The size and shape of red blood cells (RBCs) provide key information on life‐history strategies in vertebrates. However, little is known about how RBC shape evolved in response to environmental factors, body size and the role of evolutionary rate. Here, we analysed RBC morphometrics in a set of Teleostei (bony fishes) and Elasmobranchii (sharks and rays) species testing the hypothesis that phylogenetic relationship explains species occupation of morphospace. We collected data on cell and nucleus area and volume, nucleus:cytoplasm ratio and shape factor for 65 species belonging to 28 orders. Then, we built phylomorphospaces separately for bony fish and sharks and rays. To test whether phylogenetic relationships predicted phenotypic similarity, we calculated multivariate phylogenetic signal. We also estimated the evolutionary rate of RBC shape for each node and tip using ridge regression. Finally, we tested whether habitat and body size influenced RBC shape using a PGLS. We found a significant phylogenetic signal in RBC shape for bony fish, but not sharks and rays. Saltwater teleost species were more clustered than freshwater ones in the phylomorphospace, suggesting clade disparity. Accordingly, the rate of evolution was highly heterogeneous, with significant decrease in Acanthopterygii. Neither habitat nor body size influenced RBC shape. In conclusion, RBC shape seems to have evolved in fishes in response to multiple selective pressures independent of life‐history characters.

The size and shape of Red Blood Cells (RBC) can provide key information on life history strategies in vertebrates. However, little is known about how RBC shape evolved in response to environmental factors and the role of phylogenetic relationship. Here, we analyzed RBC morphometrics in a continental radiation of fishes testing the hypothesis that phylogenetic relationship determines species occupation of morphospace. We collected blood samples of five specimens of 15 freshwater fish species from six orders and used basic stereological methods to measure cell and nucleus area, perimeter, and diameter, cell and nucleus volume, nucleus:cytoplasm ratio, and shape factor of 50 cells per specimen. Then, we conducted a phylogenetic Principal Components Analysis using a dated phylogeny and built a phylomorphospace. To test if the phylogenetic relationship predicted the phenotypic similarity of species, we calculated multivariate phylogenetic signal. We also estimated the evolution rate of RBC shape for each node and tip using ridge regression. Finally, we tested if the position in the water column influenced RBC shape using a phylogenetic GLS. RBC shape seems to have evolved in a non-stationary way because the distribution pattern of species in the phylomorphospace is independent of the phylogeny. Accordingly, the rate of evolution for shape was highly heterogeneous, with an increase in the genus Pygocentrus. Water column position does not influence RBC shape. In conclusion, RBC shape seem to have evolved in response to multiple selective pressures independent of life history characters.

O ovo é um alimento com alto valor nutricional, contendo muitas proteínas, vitaminas e minerais, e com baixo custo o que estimula o consumo. Por ser um produto perecível é necessário armazená-lo corretamente para que este produto possa estar viável para o consumo por longo período. O objetivo desta pesquisa foi avaliar a qualidade interna de ovos brancos e vermelhos armazenados em temperatura ambiente e sob de refrigeração durante 25 dias de armazenamento. Os ovos brancos e vermelhos armazenados em temperatura ambiente apresentam perda de viabilidade aos 15 dias de estocagem, já os ovos armazenados em geladeira apresentam perda de viabilidade com 25 dias de estocagem. A viabilidade dos ovos brancos armazenados em geladeira ajusta-se a uma equação quadrática. Estes dados revelam que esses ovos não apresentam qualidade para ser consumido. Os ovos vermelhos quando estocados em geladeira apresentam-se viáveis durante todo período analisado. Comparando os ovos brancos e vermelhos estocados a temperatura ambiente, observa-se que os ovos brancos adéquam-se a uma equação cúbica, com baixa viabilidade aos 15 dias. Conclui-se que o armazenamento deve ser realizado em geladeira independente da coloração da casca dos ovos.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi de avaliar o perfil das enzimas digestivas no intestino anterior de beta (Bettas splendens) e o quinguio (Carassius auratus) alimentados e privados de alimentação. Os peixes foram alojados em um mesmo local climatizado a 27 oC, submetidos a fotoperíodo de 12 horas, alimentados duas vezes ao dia por 21 dias. Foram utilizados 40 peixes betas machos com peso de 1,94±0,10 g e, alojados individualmente em aquários de três litros sendo um grupo foi submetido ao jejum, e outro recebeu alimentação até a saciedade (ração comercial extrusada - 35% PB). Foram utilizados 40 peixes quinguios com peso de 11,43±3,28 g. sendo mantidos em aeração constante, também subdividido em dois grupos alojados em oito aquários de 20 L em sistema estático, sendo um grupo submetido ao jejum e outro recebeu alimentação até a saciedade, (ração comercial extrusada - 32% PB). Os peixes betas ocorreram um aumento na atividade de lipase, amilase e protease para o tratamento com que recebeu alimentação e uma redução da lipase em tratamento jejum. O experimento com quinguios atividade da lipase e amilase são responsivas a presença de alimento no trato digestório e a protease é uma enzima constitutiva nesta espécie. Para os peixes betas as enzimas digestivas possuem um caráter indutivo e nos peixes quinguios a amilase e lipase digestiva apresentam um caráter indutivo enquanto a protease se apresenta constitutiva.

