SciELO - Scientific Electronic Library Online

 
vol.62 número3Gradientes, estabilidad y estado de conservación de peces en la cuenca alta del río Turbio, vertiente andina del Orinoco, VenezuelaTácticas reproductivas para optimizan la supervivencia de la descendencia de Cichlasoma orientale (Perciformes: Cichlidae) índice de autoresíndice de materiabúsqueda de artículos
Home Pagelista alfabética de revistas  

Servicios Personalizados

Revista

Articulo

Indicadores

Links relacionados

Compartir


Revista de Biología Tropical

versión On-line ISSN 0034-7744versión impresa ISSN 0034-7744

Rev. biol. trop vol.62 no.3 San José jul./sep. 2014

 

Spermatozoa characterization in the one-sided livebearing Jenynsia multidentata (Cyprinodontiformes: Anablepidae)

Caracterización de parámetros espermáticos del pez vivíparo Jenynsia multidentata (Cyprinodontiformes: Anablepidae)

María A. Roggio1*, María E. Teves2*, Andrea C. Hued1, Laura C. Giojalas3* & María A. Bistoni1


Abstract

Several sperm parameters have been employed as useful tools to evaluate fish fertility. Within teleosts, approximately 3% of fish species are known to be viviparous. The Order Cyprinodontiformes includes several species with internal fertilization, and within this group most of the studies about sperm quality have been mainly focused on the Poeciliidae family. The livebearing fish Jenynsia multidentata (Anablepidae) inhabits an extensive area of the Neotropical region and it has been used as a useful fish laboratory model to evaluate the effects of xenobiotics through different biomarkers. The present work characterized the sperm of this species through a simple protocol of semen collection. Sperm population showed linearity greater than 89% and 70% of fish have a straight line and curvilinear velocity valued between 50 and 100µm/s. Although 85% of individuals showed a proportion of live sperm higher than 60%, the male population had a high degree of heterogeneity in its sperm count. Morphometry analyses showed a total sperm and head lengths of 46.66±2.06µm and 3.46±0.41mm, respectively. A rather long midpiece region (9.12±0.65µm) was registered, which may indicate high energy-producing capabilities of the spermatozoa. This study established basic parameter values which could be useful for evaluating reproductive potential of J. multidentata populations.

Key words: sperm parameters, morphometry, sperm motility, sperm viability, viviparous fish, Jenynsia multidentata.

Resumen

Diversos  parámetros  espermáticos han sido utilizados para evaluar la fertilidad de peces. Dentro de los peces teleósteos, aproximadamente el 3% de las especies son vivíparas. El orden Cyprinodontiformes incluye varias especies con fecundación interna. Dentro de este orden la mayor parte de los estudios sobre la calidad del esperma se han centrado principalmente en la familia Poeciliidae. El pez vivíparo Jenynsia multidentata (Anablepidae) habita una extensa área de la región Neotropical y ha sido utilizado como un exitoso modelo de laboratorio. El objetivo del presente trabajo fue caracterizar los espermatozoides de esta especie a través de un simple protocolo de recolección de esperma. La población de espermatozoides mostró una linealidad superior al 89% y el 70% de los peces tienen una velocidad lineal y curvilineal entre 50 y 100µm/s. Aunque el 85% de los individuos mostró una proporción de espermatozoides vivos de más del 60%, se observó una alta heterogeneidad en el recuento espermático. Los análisis morfométricos mostraron una longitud total de espermatozoides de 46.66±2.06µm y una longitud de la cabeza de 3.46±0.41µm. Los espermatozoides presentan una pieza media larga (9.12±0.65µm) lo que puede indicar una alta capacidad de producción de energía. El presente estudio establece valores básicos de parámetros que pueden ser útiles para evaluar el potencial reproductivo de las poblaciones de J. multidentata.

Palabras  clave:  parámetros  espermáticos,  morfometría, motilidad espermática, peces vivíparos, Jenynsia multidentata.


Spermatozoa structure in teleost species reveals a high diversity, mainly at the family level. The spermatozoa of internal and external fertilizers differ in their organization. External fertilizers have a simpler organization, show- ing an ovoid or spherical nucleus, and a small midpiece containing only few mitochondria, whereas species with internal fertilization have an elongated nucleus and a relatively bigger midpiece (Lahnsteiner & Patzner, 2008; Jamie- son, 1991, 2009).

