A contribution to the biology of the ommastrephid squid Martialia hyadesi (rochebrune and mabille, 1889) from the south-west Atlantic

Updated knowledge on the distribution and biology of the ommastrephid squid Martialia hyadesi in the South-West Atlantic Ocean is presented. Although the species has an Antarctic circumpolar distribution, itsmost frequent area of appearance is in the South-West Atlantic, where commercial catches have been made. During the 1995 Illex argentinus fishing season, 852 tons of Martialia hyadesi were caught, the largest catches in recent years. The species was captured on the outer shelf and slope, between 38 and 50°S, from March until June. Catches of up to 40 tons per day were obtained in the area between 45 and 48°S (April–June), where surface temperatures ranged between 7 and 9°C. The squid caught were adults (221–375 mm mantle length ML), 70% of the males were mature and 90% of the females were immature. Statolith readings, assuming daily formation of increments, showed that most had hatched during the months October and November. According to stomachcontent analysis, fish represented 43.9% of the food consumed (90% myctophids), squid 36.6% (70% cannibalism on small juveniles) and zooplankton 19.5%. Juveniles of the same species were caught on the Patagonian slope and in the adjacent oceanic region during spring of 1988 and 1989, most of them in waters of the Malvinas Current (5–7°C). The sizes of those juveniles ranged between 15 and 81 mm ML and the ages (based on statolith increments) between 137 and 150 days, indicating that they had hatched during April

Description of an architeuthis from argentine waters

A specimen of the giant squid Architeuthis sp., caught by a trawler on the Patagonian inner shelf (46 &#176‹30'S. 66 &#176 ‹00'W) in April 1995, is described. The squid was a mature female of 1 625 mm mantle length with 321 growth lines in the statoliths. Internal and external anatomy and morphometric characters were studied as far as possible, given the very damaged condition of the animal

Molecular mechanisms of vaspin action: from adipose tissue to skin and bone, from blood vessels to the brain

Visceral adipose tissue derived serine protease inhibitor (vaspin) or SERPINA12 according to the serpin nomenclature was identified together with other genes and gene products that  were specifically expressed or overexpressed in the intra abdominal or visceral adipose tissue  (AT) of the Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima fatty rat. These rats spontaneously develop visceral  obesity, insulin resistance, hyperinsulinemia and ‐glycemia, as well as hypertension and thus represent a well suited animal model of obesity and related metabolic disorders such as type  2 diabetes.  The follow-up study reporting the cloning, expression and functional characterization of  vaspin suggested the great and promising potential of this molecule to counteract obesity induced insulin resistance and inflammation and has since initiated over 300 publications, clinical and experimental, that have contributed to uncover the multifaceted functions and molecular mechanisms of vaspin action not only in the adipose, but in many different cells, tissues and organs. This review will give an update on mechanistic and structural aspects of vaspin with a focus on its serpin function, the physiology and regulation of vaspin expression, and will summarize the latest on vaspin function in various tissues such as the different adipose tissue depots as well as the vasculature, skin, bone and the brain

Statolith comparison of two south-west Atlantic Loliginid squid: Loligo sanpaulensis and loligo gahi

The statoliths of two South-West Atlantic loliginid squid, Loligo gahi and Loligo sanpaulensis, were studied to determine if they could be a useful tool for species differentiation. Allometric equations were employed toexamine differences in statolith shape and growth. Statolith dimensions were standardized by total length and dome length and principal components analysis was employed to compare the shapes. The first component was used as a discriminant function to classify species. There is clear species differentiation in both size and shape of the statoliths. The statoliths of Loligo gahi are significantly larger than those of Loligo sanpaulensis. Loligo gahi statoliths are characterized by the presence of a prominent dorsal dome and a relatively long, thin rostrum, whereas those of Loligo sanpaulensis have a rounded dome and short rostrum. The discriminant function correctly separated 92.9% of Loligo gahi and 88.5% of Loligo sanpaulensis statoliths in additional samples. Relationships between mantle length and statolith length and between total mass and statolith length were determined for both species

Embryonic development and hatchlings of Illex argentinus derived from artificial fertilization

