus (4° pair). Heterocromatic blocks in telomeric areas in submetacentrics of Echeneis sp. 1, and pericentromerics in M. americanus (1° and 8° pairs), O. punctatissimus (1° pair) and P. acuminatus (2° pair) were also observed. It is noticed a marked conservatism cromossomic in the species of the family Scianidae and Haemulidae in what says respect to the number of acrocentrics chromosomes and the location of RONs. Even so it is outstanding the presence of heterocromatinization events during the karyotypic evolution of this family. Already in the families Sparidae and Carangidae, the obtained results reaffirm examples of small variations structural resultants of inversion and translocation Robertsonian, as important mechanisms of diversification karyotipical, as well as a pattern numerical evolutionary conserved, also observed in representatives of Echeneidae of Atlantic in relation to Pacific. The presence of RONs multiple, observed in the species T. goodei and C. chrysurus seems to represent a character derived in the family Carangidae. The results for the species O. ruber and A. probatocephalus suggest the presence of possible geographical or climatic barriers among populations of NE of Brazil in relationship the one of the SE

Dinâmica de reprodução e comportamento reprodutivo de branchoneta Dendrocephalus brasiliensis Pesata, 1921 como incremento na produção de alimento vivo para peixes ornamentais

Reproductive behavior of Dendrocephalus brasiliensis Pesta, 1921(Crustacean: Anostracan). The reproductive behavior of fresh water Anostracan has been poorly investigated in carcinology specialized literature, specifically in relation to Dendrocephlaus brasiliensis Pesta, 1921, with abundant data just about the geographical distribution of that Anostracan. The objective of this work was to know the reproductive behavior of this Anostracan, in different seasons (dry and raine). For this, ripe individuals of both sexes were collected in four pond of the of Fish farming Station of Paulo Afonso (EPPA), through monthly captures in each ponds, from December 2004 to November 2005. The type of reproduction was observed after the placing in aquariums (a) of then with males and (b) other on individually, at the nauplii phase, where they stayed for 15 days until the reproductive age. The sexual proportion was calculated through the relative frequencies of males and females, every month, for the whole collection period during 10 days. the production of cysts was related to the size of the female. The male: female ratio in the study period was 1 male:1,07 female. The proportion male:female was from 48,25% : 51,75% along the year. Concerning the type of reproduction, it was observed that this specie is characteerized by sexual reproduction

Dinâmica reprodutiva e parasitária de quatro espécies de peixes das águas costeiras do Sudoeste do Oceano Atlântico, Brasil

The present study investigated the reproductive dynamics and parasitism of four species of marine fishes: serra Spanish mackerel, Scomberomorus brasiliensis, Atlantic leatherjacks, Oligoplites saurus and O. palometa,, and Atlantic bumper, C. chrysurus, during the period of August, 2005 to July, 2007, in the coastal waters of Southwest Atlantic Ocean, Brazil. The collected fish samples were measured, weighed, dissected, the gonads were weighed and examined to separate the sex. The gonadosomatic index (GSI), fecundity, type of spawning, the breeding season, the macro and microscopic characterization of the gonads were determined. The ectoparasites from the branchial chambers and bucal cavity of the fish were collected, measured, weighed and identified. The sex ratio of the study fish species were approximately 1M:1F, however, there was a predominance of males of O. palometa (3M:2F). The GSI of fishes varied according to their reproductive cycle and the stage of gonadal maturation. The highest values of GSI and the spawning period coincided with the rainy period of the region. The females presented total spawning and the fecundity was positively correlated with the weight of the ovary and the body. Four stages of development of the gonads immature, maturing, mature and spent were identified macroscopically and histological analyses of ovaries revealed the different phases of oocyte development. Three species of isopod parasites were identified in the study fishes: Livoneca redmmanni, Rocinela signata and Cimothoa spinipalpa. The first two species occurred in the branchial cavities of C. chrysurus and S. brasiliensis. The isopod C.spinipalpa (a new species) was registered for the first time in the bucal cavity of O. saurus and O. palometa. The parasitic isopods preferred the branchial chambers and the bucal cavity of the host fishes as these were protected microhabitats. The isopods parasitized the immature, maturing and mature fishes. The prevalence of infection of isopods in the hosts varied from 16 to 21%, though in O. palometa it was 60%. In the rainy period the highest isopod parasitic occurrence was registered, however, this did not prejudice the normal reproductive cycle of the host fish.

