Larval Development in Tropical Gar (Atractosteus tropicus) Is Dependent on the Embryonic Thermal Regime: Ecological Implications under a Climate Change Context

In ectotherm species, environmental temperature plays a key role in development, growth, and survival. Thus, determining how temperature affects fish populations is of utmost importance to accurately predict the risk of climate change over fisheries and aquaculture, critical to warrant nutrition and food security in the coming years. Here, the potential effects of abnormal thermal regimes (24, 28 and 32 C; TR24, TR28, and TR32, respectively) exclusively applied during embryogenesis in tropical gar (Atractosteus tropicus) has been explored to decipher the potential consequences on hatching and growth from fertilization to 16 days post-fertilization (dpf), while effects on skeletal development and body morphology were explored at fertilization and 16 dpf. Egg incubation at higher temperatures induced an early hatching and mouth opening. A higher hatching rate was obtained in eggs incubated at 28 C when compared to those at 24 C. No differences were found in fish survival at 16 dpf, with values ranging from 84.89 to 88.86%, but increased wet body weight and standard length were found in larvae from TR24 and TR32 groups. Thermal regime during embryogenesis also altered the rate at which the skeletal development occurs. Larvae from the TR32 group showed an advanced skeletal development, with a higher development of cartilaginous structures at hatching but reduced at 16 dpf when compared with the TR24 and TR28 groups. Furthermore, this advanced skeletal development seemed to determine the fish body morphology. Based on biometric measures, a principal component analysis showed how along development, larvae from each thermal regime were clustered together, but with each population remaining clearly separated from each other. The current study shows how changes in temperature may induce craniofacial and morphological alterations in fish during early stages and contribute to understanding the possible effects of global warming in early development of fish and its ecological implications.Versión del edito

Effect of β-Glucans in Diets on Growth, Survival, Digestive Enzyme Activity, and Immune System and Intestinal Barrier Gene Expression for Tropical Gar (Atractosteus tropicus) Juveniles

The application of β-1,3/1,6-glucan derived from yeast at five concentrations (0%, 0.5%, 1.0%, 1.5%, and 2.0%) in formulated diets was evaluated in juveniles for its effects on the growth, survival, digestive enzymatic activity, and expression of genes associated with the immune system (interlukin-10 (IL-10), transforming growth factor (TGF), occludin (OCC), mucin2 (MUC2), lysozyme (LYS), and nucleotide-binding and oligomerization domain 2 (NOD2)) in tropical gar (Atractosteus tropicus). For the experiment, three replicates of 30 fish per experimental unit (70 L) were cultivated for 62 days. The growth results showed no statistically significant differences in relation to weight and total length between treatments. The activity of digestive enzymes (alkaline proteases, trypsin, leucine aminopeptidase, and amylase) did not show significant differences between treatments, except for chymotrypsin activity, where fish fed 1.0% and 1.5% of β-glucans showed higher activities compared with the rest of the treatments. On the other hand, the analysis of gene expression did not show significant differences between treatments, although a tendency of increase in the expression of IL-10, TGF, MUC2, and OCC was observed with an addition of 1.5% of the prebiotic, but there was a decrease in the fish fed with 2% of the prebiotic. It is possible to include concentrations of between 0.5% and 1.5% of β-glucans in the diets for A. tropicus, with no detectable adverse effects on growth, survival, digestive enzyme activity, or specific gene expression. β-glucan 1,3/1,6 added at 1.0% and 1.5% in the diet significantly increases chymotrypsin activity.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Inclusion of Mannan-Oligosaccharides in Diets for Tropical Gar <i>Atractosteus tropicus</i> Larvae: Effects on Growth, Digestive Enzymes, and Expression of Intestinal Barrier Genes

Mannan-oligosaccharides (MOS) are non-digestible carbohydrates, and their use in aquaculture as prebiotics is well documented. The objective of this work was to test whether MOS supplemented in the diet of A. tropicus larvae (2, 4, and 6 g kg−1) influence growth parameters, the activity of digestive enzymes, and the expression of genes related to the intestinal barrier. The highest total length was observed in larvae fed 6 g kg−1 MOS compared to control larvae. Trypsin activity increased with the addition of MOS to the diets, but leucine aminopeptidase activity only increased with 6 g kg−1 MOS. Lipase and α-amylase activities increased in larvae fed with 2 and 4 g kg−1 MOS. The expression of zo-2 was higher with the 6 g kg−1 MOS treatment. The cl-3 transcripts were lower with 2 g kg−1 MOS but higher with 6 g kg−1 MOS. All tested concentrations of MOS increased the expression of muc-2. In this study, incorporating mannan-oligosaccharides into the diet of A. tropicus larvae had a positive effect, and the concentration of 6 g kg−1 produced the best results. Therefore, including this prebiotic in the diets for the culture of A. tropicus larvae is suitable