Within teleosts, approximately 3% of fish species are known to be viviparous (Wourms, 2005). Particularly, the order Cyprinodontiformes  includes  several  species  with  internal fertilization (Parenti, 2005). Within this order, most of the studies about sperm characteristics have focused on the family Poeciliidae (Grier, 1973, 1975; Constantz, 1984; Meffe  &  Snelson,  1989;  Meyer  &  Lydeard, 1993; Evans, Pilastro, & Ramnarine, 2003), whereas  within  the  Anablepidae  family,  the few existing studies have focused on sperm ultrastructure only (Dadone & Narbaitz, 1967; Greven & Schmahl, 2006). Thus, spermatozoa morphometry and dynamic parameters within this family are still unknown.

The one-sided livebearing fish, Jenynsia multidentata (Jenyns 1842) (Anablepidae) has a wide distribution in an extensive area of the Neotropical region (Ghedotti, 1998) inhabiting both  polluted  and  non-polluted  areas  (Hued & Bistoni, 2005). It presents sexual dimorphism;  males  are  smaller  than  females  and have a modificated anal fin, called gonopodium (Galindo-Villegas & Sosa-Lima, 2002). Mating behavior is coercive; males approach females from  behind  and  try  to  thrust  their  copulatory organ in the female genital pore (Bisazza, Manfredi, & Pilastro, 2000). It is important to note that this species has been used as a useful fish laboratory model to evaluate the effects of xenobiotics through different biomarkers (Cazenave et al., 2008; Amé, Galanti, Bocco, & Wunderlin, 2009; Hued, Oberhofer, & Bistoni, 2012). On the other hand, this fish is considered a useful species in controlling mosquito populations since J. multidentata feeds on mosquito larvae (Ringuelet, Aramburu, & de Aramburu, 1967; Marti, Azpelicueta, Tranchida, Pelizza, & Garcia, 2006).

Spermatozoa characterization offers a use- ful  tool  to  evaluate  the  fertility  potential  of male fish. It has been demonstrated that sperm quality could be determined by sperm count, motility, viability and morphology (Kime & Nash, 1999; Burness, Casselman, Schulte-Hostedde, Moyes, & Montgomerie, 2004; Gage et al., 2004; Rurangwa, Kime, Ollevier, & Nash, 2004; Snook, 2005). The main goal of the present study was to characterize the spermatozoa of J. multidentata by dynamic parameters, sperm count, viability and morphometry, through a simple protocol of semen collection and to establish basic parameter values for the evaluation of the reproductive potential of J. multidentata populations.

Materials and Methods

Semen  collection:  Forty-five  adult males of J. multidentata (mean standard length:  28.83±3.41mm;  mean  body  weight: 0.479±0.131g) were captured by a backpack electrofisher from a site on Yuspe River, Córdoba,  Argentina  (31°14’1”8  S  -  64°31’14” W), during a reproductive season (September to April) (Mai, Garcia, Vieira, & Mai, 2007; Bianco, Guyón, & Bistoni, 2011). Fish were transported to the laboratory in plastic water tanks (20L). Samplings were performed every two months. Males were acclimated during two weeks under controlled laboratory conditions (temperature at 21ºC; light/dark cycle of 12:12 h) and were fed daily with commercial fish food (TetraMin®). At the end of the acclimatization period, each male was anaesthetized in a water solution of MS-222 (5g /L) (Tricaine methanesulfonate; Sigma Aldrich). The gonopodium was swung forward and intro- duced in a capillary tube. In order to release sperm, gentle pressure was applied to the side of the abdomen using a cotton tip. The sperm was collected at the base of the gonopodium. The spermatozoa of this species are not packaged as spermatozeugmata or spermatophores but they are released as clumps within mucilaginous material (Grier, Burns, & Flores, 1981). This action was repeated five times for each fish to ensure that all available sperm had been collected. Sperm samples were suspended in 80µL of HAMF-10 culture medium, at pH 7.4 (Invitrogen, Argentina) and sperm separation was achieved by mixing the suspension with a micropipette. All measurements were carried out at room temperature (21±2°C).

