Analysis of promiscuous corticosteroid receptors and their roles in reproduction of Astyanax bimaculatus (Teleostei: Characiformes)

• Grant number: 13/26563-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Master's degree
• Effective date (Start): April 01, 2014
• Effective date (End): September 30, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Physiology - Compared Physiology
• Principal Investigator: Renata Guimarães Moreira Whitton
• Grantee: Walquiria da Silva Pedra Parreira
• Supervisor: Carlos Augusto Strüssmann
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Research place: Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology (TUMSAT), Japan
• Associated to the scholarship: 12/17289-0 - Profile of sex steroids and its relation to cortisol levels in females of Astyanax bimaculatus and Astyanax fasciatus(Characiformes: Characidae) during induced spawning in captivity, BP.MS

Abstract

Stress can be defined as a condition in which the dynamic equilibrium of the body is disturbed. In this field, several studies have been demonstrated the action of some corticosteroids hormones modulating stress situations, such as reproduction. However, the role of corticosteroids in fish reproduction can be either positive or deleterious, depending on many variables. For this reason studies involving the action of corticosteroids in sensitive phases are important to show the influence of these hormones during different life stages, since larval phase to adults. In this context, deep analyses are necessary to understand the mechanisms behind the action of corticosteroids in fish species that have good reproductive performance in stressful situations, considering that this resistance can be used in tests for new breeding protocols and techniques for fish farming and conservation, a scarce area of research with native fish. Therefore, the propose for this project is to perform molecular and biotechnological analyses to show a possible influence of cortisol in fish reproduction, especially in Astyanax bimaculatus, considering that previous results of the master project related to this proposal found out an important and positive interaction between cortisol levels and success in reproduction. Since some important events during fish life cycle, like sex differentiation and reproduction are so sensitive, the propose is also to gain abilities to understand the role of corticosteroids during fish development, a research area that is essential to improve aquaculture, an activity of great potential in Brazil. (AU)