Influence of a large dam and importance of an undammed tributary on the reproductive ecology of the threatened fish matrinxã Brycon orthotaeniaGünther, 1864 (Characiformes: Bryconidae) in southeastern Brazil , when compared with the site 1.In site 2 was registered the highest GSI means (9.97 ± 2.96 for females and 0.93 ± 0.52 for males), compared with the site 1 means. Reproduction period occurred from October to February. Unlike site 2, no spawned females or spent males were captured in site 1. Significant differences were found between females and males in site 2 (χ 2 = 26.84, df = 1, P < 0.05). Physical-chemical parameters of the water presented higher values in site 2. The canonical correlation test indicated that the reproduction of males is less susceptible to environmental factors than that of females. These results show that B. orthotaenia finds favourable conditions to reproduction just in site 2.Um total de 312 adultos de matrinxã foram capturados bimestralmente entre 2011-2012, em dois pontos do rio São Francisco: imediatamente a jusante da barragem de Três Marias (ponto 1) e na confluência com o rio Abaeté (ponto 2). Exemplares de Brycon orthotaenia do ponto 2 apresentaram maiores valores de comprimento total (32,24 ± 5,70 cm para fêmeas e 26,64 ± 3,79 cm para machos) e peso corporal (506,66 ± 332,17 g para fêmeas e 267,36 ± 145,84 g para machos) quando comparado com peixes do ponto 1. No ponto 2, foi registrado as maiores médias de IGS (9,97 ± 2,96 para fêmeas e 0,93 ± 0,52 para machos) em comparação com o ponto 1. O período reprodutivo ocorreu de outubro a fevereiro. Ao contrário do ponto 2, fêmeas desovadas e machos espermiados não foram capturados no ponto 1. Foram encontradas diferenças significativas entre fêmeas e machos no ponto 2 (χ 2 = 26,84, gl = 1, P < 0,05). Parâmetros físico-químicos da água apresentaram maiores valores no ponto 2. A análise de correlação canônica indicou que a reprodução de machos é menos susceptível a fatores ambientais do que de fêmeas. Estes resultados mostram que B. orthotaenia encontra condições favoráveis para a reprodução apenas no ponto 2.

Downstream impacts of dams on fish fauna are poorly studied, despite causing thermal and hydrological changes that affect the reproductive activity of the fish community. The present study aims to evaluate the reproduction of Leporinus reinhardti in 2 sections of the São Francisco River, Brazil, downstream from the Três Marias Dam. Section 1 (S1) is the first 34 km downstream from Três Marias Dam and section 2 (S2) is 34 to 54 km downstream from the dam, where the São Francisco River receives a mid-sized tributary called the Abaeté River. In S1, the values of temperature, dissolved oxygen and flow were lower than those obtained in S2. In S1, females and males did not complete reproduction, a fact proven by the absence of spawned females and males. In S2, reproductive success was proven due to the presence of spawned females and males. Furthermore, the values of total length, body weight, gonadosomatic index, fecundity and vitello genic oocytes were statistically higher than those obtained in S1. The canonical correlation test indicated that the reproduction of females is more dependent on environmental factors than that of males. In S2, L. reinhadti found appropriate conditions for reproduction, probably influenced by the Abaeté River, confirming the need of preserving this tributary for the reproductive success of this species.