Sperm dynamic parameters: Immediately  after  semen  extraction,  12µL  aliquot of  diluted  sperm  suspension  was  placed  on a glass slide. The samples were recorded at 100x magnification during four minutes, with a random change of the microscope field every ten seconds. Sperm analysis was carried out with a videomicroscopy system consisting of a phase microscope (Olympus® CX41) and a digital camera (ICAM 1500; Labomed). One hundred and fifty individual cells were tracked per sample. Each track was followed for one second divided in seven steps. Sperm dynamic parameters were analyzed with two softwares. The ImageJ (NIH, USA) plugin MTrackJ (ver.191.1.0, Eric Meijering; www.images- cience.org/meijering/software /mtrackj/) was used to obtain the X and Y coordinates of each track. On the other hand, each track was analyzed by the Spermtrack IV (Centre for Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Cordoba) to calculate the following kinetic parameters: (i) Straight line velocity (VSL) (µm/s): Straight distance traveled by the spermatozoon from the beginning to the end of its track over time, (ii) Curvilinear velocity (VCL) (µm/s): Length of the spermatozoon track over measurement time and (iii) Linearity (LIN): The quotient between VSL and VCL as an adimensional value that indicates the grade of straightness of a track (expressed in percentage), where values near 100% represent a linear movement and values near 0%, a more erratic path.

Viability and sperm count: Fifteen minutes  after  sample  collection,  sperm  viability was measured using the eosin-Y staining test (WHO,  2010).  Eosin  works  by  penetrating the head membrane of dead cells, which then have pink heads (live cells appear unstained). An amount of 10µL of the sample was mixed on a microscope slide with 1µL of Eosin-Y stain (0.5% wt/vol). Within 1-2 minutes after addition of the stain the sample was covered with a coverslip and examined under a light microscope at 1 000x magnification. One hundred cells were randomly chosen in order to register the number of unstained mobile and immobile cells and stained spermatozoa (died cells). From this, the percentage of spermatozoa viability was estimated for each male.

The volume of semen obtained from each individual, determined by observation of fluid height in the capillary, was approximately the same  (about  2µL). A sperm  sample  dilution of 1:10 was prepared in distilled water and placed in an “improved Neubauer chamber” haemocytometer in order to register the sperm count,  measured  by  duplicate  samples.  The total amount of spermatozoa was calculated by microlitre of the sample.

Sperm morphometry: 20µL of sperm sample were fixed with 2% formaldehyde and then stained with Coomassie-blue (220% wt/ vol). The microphotographs were taken at 1 000x magnification using a light microscope (Olympus® CX31) and a digital camera (Moticam 2300). The total sperm length (TSL), head length (HL) and midpiece length (MPL) were measured using the software Image J (version 1.42q, NIH, USA). A mean value per individual was calculated for each parameter (20 spermatozoa per male).

In order to corroborate the spermatozoa lengths, gonopodium of five males were fixed with 2% of glutaraldehyde and 4% formalde- hyde in 0.1M cacodylate buffer for 2h, and then post-fixed with osmium tetroxide at 1% in  the  same  buffer,  dehydrated  and  embedded in Araldite. Thin sections were cut with a diamond knife on a JEOL JUM-7 ultra- microtome, mounted on nickel grids, contrasted with alcoholic uranyl acetate followed by lead citrate, and examined in a Zeiss LEO 906E electron microscope. Microphotographs of ten spermatozoa per male were taken. To ensure a more accurate measurement, only spermatozoa with flagellum insertion site in the head were considered.

Descriptive statistical measures were obtained through the software package InfoStat (2011). Values are presented as means±standard deviation (SD).

Results

Forty-five  males  presented  mean  values of  VSL  and  VCL  of  81.67µm/s (SD=3.53) and 85.73mm/s (SD=3.55), respectively (Fig. 1A,  Fig.  B).  A  linear  pattern  of  movement greater than 89% were observed in all sperm samples, showing a linearity between 94 and 98% in 75% of samples. A proportion of live spermatozoa higher than 60% was registered in  85%  of  the  individuals  (Fig.  1C).  The mean percentage of live mobile and immobile spermatozoa  were  68.28%  (SD=8.32%)  and 9.46% (SD=4.56%), respectively. On the other hand, the spermatozoa count showed a high variability between males, being the average value of the 5 524cells/µL sample (SD=728) (Fig. 1D).

The morphometry analyses showed a total sperm length of 46.66μm (SD=2.06), a head length of 3.46μm (SD=0.41) and a midpiece region of 9.12μm (SD=0.65) (Table 1; Fig. 2A, Fig. 2C). The relative frequency of morphometrical values are shown in figure 3. The 65% of the individuals showed TSL values between 46 and 49μm (Fig. 3A). A midpiece region length values between 9 and 10μm were registered in 50% of males (Fig. 3C).

