Parasitism by Monogenoidea in Piaractus mesopotamicus (Characiformes, Characidae) cultivated in Paraná River (Brazil).

PubMed

Leão, M S L; Justo, M C N; Bueno, G W; Cohen, S C; São Clemente, S C

2017-11-01

This study investigated the occurrence, prevalence, mean abundance and mean intensity of monogenoidean parasites in Piaractus mesopotamicus farmed in cages in the reservoir of the Itaipu Hydroelectric Power Station, Paraná River, Brazil. The parasite distribution pattern and the correlation of prevalence and abundance with the total length of hosts were also investigated. Four monogenoidean species were collected: Anacanthorus penilabiatus, A. toledoensis, Mymarothecium ianwhitingtoni and M. viatorum. All the parasites collected in P. mesopotamicus showed the typical aggregated distribution pattern, and the abundance and the prevalence did not shown any correlation with the total length of hosts.

Metabolic effects of trichlorfon (Masoten®) on the neotropical freshwater fish pacu (Piaractus mesopotamicus).

PubMed

Venturini, Francine P; Moraes, Fernanda D; Cortella, Lucas R X; Rossi, Priscila A; Cruz, Claudinei; Moraes, Gilberto

2015-02-01

Fish parasites are among the crucial limiting factors in aquaculture. The organophosphorous pesticide trichlorfon is widely used as an insecticide and against fish parasites worldwide. In this study, the effects of environmental trichlorfon on biochemical and physiological parameters were investigated in Piaractus mesopotamicus (pacu), a widely farmed fish in South America, through sublethal exposure (8 µg L(-1), 10 % of the LC50; 96 h) and recovery. The activity of brain acetylcholinesterase (AChE) was reduced after exposure (15.5 %) and remained decreased during the recovery (21.5 %). In white muscle, AChE activity decreased 31 % only after recovery. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and acid phosphatase (ACP) activities of the liver, muscle and plasma were steady during exposure. However, after the recovery period, ALP activity was increased in the liver and muscle and decreased in plasma, while ACP was increased in the liver and decreased in muscle. Intermediary metabolism was also affected by trichlorfon, depicting increase of energetic demand (hypoglycemia, neoglucogenesis and lipid catabolism), which remained even after recovery. These results indicate that P. mesopotamicus is adversely affected by sublethal concentrations of trichlorfon and are useful for assessing the impact as well as the pros and cons of its use in controlling fish parasites in aquaculture.

Characterization of the transcriptome of fast and slow muscle myotomal fibres in the pacu (Piaractus mesopotamicus).

PubMed

Mareco, Edson A; Garcia de la Serrana, Daniel; Johnston, Ian A; Dal-Pai-Silva, Maeli

2015-03-14

The Pacu (Piaractus mesopotamicus) is a member of the Characiform family native to the Prata Basin (South America) and a target for the aquaculture industry. A limitation for the development of a selective breeding program for this species is a lack of available genetic information. The primary objectives of the present study were 1) to increase the genetic resources available for the species, 2) to exploit the anatomical separation of myotomal fibres types to compare the transcriptomes of slow and fast muscle phenotypes and 3) to systematically investigate the expression of Ubiquitin Specific Protease (USP) family members in fast and slow muscle in response to fasting and refeeding. We generated 0.6 Tb of pair-end reads from slow and fast skeletal muscle libraries. Over 665 million reads were assembled into 504,065 contigs with an average length of 1,334 bp and N50 = 2,772 bp. We successfully annotated nearly 47% of the transcriptome and identified around 15,000 unique genes and over 8000 complete coding sequences. 319 KEGG metabolic pathways were also annotated and 380 putative microsatellites were identified. 956 and 604 genes were differentially expressed between slow and fast skeletal muscle, respectively. 442 paralogues pairs arising from the teleost-specific whole genome duplication were identified, with the majority showing different expression patterns between fibres types (301 in slow and 245 in fast skeletal muscle). 45 members of the USP family were identified in the transcriptome. Transcript levels were quantified by qPCR in a separate fasting and refeeding experiment. USP genes in fast muscle showed a similar transient increase in expression with fasting as the better characterized E3 ubiquitin ligases. We have generated a 53-fold coverage transcriptome for fast and slow myotomal muscle in the pacu (Piaractus mesopotamicus) significantly increasing the genetic resources available for this important aquaculture species. We describe significant

Water temperature, body mass and fasting heat production of pacu (Piaractus mesopotamicus).

