Reproductive biology of the Neotropical electric fish Brachyhypopomus draco (Teleostei: Hypopomidae) from southern Brazil

The reproductive biology of a population of the weakly electric fish Brachyhypopomus draco from southern Brazil is described. Information is provided on the establishment of the reproductive period in this species and its relations with environmental and feeding factors, as well as on the absolute and relative fecundities, spawning type, sex ratio and sexual dimorphism. The species exhibits a relatively long reproductive period, a relative fecundity of 0.173 oocytes per mg of female total weight, and fractional spawning. The sex ratio did not differ from 1:1 during all sampled months. Sexual dimorphism related to hypertrophy of the male's distal portion of caudal filament was observed and males grew to greater lengths than females. Male gonadosomatic index (GSI) was significantly related to water depth, oxygen saturation and temperature. Female GSI was significantly related to water depth and hepatosomatic index.(AU)

Descreve-se a biologia reprodutiva de uma população do peixe elétrico Brachyhypopomus draco do sul do Brasil. São apresentadas informações a respeito do período reprodutivo estabelecido e suas relações com fatores ambientais e alimentares, bem como a fecundidade absoluta e relativa, tipo de desova, proporção sexual e dimorfismo sexual. A espécie apresentou um período reprodutivo relativamente longo, uma fecundidade relativa de 0,173 ovócitos por mg de peso total da fêmea e uma desova do tipo parcelada. A proporção sexual encontrada foi de 1:1 durante todos os meses amostrados. Dimorfismo sexual relacionado com a hipertrofia da porção distal do filamento caudal dos machos e com o tamanho total dos espécimes - machos atingindo tamanhos maiores do que as fêmeas - foi encontrado. O IGS dos machos foi significativamente relacionado com a profundidade da água, a saturação de oxigênio e a temperatura; o IGS das fêmeas foi significativamente relacionado com a profundidade da água e o índice hepatossomático.(AU)

Electrolocation-communication discharges of the fish Gymnotus carapo L. (Gymnotidae: Gymnotiformes) during behavioral sleep

Technical problems have hampered the study of sleep in teleosts. The electrical discharges of Gymnotus carapo L. (Gymnotidae: Gymnotiformes) were monitored to evaluate their ease and reliability as parameters to study sleep. The discharges were detected by electrodes immersed in a glass aquarium and were recorded on a conventional polygraph. G. carapo showed conspicuous signs of behavioral sleep. During these periods, opercular beat rates were counted, electric discharges recorded, and the "sharp discharge increase" (SDI) of the orienting reflex was investigated. All 20 animals monitored maintained electrical discharges during behavioral sleep. The discharge frequencies during sleep (50.3 Ý 10.4 Hz) were not significantly different from those observed when the fish was awake and inactive (57.2 Ý 12.1 Hz) (Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed-ranks test, P>0.05). However, the SDI, which was prevalent in the awake fish, was not observed during periods of behavioral sleep. Additional observations showed that the species had cannibalistic habits. When presented with electrical discharges from a conspecific, the sleeping fish showed an initial decrease or pause in discharge frequency, while the awake fish did not have this response. We conclude that the electrical discharges of G. carapo were not conspicuous indicators of behavioral sleep. Discharges may have been maintained during sleep for sensory purposes, i.e., conspecific detection and avoidance of cannibalistic attacks

Calcium binding sites in the Discopyge tschudii electrocyte: physiological implications

Se investigó la presencia de sitios fijadores decalcio en la electroplaca del pez eléctrico Discopyge tschudii mediante el uso de fijadores, con alto contenido de calcio. Se encontraron sitios fijadores de calcio en el terminal sináptico y en el electrocito. En las vesículas sinápticas se observó la presencia de una partícula electrón densa de 25 nm de diámetro aproximadamente, calcio dependiente, en contacto con la membrana vesicular. En el electrocito se encontraron sitios fijadores de calcio de forma redondeada, de 50-60 nm de diámetro promedio, dispersos en el citplasma o unidos a las membranas celulares, especialmente la membrana plasmática ventral y las membranas del sistema canalicular dorsal. A nivel de la membrana plasmática ventral esos sitios estaban aislados o fusionaods formando una banda festoneada. En fijaciones sin calcio se observó la presencia de formaciones vesiculares y perfilkes omega, electrónicamente transparentes, en la misma localización. También se encontrron formaciones vesiculares en el citoplasma del electrocito. La frecuencia y densidad electrónica de los sitios fijadores de calcio del electrocito presentaban una gran variabilidad, sugerindo una correlación funcional. Se postula que esos sitios fijadores de calcio corresponden a vesículas endocitóticas, probablemente relacionadas con la internalización de complejos ligando receptor involucrados en el metabolismo del receptor o en la activación de alguna estructura funcional del electrocito, como el sistema canalicular dorsal. Un resumen de este trabajo fue presentado en la primera reunión de la Asociación Neuroquímica Argentina, realizada en Cóordoba, República Argentina, en noviembre 1986