Discussion

The present work characterized the spermatozoa of J. multidentata through a simple protocol of semen collection. The procedure proposed in this work is not invasive, causing no further stress to the individual beyond that  of  the  temporary  immobilization  and avoid   the   contamination   of   the   ejaculate with faecal material.

Males of J. multidentata present tubular gonopodium, an enclosed tube that enables sperm transfer during copulation (Turner, 1950; Grier et al., 1981; Malabarba, Reis, Vari, Lucena, & Lucena, 1998). Therefore, spermatozoa are not packaged as spermatozeugmata or spermatophores as occurs in Poeciliidae, but they are released as clumps within mucilaginous  material  (Grier  et  al.,  1981). Although the  sperm  ultrastructure  has  been  described by Dadone & Narbaitz (1967), these authors did report neither morphometrical values nor dynamic parameters.

It is known that the spermatozoa of inseminating fish present some differences when compared with externally fertilizing species, which appear to be correlated with the mode of insemination (Jamieson, 1991, 2009; Burns & Weitzman, 2005). Species with internal fertilization have a more complex sperm orga- nization, an elongated sperm nucleus and a relatively larger midpiece region compared to externally fertilizing fishes (Jamieson, 1991; Mattei, 1991; Lahnsteiner & Patzner, 2008).

Spermatozoa of J. multidentata share a similar morphology with the general model described  for  inseminating  fish.  We  registered a total length of spermatozoa of around 46.66µm. Comparing with other viviparous species within the same order, the total length is longer than in Anableps anableps Linnaeus, 1758 (40μm) (Greven & Schmahl, 2006) but shorter than in Poecilia reticulata Peters, 1859 (54.56μm) (Skinner & Watt, 2007) and Xiphophorus nigrensis Rosen, 1960 (57.7μm) (Smith & Ryan, 2010). Similar length (around 50µm) has been registered in viviparous fish of another order such as Cymatoguster aggregate (Perciformes, Embiotocidae) (Gardiner, 1978). On the contrary, in external fertilization fish, it has been registered a high heterogeneity in this parameter, having a shorter length in this kind of fish (Jamieson, 1991, 2009; Burns & Weitzman, 2005; Lahnsteiner & Patzner, 2008).

The head length of J. multidentata spermatozoa presents a similar value (around 3.5μm) to the above-mentioned viviparous species, except  for  X.  nigrensis  which  has  a  shorter head length (2.70µm approximately). Also, this parameter is longer than most of the external fertilization fishes which present a head length lesser than 2µm (Hadi-Alavi et al., 2009; Lahnsteiner  &  Patzner,  2008). An  elongated head, such as the recorded in J. multidentata, is a common feature shared by most fishes with internal fertilization. This characteristic gives the sperm certain advantages to move into the female reproductive tract, such as the increase of the side-to-side alignment which enables the clumping of the cells allowing spermatozoa to flow together, and the increase of the direc- tionality of cell movement (Ginzburg, 1968; Gardiner, 1978).

The midpiece of J. multidentata (9.12μm) is similar to that registered in X. nigrensis (8.94μm approximately) (Smith & Ryan, 2010) but is longer than the values recorded for P. reticulata, and A. anableps (4.79 and 3.9μm, respectively) (Greven & Schmahl, 2006; Skinner & Watt, 2007). However, the differences are noticeable when comparing with C. aggregate  (approximately  2µm)  (Gardiner,  1978) and external fertilization fishes, where the mid- piece is less than 2µm (Lahnsteiner & Patzner, 2008; Hadi-Alavi et al., 2009). In viviparous fish, it has been proposed that an enlarged midpiece increases the capacity of the sperm’s energy-generating mechanism and might help to prolong the life-span of the spermatozoa during storage in the ovary, as well as it may provide energy for sperm dispersal throughout the ovary (Fawcett, 1970; Pecio & Rafinsrisky, 1994; Yao, Emerson, & Crim, 1995).

Sperm fertility has been related to sperm motility in several fish species. Sperm motility, evaluated as the sperm velocity and the percentage of motile spermatozoa, is an integrative  quality  parameter  which  combines the quality of several cellular compartments responsible for motility activation and progressive sustained movement. This parameter is extensively used to compare different experimental conditions such as collecting procedures, sperm dilution medium, sperm storage condition and assessment of the effect of xeno-biotic on sperm quality (Bobe & Labbé, 2010; Kime & Nash, 1999). Although it is known that anesthesia impacts on sperm motility (Wagner, Arndt, & Hilton, 2002; Dietrich et al., 2005), in the present study, fishes were previously anesthetized to allow the survival of individuals in order to obtain sperm samples and to continue other studies.