PubMed

Aguilar, Fredy A A; Cruz, Thaline M P DA; Mourão, Gerson B; Cyrino, José Eurico P

2017-01-01

Knowledge on fasting heat production (HEf) of fish is key to develop bioenergetics models thus improving feeding management of farmed species. The core of knowledge on HEf of farmed, neotropical fish is scarce. This study assessed the effect of body mass and water temperature on standard metabolism and fasting heat production of pacu, Piaractus mesopotamicus, an omnivore, Neotropical fresh water characin important for farming and fisheries industries all through South American continent. An automated, intermittent flow respirometry system was used to measure standard metabolic rate (SMR) of pacu (17 - 1,050 g) at five water temperatures: 19, 23, 26, 29 and 33 °C. Mass specific SMR increased with increasing water temperature but decreased as function of body mass. The allometric exponent for scaling HEf was 0.788, and lied in the range recorded for all studied warm-water fish. The recorded van't Hoff factor (Q10) for pacu (2.06) shows the species low response to temperature increases. The model HEf = 0.04643×W0.7882×T1.837 allows to predict HEf (kJ d-1) from body mass (W, kg) and water temperature (T, °C), and can be used in bioenergetical models for the species.

Migratory movements of pacu, Piaractus mesopotamicus, in the highly impounded Paraná River

USGS Publications Warehouse

Makrakis, M.C.; Miranda, L.E.; Makrakis, S.; Xavier, A.M.M.; Fontes, H.M.; Morlis, W.G.

2007-01-01

A mark-recapture study was conducted in 1997–2005 to investigate movements of stocked pacu, Piaractus mesopotamicus, in the Paraná River Basin of Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina. Fish raised in cages within the Itaipu Reservoir and in ponds were tagged externally (n = 2976) and released in the Itaipu Reservoir (53.2%) and bays of its major tributaries (46.8%). In total, 367 fish (12.3%) were recaptured. In all, 91% of the pacu moved away from the release site; upstream movements were more extensive than downstream movements. Pacu traveled upstream a maximum of 422 km (average of 41.3 km) at a maximum rate of 26.4 km day−1 (av. 0.8). Downstream movements were limited in terms of number of individuals and distance moved. Fish released during the wet season moved farther than those released during the dry season, and feeding rather than spawning might have been the compelling reason for movement. Although fish passed downstream through dams, none of the marked fish were detected to have moved upstream through the passage facilities. Pacu showed movement patterns not radically different from those of other neotropical migratory species, but their migratory movements may not be as extensive as those of other large migratory species in the basin.

Acute toxicity by water containing hexavalent or trivalent chromium in native Brazilian fish, Piaractus mesopotamicus: anatomopathological alterations and mortality.

PubMed

Castro, Marcello Pardi; de Moraes, Flávio Ruas; Fujimoto, Rodrigo Yudi; da Cruz, Claudinei; Belo, Marco Antonio de Andrade; de Moraes, Julieta Rodini Engrácia

2014-02-01

This study evaluated the toxicity of hexavalent and trivalent compounds of chromium to the pacu, Piaractus mesopotamicus, in acute exposures of 96 h through mortality and histopathological responses. Hexavalent potassium dichromate was more toxic than trivalent compounds of chromium chloride, chromium oxide and chromium carbochelate. Sufficient mortalities occurred only with potassium dichromate to yield an LC50 value at 124.2 mg L(-1). Hexavalent chromium caused reversible and irreversible lesions, which may affect organ functionality. Histopathological evaluation showed that trivalent chromium caused lesions of lower severity. Pacu subjected to different concentrations of chromium carbochelate showed no histopathological changes in the kidneys, liver, skin and gills, being similar to those of the control fish. Among the three sources of Cr(3+), only chromium chloride at 200 mg L(-1) resulted in mortality, which reached 100 % within the first 18 h. These findings confirm that trivalent chromium, when administered within recommended levels, may be used safely in aquaculture.

