Preliminary identification and quantification of the age-pigment lipofuscin in the brain of Farfantepenaeus paulensis (Crustacea: Decapoda)

Abstract

A preliminary study was done on the age-pigment lipofuscin content in the brains of captive Farfantepenaeus paulensis juveniles (5 months old) and wild adults (estimated age of 12-15 months). Random samples of 6 individuals were obtained from each group (juvenile and adult) for histological analysis. Serial sections (6 µm) of the brains were mounted without staining and observed in an epifluorescent microscope. The fluorescent images of the five most central sections of the olfactory lobe cell mass (OLCM) of each individual were digitized for image analysis. The lipofuscin granule mean diameter was similar in both groups (p > 0.05), however the lipofuscin area fraction (percentage of the OLCM occupied by pigment granules) was significantly higher (p < 0.05) in the adult shrimp. The detection of lipofuscin granules in 5 month old F. paulensis indicates that lipofuscin deposition probably takes place even earlier in the juvenile phase. Our results suggested that the amount of granules in the F. paulensis OLCM is related to age, but further studies are necessary to evaluate the relationship between lipofuscin content and the age of captive F. paulensis.

Quantification of Ceroid and Lipofuscin in Skeletal Muscle

“…However, this requires the operator to select the edge of the aggregate, and thus operator bias can influence the measurement. To eliminate operator bias, double analysis of images has been performed, although this is clearly time consuming (Peixoto et al 2002). Background autofluorescence can also affect the estimated granule content in tissue (Sundelin and Nilsson 2001).…”

Recent developments on broodstock maturation and reproduction of Farfantepenaeus paulensis

“…In accordance, Peixoto et al (2004b) working with two size classes (small and large) at the same age (10-and 16-month-old groups) of captive F. paulensis broodstock, found evidence that larger females (25.8 and 46.7 g for 10-and 16-month-old groups, respectively) presented a superior reproductive performance in terms of number of spawns, spawning frequency and egg production/female. Studies on age-pigment lipofuscin in F. paulensis brains may provide a future alternative for age estimations and association with reproductive performance of wild shrimp at different ages (Peixoto et al, 2002c). Sexual maturity of wild and captive F. paulensis males is known to occur at an early stage (Costa, 1992).…”

Evidence of lipofuscin accumulation in the deep-water red shrimp Aristaeomorpha foliacea (Risso, 1827)

“…Despite the heterogeneous composition and genesis of lipofuscin, its relationship with aging has been demonstrated in many groups of crustaceans such as krill (NICOL et al, 1991), amphipods (BLUHM et al, 2001), clawed (O'DONOVAN & TULLY, 1996SHEEHY et al, 1996;WAHLE et al, 1996;SHEEHY et al, 1999;CASTRO et al, 2002;) and spiny lobsters (SHEEHY et al, 1998), crayfish (SHEEHY, 1990a;SHEEHY et al, 1994;BELCHIER et al, 1998) and shrimps, both caught in the wild or raised in aquaculture (SHEEHY et al, 1995;VILA et al, 2000;MEDINA et al, 2000;SOBRINO et al, 2001;PEIXOTO et al, 2002;VILA GORDILLO, 2005). These studies, based also on animals kept in controlled conditions, allowed the improvement of extraction and methods of analysis, as well as the confirmation that, regardless the sex, lipo- Medit.…”

“…Sci., 9/2, 2008, 21-33 28 fuscin accumulation is almost linear with time (BLUHM et al, 2001;VILA GORDILLO, 2005), resulting in a more precise and accurate descriptor of age than carapace length (SHEEHY et al, 1994;VILA et al, 2000;SOBRINO et al, 2001). Nevertheless, when wild-caught animals are investigated many problems remain to be solved (PEIXOTO et al, 2002).…”

“…While many studies on lipofuscin accumulation in penaeid shrimps exist (PEIXOTO et al, 2002), and even on shrimps of the same family Aristeidae (Aristeus antennatus: SOBRINO et al, 2001;VILA GORDILLO, 2005), until now lipofuscin formation and accumulation have not been studied in A. foliacea. Therefore the aim of the present paper is present evidence of lipofuscin accumulation with age in this deep-water shrimp.…”