Histochemistry of stressed environment Astianax altiparanae musculatures

• Grant number: 11/21432-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: January 01, 2012
• End date: December 31, 2013
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Genetics - Mutagenesis
• Principal Investigator: Flavio Henrique Caetano
• Grantee: Cynthia Medina Ciamarro
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IB). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Rio Claro. Rio Claro , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Actually, the amount of continental water resources that are contaminated by pollutants such as chemicals, metals, sewage and biodegradable detergents is considerable. In view of the fact that the musculature has a fundamental part on fish swimming, its importance is reflected in activities like hunting, escape, search for food, defense, migration, etc. Alterations on the fish muscular structure that may occur due to the presence of pollutants in the water, will bring serious implications to its lifestyle, especially in the case of Astianax altiparanae, which is a pelagic and active swimmer species. Consequently, there has been an increasing concern about the pollutants and the effects they can have on the fish populations that inhabit these aquatic environments, since those fish constitute a major source of food for certain human populations, as well as the main source of income for fishing communities. Therefore, it is intended by the present study, to analyze and identify possible alterations on the morphological structure of the pectoral and caudal musculature in small fishes like Astianax altiparanae. It is also intended to analyze the occurrence of a possible premature aging of these structures that may have been caused by the pollutants present in the water with detergent diluted in it, in the water of the Lago Azul, Rio Claro, SP compared to the pure water of an artesian well located at UNESP - Rio Claro Campus, which has been chlorinated according to the model required by SABESP. This last one will constitute the control group. The analysis is going to be done based in the comparison between the control group and the other groups exposed to the pollutants. Histological, histochemical and fluorescence techniques will be used on the analysis. (AU)