Steindachneridion parahybae is a freshwater catfish endemic to the Paraíba do Sul River and is classified as an endangered Neotropical species. An increasing number of conservation biologists are incorporating morphological and physiological research data to help conservation managers in rescue these endangered species. This study investigated the embryonic and larval development of S. parahybae in captivity, with emphasis in major events during the ontogeny of S. parahybae. Broodstocks were artificially induced to reproduce, and the extrusion occurred 200-255 degree-hours after hormonal induction at 24°C. Larval ontogeny was evaluated every 10 minutes under microscopic/stereomicroscopic using fresh eggs samples. The main embryogenic development stages were identified: zygote, cleavage, including the morula, blastula, gastrula phase, organogenesis, and hatching. The extruded oocytes showed an average diameter of 1.10 ± 0.10 mm, and after fertilization and hydration of eggs, the average diameter of eggs increased to about 1.90 ± 0.60 mm, characterized by a large perivitelline space that persisted up to embryo development, the double chorion, and the poles (animal and vegetative). Cell division started about 2 minutes after fertilization (AF), resulting in 2, 4, 8 (4 x 2 arrangement of cells), 16 (4 x 4), 32 (4 x 8) and 64 (2 x 4 x 8) cells. Furthermore, the blastula and gastrula stages followed after these cells divisions. The closed blastopore occurred at 11 h 20 min AF; following the development, the organogenetic stages were identified and subdivided respectively in: early segmentation phase and late segmentation phase. In the early segmentation phase, there was the establishment of the embryonic axis, and it was possible to distinguish between the cephalic and caudal regions; somites, and the optic vesicles developed about 20 h AF. Total hatching occurred at 54 h AF, and the larvae average length was 4.30 ± 0.70 mm. Gradual yolk sac reduction was observed during the first two days of larval development. The first feeding occurred at the end of the second day. During the larval phase, cannibalism, heterogeneous larval growth and photophobia were also observed. This information will be important in improving the artificial reproduction protocols of S. parahybae in controlled breeding programs.Steindachneridion parahybae é um bagre de água doce, endêmico do rio Paraíba do Sul e é classificado como espécie neotropical ameaçada. Um número crescente de biólogos conservacionistas estão incorporando dados de pesquisas morfológicas e fisiológicas para ajudar os gestores de conservação no resgate destas espécies ameaçadas de extinção. Este estudo investigou o desenvolvimento embrionário e larval de S. parahybae em cativeiro, com ênfase nos principais eventos durante a ontogenia de S. parahybae. Reprodutores foram artificialmente induzidos à reprodução e a extrusão ocorreu com 200-255 horas-graus após a indução hormonal a 24°C. A ontogenia larval foi avaliada a cada 10 minutos sob microscópio/ estereomicroscópio, utiliz...

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The "surubim do Paraíba" (Steindachneridion parahybae) is a freshwater catfish endemic to the Paraíba do Sul River basin, Brazil. This species has been seriously threatened by environmental disturbances in the last several decades. Wild Steindachneridion parahybae males and females were collected in 2003 and taken to the hatchery of a power plant of the Companhia Energética de São Paulo (CESP). Steindachneridion parahybae broodstocks were artificially induced to reproduce in December 2003 using a combination of carp pituitary extract (CPE) and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). Oocytes and milt were stripped; the fertilized eggs were transferred to 60-liter conical incubators and hatched larvae distributed in nine horizontal trays. Exogenous feed was started just after yolk sac absorption. A high rate of cannibalism and photophobia were observed during the larval period, resulting in a 26% survival rate from larvae to fingerlings.O "surubim do Paraíba" (Steindachneridion parahybae) é um bagre de água doce, endêmico da bacia do rio Paraíba do Sul, Brasil. Esta espécie foi seriamente ameaçada por distúrbios ambientais nas últimas décadas. Machos e fêmeas selvagens de Steindachneridion parahybae foram coletados em 2003 e transferidos para a piscicultura da CESP (Companhia Energética de São Paulo). Reprodutores de S. parahybae foram induzidos à reprodução artificial em dezembro de 2003 usando uma combinação de extrato hipofisário de carpa (CPE) e gonadotropina coriônica humana (hCG). Após a extrusão dos óvulos e do sêmen, os ovos fertilizados foram transferidos para incubadoras cônicas de 60 litros e, em seguida, as larvas eclodidas distribuídas em nove incubadoras horizontais. Após a absorção do saco vitelino, a alimentação exógena foi iniciada. Uma alta taxa de canibalismo e fotofobia foram observados durante o período larval, resultando em uma taxa de sobrevivência de 26% de larvas para os alevinos.

