Efecto de la pluviosidad y el brillo solar sobre la producción y características del semen en el pez Brycon henni (Pisces: Characidae) / Effect of pluviosity and sun shine on sperm production and seminal characteristics of the fish Brycon henni (Pisces: Characidae)

In Colombia the fish Brycon henni is a protected endemic species. It inhabits water bodies in coffee producing areas (700-1900 ma.s.l.; 4º35’56’’ N -74º04’51’’ W; 18-28°C). Insufficient knowledge of its basic biology and behavior prevent the commercial culture of this promising fish. We studied the production and sperm physiology of captive males. Along a year 20 samples were taken from each of 10 males. The sample was obtained by abdominal cefalo-caudal massage and transported to the laboratory at 4°C. Except for September and October (maximum rainfall),sperm was always obtained in at least 50% of the males. Color, osmolality and pH were similar in all the samples. Volume, concentration, viability, motility and activation time were variable: sunshine had a positive effect on volume (Spearman p<0.05) and on sperm concentration (Spearman p<0.05) while pluviosity had a negative effect on volume and viability. The proportion of ions (Na,K,Mg,Ca)was constant along the year; Na being 10-fold higher than K and 100-fold higher than Mg and Ca; however the absolute concentration of all ions was slightly higher in April and in July (with no apparent relation with the other variables analyzed).

El pez Brycon henni es una especie endémica protegida por la legislación colombiana, que habita cuerpos de agua de zonas cafeteras (700-1900 m. s. n. m),comprendidas entre los 4º35’56’’ N y 74º04’51’’ W, con temperaturas que oscilan entre los 18 y los 28ºC. A pesar de las características promisorias de esta especie, su reproducción en cautiverio a nivel comercial no ha sido posible por falta de conocimientos básicos de su biología y comportamiento. El objetivo del presente trabajo fue caracterizar la producción y la fisiología espermática de machos en cautiverio. A lo largo de un año se tomaron 20 muestras de cada uno de 10 ejemplares. El semen se obtuvo mediante masaje abdominal cráneo-caudal y se transportó a 4ºC para su análisis en el laboratorio. Con excepción de septiembre y octubre que fueron los meses más lluviosos, siempre se obtuvo semen de al menos el 50% de los animales. El color, la osmolalidad y el pH fueron similares en todas las muestras a lo largo del año. El volumen, la concentración, la viabilidad, la movilidad y el tiempo de activación fueron variables: El efecto del brillo solar fue positivo sobre el volumen (Spearman p<0.05) y sobre la concentración espermática (Spearman p<0.05), mientras que la pluviosidad tuvo un efecto negativo sobre el volumen y la viabilidad. La proporción entre los iones (Na, K, Mg, Ca) se mantuvo constante durante todo el año: el sodio fue el mayor, seguido por el potasio, y por el magnesio y el calcio, 10 y 100 veces menos, respectivamente; sin embargo la concentración absoluta de estos iones aumentó durante los meses de abril y julio sin una relación aparente con las otras variables analizadas.

Mitochondrial activity, distribution and segregation in bovine oocytes and in embryos produced in vitro.

Contents Bovine oocytes and embryos produced in vitro were studied to determine the mitochondrial pattern of distribution, segregation and activity using DIOC 6 and Jc-1 fluorescence. The highest fluorescence level observed in mature oocytes was taken as 100% activity and six activity levels were estimated as follows: (1) 0%, (2) 1-15%, (3) 16-30%, (4) 31-50%, (5) 51-75% and (6) 76-100%. Three patterns of mitochondrial distribution were found: (1) diffused throughout the cytoplasm in oocytes and embryos, (2) pericytoplasmic in oocytes and embryos, and (3) perinuclear only in embryos. The segregation of mitochondria in blastomeres showed two distinct patterns: (1) symmetrical with an even mitochondrial population, and (2) asymmetrical with different numbers of mitochondria in each blastomere. In immature oocytes, mitochondrial activity was very low and the distribution was diffuse or negligible, while in mature oocytes the activity was high and the distribution was diffuse or pericytoplasmic. Competent embryos up to the 16-cell stage showed intermediate levels of activity (16-50%) but activity decreased thereafter up to the blastocyst stage. Non-competent embryos showed low levels of activity (1-15%) at all stages. These results suggest that mitochondria might play an important role during early development and that a minimum threshold of activity regulates the potential competence for reaching the blastocyst stage.

[Effect of pluviosity and sun shine on sperm production and seminal characteristics of the fish Brycon henni (Pisces: Characidae)]. / Efecto de la pluviosidad y el brillo solar sobre la producción y características del semen en el pez Brycon henni (Pisces: Characidae).

Effect of pluviosity and sun shine on sperm production and seminal characteristics of the fish Brycon henni (Pisces: Characidae). In Colombia the fish Brycon henni is a protected endemic species. It inhabits water bodies in coffee producing areas (700-1900 ma.s.l.; 4 degrees 35'56" N - 74 degrees 04'51" W; 18-28 degrees C). Insufficient knowledge of its basic biology and behavior prevent the commercial culture of this promising fish. We studied the production and sperm physiology of captive males. Along a year 20 samples were taken from each of 10 males. The sample was obtained by abdominal cefalo-caudal massage and transported to the laboratory at 4 degrees C. Except for September and October (maximum rainfall), sperm was always obtained in at least 50% of the males. Color, osmolality and pH were similar in all the samples. Volume, concentration, viability, motility and activation time were variable: sunshine had a positive effect on volume (Spearman p < 0.05) and on sperm concentration (Spearman p < 0.05) while pluviosity had a negative effect on volume and viability. The proportion of ions (Na, K, Mg, Ca) was constant along the year; Na being 10-fold higher than K and 100-fold higher than Mg and Ca; however the absolute concentration of all ions was slightly higher in April and in July (with no apparent relation with the other variables analyzed).