The administration of exogenous prostaglandin may improve ovulation in pacu (Piaractus mesopotamicus).

PubMed

Criscuolo-Urbinati, E; Kuradomi, R Y; Urbinati, E C; Batlouni, S R

2012-12-01

Based on the reports of unsuccessful ovulation in pacu (Piaractus mesopotamicus) by fish farmers and researchers undertaking artificial reproduction programs, we evaluated the use of prostaglandin F (PGF) to improve pacu ovulation. This study was conducted during two spawning seasons (2009/2010 and 2010/2011) with two samplings in the first season and one sampling in the second season. A total of 45 females was sampled in this study. The control group was injected with carp pituitary extract (crude extract, 6 mg/kg), and the treatment group received PGF (2 mL per fish in the 2009/2010 season and 5 mL per fish in the 2010/2011 season) in addition to the crude extract. In both seasons, 100% (N = 4, 2009/2010 first sampling; N = 5, 2009/2010 second sampling; and N = 3, 2010/2011) of the PGF-treated fish spawned. In contrast, 53.0% (N = 9) and 83.3% (N = 10) of the control fish spawned in the first and second samplings of the 2009/2010 season, respectively, and only 25.0% (N = 1) spawned in the 2010/2011 season. Fecundity, fertility, and hatching rates did not differ (P > 0.05) between the treated and control fish. Based on oocyte volume frequency analysis, ovaries of the control fish had more (P < 0.05) vitellogenic oocytes with germinal vesicle breakdown that remained unovulated after spawning, whereas more (P < 0.05) of previtellogenic oocytes were present in the ovaries of the PGF-treated fish. In conclusion, administration of exogenous prostaglandin may improve the outcome of hormonally induced spawning in tropical migratory fish. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Myxobolus sp. and Henneguya sp. (Cnidaria: Myxobolidae) natural co-infection in the kidney of Piaractus mesopotamicus (Characiformes: Serrasalmidae).

PubMed

Manrique, Wilson Gómez; Figueiredo, Mayra Araguaia Pereira; de Andrade Belo, Marco Antonio; Martins, Maurício Laterça; Molnár, Kálmán

2017-10-01

This study evaluated the myxozoan infection and histopathology of the kidney of freshwater fish Piaractus mesopotamicus from intensive fish farming in Brazil. A total of 55 fish were examined for myxozoan infection. Infected organs were processed by usual histology and stained with hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) and Ziehl-Neelsen (ZN). From the total of 55 fish analyzed, 47 (85.45%) presented myxospores, being 9.09% (5/55) only with Myxobolus sp., 5.45% (3/55) only with Henneguya sp., and 70.91% (39/55) presenting both parasites. The presence of myxospores was associated with histological alterations in both stromal and renal parenchyma. Myxospores were found mostly in the peritubular interstitial tissue and in low intensity in the glomerulus which caused nuclear hypertrophy and loss of Bowman space. An increase in the glomerular tuft and a reduction in the lumen of the collector tubules were also observed, besides the high number of melanomacrophage cells in the glomerulus. This study reports for the first time detection of myxozoan mixed infection in one organ of pacu and discuss the possible transportation of myxospores in the circulating blood.

Aloe vera enhances the innate immune response of pacu (Piaractus mesopotamicus) after transport stress and combined heat killed Aeromonas hydrophila infection.