Composição ictiofaunística e estratégias reprodutivas de quatro espécies de peixes nativos da Bacia Hidrográfica Piranhas - Assu, Rio Grande do Norte

This study focuses on the fish fauna composition and reproductive strategies of four native fish species in relation to environmental variables of the Piranhas-Assu hydrographic basin of the Caatinga biome, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil. Fish and environmental data were collected monthly during the period September 2008 to February 2010, in the Marechal Dutra reservoir and River Acauã a tributary of Piranhas- Assu. The fish were measured, weighed and dissected, and the gonads were removed, weighed and examined macroscopically for identification and determination of gonad maturation stages. The results of this work generated seven articles. The first article is about the fish fauna composition of the Piranhas-Assu hydrographic basin, Rio Grande do Norte. The 602 fish samples captured were distributed in four orders (Characiformes, Perciformes, Siluriformes and Synbranchiformes), 11 families and 22 species, of which 17 are endemic to the Caatinga ecoregion. The order Characiformes was more representative followed by Perciformes, Siluriformes and Synbranchiformes. The second article is about the length-weight relationship and growth of seven native fish species Crenicichla menezesi, Cichlasoma orientale, Triportheus angulatus, Psectrogaster rhomboides, Pimelodella gracilis, Prochilodus brevis and Leporinus piau from a semiarid Brazilian reservoir. The third article is about the reproductive aspects of Crenicichla menezesi. Males were larger, heavier and with a slight predominance as compared to females. Four stages of gonadal development were characterized, being immature, maturing, mature and spent. The females reached sexual maturity earlier than males, with an average fecundity of 398 oocytes per batch. The spawning was partial with a long reproductive period. The fourth article deals with the reproductive strategy of Leporinus piau a neotropical freshwater fish in semi-arid region of Brazil. The population of L. piau (n = 211) showed a slight predominance of males (55%), with larger and heavier females. The males matured earlier than the females. This species presented total spawning, with an average fecundity of 55,000 mature oocytes. Rainfall and concentration of dissolved oxygen acted as influential factors during the spawning season. L. piau shows a seasonal reproductive strategy. The fifth article is related to the morphometric-meristic characteristics and reproductive aspects of freshwater sardine, Triportheus angulatus from River Acauã of the Caatinga biome. There was a predominance of larger females, reaching first maturation before males. There was total spawning during the rainy period of the region. The sixth article reports on the reproductive strategy of Psectrogaster rhomboides. The sex ratio was 1M: 1F, with negative allometric growth. Males reached sexual maturity earlier than females Females and males showed four stages of gonadal development and spawned during the rainy season. The fecundity was low and this species presented total spawning. The seventh article reports on the dynamics of territorial behavior of Crenicichla menezesi. Ten agonistic behaviors displayed by the males were observed: frontal and lateral threat, chasing, circular chasing, perpendicular, lateral and mouth attacks, escape, parallel positioning and stationary. The formation of four social groups was observed among males: without interaction; interaction with submission and escape; with frontal and lateral agonistic interactions. In social interactions between males and females, it was observed that the larger males interacted more among themselves and with the larger females. The large male established its territory and the two small males along with the small female were excluded from the other groups. These studies clarified the fish fauna composition and reproductive strategies of four native species Crenicichla menezesi, Leporinus piau, Triportheus angulatus and Psectrogaster rhomboides of the Piranhas- Assu hydrographic basin of the Caatinga biome, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil.

