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EDRI Federal Project Inventory:
Physiology of Reproduction in Fishes
- Sponsor Organization: NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
- Project Title: PHYSIOLOGY OF REPRODUCTION IN FISHES
- Project Focus: ECOLOGICAL EFFECTS
- Description: Viviparity, i.e. giving birth to living young, first evolved among the
vertebrates infishes. Fishes display an extraordinary diversity of
specializations for viviparity. Thetransition from oviparity (egg-
laying) to viviparity established a variety of new
functionalrelationships, one of which involves maternal-embryonic
nutrient transfer. Specializedtissues, such as the placenta, evolved
for transfer. Live-bearing goodeid fishes will beused as a model
system to study maternal-embryonic nutrient transfer across astructure
known as the trophotaenial placenta, comprised of the epithelial
lining of theovary and external projections of the embryonic
intestine, termed trophotaeniae. Thecellular basis of maternal-
embryonic transfer of nutrients across the trophotaenialplacenta will
be characterized using fluorescence and electron microscopy
andimmunocytochemistry to trace the uptake, transport, and fate of
proteins. Thedifferentiation of embryonic gut and trophotaenial cells
will be analyzed usingfluorescence and electron microscopy. An
evolutionary model that trophotaeniaeevolved from embryonic gut tissue
by an acceleration of the rates of cell division anddifferentiation in
the hindgut relative to other regions of the gut and the overall
growthof the embryo will be tested. These studies will enhance the
understanding ofviviparity; provide a detailed functional analysis of
placental development in fishes; andcontribute to evolutionary biology
by elucidating the evolution of a new organ throughmodification of
embryonic development.
- References:
- Category: MODELS
- Subcategory: BASIC RESEARCH
- Keywords for Experimental System/Species: FISH, IN VIVO, LABORATORY STUDIES
- Keywords for Experimental Endpoints: REPRODUCTIVE, HORMONE MEASURES, SEX STEROIDS, PHYSIOLOGY, BREEDING
BEHAVIOR,GROWTH
- Chemical Agents: N/A
- Performing Institution: Clemson University
- Contact: John P Wourms, Box 345702, 300 Brackett Hall, Clemson, SC 29634-
5702 803 656-3311, wourms@clemson.edu
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