PubMed

Zanuzzo, Fábio S; Sabioni, Rafael E; Montoya, Luz Natalia F; Favero, Gisele; Urbinati, Elisabeth C

2017-06-01

In this study, pacu (Piaractus mesopotamicus) were fed with diets containing Aloe vera for 10 days prior to transport stress and infection with heat killed Aeromonas hydrophila. A. vera is popular around the world due to its medicinal properties, including immunostimulatory effects which was observed in this study. The results show that transport causes immunosuppression, an effect that was prevented by A. vera. Specifically, A. vera prevented reductions of both leukocyte respiratory burst and hemolytic activity of complement system caused by transport. Further, fish fed with A. vera also showed significantly higher leukocyte respiratory burst, serum lysozyme concentrations and activity of complement system 24 h after bacterial infection. Additionally, we observed that A. vera may modulate the innate response through activation of complement system during bacterial immune stimulation. In summary, A. vera extract enhanced innate immune parameters and consequently the ability of fish to cope with pathogens following transport stress. These findings show that A. vera has promise for use in aquaculture and add further evidence that medicinal herbs added to fish feed assist to prevent disease outbreaks. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Acute toxicity of commercial atrazine in Piaractus mesopotamicus: Histopathological, ultrastructural, molecular, and genotoxic evaluation

PubMed Central

de Paiva, Paula Pereira; Delcorso, Mariana Cruz; Matheus, Valquíria Aparecida; de Queiroz, Sonia Claudia do Nascimento; Collares-Buzato, Carla Beatriz; Arana, Sarah

2017-01-01

Aim: The aim of this work was to evaluate the sensitivity of Pacu fingerlings (Piaractus mesopotamicus) by measuring the effects of median lethal concentration (LC50) of atrazine (ATZ - 28.58 mg/L) after acute exposure (up to 96 h). Materials and Methods: The fish were exposed to the LC50 of ATZ for 96 h (28.58 mg/L) in a static system. During the experiment, the fingerlings were randomly distributed in four glass tanks (50 L) containing dechlorinated water. Four glass tanks were for the control group, and four were for the ATZ-exposed group (n=4 per glass tank), given a total number of 16 animals tested per group. The genotoxicity was evaluated by micronucleus (MN) test in erythrocytes from peripheral blood. Qualitative and semi-quantitative histopathological analyses, and also ultrastructural study, were applied in liver and kidney samples. Finally, the content of heat shock protein (Hsp70) in the liver was evaluated by the western blotting method. Results: The morphological alterations in the liver, which was associated with increased expression of Hsp70, included nuclear and cytoplasmic vacuolization, cytoplasmic hyaline inclusions, and necrosis. The kidney presented edema and tubular cell degeneration with cytoplasmic hyaline inclusion. The semi-quantitative histopathological analyses indicated that the liver was more sensitive than kidney to ATZ-induced damage. Ultrastructural analysis showed that ATZ caused membrane alterations in several organelles and increased the number of lysosomes in hepatocytes and kidney proximal tubular cells. Nevertheless, no significant difference was observed in MN frequency in erythrocytes comparing treated and control groups., Conclusion: These results indicated that ATZ-induced damage to the kidney and liver function, ATZ at the concentration tested did not induce a significant difference in MN frequency in Pacu erythrocytes comparing treated and control groups, and also that Pacu fingerlings may be a good bioindicator for

Essential oils to control ichthyophthiriasis in pacu, Piaractus mesopotamicus (Holmberg): special emphasis on treatment with Melaleuca alternifolia.

PubMed

Valladão, G M R; Gallani, S U; Ikefuti, C V; da Cruz, C; Levy-Pereira, N; Rodrigues, M V N; Pilarski, F

2016-10-01

In vitro effect of the Melaleuca alternifolia, Lavandula angustifolia and Mentha piperita essential oils (EOs) against Ichthyophthirius multifiliis and in vivo effect of M. alternifolia for treating ichthyophthiriasis in one of the most important South American fish, Piaractus mesopotamicus (Holmberg), were evaluated. The in vitro test consisted of three EOs, each at concentrations of 57 μL L(-1) , 114 μL L (-1) , 227 μL L(-1) and 455 μL L (-1) , which were assessed once an hour for 4 h in microtitre plates (96 wells). The in vitro results demonstrated that all tested EOs showed a cytotoxic effect against I. multifiliis compared to control groups (P < 0.05). The in vivo treatment for white spot disease was performed in a bath for 2 h day(-1) for 5 days using the M. alternifolia EO (50 μL L (-1) ). In this study, 53.33% of the fish severely infected by I. multifiliis survived after the treatment with M. alternifolia (50 μL L (-1) ) and the parasitological analysis has shown an efficacy of nearly 100% in the skin and gills, while all the fish in the control group died. Furthermore, the potential positive effect of M. alternifolia EO against two emergent opportunistic bacteria in South America Edwardsiella tarda and Citrobacter freundii was discussed. © 2016 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

The role of the vagus nerve in the generation of cardiorespiratory interactions in a neotropical fish, the pacu, Piaractus mesopotamicus.