The high sperm linearity observed in J. multidentata  is  similar  to  other  fish  species with either external or internal fertilization (Lahnsteiner & Patzner, 2008). These authors proposed that the shape of head/midpiece complex has no effect on the swimming pattern of spermatozoa, since comparing the motility pattern of many species with a wide diversity of sperm forms, spermatozoa are predominant linearly motile. It is known that the swimming pattern  is  mainly  modulated  by  the  symmetry of the wave of flagellar beating (Cosson, Dreanno,  Billard,  Suquet,  &  Cibert,  1999), and the flagellum is very constant in this construction (in general it is ten times longer than the head-midpiece complex) (Lahnsteiner & Patzner, 2008). The high motility percent- age exhibited by J. multidentata could be an adaptation to sperm competition pressures. Therefore, in internally fertilizing species with female sperm storage,  sperm motility  would be important in determining paternity because more motile sperm can remain longer in the female tract (Snook, 2005; Evans, Pilastro, & Schlupp, 2011).

The sperm count recorded in J. multidentata presented a great variation among individuals. Our results were in agreement with the high heterogeneity reported by Rurangwa et al. (2004) in external fertilization fishes such as Oncorhynchus mykiss, Cyprinus carpio and Acipenser  fluvescens.  These  authors  pointed out  that  sperm  concentration  is  not  a  sensitive or specific measure of sperm fertilizing capacity, as the concentration can vary greatly within a fish species and across the reproductive season. Copulation in poeciliids is rapid (<1s) and does not involve male mounting or clasping that may increase male control over sperm  transfer  (Birkhead  &  Møller,  1998). In  this  regard,  J. multidentata  also  presents the same behavior. These results suggest that female behavior is often effective in limiting the size of the ejaculate transferred by finishing the copulation early. Therefore, it has been proposed that traits that increase sperm quality, such as viability and motility (e.g. spermatozoa velocities), as well as ejaculate size or the number of sperm produced might evolve in species in which males have little control over the amount of sperm inseminated (Pilastro, Gas- parini, Boschetto, & Evans, 2008; Gasparini, Simmons, Beveridge, & Evans, 2010; Smith & Ryan, 2010; Evans et al., 2011).

Several of the parameters discussed above have been used as useful tools to evaluate fish fertility (Billard & Cosson, 1992; Kime & Nash, 1999; Rurangwa et al., 2004). The evaluation of seminal quality constitutes a critical step in species management and conservation. The results of our work have established the basic parameter values to be in use in the evaluation of the reproductive potential of J. multidentata. Since this species is widely distributed in both polluted and non-polluted sites and has been used as a bioindicator in water quality assessment, the most of the sperm parameters characterized  in  the  present  work  could  be used as a sensitive set of indirect biomarkers that could provide early warning signal of reproductive alterations in polluted freshwater systems of an extensive area of the Neotropical region where this species occurs.

Acknowledgments

We are grateful to Laura V. Gatica, Héctor A. Guidobaldi and Diego R. Uñates for laboratory assistance and Cristina Maldonado for her assistance with electron microscopy and micrographic. Fish were collected with permission of the Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnología (MYNCYT), Argentina. This study was funded by the Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnológicas (CONICET) and by the Secretaría de Ciencia y Técnica (SECyT) of the Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Argentina. This work is part of the PhD. thesis of M. A. Roggio, who gratefully acknowledges fellowships from CONICET.


References

Amé, M. V., Baroni, M. V., Galanti, L. N., Bocco, J. L., & Wunderlin, D. A. (2009). Effects of microcystin–LR on the expression of P-glycoprotein in Jenynsia multidentata. Chemosphere, 74, 1179-1186.         [ Links ]

Bianco, R. A., Guyón, N. F., & Bistoni, M. A. (2012). Ciclo reproductivo de las hembras de Jenynsia multidentata (Anablepidae, Cyprinodontiformes) en la cuenca del Río Suquía, Córdoba, Argentina. XI Jornadas de Ciencias Naturales del Litoral. III Reunión Argentina de Ciencias Naturales, Córdoba, Argentina.         [ Links ]

