Reproductive biology of freshwater fishes from the Venezuelan floodplains

This review describes the endocrine changes that occur during the annual reproductive cycle of Pygocentrus cariba, Pimelodus blochii, and Oxydoras sifontesi and their relationships with the environmental characteristics of Venezuelan floodplains. Most reproductive studies of teleosts have focused on...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Fish physiology and biochemistry 2009-03, Vol.35 (1), p.189-196
Main Authors: Guerrero, H. Y, Cardillo, E, Poleo, G, Marcano, D
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal Anatomy
Animal Biochemistry
Animal Physiology
Animal reproduction
Animals
Biomedical and Life Sciences
Catecholamine
Catecholamines - physiology
Environment
estradiol
Fishes - anatomy & histology
Fishes - physiology
Floodplains
Fresh Water
Freshwater
Freshwater & Marine Ecology
Freshwater fish
GnRH
Gonadal development
Gonadal Steroid Hormones - blood
Gonads - physiology
Histology
Hormones
Hydrology
hypothalamus
Life Sciences
Morphology
Pimelodus blochii
Pisces
Pituitary
Pygocentrus cariba
Reproduction - physiology
Reproductive cycle
Rivers
Seasons
sex hormones
Teleost
Teleostei
testosterone
Tropical fish
Venezuela
Zoology
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Summary:This review describes the endocrine changes that occur during the annual reproductive cycle of Pygocentrus cariba, Pimelodus blochii, and Oxydoras sifontesi and their relationships with the environmental characteristics of Venezuelan floodplains. Most reproductive studies of teleosts have focused on changes that occur during annual cycles in temperate species but, in tropical fish, this has been examined less frequently. P. cariba, P. blochii, and O. sifontesi are seasonal breeders widely distributed along the Orinoco River. Under natural conditions they have an annual gonadal cycle closely related to changes in the annual hydrology cycle of the Orinoco River which defines two seasons on the floodplain: inundation and isolation. The reproductive cycle of these species seems to be controlled by cues from the external environment. Relevant data about gonadal maturation, for example gonadosomatic index and sexual hormones secretion, are contrasted. The role of catecholamines in neuroendocrine control of the reproductive axis is also considered in this work.
ISSN:0920-1742
1573-5168
DOI:10.1007/s10695-008-9249-7