Cortisol is responsible for positive and negative effects in the ovarian maturation induced by the exposure to acute stressors in Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus

in Fish Physiology and Biochemistry (2012), 38

Ontogeny of swimming movements in the catfish Clarias gariepinus

in The Open Fish Science Journal (2010), 3

The swimming movements of C. gariepinus larvae were recorded with a high-speed camera (400, 500 and 800 fps) from 0 to 336 hours post-hatching. Movements of adult fish were also recorded to provide ... [more ▼]

The swimming movements of C. gariepinus larvae were recorded with a high-speed camera (400, 500 and 800 fps) from 0 to 336 hours post-hatching. Movements of adult fish were also recorded to provide information on the last developmental stage. Seven landmarks positioned on the fish midline were used during tail beating to determine various parameters during ontogeny and, on the basis of these parameters, to describe the first appearance of swimming movements and their development and efficiency during growth. Larvae were unable to swim at hatching (4 mm total length). Swimming movements were established at 48 hours posthatching when the fish measured between 7 and 8 mm total length and the yolk sac was more than 95% absorbed. At this stage, lateral excursion of the head appeared strongly reduced (from 13% to 6% of the total length). The efficiency of swimming movements increased throughout ontogeny, as did the homogeneity of the speed of the propulsive wave. Spontaneous swimming speed of 1 to 10 TLs-1 were observed in early stage (8-12 hPH). The various speed induced significant variations in parameters such as the amplitude of lateral head movements, swimming efficiency, and body rigidity. No major change was observed at the theoretical flow-regime transition. [less ▲]

Early sex reversal during the embryonic development in the Nile tilapia

in Cybium (2008), 32(2), 104-105

Characterization of the primary sonic muscles in Carapus acus (Carapidae): a multidisciplinary approach

in Proceedings of the Royal Society B : Biological Sciences (2003), 270(1530), 2301-2308

Sound production in carapid fishes results from the action of extrinsic muscles that insert into the swim bladder. Biochemical, histochemical and morphological techniques were used to examine the sonic ... [more ▼]

Sound production in carapid fishes results from the action of extrinsic muscles that insert into the swim bladder. Biochemical, histochemical and morphological techniques were used to examine the sonic muscles and compare them with epaxial muscles in Carapus acus. Sonic fibres are thicker than red and thinner than white epaxial fibres, and sonic fibres and myofibrils exhibit an unusual helicoidal organization: the myofibrils of the centre are in a straight line whereas they are more and more twisted towards the periphery. Sonic muscles have both features of red (numerous mitochondria, high glycogen content) and white (alkali-stable ATPase) fibres. They differ also in the isoforms of the light chain (LC3) and heavy chain (HC), in having T tubules at both the Z-line and the A–I junction and in a unique parvalbumin isoform (PAI) that may aid relaxation. All these features lead to the expression of two assumptions about sound generation: the sonic muscle should be able to perform fast and powerful contractions that provoke the forward movement of the forepart of the swim bladder and the stretching and ‘flapping’ of the swim bladder fenestra; the helicoidal organization allows progressive drawing of the swim bladder fenestra which emits a sound when rapidly released in a spring-like manner. [less ▲]

Ontogeny of fish swimming : parameters definition and method of high-speed video film analysis

Poster (2003)

Characterisation of the primary sound-producing muscles in Carapus acus (Carapidae) : multidisciplinary approach

Poster (2002)