Billard, R. & Cosson, M. P. (1992). Some problems related to the assessment of sperm motility in freshwater fish. Journal of Experimental Zoology, 261, 122-131.         [ Links ]

Birkhead, T. R. & Møller, A. P. (1998). Sperm competition and sexual selection. London: Academic Press.         [ Links ]

Bisazza, A., Manfredi, S., & Pilastro, A. (2000). Sexual Competition, Coercive Mating and Mate Assessment in the one-sided Livebearer, Jenynsia multidentata: are they predictive of sexual dimorphism? Ethology, 106, 961-978.         [ Links ]

Bobe, J. & Labbé, C. (2010). Egg and sperm quality in fish. General Comparative Endocrinology, 165, 535-548.         [ Links ]

Burness,  G.,  Casselman,  S.  J.,  Schulte-Hostedde, A.  I., Moyes, C. D., & Montgomerie, R. (2004). Sperm swimming speed and energetic vary with sperm competition risk in bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus). Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, 56, 65-70.         [ Links ]

Burns, J. R., & Weitzman, S. H. (2005). Insemination in Ostariophysan Fishes. In M. C. Uribe & H. J. Grier (Eds.),  Viviparous  Fishes  (pp.  105-132).  Mexico: New Life Publications.         [ Links ]

Cazenave, J., Nores, M. L., Miceli, M., Díaz, M. P., Wunderlin, D. A., & Bistoni, M. A. (2008). Changes in the swimming activity and glutathione S-transferase activity of Jenynsia multidentata fed with microcystin- RR. Water Research, 42, 1299-1307.         [ Links ]

Constantz, G. D. (1984). Sperm competition in Poeciliidae fishes. In R. L. Smith (Ed.), Sperm competition and the evolution of animal mating systems (pp. 465-485). New York: Academic Press.         [ Links ]

Cosson, J., Dreanno, C., Billard, R., Suquet, M., & Cibert, C. (1999). Regulation of axonemal wave parameters of fish spermatozoa by ionic factors. In C. Gagnon (Ed.), The male gamete: from basic knowledge to clinical applications (pp. 161-186). St Louis, USA: Ache River Press.         [ Links ]

Dadone, L. & Narbaitz, R. (1967). Submicroscopic Structure of Spermatozoa of a Cyprinodontiform Teleost, Jenynsia  lineate.  Zeitschrift  für  Fischkunde,  8, 214-219.         [ Links ]

Dietrich, G. J., Kowalski, R. M, Wojtczak, S., Dobosz, K., Goryczko, K., & Ciereszko, A. (2005). Motility parameters of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) spermatozoa in relation to sequential collection of milt,  time  of  post-mortem  storage  and  anesthesia. Fish Physiology and. Biochemistry, 31, 1-9.         [ Links ]

Evans, J. P., Pilastro, A., & Ramnarine, I. W. (2003). Sperm transfer through forced matings and its evolutionary implications in natural guppy (Poecilia reticulata) populations. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 78, 605-612.         [ Links ]

Evans, J. P., Pilastro, A., & Schlupp, I. (2011). Ecology and Evolution of Poeciliid Fishes. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.         [ Links ]

Fawcett, D. W. (1970). A comparative view of sperm ultraestructure. Biology of Reproduction, 2, 90-127.         [ Links ]

Gage, M. J. G., Macfarlane, C. P., Yeates, S., Ward, R. G., Searle, J. B., & Parker, G. A. (2004). Spermatozoal traits and sperm competition in Atlantic salmon: relative sperm velocity is the primary determinant of fertilization success. Current Biology, 14, 44-47.         [ Links ]

Galindo-Villegas, J. & Sosa-Lima, F. (2002). Gonopodial system review and a new fish record of Poeciliopsis infans (Cyprinodontiformes: Poeciliidae) for Lake Patzcuaro, Michoacan, central Mexico. Revista de Biología Tropical, 50(4), 1151-1157.         [ Links ]

Gardiner, D. M. (1978). Fine structure of the spermatozoon of the viviparous teleost Cymatogaster aggregata. Journal of Fish Biology, 13, 435-438.         [ Links ]

Gasparini, C., Simmons, L. W., Beveridge, M., & Evans, J. P. (2010). Sperm swimming velocity predicts competitive fertilization success in the green swordtail Xiphophorus Helleri. Plos One, 5(8), 1-5.         [ Links ]