PubMed

Leite, Cleo Alcantara Costa; Taylor, E W; Guerra, C D R; Florindo, L H; Belão, T; Rantin, F T

2009-08-01

The role of the vagus nerve in determining heart rate (f(H)) and cardiorespiratory interactions was investigated in a neotropical fish, Piaractus mesopotamicus. During progressive hypoxia f(H) initially increased, establishing a 1:1 ratio with ventilation rate (f(R)). Subsequently there was a hypoxic bradycardia. Injection of atropine abolished a normoxic inhibitory tonus on the heart and the f(H) adjustments during progressive hypoxia, confirming that they are imposed by efferent parasympathetic inputs via the vagus nerve. Efferent activity recorded from the cardiac vagus in lightly anesthetized normoxic fish included occasional bursts of activity related to spontaneous changes in ventilation amplitude, which increased the cardiac interval. Restricting the flow of aerated water irrigating the gills resulted in increased respiratory effort and bursts of respiration-related activity in the cardiac vagus that seemed to cause f(H) to couple with f(R). Cell bodies of cardiac vagal pre-ganglionic neurons were located in two distinct groups within the dorsal vagal motor column having an overlapping distribution with respiratory motor-neurons. A small proportion of cardiac vagal pre-ganglionic neurons (2%) was in scattered positions in the ventrolateral medulla. This division of cardiac vagal pre-ganglionic neurons into distinct motor groups may relate to their functional roles in determining cardiorespiratory interactions.

Differential expression of myogenic regulatory factor MyoD in pacu skeletal muscle (Piaractus mesopotamicus Holmberg 1887: Serrasalminae, Characidae, Teleostei) during juvenile and adult growth phases.

PubMed

de Almeida, Fernanda Losi Alves; Carvalho, Robson Francisco; Pinhal, Danillo; Padovani, Carlos Roberto; Martins, Cesar; Dal Pai-Silva, Maeli

2008-12-01

Skeletal muscle is the edible part of the fish. It grows by hypertrophy and hyperplasia, events regulated by differential expression of myogenic regulatory factors (MRFs). The study of muscle growth mechanisms in fish is very important in fish farming development. Pacu (Piaractus mesopotamicus) is one of the most important food species farmed in Brazil and has been extensively used in Brazilian aquaculture programs. The aim of this study was to analyze hyperplasia and hypertrophy and the MRF MyoD expression pattern in skeletal muscle of pacu (P. mesopotamicus) during juvenile and adult growth stages. Juvenile (n=5) and adult (n=5) fish were anaesthetized, sacrificed, and weight (g) and total length (cm) determined. White dorsal region muscle samples were collected and immersed in liquid nitrogen. Transverse sections (10 microm thick) were stained with Haematoxilin-Eosin (HE) for morphological and morphometric analysis. Smallest fiber diameter from 100 muscle fibers per animal was calculated in each growth phase. These fibers were grouped into three classes (<20, 20-50, and >50 microm) to evaluate hypertrophy and hyperplasia in white skeletal muscle. MyoD gene expression was determined by semi-quantitative RT-PCR. PCR products were cloned and sequenced. Juvenile and adult pacu skeletal muscle had similar morphology. The large number of <20 microm diameter muscle fibers observed in juvenile fish confirms active hyperplasia. In adult fish, most fibers were over 50 microm diameter and denote more intense muscle fiber hypertrophy. The MyoD mRNA level in juveniles was higher than in adults. A consensus partial sequence for MyoD gene (338 base pairs) was obtained. The Pacu MyoD nucleotide sequence displayed high similarity among several vertebrates, including teleosts. The differential MyoD gene expression observed in pacu white muscle is possibly related to differences in growth patterns during the phases analyzed, with hyperplasia predominant in juveniles and

Characterization and gene expression analysis of pacu (Piaractus mesopotamicus) inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) following Aeromonas dhakensis infection.