The aim of this study was to identify and characterize pituitary cells of Steindachneridion parahybae females in captivity, highlighting the possible relationship with reproductive disorders at this level, since this species shows oocyte final maturation, ovulation and spawning dysfunction in captivity. The localization and distribution of growth hormone (GH), prolactin (PRL), somatolactin (SL), b-luteinizing hormone (b-LH), and b-follicle stimulating hormone (b-FSH) immunoreactive (-ir) cells in the adenohypophysis was studied by immunohistochemical and Western blot methods. In addition, cellular morphometric analyses and semi-quantification of ir-cells optical density (OD) during the annual reproductive cycle and after artificial induced spawning (AIS) were performed. Results showed that the distribution and general localization of pituitary cell types were similar to that of other teleost species. However, the morphometrical study of adenohypophysial cells showed differences along the reproductive cycle and following AIS. In general, females at the vitellogenic stage presented greater OD values for GH, PRL and SL than at other maturation stages (previtellogenic and regression stages), probably indicating an increased cellular activity during this stage. Conversely, b-LH OD did not vary during the annual reproductive cycle. After AIS, b-LH, SL and GH ir-cells showed an increase in OD values suggesting a possible involvement on oocyte final maturation, ovulation and spawning or a feedback control on the brain-pituitary-gonads axis. Reproductive dysfunction in S. parahybae females in captivity may be due to alteration of the synthesis pathways of b-LH. In addition, GH family of hormones could modulate associated mechanisms that influence the reproductive status in this species. Anat

Summary The objective of this work was to evaluate the sperm motility of 13 Steindachneridion parahybae males using open‐source software (ImageJ/CASA plugin). The sperm activation procedure and image capture were initiated after semen collection. Four experimental phases were defined from the videos captured of each male as follows: (i) standardization of a dialogue box generated by the CASA plugin within ImageJ; (ii) frame numbers used to perform the analysis; (iii) post‐activation motility between 10 and 20 s with analysis at each 1 s; and (iv) post‐activation motility between 10 and 50 s with analysis at each 10 s. The settings used in the CASA dialogue box were satisfactory, and the results were consistent. These analyses should be performed using 50 frames immediately after sperm activation because spermatozoa quickly lose their vigor. At 10 s post‐activation, 89.1% motile sperm was observed with 107.2 μm s−1 curvilinear velocity, 83.6 μm s−1 average path velocity, 77.1 μm s−1 straight line velocity; 91.6% were of straightness and 77.1% of wobble. The CASA plugin within ImageJ can be applied in sperm analysis of the study species by using the established settings.

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Sperm cryopreservation is an important method for preserving genetic information and facilitating artificial reproduction. The objective was to investigate whether the cryopreservation process affects postthaw sperm motility, embryogenesis, and larval growth in the fish Brycon insignis. Sperm was diluted in methyl glycol and Beltsville Thawing solution, frozen in a nitrogen vapor vessel (dry shipper) and stored in liquid nitrogen. Half of the samples were evaluated both subjectively (% of motile sperm and motility quality score-arbitrary grading system from 0 [no movement] to 5 [rapidly swimming sperm]) and in a computer-assisted sperm analyzer (CASA; percentage of motile sperm and velocity). The other half was used for fertilization and the evaluation of embryogenesis (cleavage and gastrula stages), hatching rate, percentage of larvae with normal development and larval growth up to 112 days posthatching (dph). Fresh sperm was analyzed subjectively (percentage of motile sperm and motility quality score) and used as the control. In the subjective analysis, sperm motility significantly decreased from 100% motile sperm and quality score of 5 in fresh sperm to 54% motile sperm and quality score of 3 after thawing. Under computer-assisted sperm analyzer evaluation, postthaw sperm had 67% motile sperm, 122 μm/sec of curvilinear velocity, 87 μm/sec of straight-line velocity and 103 μm/sec of average path velocity. There were no significant differences between progenies (pooled data) for the percentage of viable embryos in cleavage (62%) or gastrula stages (24%) or in the hatching rate (24%), percentage of normal hatched larvae (93%), larval body weight (39.8 g), or standard length (12.7 cm) at 112 days posthatching. Based on these findings, cryopreserved sperm can be used as a tool to restore the population of endangered species, such as B. insignis, as well as for aquaculture purposes, without any concern regarding quality of the offspring.

The aim of this study was to test the effects of cryoprotectants [dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO) and methylglycol], extenders (0.9% NaCl, 5% glucose, Beltsville Thawing Solution™ and Merck III™), thawing temperatures (30 and 60 °C) and activating agents (0.29% NaCl and 1% NaHCO3) on the cryopreservation process of tiete tetra Brycon insignis sperm. Sperm was loaded in 0.5 mL straws, frozen in nitrogen vapour at −170 °C and stored in liquid nitrogen. Post‐thaw sperm quality was evaluated in terms of subjective motility rate, quality motility score (0=no movement; 5=rapidly swimming spermatozoa), duration of motility and vitality (eosin–nigrosin staining). Post‐thaw sperm motility rate was greater in methylglycol (76–88%), compared with DMSO (23–59%). In general, the highest quality motility scores were observed when sperm was thawed at 30 °C and triggered in 1% NaHCO3 (3.5–4.3). Duration of motility was longer when triggered in 1% NaHCO3 (95–120 s) compared with 0.29% NaCl (69–107 s). Sperm vitality was not affected by any of the parameters tested and varied from 51% to 69% intact sperm. Brycon insignis sperm frozen in methylglycol combined with any of the extenders tested and using the methods described above yields motility above 57% and that should last long enough to fertilize oocytes.