Ghedotti, M. J. (1998). Phylogeny and classification of the Anablepidae (Cyprinodontiformes: Teleostei). In L. Malabarba,  R.  Reis,  R. Vari,  Z.  Lucena,  &  C. Lucena (Eds.), Phylogeny and Classification of Neotropical Fishes (pp. 561-582). Porto Alegre, Brazil: EDIPUCRS.         [ Links ]

Ginzburg, A. S. (1968). Fertilization in fishes and the problem of polyspermy. Moscow: Acad Sci USSR.         [ Links ]

Greven, G., & Schmahl, G. (2006). A note on the spermatozoon ultrastructure of the foureyed fish Anableps anableps (Atherinomorpha, Cyprinodontiformes). Z. Fischkunde, 83-88.         [ Links ]

Grier, H. J. (1973). Ultrastructure of the testis in the teleost Poecilia latipinna. Spermiogenesis with reference to the intercentriolar lamellated body. Journal of Ultrastructure Research, 45, 82-92.         [ Links ]

Grier, H. J. (1975). Spermiogenesis in the teleost Gambusia afinis with particular reference to the role played by microtubules. Cell Tissue Research, 165, 89-102.         [ Links ]

Grier, H. J., Burns, J. R., & Flores, J. A. (1981). Testis structure in three species of teleosts with tubular gonopodia. Copeia, 797-801.         [ Links ]

Hadi-Alavi, S. M., Rodina, M. A., Viveiros, T. M., Cosson, J., Gela, D., Boryshpolets, S., & Linhart, O. (2009). Effects of osmolality on sperm morphology, motility and flagellar wave parameters in Northern pike (Esox lucius L). Theriogenology, 72, 32-43.         [ Links ]

Hued, A. C., & Bistoni, M. A. (2005). Development and validation of a biotic index for evaluation of environmental quality in the central region of Argentina. Hydrobiologia, 543, 279-298.         [ Links ]

Hued, A.  C.,  Oberhofer,  S.,  &  Bistoni,  M. A.  (2012). Exposure to a Commercial Glyphosate Formulation (Roundup® Alters Normal Gill and Liver Histology and Affects Male Sexual Activity of Jenynsia multidentata (Anablepidae, Cyprinodontiformes). Archieves of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, 62, 107-117.         [ Links ]

Infostat. (2011). Grupo InfoStat. Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Córdoba, Argentina.         [ Links ]

Jamieson, B. G. M. (1991). Fish Evolution and Systematics: Evidence from Spermatozoa. With a survey of lophophorate, chinoderm and protochordate sperm and an account of gamete cryopreservation. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.         [ Links ]

Jamieson, B. G. M. (2009). Reproductive Biology and Phylogeny of Fishes, (Agnathans and Bony Fishes). Volume 8A of the series: Reproductive Biology and Phylogeny. U.S.A: Science Publishers, Enfield, NH.         [ Links ]

Kime, D. E. & Nash, J. P. (1999). Gamete viability as an indicator of reproductive endocrine disruption in fish. Science of Total Environment, 233, 123-129.         [ Links ]

Lahnsteiner, F., & Patzner, R. (2008). Sperm Morphology and ultraestructure in fish. In S. M. Hadi-Alavi, J. J. Cosson, K. Coward, & G. Rafiee (Eds.), Fish Spermatology  (pp.  1-61).  Oxford,  U.K: Alpha  Science International.         [ Links ]

Malabarba, L., Reis, R., Vari, R., Lucena, Z., & Lucena, C. (1998). Phylogeny and classification of Neotropical Fishes. Porto Alegre, Brazil: EDIPUCRS.         [ Links ]

Mai, A. C. G., Garcia, A. M., Vieira, J. P., & Mai, M. G. (2007). Reproductive aspects of the one-sided live- bearer Jenynsia multidentata (Jenyns, 1842) (Cyprinodontiformes) in the Patos Lagoon estuary, Brazil. Pan-American  Journal  of  Aquatic  Sciences,  2(1), 40-46.         [ Links ]

Marti, G. A., Azpelicueta, M. M., Tranchida, M. C., Peliz- za, S. A., & García, J. J. (2006). Predation efficiency of indigenous larvivorous fish species on Culex pipiens L. larvae (Diptera: Culicidae) in drainage ditches in Argentina. Journal of Vector Ecology, 31, 102-106.         [ Links ]

Mattei, X. (1991). Spermatozoon ultraestructure and its systematics implications in fishes. Canadian Journal of Zoology, 69, 3038-3055.         [ Links ]