The embryonic and early post-hatching development of artificially fertilized eggs of Illex argentinus was observed at several temperatures from 8.5 to 23.2°C. During the fertilization procedure, oviducal gland jellywas added to eggs (about 1.0 mm long). Chorion expansion began 20 minutes after fertilization and continued throughout embryonic development. Before hatching, the chorion diameter measured more than 2.5 mm.Developmental stages were described on the basis of morphological features. Most hatchlings from the least disturbed eggs had well-developed ink sacs, fins, extensible probosces and buccal masses. The mantle lengthof hatchlings was approximately 1.6 mm. Comparisons are made with embryos and hatchlings of other ommastrephid squid, Illex species and Todarodes pacificus

Chondrodysplasia Punctata 1, X-linked Recessive

X-linked chondrodysplasia punctata 1 (CDPX1), a congenital disorder of bone and cartilage development, is caused by a deficiency of the Golgi enzyme arylsulfatase E (ARSE). It is characterized by chondrodysplasia punctata (stippled epiphyses), brachytelephalangy (shortening of the distal phalanges), and nasomaxillary hypoplasia. Although most affected males have minimal morbidity and skeletal findings that improve by adulthood, some have significant medical problems including respiratory compromise, cervical spine stenosis and instability, mixed conductive and sensorineural hearing loss, and intellectual disability. Diagnosis/testing. In approximately 25% of individuals with features of CDPX1, routine karyotype analysis reveals deletions or rearrangements of the short arm of the X chromosome (Xp) that include ARSE. Chromosomal microarray (CMA) can be used to evaluate for smaller interstitial deletion syndromes. Sequence analysis of ARSE identifies a pathogenic variant in up to 60% to 75% of males who meet clinical diagnostic criteria. Management. Treatment of manifestations: Respiratory difficulty can require frequent monitoring, nasal stents, and oxygen. Severe maxillary hypoplasia or maxillary retrognathia may require reconstructive surgery in older individuals. Instability of the cervical spine may require a cervical collar or spinal fusion. Surveillance: Routine monitoring of hearing, growth, development, and cervical spine instability. Genetic counseling. CDPX1 is inherited in an X-linked manner. If the mother of a proband has the ARSE pathogenic variant identified in the proband, the chance of transmitting it in each pregnancy is 50%. Males who inherit the pathogenic variant will be affected; females who inherit the pathogenic variant will be carriers and thus far have not been affected. Males with CDPX1 pass the pathogenic variant to all of their daughters and none of their sons. Carrier testing for at-risk relatives and prenatal testing for at-risk pregnancies are possible if the ARSE pathogenic variant has been identified in the family

First report of the black gemfish Nesiarchus nasutus (Perciformes: Gempylidae) in Argentinean waters

The gempylid Nesiarchus nasutus is reported for the first time from Argentinean waters, the southernmost occurrence of the species in the Southwestern Atlantic. This suggests that the fluctuating environmental characteristics of the area would be proper for the presence of tropical and subtropical species

Summer distribution, abundance and population structure of illex argentines on the argentine shelf in relation to environmental features

The distribution, abundance and population structure of Illex argentinus in relation to oceanographic conditions during summer 1996 were analysed following a research cruise to the Argentine shelf (39°–51°30´S). Squid were distributed over the whole area, but the main concentrations were on the intermediate and outer Patagonian shelf (44°30´–47°30´S), where there was a thermal front (12–15°C). Three squid groups were detected through study of the distributional area, size, maturity stage, age and hatching month. North of 41°S, there were immature individualsof 14–21 cm mantle length (ML) that had hatched mostly in June. Small mature, spawning and spent squid (males 14–22 cm ML, females 18–26 cm ML) were found on the inner and intermediate shelf between 40°30´ and 46°30´S. They had hatched from January to April, with a clear peak in March. South of 45°S, males of 17–25 cm ML and females of 17–29 cm ML were found over the intermediate and outer shelf; most males were mature whereas the majority of the females were immature. They had hatched from May to July, with a peak in June. The relationship between statolith increment and size showed that the growth rates of the later-hatched individuals were faster than those of individuals hatched earlier. The squid preyed almost exclusively on zooplankton (87%), mostly the hyperiid amphipod Themisto gaudichaudii (79%)