Disfunção sexual feminina e níveis dos hormônios esteroidais em mulheres obesas atendidas no ambulatório de cirurgia bariátrica do hospital universitário Onofre Lopes em Natal/RN

A disfunção sexual corresponde a alterações em uma ou mais fases da resposta sexual humana e apresenta maior prevalência na população feminina. Ademais, a participação de alguns fatores como obesidade e níveis dos hormônios esteroidais na disfunção sexual feminina (DSF) permanece incerta. O presente estudo deteve-se na análise da ocorrência de DSF numa população de mulheres portadoras de obesidade, cadastradas no Ambulatório de Cirurgia Bariátrica do Hospital Universitário Onofre Lopes, da Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, no município de Natal, RN. O estudo foi realizado em uma amostra composta por trinta e uma mulheres, com idade entre 20 e 50 anos, com índice de massa corpórea (IMC) > 30 Kg/m2. A todas as pacientes foi aplicado um questionário composto por uma seção com dados socio-econômicos, e outra abordando a saúde sexual feminina, sendo esta última correspondente ao Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), para diagnóstico de DSF. A partir dessa caracterização, as pacientes foram reunidas nos grupos CD (pacientes com disfunção, n= 9) e SD (sem disfunção, n= 22). Para a análise do efeito da obesidade na DSF, as pacientes foram reunidas nos grupos 1 (6 pacientes com IMC grau I e II: entre 30 e 40 Kg/m2) e 2 (25 com IMC grau III: acima de 40). Para o estudo da participação dos hormônios esteroidais foram determinadas as concentrações séricas de cortisol, estradiol e dehidroepiandrosterona (DHEA) pelo método de quimiluminescência. A análise estatística dos dados foi realizada usando os testes ANOVA, MANOVA (Pillai), além de análise de Cluster. Para identificar as diferenças entre os domínios do FSFI, foi usado o teste T de Student. A significância considerada para todos os testes foi para p< 0,01. Das pacientes estudadas, 25,8% apresentaram DSF de acordo com o escore total do FSFI. A análise estatística posterior evidenciou que as diferenças ocorreram para os domínios desejo, excitação e orgasmo. Não foi encontrada relação da presença de DSF com os diferentes graus de obesidade ou com os níveis hormonais dos esteróides cortisol, estradiol ou DHEA. Contudo, foi encontrado aumento significativo nos níveis séricos de estradiol para o grupo 1, que corresponde ao de menor índice de IMC. Estes resultados mostram que a prevalência de DSF não diferiu entre os graus I,II e III de obesidade das pacientes deste estudo mas, quando presente, a disfunção ocorre nos domínios desejo, excitação e orgasmo. A maior concentração de estradiol encontrada nas pacientes de menor índice de IMC sugere uma possível relação entre as duas variáveis que precisa ser investigada em estudos futuros.

Hidrocarbonetos policíclicos aromáticos no meio ambiente: diferenciação de fontes em sedimentos e metabólitos em bile de peixes