Meffe, G. K. & Snelson, F. F. (1989). The Ecology and Evolution of Livebearing Fishes (Poeciliidae). USA: Prentice Hall.         [ Links ]

Meyer, A., & Lydeard, C. (1993). The Evolution of Copulatory Organs, Internal Fertilization, Placentae and Viviparity in Killifishes (Cyprinodontiformes) Inferred from a DNA Phylogeny of the Tyrosine Kinase Gene X-src. Proccedings of the Royal Society London B. Biological Sciences, 254, 153-162.         [ Links ]

Parenti, L. R. (2005). The Phylogeny of Atherinomorphs: Evolution of a Novel Fish Reproductive System. In M. C. Uribe & H. J. Grier (Eds.), Viviparous Fishes (pp. 105-132). Mexico: New Life Publications.         [ Links ]

Pecio, A. & Rafirisky, J. (1994). Structure of the testes, spermatozoa and spermatozeugmata of Mimagoniates barberi Regan 1907 (Teleostei: Characidae) an internally fertilizing, oviparous fish. Acta Zoologica, 75, 179-185.         [ Links ]

Pilastro, A., Gasparini, C., Boschetto, C., & Evans, J. P. (2008). Colorful male guppies do not provide females with fecundity benefits. Behavioral Ecology, 19(2), 374-381.         [ Links ]

Ringuelet, R. A., Aramburu, R. H., & de Aramburu, A. (1967). Los peces argentinos de agua dulce. Buenos Aires, La Plata: Comité de Investigaciones Científicas y Provinciales.         [ Links ]

Rurangwa, E., Kime, D. E., Ollevier, F., & Nash, J. P. (2004). The measurement of sperm motility and factors affecting sperm quality in cultured fish. Aquaculture, 234, 1-28.         [ Links ]

Skinner, A. M. J. & Watt, P. J. (2007). Phenotypic correlates of spermatozoon quality in the guppy, Poecilia reticulata. Behavioral Ecology, 18, 47-52.         [ Links ]

Smith, C. C. & Ryan, M. J. (2010). Evolution of sperm quality but not quantity in the internally fertilized fish Xiphophorus nigrensis. Journal of Evolutionary Biology, 23, 1759-1771.         [ Links ]

Snook, R. R. (2005). Sperm in competition: not playing by the numbers. Trends in Ecology & Evolution, 20, 46-53.         [ Links ]

Turner, C. L. (1950). The skeletal structure of the gonopodium and gonopodial suspensorium of Anableps anableps. Journal of Morphology, 86, 329-366.         [ Links ]

Wagner, E., Arndt, R., & Hilton, B. (2002). Physiological stress responses, egg survival and sperm motility for rainbow trout broodstock anesthetized with clove oil, tricaine methanesulfonate or carbon dioxide. Aquaculture, 211, 353-366.         [ Links ]

World Health Organization. (2010). WHO Laboratory Manual for the Examination and processing of human semen. 5th edn. WHO Press.         [ Links ]

Wourms, J. (2005). Functional morphology, development, and evolution of trophotaeniae. In M. C. Uribe & H. J. Grier (Eds.), Viviparous Fishes (pp. 238-262). Mexico: New Life Publications.         [ Links ]

Yao, Z., Emerson, C. J., & Crim, L. W. (1995). Ultraestructure of the spermatozoa and eggs of the ocean pout (Macrozoarces americanus), an internally fertilizing marine fish. Molecular Reproduction Development  42, 58-64.         [ Links ]

1. Cátedra de Diversidad Animal II, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba - Instituto de Diversidad y Ecología Animal, CONICET, Av. Vélez Sarsfield 299, CP X5000JJC, Córdoba, Argentina; angelinaroggio@gmail.com, achued@efn.uncor.edu, mbistoni@efn.uncor.edu
2. Department  of  Obstetrics  and  Gynecology,  Virginia  Commonwealth  University,  Richmond,  VA,  23298,  USA; eugeteves@yahoo.com.ar
3. Centro de Biología Celular y Molecular, Edificio de Investigaciones Biológicas y Tecnológicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Av. Vélez Sarsfield 1611, X5016GCA, Córdoba, Argentina; lcgiojalas@com.uncor.edu

Received 01-III-2013.        Corrected 09-II-2014.       Accepted 03-III-2014.

Creative Commons License Todo el contenido de esta revista, excepto dónde está identificado, está bajo una Licencia Creative Commons