Histochemical characterisation of oocytes of the swordfish <i>Xiphias gladius</i>

This work was partially funded by ICMAN.CSIC and the Spanish projects (MCYT/AGL2005-02478 and AGL2006-13777- CO3-O2/ACU). J.B. Ortiz-Delgado is supported by the Programa Ramón y Cajal (MEC, Spain)

Potential risk of Artemia sp as a transmission vector of lymphocystis disease virus (LCDV)

4 páginas, 1 figura. XI Congreso Nacional de Acuicultura (Vigo, 24-28 septiembre 2007). Ed. Antonio Cerviño Eiroa, Alejandro Guerra Díaz y Carmen Pérez Acosta.[EN] Cysts and naupliis of Artemia sp. were analysed. Specific nested-PCR revealed lymphocystis disease virus (LCDV) genome. Infective viral particle has been observed by CPE development in inoculated cell cultures. Viral genome was found by in situ hybridization in nauplii and adults of natural infected artemia, as in nauplii of bath challenged artemia. No morphological damages have been observed. Artemia is a bio-accumulator of fish pathogens, with a possible role as environmental reservoir of fish pathogens. These results have shown the risk of artemia as a source of viral pathogens to fish larvae.[ES] En el presente trabajo se han realizado estudios virológicos en distintos lotes de quistes comerciales de artemias utilizados como alimento de larvas de peces marinos en piscifactorías. Mediante nested-PCR se ha detectado genoma del virus de linfocistis (LCDV) en homogeneizados de quistes y nauplios de artemia. La existencia de partículas víricas infectivas en estos homogeneizados se ha demostrado mediante la aparición de efectos citopáticos en cultivos celulares. Los ensayos de hibridación in situ han demostrado la existencia del LCDV en artemias infectadas naturalmente, así como en artemias inoculadas mediante baño, sin observarse alteraciones morfológicas. Las artemias actúan por tanto como bioacumuladores, pudiendo desempeñar un papel importante como reservorios ambientales de patógenos de peces. Estos resultados ponen de manifiesto el riesgo potencial de las artemias como fuente de patógenos víricos en estadios larvarios.Irene Cano es contratada postdoctoral en el ICMAN.CSIC dentro del Fondo social europeo- I3P-CSIC, en el marco del proyecto AGL2006-17777-C03-02/ACU (IP: Carmen Sarasquete).Peer reviewe

Medicinal Plant Leaf Extract From Sage and Lemon Verbena Promotes Intestinal Immunity and Barrier Function in Gilthead Seabream (Sparus aurata)

The inclusion of a medicinal plant leaf extract (MPLE) from sage (Salvia officinalis) and lemon verbena (Lippia citriodora), rich in verbascoside and triterpenic compounds like ursolic acid, was evaluated in gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) fed a low fishmeal-based diet (48% crude protein, 17% crude fat, 21.7 MJ kg-1, 7% fishmeal, 15% fish oil) for 92 days. In particular, the study focused on the effect of these phytogenic compounds on the gut condition by analyzing the transcriptomic profiling (microarray analysis) and histological structure of the intestinal mucosa, as well as the histochemical properties of mucins stored in goblet cells. A total number of 506 differentially expressed genes (285 up- and 221 down-regulated) were found when comparing the transcriptomic profiling of the intestine from fish fed the control and MPLE diets. The gut transcripteractome revealed an expression profile that favored biological mechanisms associated to the 1) immune system, particularly involving T cell activation and differentiation, 2) gut integrity (i.e., adherens and tight junctions) and cellular proliferation, and 3) cellular proteolytic pathways. The histological analysis showed that the MPLE dietary supplementation promoted an increase in the number of intestinal goblet cells and modified the composition of mucins’ glycoproteins stored in goblet cells, with an increase in the staining intensity of neutral mucins, as well as in mucins rich in carboxylated and weakly sulfated glycoconjugates, particularly those rich in sialic acid residues. The integration of transcriptomic and histological results showed that the evaluated MPLE from sage and lemon verbena is responsible for the maintenance of intestinal health, supporting gut homeostasis and increasing the integrity of the intestinal epithelium, which suggests that this phytogenic may be considered as a promising sustainable functional additive for aquafeeds.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Matrix gla protein in turbot (Scophthalmus maximus): gene expression analysis and identification of sites of protein accumulation