No abstract

The sequence of changes in systemic and renal oxygen delivery (QO2) and consumption (VO2) and renal function in an ovine model of progressive hyperdynamic sepsis was investigated. Nine chronically instrumented awake sheep were given a continuous intravenous Escherichia coli endotoxin infusion (20 ng.kg-1.min-1) for 3 days. After 8 h of the infusion, systemic arterial blood pressure and vascular resistance stayed decreased by 30% (P less than 0.001). Systemic QO2 progressively increased to a maximum of 157% of baseline values at 24 h and was associated with a decreased O2 extraction ratio from 33 +/- 2 (SE) to 23 +/- 2% (P less than 0.05), resulting in an unchanged systemic VO2. Renal blood flow and renal QO2 decreased by 40% during the first 12 h, returning to and staying at baseline values after 24 h. Renal VO2 decreased significantly by 35% at 12 h and then partially recovered to baseline values. Plasma creatinine clearance was maximally reduced to 25% of baseline values at 12 h and thereafter remained significantly (P less than 0.01) below 50% of baseline values. Both total and fractional sodium excretion fell at 12 h by 95 and 74%, respectively, and remained reduced over time, indicating conserved tubular function. The ratio of moles of sodium reabsorbed to moles of O2 consumed by the kidney was transiently reduced, from 33.4 +/- 4.1 to 12.4 +/- 3.6 at 12 h (P less than 0.05), indicating a relative increase in energy expenditure for tubular transport or renal synthetic activities, but recovered to baseline values after 24 h.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Correct brain wiring depends on reliable synapse formation. Nevertheless, signaling codes promoting synaptogenesis are not fully understood. Here, we report a spinogenic mechanism that operates during neuronal development and is based on the interaction of tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 6 (TRAF6) with the synaptic cell adhesion molecule neuroplastin. The interaction between these proteins was predicted in silico and verified by co-immunoprecipitation in extracts from rat brain and co-transfected HEK cells. Binding assays show physical interaction between neuroplastin’s C-terminus and the TRAF-C domain of TRAF6 with a Kd value of 88 μM. As the two proteins co-localize in primordial dendritic protrusions, we used young cultures of rat and mouse as well as neuroplastin-deficient mouse neurons and showed with mutagenesis, knock-down, and pharmacological blockade that TRAF6 is required by neuroplastin to promote early spinogenesis during in vitro days 6-9, but not later. Time-framed TRAF6 blockade during days 6–9 reduced mEPSC amplitude, number of postsynaptic sites, synapse density and neuronal activity as neurons mature. Our data unravel a new molecular liaison that may emerge during a specific window of the neuronal development to determine excitatory synapse density in the rodent brain.

This study shows for the first time the presence of a jelly coat on oocytes of neotropical Characiformes fish. This structure could be responsible for the adhesiveness of Astyanax bimaculatus oocytes, a species widely distributed in South America including in the São Francisco River basin in Brazil. Adult specimens of A. bimaculatus were submitted to artificial reproduction in order to analyse the egg morphology and embryonic development. The eggs were fertilised and kept in incubators with a water temperature of 24°C so that embryogenesis could be monitored. Ovulated and unfertilised oocytes were also collected and submitted to routine histological techniques. Astyanax bimaculatus oocytes were found to be spherical, yellowish, and covered by a thin jelly coat with a slightly adhesive surface. The mean oocyte diameter was 1.03 ± 0.03 mm, the perivitelline space was 0.21 ± 0.02 mm and the jelly coat's thickness was 0.04 ± 0.01 mm. Positive periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) stain and Alcian blue stain pH 2.5 indicated the presence of neutral glycoproteins, and carboxylated acid glycoconjugates on the jelly coat that formed mucosubstances that may be associated with egg adhesiveness. At a water temperature of 24°C, blastopore closure and hatching occurred at 5 h and 17 h after fertilisation, respectively. The results of this study provide essential information for phylogenetic studies and for a better understanding of the reproductive strategy of A. bimaculatus, currently included in the incertae sedis group of the Characidae family due to the lack of monophyly among the families of the group.

No abstract

Neonatal hyperbilirubinemia or jaundice is associated with kernicterus, resulting in permanent neurological damage or even death. Conventional phototherapy does not prevent hyperbilirubinemia or eliminate the need for exchange transfusion. Here we investigated the potential of therapeutic bile acids ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) and obeticholic acid (OCA, 6-α-ethyl-CDCA), a farnesoid-X-receptor (FXR) agonist, as preventive treatment options for neonatal hyperbilirubinemia using the hUGT1*1 humanized mice and Ugt1a-deficient Gunn rats. Treatment of hUGT1*1 mice with UDCA or OCA at postnatal days 10–14 effectively decreased bilirubin in plasma (by 82% and 62%) and brain (by 72% and 69%), respectively. Mechanistically, our findings indicate that these effects are mediated through induction of protein levels of hUGT1A1 in the intestine, but not in liver. We further demonstrate that in Ugt1a-deficient Gunn rats, UDCA but not OCA significantly decreases plasma bilirubin, indicating that at least some of the hypobilirubinemic effects of UDCA are independent of UGT1A1. Finally, using the synthetic, non-bile acid, FXR-agonist GW4064, we show that some of these effects are mediated through direct or indirect activation of FXR. Together, our study shows that therapeutic bile acids UDCA and OCA effectively reduce both plasma and brain bilirubin, highlighting their potential in the treatment of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia.