Abstract:This study was designed to identify and measure the gametes of neotropical fish using ultrastructural analysis. Number, shape and size of micropyle and ultrastructure of egg membrane and of the micropyle canal; the number and length of the longest and shortest ridge in the micropyle region beyond the structures of the sperm cell have been used as taxonomic tool in ichthyology . Gametes of six breeding pairs of Piaractus mesopotamicus, Brycon orbignyanus, Salminus brasiliensis and Prochilodus lineatus were collected, fixed and subjected to scanning electron microscopy for the observation and measurement of the structures. The results showed many similarities between the gametes of the studied species. An array of grooves and folds was observed in the micropyle in all species but not in the Prochilodus lineatus oocytes. The micropyle was funnel-shaped in all species. The oocytes showed a great variation in the diameters of major and minor micropyle ostium, evidencing different reproductive strategies. The sperm cells showed simple structures with ovoide heads, a cylindrical midpiece with a single flagellum and no acrosome. This study may contribute to a better understanding of fish reproductive biology, conservation genetics and breeding studies. Eight hours after the second CECP dose, fish were removed from the aquarium and had their urogenital papilla cleaned and dried with a towel. The collection of gametes began after delicate manual massage of the coelomic wall. This procedure was performed in accordance with the Ethical Principles of Animal Experimentation, Protocol 040/2009 of Lavras Federal University-UFLA.
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Ultrastructural analysis of gametesPost-fixation methodology was accomplished in accordance to the methodology employed in the Laboratory of Eletronic Microscopy and Ultrastructural Analysis of Lavras Federal University-UFLA. Samples containing 1mL of semen or 30 oocytes of each species were fixed separately in microtubules containing a solution of 2.5% glutaraldehyde and 2.0% paraformaldehyde in 0.05 M sodium cacodylate buffer, pH 7.2, calcium chloride 0.001 M. The samples were maintained for 24 hours at 4°C. After this, samples were immersed in 1% osmium tetroxide for 4 hours at room temperature and subsequent dehydration through in ascending series of acetone (25%, 50%, 75%, 90% and 100%).Before evaluation in the electron scanning microscope, the oocytes and spermatozoa were dehydrated with a CPD030 critical point instrument. The samples were coated with gold in a SCD 050 vacuum evaporator according to protocols designed in Ultrastructural Analysis and Electronic Microscopy Laboratory of Federal University of Lavras, Brazil.
Morphometric analysis of the gametesIn the morphometry of the oocytes, was valued the major diameter (Md), minor diameter (md), total volume and the sperm head width ratio and the major diameter of major micropyle ostium (MSH/MO). In the morphometry of the micropyle (Figure 1) in the oocytes surface, was measured the diameters of the major ostium (MO) and minor...