Matrix Gla protein (Mgp) is a secreted vitamin K-dependent extracellular matrix protein and a physiological inhibitor of calcification whose gene structure, amino acid sequence and tissue distribution have been conserved throughout evolution. In the present work, the turbot (Scophthalmus maximus) mgp cDNA was cloned and the sequence of the deduced protein compared to that of other vertebrates. As expected, it was closer to teleosts than to other vertebrate groups but there was a strict conservation of amino-acids thought to be important for protein function. Analysis of mgp gene expression indicated branchial arches as the site with higher levels of expression, followed by heart, vertebra and kidney. These results were confirmed by in situ hybridization with a strong mgp expression in branchial arch chondrocytes. Mgp was found to accumulate in gills where it appeared to be restricted to chondrocytes from branchial filaments, while in vertebrae it was localized in vertebral end plates, in growth zones, in vertebral arches and spines and in notochord cells. In the soft tissues analysed, Mgp was mainly detected in kidney and heart, consistent with previous data and providing further evidence for a role of Mgp as a calcification inhibitor and a modulator of the mineralization process. Our studies provide evidence that turbot, an important new species for aquaculture, is also a useful model to study function and expression of Mgp

Estudio preliminar sobre una posible inhibición dopaminérgia en la reproducción del lenguado senegalés (Solea senegalensis)

El objetivo del presente estudio fue evaluar el efecto del sistema dopaminérgico sobre la reproducción del lenguado senegalés (Solea senegalensis). Para ello, reproductores de lenguado senegalés nacidos y criados en cautividad (generación F1) fueron tratados con 1) GnRHa, 2) inhibidor dopaminérgico (pimozide) o 3) un tratamiento combinado (GnRHa + pimozide). El efecto de los tratamientos se evaluó a nivel de producción de huevos y esperma (cantidad y calidad); además se estudió el efecto sobre niveles plasmáticos de esteroides sexuales y desarrollo gonadal (histología). Las hembras no mostraron una estimulación en la ocurrencia de puestas por el tratamiento combinado GnRHa + pimozide respecto a aquellas tratadas solo con GnRHa. Sin embargo, los machos que recibieron el tratamiento combinado mostraron una mayor estimulación en la producción de esperma y en el grado de maduración testicular respecto a aquellos que recibieron solo GnRHa o pimozide. Los resultados indican que el sistema dopaminérgico no parece ejercer una acción fuerte sobre la ocurrencia de puestas en hembras, aunque podría estimular la espermiación en machos de lenguado senegalés.Preliminary study on dopaminergic inhibition in Senegalese sole reproduction (Solea senegalensis) The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of the dopaminergic system on Senegalese sole (Solea senegalensis) reproduction. For this purpose, Senegalese sole breeders hatched and raised in captivity (F1 generation) were treated with 1) GnRHa, 2) a well-known dopaminergic inhibitor (pimozide) or 3) a combined treatment (GnRHa + pimozide). The effect of each treatment was determined by studying spawning occurrence and sperm (quantity and quality); in addition, effects on sex steroids levels and on gonadal development (histology) were also considered. Females did not show any improvement of spawning occurrence by combining GnRHa and pimozide respect to those females treated only with GnRHa. However, males which received the combined treatment showed a greater stimulation of sperm production and testicular maturity than those males treated with a single GnRHa or pimozide treatment. Our results indicate that dopaminergic system do not seem to play a strong action on eggs spawning in females, but may stimulate spermiation in Senegalese sole males

Molecular profiling of immunoglobulin heavy-chain gene rearrangements unveils new potential prognostic markers for multiple myeloma patients

Multiple myeloma is a heterogeneous disease whose pathogenesis has not been completely elucidated. Although B-cell receptors play a crucial role in myeloma pathogenesis, the impact of clonal immunoglobulin heavy-chain features in the outcome has not been extensively explored. Here we present the characterization of complete heavy-chain gene rearrangements in 413 myeloma patients treated in Spanish trials, including 113 patients characterized by next-generation sequencing. Compared to the normal B-cell repertoire, gene selection was biased in myeloma, with significant overrepresentation of IGHV3, IGHD2 and IGHD3, as well as IGHJ4 gene groups. Hypermutation was high in our patients (median: 8.8%). Interestingly, regarding patients who are not candidates for transplantation, a high hypermutation rate (≥7%) and the use of IGHD2 and IGHD3 groups were associated with improved prognostic features and longer survival rates in the univariate analyses. Multivariate analysis revealed prolonged progression-free survival rates for patients using IGHD2/IGHD3 groups (HR: 0.552, 95% CI: 0.361−0.845, p = 0.006), as well as prolonged overall survival rates for patients with hypermutation ≥7% (HR: 0.291, 95% CI: 0.137−0.618, p = 0.001). Our results provide new insights into the molecular characterization of multiple myeloma, highlighting the need to evaluate some of these clonal rearrangement characteristics as new potential prognostic markers

