Embryonic growth and maternal nutrient sources in goodeid fishes (Teleostei: Cyprinodontiformes)

Abstract

Most species of the viviparous teleost family Goodeidae exhibit an unusual placental relationship. Embryos lay free within the single, hollow ovary where they are bathed by the ovarian fluid. Nutrients are absorbed from the fluid through distinctive perianal processes called trophotaeniae. Trophotaeniae represent the embryonic component of the placenta and may be functionally divided into protein endocytosing and nonendocytosing types. The maternal component of the placenta is the internal ovarian epithelium (IOE). Since embryos undergo dry weight increases ranging from 68-to 387-fold compared to the dry weight of mature ova, there must be substantial nutrient transfer from the maternal organism during gestation. Transmission electron microscopy of the IOE of gravid females of three goodeid species fails to reveal evidence of significant synthetic activity by the IOE, although occasional budding of parts of IOE cells occur, and the IOE of one species, G. atripinnis, contains substantial amounts of lipid. Electrophoretic comparison of nongravid females of two species establishes that the protein pattern of the ovarian fluid is similar to that of the female blood serum. In gravid females whose embryos bear proteinendocytosing trophotaeniae, protein is undetectable in the ovarian fluid during mid-and late gestation, suggesting efficient protein absorption by the trophotaeniae. In gravid females whose embryos bear nonendocytosing trophotaeniae, serum proteins are present in the ovarian fluid at midgestation, but are reduced to only a trace at late gestation suggesting possible imbibition by the embryos. o 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc. ReceivedAuast 30, 1994; revision accepted November 14,1994. Address reprint requests to Frank Hollenberg, Department of Biocomposed of an outer epithelium surrounding a logical Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, sc 29634-1903. 0 1995 WILEY-LISS, INC.

Evolution of vertebrate viviparity and specializations for fetal nutrition: A quantitative and qualitative analysis

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Morphological variation in vanishing Mexican desert fishes of the genus Characodon (Goodeidae)

“…Similar to other members of the subgenus Goodeinae, species of Characodon are characterized by a pronounced sexual dimorphism: males are typically more colourful and exhibit a modified anal fin, the andropodium, which is involved in sperm transfer during copulation (Hubbs & Turner, ; Nelson, ). Females are matrotrophic livebearers and give birth to fully developed young ones, which are supplied with nutrients for development and growth through placenta‐like structures (trophotaenia; Lombardi & Wourms, 1985 a , b ; Hollenberg & Wourms, ).…”

Mother-to-embryo vitellogenin transport in a viviparous teleostXenotoca eiseni

“…This suggests that Vtg is required for oogenesis, and that supply into the oocytes could be regulated according to the reproduction cycle. In the family Goodeidae, a previous study indicated that Vtg is not a maternal nutrient supplied to the intraovarian embryo throughout gestation in Goodea atripinnis and Alloophorus robustus (30). In contrast, other research group argued that Vtg protein was utilized for intraovarian embryonic growth in Girardinichthys viviparus and Ameca splendens, however, definitive evidence of mother-to-embryo transfer of Vtg protein has not been demonstrated (27).…”