PubMed

Carriero, Mateus M; Henrique-Silva, Flávio; Caetano, Alexandre Rodrigues; Lobo, Francisco Pereira; Alves, Anderson Luis; Varela, Eduardo Sousa; Del Collado, Maite; Moreira, Gabriel S A; Maia, Antonio A M

2018-03-01

Nitric oxide (NO) is an important effector molecule which is involved in a myriad of biological processes, including immune responses against pathogens such as parasites, virus and bacteria. During the inflammatory processes in vertebrates, NO is produced by the inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) enzyme in practically all nucleated cells to suppress or kill intracellular pathogens. The aim of the present study was to characterize the full coding region of the iNOS gene of pacu (Piaractus mesopotamicus), an economically and ecologically important South American fish species, and to analyze mRNA expression levels following intraperitoneal infection with the pathogenic bacterium Aeromonas dhakensis by means of quantitative real time PCR (qPCR). The results showed that the pacu iNOS transcript is 3237 bp in length, encoding a putative protein composed of 1078 amino acid residues. The amino acid sequence showed similarities ranging from 69.03% to 94.34% with other teleost fish and 57.70% with the human iNOS, with all characteristic domains and cofactor binding sites of the enzyme detected. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the iNOS from the red-bellied piranha, another South American characiform, was the closest related sequence to the pacu iNOS. iNOS transcripts were constitutively detected in the liver, spleen and head kidney, and there was a significant upregulation in the liver and spleen at 12, 24 and 48 h after infection with A. dhakensis. No significant variations were observed in the head kidney during the periods analyzed. These results show that iNOS expression was induced by A. dhakensis infection and suggest that this enzyme may be involved in the response to this bacterium in pacu. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Differential MMP-2 and MMP-9 activity and collagen distribution in skeletal muscle from pacu (Piaractus mesopotamicus) during juvenile and adult growth phases.

PubMed

Michelin, Aline Cristina; Justulin, Luis Antonio; Delella, Flávia Karina; Padovani, Carlos Roberto; Felisbino, Sérgio Luis; Dal-Pai-Silva, Maeli

2009-03-01

Here, we evaluated collagen distribution and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) MMP-2 and MMP-9 activities in skeletal muscle of pacu (Piaractus mesopotamicus) during juvenile and adult growth phases. Muscle samples from juvenile and adult fishes were processed by histochemistry for collagen system fibers and for gelatin-zymography for MMP-2 and MMP-9 activities analysis. Picrosirius staining revealed a myosept, endomysium, and perimysium-like structures in both growth phases and muscle types, with increased areas of collagen fibers in adults, mainly in red muscle. Reticulin staining showed that reticular fibers in the endomysium-like structure were thinner and discontinuous in the red muscle fibers. The zymography revealed clear bands of the pro- MMP-9, active- MMP-9, intermediate- MMP-2, and active- MMP-2 forms in red and white muscle in both growth phases. MMP-2 activity was more intense in juvenile than adult muscle fibers. Comparing the red and white muscle types, MMP-2 activity was significantly higher in red muscle in adult phase only. The activity of MMP-9 forms was similar in juvenile red and white muscles and in the adult red muscle, without any activity in adult white muscle. In conclusion, our results show that, in pacu, the higher activities of MMP-2 and -9 are associated with the rapid muscle growth in juvenile age and in adult fish, these activities are related with a different red and white muscle physiology. This study may contribute to the understanding muscle growth mechanisms and may also contribute to analyse red and the white muscle parameters of firmness and softness, respectively, of the commercial product. (c) 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Food restriction increase the expression of mTORC1 complex genes in the skeletal muscle of juvenile pacu (Piaractus mesopotamicus)