Age, growth and mortality of the toadfish, Halobatrachus didactylus (Schneider, 1801) (Pisces: Batrachoididae), in the Bay of Cádiz (southwestern Spain)

Age, growth and mortality of the toadfish, Halobatrachus didactylus, were determined by examination of the whole sagittal otoliths of fish sampled in the Bay of Cádiz (southwestern Spain) from March 1999 to March 2000. A total of 844 specimens (425 males, 416 females, and 3 of indeterminate sex), ranging from 95 to 470 mm in total length were examined. Eighty-nine percent of the otoliths could be read allowing an age estimation. The opaque zone was formed between April and May coincident with the maximum reproductive peak, while the translucent zone formed mainly in summer-fall (June to December). Maximum ages for males and females were 12 and 10 years, respectively. The samples were dominated by 2- to 6-year-old specimens. Males matured at an age of approximately 2 years and females at 3 years. Fish total length and otolith radius were closely related. The von Bertalanffy growth curve was used to describe growth. The parameters were derived from back-calculated length-at-age. Significant differences in the growth parameters were found between sexes. Although the growth analysis revealed that this species is slow-growing, males reached larger sizes than females. Females appeared to experience higher natural mortality rates than males

Age, growth and mortality of the toadfish, Halobatrachus didactylus (Schneider, 1801) (Pisces: Batrachoididae), in the Bay of Cádiz (southwestern Spain)

Age, growth and mortality of the toadfish, Halobatrachus didactylus, were determined by examination of the whole sagittal otoliths of fish sampled in the Bay of Cádiz (southwestern Spain) from March 1999 to March 2000. A total of 844 specimens (425 males, 416 females, and 3 of indeterminate sex), ranging from 95 to 470 mm in total length were examined. Eighty-nine percent of the otoliths could be read allowing an age estimation. The opaque zone was formed between April and May coincident with the maximum reproductive peak, while the translucent zone formed mainly in summer-fall (June to December). Maximum ages for males and females were 12 and 10 years, respectively. The samples were dominated by 2- to 6-year-old specimens. Males matured at an age of approximately 2 years and females at 3 years. Fish total length and otolith radius were closely related. The von Bertalanffy growth curve was used to describe growth. The parameters were derived from back-calculated length-at-age. Significant differences in the growth parameters were found between sexes. Although the growth analysis revealed that this species is slow-growing, males reached larger sizes than females. Females appeared to experience higher natural mortality rates than males

Development of the Senegal sole, Solea senegalensis forebrain

8 páginas, 4 figuras.The present paper deals with the ontogeny of the forebrain of the flatfish Senegal sole, Solea senegalensis, through different developmental stages before and after to metamorphosis. A first approach was made by conventional histological techniques, which allowed the determination of the main ontogenetic events. A second approach was to analyze the proliferation zones (PZ) during development and their locations, as well as the relation between them and the telencephalic asymmetry of the Senegal sole. The results show that before metamorphosis the Senegal sole goes through a fast development. The pituitary is visible 1 day after hatching (DAH), the inferior lobes of the hypothalamus appear 3 DAH, and the olfactory bulb and the differentiation between telencephalon and diencephalon are present around 4 DAH. In addition, by applying proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) immunohistochemistry by means of a monoclonal antibody against the PCNA and ABC complex, we were able to determine the PZs in the forebrain of pre- and post- metamorphic specimens. Although in both cases the PZs were similar, in premetamorphic animals they were thicker. However, PZs were observed in the pallium and subpallium, preoptic region, pretectum, epithalamus, dorsal and ventral thalamus, posterior tuberculum and hypothalamus. In all cases the PZs, mainly focusing on the telencephalon, were symmetrical in both hemispheres.This work was supported by a grant to C.P. from the Spanish Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia and partially by ICMAN.CSIC and Spanish Project (MCYT/AGL2003-03558).Peer reviewe