Many studies on environmental ecosystems quality related to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) have been carried out routinely due to their ubiquotus presence worldwide and to their potential toxicity after its biotransformation. PAH may be introduced into the environmet by natural and anthropogenic processes from direct runoff and discharges and indirect atmospheric deposition. Sources of naturally occurring PAHs include natural fires, natural oil seepage and recent biological or diagenetic processes. Anthropogenic sources of PAHs, acute or chronic, are combustion of organic matter (petroleum, coal, wood), waste and releases/spills of petroleum and derivatives (river runoff, sewage outfalls, maritime transport, pipelines). Besides the co-existence of multiples sources of PAH in the environmental samples, these compounds are subject to many processes that lead to geochemical fates (physical-chemical transformation, biodegradation and photo-oxidation), which leads to an alteration of their composition. All these facts make the identification of the hydrocarbons sources, if petrogenic, pyrolytic or natural, a challenge. One of the objectives of this study is to establish tools to identify the origin of hydrocarbons in environmental samples. PAH diagnostic ratios and PAH principal component analysis were tested on a critical area: Guanabara Bay sediments. Guanabara Bay is located in a complex urban area of Rio de Janeiro with a high anthropogenic influence, being an endpoint of chronic pollution from the Greater Rio and it was the scenario of an acute event of oil release in January 2000. It were quantified 38 compounds, parental and alkylated PAH, in 21 sediment samples collected in two surveys: 2000 and 2003. The PAH levels varied from 400 to 58439 ng g-1. Both tested techniques for origin identification of hydrocarbons have shown their applicability, being able to discriminate the PAH sources for the majority of the samples analysed. The bay sediments were separated into two big clusters: sediments with a clear pattern of petrogenic introduction of hydrocarbons (from intertidal area) and sediments with combustion characteristics (from subtidal region). Only a minority of the samples could not display a clear contribution of petrogenic or pyrolytic input. The diagnostic ratios that have exhibited high ability to distinguish combustion- and petroleum-derived PAH inputs for Guanabara Bay sediments were Phenanthrene+Anthracene/(Phenanthrene+Anthracene+C1Phenanthrene); Fluorantene/(Fluorantene+Pyrene); &#931; (other 3-6 ring PAHs)/ &#931; (5 alkylated PAH series). The PCA results prooved to be a useful tool for PAH source identification in the environment, corroborating the diagnostic indexes. In relation to the temporal evaluation carried out in this study, it was not verified significant changes on the class of predominant source of the samples. This result indicates that the hydrocarbons present in the Guanabara Bay sediments are mainly related to the long-term anthropogenic input and not directly related to acute events such as the oil spill of January 2000. This findings were similar to various international estuarine sites. Finally, this work had a complementary objective of evaluating the level of hydrocarbons exposure of the aquatic organisms of Guanabara Bay. It was a preliminary study in which a quantification of 12 individual biliar metabolites of PAH was performed in four demersal fish representing three different families. The analysed metabolites were 1-hydroxynaphtalene, 2-hidroxinaphtalene, 1hydroxyphenanthrene, 9-hydroxyphenanthrene, 2-hydroxyphenanthrene, 1hydroxypyrene, 3-hidroxibiphenil, 3- hydroxyphenanthrene, 1-hydroxychrysene, 9hydroxyfluorene, 4-hydroxyphenanthrene, 3-hydroxybenz(a)pyrene. The metabolites concentrations were found to be high, ranging from 13 to 177 µg g-1, however they were similar to worldwide regions under high anthropogenic input. Besides the metabolites established by the used protocol, it was possible to verified high concentrations of three other compounds not yet reported in the literature. They were related to pyrolytic PAH contribution to Guanabara Bay aquatic biota: 1-hydroxypyrine and 3-hydroxybenz(a)pyrine isomers

Mídia impressa e meio ambiente: um estudo da cobertura da mortandade de peixes no estuário do Rio Potengi, Natal-RN

Environmental issues are becoming increasingly habitual to the media, particularly when calamities are involved. A feature of environmental disasters is that they disclose both environmental crises and the media limitation in reporting them. The research tried to contribute to the subject through the study of press media coverage of a large fish kill along an estuary in the State of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil, in 2007. Thematic content analysis of newspaper reports identified the predominance of a superficial and denunciative coverage, lacking an educational perspective, and with little contribution to formation of a critical sense in readers. It also has identified the precarious treatment of those scientific concepts that could substantiate the actual causes of mortality of tons of aquatic fauna

Perfil dos hormônios da tireoide em pacientes com câncer de mama em estado de menopausa