The liver is an important metabolic organ in vertebrates. In anurans, the hepatosomatic index (HSI) reflects differences in energy storage and reproductive activities between males and females. The objective of this study was to describe the histological and histometric parameters of the livers of five species of Neotropical anurans, taking sex‐related differences into account. We also tested how the relationship between quantitative histometric variables and HSI varied between males and females in different species. Five males and five females of Elachistocleis matogrosso, Leptodactylus podicipinus, Lysapsus limellum, Pseudis platensis, and Trachycephalus typhonius were captured in central Brazil during the rainy season. HSI did not vary according to sex, but it varied among species. Elachistocleis matogrosso had the highest HSI due to the large hepatocyte size. The percentage of melanomacrophage centers (MMCs) was higher in P. platensis and L. limellum. In T. thyphonius, hepatocyte area was negatively associated with HSI, while the MMC percentages were positively associated with HSI. The liver plays a key role in reproductive activities, especially for species with explosive reproduction. Additionally, histometric patterns and volumetric structural density varied between males and females due to energy utilization for reproduction. Not only are these results important for future studies on hepatic morphophysiology but they also provide tools for evolutionary and phylogenetic studies.

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HONORATO, C. A.; CANEPPELE, A.; MATOSO, J. C.; PRADO, M. R.; SIQUEIRA, M. S.; SOUZA, L. R. O. Caracterização física de filés de Surubim (Pseudoplatystoma sp.), Pacu (Piaractus mesopotamicus) e Pirarucu (Arapaimas gigas). Arq. Ciênc. Vet. Zool. UNIPAR, Umuarama, v. 17, n. 4, p. 237-242, out./dez. 2014. RESUMO:O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar as características físicas de filé de surubim (Pseudoplatystoma sp.) pacu (Piaractus mesmopotamicus) e do pirarucu (Arapaimas gigas). Foram adquiridos 10 exemplares de surubim, pacu e postas de filé de pirarucu. Foram aferidos os parâmetros de rendimento de carcaça e as características físicas dos filés como a cor da carne, capacidade de retenção de água, força de cisalhamento e perda de líquido durante o cozimento. O rendimento de filé foi comprado entre as espécies surubim e pacu em delineamento inteiramente casualizado (DIC) com dois tratamentos e 10 repetições. As características físicas do filé utilizou-se o DIC com três tratamentos com dez repetições, comparadas pelo teste de Tukey. O rendimento de filé do surubim foi superior ao do pacu. As perdas de água após o descongelamento foram mais pronunciadas no pirarucu em comparação ao surubim. A capacidade de retenção de água das amostras de pirarucu foi significativamente superior as do surubim. O pH do filé de surubim foi de 6,18±0,08 e do filé de pirarucu de 6,27±0,15 e não apresentaram diferenças significativas. A coloração do filé do surubim e do pirarucu são muito semelhantes devido à qualidade da alimentação fornecida durante a produção em cativeiro dessas espécies de peixe. Os filés das espécies de peixe do estudo apresentam características de carne suculenta, macia e de coloração clara. Destaca-se a necessidade de realização de futuros testes de aceitabilidade e de processamento desta carne para estimular o consumo. PALAVRAS-CHAVE: Pescado. Peixes nativos. File de peixe. PHYSICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF FILLETS OF SURUBI (Pseudoplatystoma sp.), PACU (Piaractus mesopotamicus) AND PIRARUCU (Arapaimas gigas)ABSTRACT: The objective of this study is to evaluate the physical characteristics of fillets from surubi (Pseudoplatystoma sp.) pacu (Piaractus mesmopotamicus) and pirarucu (Arapaimas gigas). A total of 10 samples of surubi, pacu and pirarucu fillet slices was purchased. Carcass yield and fillet physical characteristic parameters were measured, including meat color, water-retention capacity, shearing strength and loss of liquid during cooking. Fillet yield was compared between the surubi and pacu species, in a completely randomized design (CRD) with two treatments and 10 replications. For the physical characteristics of the fillet used the CRD with three treatments and 10 replications, compared by Tukey test. The surubi fillet yield was higher than the one for pacu. Water loss after thawing was more pronounced in pirarucu when compared to surubi. Water retention capacity of pirarucu samples was significantly higher than those for surubi. The pH for the surubi fillet was 6.18 ± 0.08 and for the pirarucu fillet was 6....

Hematological parameters can provide key information to an animal health status. However, this information is usually hard to obtain. Here, we described hematological parameters of Leptodactylus podicipinus in the Brazilian Pantanal. We measured red blood cell morphometrics, erythrogram, and leukogram. We also tested for phylogenetic signal in erythrogram and leukogram of 48 frog species from 15 families, testing if body size explains their variation. Lymphocytes were the most abundant leukocytes (> 60%) in Leptodactylus podicipinus, followed by neutrophils (∼10%). Given that L. podicipinus is an abundant and widely distributed species in central Brazil, knowing its hematological pattern can help stablish a baseline and improve its use as a bioindicator of environmental degradation. Mean corpuscular hemoglobin and value contributed more to the phylomorphospace of erythrogram, in which Leptodactylus spp. and Hypsiboas raniceps had lower values of these variables, while Bufotes viridis and Hyla arborea had high values. The phylogenetic signal was spread throughout the dimensions of leukogram phylomorphospace. The variables that most contributed to it were total leukocytes counts, lymphocytes and neutrophils. We also found a moderate phylogenetic signal for both the erythrogram and leukogram. Accordingly, body size accounted for a low proportion of variation in both the leukogram (4.7%) and erythrogram (0.57%). By combining phylogenetic comparative methods with hematological parameters, our results add a new perspective on the evolution of blood cell physiology in frogs.