PubMed Central

de Paula, Tassiana Gutierrez; Zanella, Bruna Tereza Thomazini; Fantinatti, Bruno Evaristo de Almeida; de Moraes, Leonardo Nazário; Duran, Bruno Oliveira da Silva; de Oliveira, Caroline Bredariol; Salomão, Rondinelle Artur Simões; da Silva, Rafaela Nunes; Padovani, Carlos Roberto; dos Santos, Vander Bruno; Mareco, Edson Assunção; Carvalho, Robson Francisco; Dal-Pai-Silva, Maeli

2017-01-01

Skeletal muscle is capable of phenotypic adaptation to environmental factors, such as nutrient availability, by altering the balance between muscle catabolism and anabolism that in turn coordinates muscle growth. Small noncoding RNAs, known as microRNAs (miRNAs), repress the expression of target mRNAs, and many studies have demonstrated that miRNAs regulate the mRNAs of catabolic and anabolic genes. We evaluated muscle morphology, gene expression of components involved in catabolism, anabolism and energetic metabolism and miRNAs expression in both the fast and slow muscle of juvenile pacu (Piaractus mesopotamicus) during food restriction and refeeding. Our analysis revealed that short periods of food restriction followed by refeeding predominantly affected fast muscle, with changes in muscle fiber diameter and miRNAs expression. There was an increase in the mRNA levels of catabolic pathways components (FBXO25, ATG12, BCL2) and energetic metabolism-related genes (PGC1α and SDHA), together with a decrease in PPARβ/δ mRNA levels. Interestingly, an increase in mRNA levels of anabolic genes (PI3K and mTORC1 complex: mTOR, mLST8 and RAPTOR) was also observed during food restriction. After refeeding, muscle morphology showed similar patterns of the control group; the majority of genes were slightly up- or down-regulated in fast and slow muscle, respectively; the levels of all miRNAs increased in fast muscle and some of them decreased in slow muscle. Our findings demonstrated that a short period of food restriction in juvenile pacu had a considerable impact on fast muscle, increasing the expression of anabolic (PI3K and mTORC1 complex: mTOR, mLST8 and RAPTOR) and energetic metabolism genes. The miRNAs (miR-1, miR-206, miR-199 and miR-23a) were more expressed during refeeding and while their target genes (IGF-1, mTOR, PGC1α and MAFbx), presented a decreased expression. The alterations in mTORC1 complex observed during fasting may have influenced the rates of protein

Passage performance of long-distance upstream migrants at a large dam on the Paraná River and the compounding effects of entry and ascent

USGS Publications Warehouse

Wagner, Ricardo Luiz; Makrakis, Sergio; Castro-Santos, Theodore R.; Makrakis, Maristela Cavicchioli; Dias, João Henrique Pinheiro; Belmont, René Fuster

2012-01-01

This paper presents results of a fishway evaluation performed at the Engenheiro Sérgio Motta Hydroelectric Power Plant (known as Porto Primavera) - CESP, Paraná River, Brazil. The evaluation was designed to quantify entry and passage proportions of 4 long-distance migratory fish species: Brycon orbignyanus (piracanjuba), Piaractus mesopotamicus (pacu), Prochilodus lineatus (curimba), and Rhinelepis aspera (cascudo-preto). Proportions finding and entering the fishway differed between species, ranged from 7.4 % (Prochilodus lineatus) to 55.4% (Piaractus mesopotamicus). Also, proportion passing was different between species, ranged from 31% (R. aspera) to 100% (Prochilodus lineatus). Fish that were marked and released within the fishway had greater failure rates than those that entered volitionally. Total time to pass ranged from 1.48 hours (Prochilodus lineatus) to 178.9 hours (R. aspera). Failure rates were greatest in the lower end of the fishway. Although some individuals of all species passed successfully, significant challenges remain to restoring connectivity of the upper Paraná River.

Milt cryopreservation for rheophilic fish threatened by extinction in the Rio Grande, Brazil.