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine thyroid hormone (TH) profile in postmenopausal patients with breast cancer (BC). Subjects and methods: 12 CaM patients stages I or II, without interventions that could interfere with tumor progression were selected, as well as and a control group with 18 postmenopausal women without CaM. We measured serum anti-thyroperoxidase antibody (TPOAB), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), free thyroxine (T4L), estradiol (E2), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and luteinizing hormone (LH), before and after surgery, besides immunohistochemistry for estrogen (ER) and progesterone (PR) receptors. Results: Four patients with CaM showed changes in thyroid hormone profile: two had hyperthyroidism, one hypothyroidism, and one was positive for TPO-AB. All of them positive for ER and PR.TSH levels in breast cancer patients were not different from levels found in the control group (1.89 +/- 1.56 vs. 2.86 +/- 3.12 mIU/mL), but the levels of T4L in patients with CaM were statistically higher than those of the control group (1.83 +/- 0.57 vs. 1.10 +/- 0.20 ng/dL). Conclusion: These results reinforce the need for assessment of thyroid status in CaM patients, since in the absence of E2, changes in clinical HTs can act in E2-controlled processes. Arq Bras Endocrinol Metab. 2012;56(4):238-43

Valor nutritivo dos alimentos utilizados na formulação de rações para peixes tropicais

A seleção de ingredientes para a formulação de dietas para peixes requer o conhecimento prévio dos coeficientes de digestibilidade aparente da energia e nutrientes. O valor nutritivo de vários alimentos tem sido investigado no Brasil e o uso de fontes alternativas não deve resultar em efeitos negativos sobre o desempenho, saúde dos peixes e qualidade da água. Diversos fatores podem afetar a digestibilidade, sendo que os coeficientes de digestibilidade aparente dos ingredientes devem ser utilizados para a formulação de rações mais precisas e econômicas.

Peso vivo final, ganho de peso, características de carcaça e concentrações plasmáticas de IGF-I e hormônios tireoideanos de bezerros mestiços Angus-Nelore recebendo somatotropina bovina recombinante (rbST) até a desmama

Objetivando estudar o efeito da somatotropina bovina recombinante (rbST) sobre o desempenho, as características de carcaça e as concentrações plasmáticas de IGF-I e hormônios tireoideanos, 36 bezerros mestiços ½ Angus-Nelore com idade de 63 ± 17 dias e pesando 76,8 ± 14,7 kg, criados em pastagens de Brachiaria decumbens e suplementados em creep feeding, foram submetidos a dois tratamentos até a desmama (217 dias): I) 18 bezerros receberam 1,4 mg/kg de rbST (Boostin®) a cada 14 dias; II) 18 bezerros controle receberam solução salina. As pesagens e colheitas de sangue foram realizadas a cada 28 dias e, à desmama, foram abatidos cinco animais de cada tratamento, para avaliação das características de carcaça. Os animais tratados apresentaram maior ganho de peso médio diário e peso vivo final, maiores concentrações plasmáticas de IGF-I e T4 que os bezerros controle. Os parâmetros peso de carcaça quente, rendimento de carcaça, pesos de traseiro e dianteiro, gordura peri-renal, peso de fígado, área de olho de lombo, espessura de gordura subcutânea, pesos dos músculos do quarto do traseiro e concentração plasmática de T3 não diferiram entre os tratamentos. A utilização de rbST proporcionou aumento de 7,9% no ganho de peso vivo e alterou o perfil hormonal de bezerros suplementados em creep feeding durante a fase de cria, não refletindo, entretanto, em maior peso ou rendimento de carcaça.

Comparação dos padrões de atratividade de Hermetia illucens (Diptera, Stratiomyidae) associada a carcaças de Rattus norvergicus enterradas e tratadas com hormônios esteróides

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Determinação de fósforo biodisponível em rações de peixes utilizando extração assistida por ultra-som e espectrofotometria no visível

The aim of the present work was to develop and optimize a method for determination of bioavailable phosphorus in samples of feces and fish feed using ultrasound extraction and subsequent quantification by visible spectrophotometry. Using as extractor solution HNO(3) 0.50 mol L(-1), the great conditions of extraction established were: sample mass - 100 mg, samples granulometry - < 60 mu m, sonification time - five cycles of 40 s and ultrasound potency - 136 W. The proposed method was applied in studies of digestibility of this nutrient in different feeds used in diets of juvenile of Nile tilapia.

Compartilhamento de recursos por duas espécies de peixes nectobentônicas de riachos na bacia do rio Cachoeira (BA)

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)