Gonadotropin-inhibitory hormone (GnIH) distribution in the brain of the ancient fish Atractosteus tropicus (Holostei, Lepisosteiformes)

The Holostei group occupies a critical phylogenetic position as the sister group of the Teleostei. However, little is known about holostean pituitary anatomy or brain distribution of important reproductive neuropeptides, such as the gonadotropin-inhibitory hormone (GnIH). Thus, the present study set out to characterize the structure of the pituitary and to localize GnIH-immunoreactive cells in the brain of Atractosteus tropicus from the viewpoint of comparative neuroanatomy. Juveniles of both sexes were processed for general histology and immunohistochemistry. Based on the differences in cell organization, morphology, and staining properties, the neurohypophysis and three regions in the adenohypophysis were identified: the rostral and proximal pars distalis (PPD) and the pars intermedia. This last region was found to be innervated by the neurohypophysis. This organization, together with the presence of a saccus vasculosus, resembles the general teleost pituitary organization. A vast number of blood vessels were also recognized between the infundibulum floor of the hypothalamus and the PPD, evidencing the characteristic presence of a median eminence and a portal system. However, this well-developed pituitary portal system resembles that of tetrapods. As regards the immunohistochemical localization of GnIH, we found four GnIH-immunoreactive (GnIH-ir) populations in three hypothalamic nuclei (suprachiasmatic, retrotuberal, and tuberal nuclei) and one in the diencephalon (prethalamic nucleus), as well as a few scattered neurons throughout the olfactory bulbs, the telencephalon, and the intersection between them. GnIH-ir fibers showed a widespread distribution over almost all brain regions, suggesting that GnIH function is not restricted to reproduction only. In conclusion, the present study describes, for the first time, the pituitary of A. tropicus and the neuroanatomical localization of GnIH in a holostean fish that exhibits a similar distribution pattern to that of teleosts and other vertebrates, suggesting a high degree of phylogenetic conservation of this system.Fil: Beriotto, Agustina Carla. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental y Aplicada. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental y Aplicada; ArgentinaFil: Di Yorio, María Paula. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental y Aplicada. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental y Aplicada; ArgentinaFil: Pérez Sirkin, Daniela Irina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental y Aplicada. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental y Aplicada; ArgentinaFil: Toledo Solis, Francisco J.. Universidad Juárez Autónoma de Tabasco; MéxicoFil: Peña Marín, Emyr S.. Universidad Juárez Autónoma de Tabasco; MéxicoFil: Álvarez González, Carlos A.. Universidad Juárez Autónoma de Tabasco; MéxicoFil: Tsutsui, Kazuyoshi. Waseda University; JapónFil: Vissio, Paula Gabriela. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental y Aplicada. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental y Aplicada; Argentin

Effect of β-Glucans in Diets on Growth, Survival, Digestive Enzyme Activity, and Immune System and Intestinal Barrier Gene Expression for Tropical Gar (Atractosteus tropicus) Juveniles

The application of &beta;-1,3/1,6-glucan derived from yeast at five concentrations (0%, 0.5%, 1.0%, 1.5%, and 2.0%) in formulated diets was evaluated in juveniles for its effects on the growth, survival, digestive enzymatic activity, and expression of genes associated with the immune system (interlukin-10 (IL-10), transforming growth factor (TGF), occludin (OCC), mucin2 (MUC2), lysozyme (LYS), and nucleotide-binding and oligomerization domain 2 (NOD2)) in tropical gar (Atractosteus tropicus). For the experiment, three replicates of 30 fish per experimental unit (70 L) were cultivated for 62 days. The growth results showed no statistically significant differences in relation to weight and total length between treatments. The activity of digestive enzymes (alkaline proteases, trypsin, leucine aminopeptidase, and amylase) did not show significant differences between treatments, except for chymotrypsin activity, where fish fed 1.0% and 1.5% of &beta;-glucans showed higher activities compared with the rest of the treatments. On the other hand, the analysis of gene expression did not show significant differences between treatments, although a tendency of increase in the expression of IL-10, TGF, MUC2, and OCC was observed with an addition of 1.5% of the prebiotic, but there was a decrease in the fish fed with 2% of the prebiotic. It is possible to include concentrations of between 0.5% and 1.5% of &beta;-glucans in the diets for A. tropicus, with no detectable adverse effects on growth, survival, digestive enzyme activity, or specific gene expression. &beta;-glucan 1,3/1,6 added at 1.0% and 1.5% in the diet significantly increases chymotrypsin activity