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Reproductive biology of freshwater fishes from the Venezuelan floodplains

Fish Physiology and Biochemistry volume 35, pages 189–196 (2009)Cite this article

Abstract

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.

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Acknowledgment

This work was supported by grants from CDCH-Universidad Central de Venezuela and FONACIT-Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnología. We are grateful to the students and all those who assisted with the field collections over the years, in particular Otto Castillo MSc and Miguel Fontaine MSc, for their invaluable assistance in sample collection and logistical support. We also thank the Dirección General de Información e Investigación del Ambiente and the Dirección de Hidrología of the Venezuelan Ministerio del Ambiente y Recursos Renovables for providing the air temperature and rainfall data.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratorio de Neuroendocrinología Comparada, Instituto de Medicina Experimental, and Escuela de Medicina J.M. Vargas, Universidad Central de Venezuela, Apartado 47633, Caracas, 1041, Venezuela

    H. Y. Guerrero, E. Cardillo & D. Marcano

  2. Estación de Piscicultura, Decanato de Agronomía, Universidad Centro Occidental Lisandro Alvarado, Barquisimeto, Venezuela

    G. Poleo

Authors
  1. H. Y. Guerrero
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  2. E. Cardillo
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  3. G. Poleo
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  4. D. Marcano
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Correspondence to H. Y. Guerrero.

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Guerrero, H.Y., Cardillo, E., Poleo, G. et al. Reproductive biology of freshwater fishes from the Venezuelan floodplains. Fish Physiol Biochem 35, 189–196 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10695-008-9249-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10695-008-9249-7

Keywords

  • Catecholamine
  • Estradiol
  • Gonadal development
  • GnRH
  • Hypothalamus
  • Pituitary
  • Sex hormones
  • Teleost
  • Testosterone

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