Reproductive biology of Sympterygia bonapartii (Chondrichthyes: Rajiformes: Arhynchobatidae) in San Matías Gulf, Patagonia, Argentina

ABSTRACT This study estimates and analyses the reproductive parameters and cycle of Sympterygia bonapartii in San Matías Gulf, northern Patagonia, Argentina. A total of 827 males and 1,299 females were analysed. Males ranged from 185 to 687 mm of total length (TL) and females from 180 to 742 mm TL. Sexual dimorphism was detected; females were larger, heavier, exhibited heavier livers, wider discs and matured at lager sizes than males. Immature females ranged from 180 to 625 mm TL, maturing females from 408 to 720 mm TL, mature ones from 514 to 742 mm TL and females with egg capsules from 580 to 730 mm TL. Immature males ranged from 185 to 545 mm TL, maturing ones from 410 to 620 mm TL and mature males from 505 to 687 mm TL. Size at which 50% of the skates reached maturity was estimated to be 545 mm TL for males and 594 mm TL for females. According to the reproductive indexes analysed, S. bonapartii exhibited a seasonal reproductive pattern. Mating may occur during winter-early spring and the egg-laying season, during spring and summer

Chondrichthyans of the San Matías Gulf, Patagonia, Argentina Los condrictios del Golfo San Matías, Patagonia, Argentina

The San Matías Gulf (SMG; 41°- 42° S; 64°- 65° W) is the largest gulf in Northern Patagonia, Argentina. Up to date, the chondrichthyan fauna of this area has not been reported. Therefore, the aim of this work is to provide a list with species presence and biological characteristics of the chondrichthyans recorded in SMG during the last 30 years. A total of 13 sharks distributed in 11 families, 19 skates and rays distributed in six families, and one holocephalan have been so far recorded in SMG. From the zoogeographical point of view, this chondrichthyan fauna is a mixed assemblage of species typically found in the Argentinean and Magellanean Provinces. The holocephalan Callorhinchus callorynchus is the most landed chondricthyan of the local fishery. With it, five sharks and seven skates are also exploited.<br>El Golfo San Matías (SMG; 41°- 42° S - 64°-65° O) se encuentra ubicado en el norte de la Patagonia, Argentina. Hasta la fecha no se cuentan con reportes de la fauna de condrictios de esta zona. Por lo tanto, el objetivo de este trabajo es proporcionar una lista de la presencia y las características biológicas de los condrictios registrados en el SMG durante los últimos 30 años. Un total de 13 tiburones distribuidos en 11 familias, 19 batoideos distribuidos en seis familias y un holocefalo han sido reportados para la zona. Desde el punto de vista zoogeográfico, el SMG presenta un ensamble de especies pertenecientes a las Provincias Magallánica y Argentina. El holocefalo Callorhinchus callorynchus es el condrictio más desembarcado de la pesquería local. Con menor importancia son explotadas comercialmente, cinco especies de tiburones y siete de rayas

Lack of GDAP1 Induces Neuronal Calcium and Mitochondrial Defects in a Knockout Mouse Model of Charcot-Marie-Tooth Neuropathy

27 páginas, 9 figuras.Mutations in GDAP1, which encodes protein located in the mitochondrial outer membrane, cause axonal recessive (AR-CMT2), axonal dominant (CMT2K) and demyelinating recessive (CMT4A) forms of Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) neuropathy. Loss of function recessive mutations in GDAP1 are associated with decreased mitochondrial fission activity, while dominant mutations result in impairment of mitochondrial fusion with increased production of reactive oxygen species and susceptibility to apoptotic stimuli. GDAP1 silencing in vitro reduces Ca2+ inflow through store-operated Ca2+ entry (SOCE) upon mobilization of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) Ca2+, likely in association with an abnormal distribution of the mitochondrial network. To investigate the functional consequences of lack of GDAP1 in vivo, we generated a Gdap1 knockout mouse. The affected animals presented abnormal motor behavior starting at the age of 3 months. Electrophysiological and biochemical studies confirmed the axonal nature of the neuropathy whereas histopathological studies over time showed progressive loss of motor neurons (MNs) in the anterior horn of the spinal cord and defects in neuromuscular junctions. Analyses of cultured embryonic MNs and adult dorsal root ganglia neurons from affected animals demonstrated large and defective mitochondria, changes in the ER cisternae, reduced acetylation of cytoskeletal α-tubulin and increased autophagy vesicles. Importantly, MNs showed reduced cytosolic calcium and SOCE response. The development and characterization of the GDAP1 neuropathy mice model thus revealed that some of the pathophysiological changes present in axonal recessive form of the GDAP1-related CMT might be the consequence of changes in the mitochondrial network biology and mitochondria-endoplasmic reticulum interaction leading to abnormalities in calcium homeostasis.This work has been funded by grants from the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness, grants no. SAF2009-07063 and SAF2012-32425 (to FP), the Collaborative Joint Project awarded by IRDiRC and funded by ISCIII grant IR11/TREAT-CMT, Instituto de Salud Carlos III (to both FP and JMC), the Generalitat Valenciana Prometeo Programme 2009/059 and 2014/029 (to FP) and the Swiss National Science Foundation, grant no. 31003A_135735/1 (to RC). This work has also been funded by the CIBERER, an initiative from the Instituto de Salud Carlos III. MB-M is the recipient of a FPI fellowship, from the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.Peer reviewe

Seasonal Reproductive Biology of the Bignose Fanskate Sympterygia acuta (Chondrichthyes, Rajidae)

Most skates are adapted to shelf and slope environments experiencing less seasonal variation than coastal ecosystems. Here, we analyze the reproductive ecology of Sympterygia acuta. We hypothesize that, like its congener Sympterygia bonapartii, S. acuta has a seasonal reproductive cycle. To test this hypothesis, we examined multiple lines of evidence: (1) time of appearance of females carrying egg cases and wild neonates; (2) seasonal variation in gonadosomatic index and follicle diameter, as indicators of reproductive activity; and (3) egg-laying season, incubation time, and fecundity in captive individuals. A total of 351 specimens were examined. Size at 50 % maturity was 475 and 478 mm total length for males and females, respectively. A marked seasonal reproductive cycle was observed. Both gonadosomatic index and follicle diameter of wild adult females increased from winter to spring and reached their lowest value during summer. Fecundity was, on average, 52 eggs per female per laying season. Egg laying of captive females peaked between August and December; eggs hatched after 119–131 days. This schedule predicts the appearance of neonates in the wild by January through April. Accordingly, wild neonates and young-of-the-year were observed between January and May. Unlike most other skates, southwest Atlantic Sympterygia species are adapted to life in shallow, coastal waters, matching the seasonality of the coastal environment with egg-laying activity in spring and hatching in summer. These shallow coastal waters, which are important in the life cycle of Sympterygia spp., are threatened by human impacts.Fil: Mabragaña, Ezequiel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencia Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras; ArgentinaFil: Lucifora, Luis Omar. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste. Instituto de Biología Subtropical. Instituto de Biología Subtropical - Nodo Puerto Iguazú | Universidad Nacional de Misiones. Instituto de Biología Subtropical. Instituto de Biología Subtropical - Nodo Puerto Iguazú; ArgentinaFil: Corbo, Maria de Lourdes. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencia Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras; Argentina. Provincia de Buenos Aires. Gobernación. Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas; ArgentinaFil: Díaz de Astarloa, Juan Martín. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencia Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras; Argentin

Erratum to: Guidelines for the use and interpretation of assays for monitoring autophagy (3rd edition) (Autophagy, 12, 1, 1-222, 10.1080/15548627.2015.1100356

non present