PubMed

de Andrade, Estefânia Souza; Paula, Daniella Aparecida de Jesus; Felizardo, Viviane de Oliveira; Murgas, Luis David Solis; Veras, Galileu Crovatto; Vieira e Rosa, Priscila

2014-01-01

Specific protocols for milt cryopreservation have been established for some freshwater fish species. However, cryopreservation reduces sperm quality, giving unsatisfactory results in reproduction. The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of different cryoprotectants on the quality of Prochilodus lineatus, Brycon orbignyanus and Piaractus mesopotamicus milt after cryopreservation. The milt was diluted in different cryoprotectant solutions containing 10% methanol, dimethyl sulfoxide, glycerol, propylene glycol or ethylene glycol combined with the Beltsville Thawing Solution extender (5%), then placed in the vapour of a liquid nitrogen (LN) storage tank for 24 h, after which they were immersed in LN. After rewarming, the rate (%) and duration (s) of milt motility and abnormal morphology were evaluated. All of cryoprotectant solutions tested used maintained the viability of P. lineatus and P. mesopotamicus milt. However, in P. lineatus, glycerol ensured a lower percentage of abnormal morphology. In case of P. mesopotamicus, all of the cryoprotectant solutions tested may be used in the cryopreservation process, with the exception of those containing glycerol. For B. orbignyanus, cryoprotectant solutions containing methanol and ethylene glycol are recommended for use in the cryopreservation process, although they reduced the quality of sperm post-rewarming.

Cholinesterase activity of muscle tissue from freshwater fishes: characterization and sensitivity analysis to the organophosphate methyl-paraoxon.

PubMed

Lopes, Renato Matos; Filho, Moacelio Veranio Silva; de Salles, João Bosco; Bastos, Vera Lúcia Freire Cunha; Bastos, Jayme Cunha

2014-06-01

The biochemical characterization of cholinesterases (ChE) from different teleost species has been a critical step in ensuring the proper use of ChE activity levels as biomarkers in environmental monitoring programs. In the present study, ChE from Oreochromis niloticus, Piaractus mesopotamicus, Leporinus macrocephalus, and Prochilodus lineatus was biochemically characterized by specific substrates and inhibitors. Moreover, muscle tissue ChE sensitivity to the organophosphate pesticide methyl-paraoxon was evaluated by determining the inhibition kinetic constants for its progressive irreversible inhibition by methyl-paraoxon as well as the 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) for 30 min for each species. The present results indicate that acetylcholinesterase (AChE) must be present in the muscle from P. mesopotamicus, L. macrocephalus, and P. lineatus and that O. niloticus possesses an atypical cholinesterase or AChE and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE). Furthermore, there is a large difference regarding the sensitivity of these enzymes to methyl-paraoxon. The determined IC50 values for 30 min were 70 nM (O. niloticus), 258 nM (P. lineatus), 319 nM (L. macrocephalus), and 1578 nM (P. mesopotamicus). The results of the present study also indicate that the use of efficient methods for extracting these enzymes, their kinetic characterization, and determination of sensitivity differences between AChE and BChE to organophosphate compounds are essential for the determination of accurate ChE activity levels for environmental monitoring programs. © 2014 SETAC.

Effects of Glyphosate-Based Herbicide Sub-Lethal Concentrations on Fish Feeding Behavior.

PubMed

Giaquinto, Percilia Cardoso; de Sá, Marina Borges; Sugihara, Vanessa Seiko; Gonçalves, Bruno Bastos; Delício, Helton Carlos; Barki, Assaf

2017-04-01

Glyphosate-based herbicides are widely used in agricultural systems. Although the target organism are particularly plant organisms, there are numerous studies showing adverse effects in aquatic animals, such as inhibition of acetyl cholinesterase, effects on kidney, liver, and gill and stressors effects. This study analyzed the effects of commercial formulation of glyphosate on feeding behavior in Pacu (Piaractus mesopotamicus). Fish were exposed to three glyphosate concentrations (0.2, 0.6, and 1.8 ppm) for 15 days. At concentrations of 0.2 and 0.6 ppm, food intake decreased on day 13 and then returned to normal on day 15. At the highest glyphosate-based herbicide concentration, 1.8 ppm, food consumption decreased dramatically and did not recover on day 15. This study showed that glyphosate-based herbicide at sub-lethal concentrations can affect feed intake in pacu and consequently inhibits its growth.