Publications by authors named "Renata G Moreira"

The ubiquitous presence of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in aquatic compartments has been described, and recent studies reported several adverse biological effects on nontarget species after short- and long-term exposures. Despite the recent reports, integrated information related to the measurements and effects of NSAIDs on Brazilian water ecosystems is still limited, given the importance of Brazilian aquatic biodiversity. Thus, to fill these gaps, after a close literature search using scientific databases, this review aims to summarize the main scientific efforts concerning the occurrence of NSAIDs in Brazilian aquatic environments, the multiple physiological effects on native species, and the different protocols used in the research laboratories.

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Piracanjuba, Brycon orbignyanus, is a neotropical gonochoristic species of great ecological and commercial interest. When cultivated in captivity, it sexually differentiates into females, primary males, and secondary males that originate from females that undergo sex inversion. Therefore, the objective of this study was to verify the plasma profile of the androgens testosterone (T) and 11-ketotestosterone (11-KT) throughout the sex differentiation of B.

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Astyanax lacustris is a model of laboratory native fish species. Reproductive studies of this species have already been performed. Nevertheless, there is a relative shortcoming of gene sequence information available in public databases, which hinder their use in more comprehensive investigations that employ sensitivity molecular biology techniques to assess gene expression profile for biomarker identification.

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Background And Aim: The low-carbohydrate high-fat (LCHF) diet lipids are often overlooked for obesity management. We hypothesized that unsaturated lipids enhance fatty acid metabolism, and influence obesity-related metainflammation.

Methods And Results: Male Swiss mice were fed an obesity-inducing diet for ten weeks.

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We investigated the relationship between blood metal(loid) concentrations and plasma levels of glucose, proteins, triglycerides, cholesterol, lactate, urea, and polyunsaturated fatty acids in tiger sharks (Galeocerdo cuvier) sampled off the Fernando de Noronha Archipelago, a remote oceanic marine protected area in the Equatorial Atlantic Ocean. Results revealed that Al, As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn were detected in the whole blood of tiger sharks and no sexual differences in blood metal(loid) concentrations were observed. Females had higher concentrations of plasma proteins and docosahexaenoic acid.

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Carbamazepine (CBZ) is a pharmaceutical commonly used in the treatment of epilepsy and bipolar disorder and has been detected in different aquatic ecosystems worldwide. Considering its possible role in altering nervous system and reproduction, this study aimed to evaluate the effects of CBZ on molecular and cellular biomarkers of the teleost Astyanax lacustris. Results demonstrated that CBZ, in environmentally relevant concentrations (500 ng L) increases fshβ gene expression levels, decreases muscle protein content and hepatic LPO (500 ng L and 1250 ng L of CBZ).

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Aluminum (Al) can cause endocrine disruption in aquatic animals, but assessments of animal social behavior in neotropical teleost fish species with importance for Brazilian aquaculture have still not been addressed so far, which can further complete this ecotoxicological knowledge. In order to evaluate the social behavior and plasma cortisol concentration of fish exposed to Al, we performed a 1 h acute exposure with couples in three different experimental groups: control in neutral pH (CTL/n group), acid pH (pH/ac group), and aluminum in acid pH (Al/ac group; 2.0 mg L).

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Two of the largest water reservoirs in the Metropolitan Region of São Paulo, Brazil (MRSP), named Billings and Guarapiranga, are facing high levels of anthropic impact. This is evidenced by the presence of contaminants and pollutants, which are deteriorating their water quality. Therefore, this study evaluated antioxidant defense enzymes, lipoperoxidation and genotoxicity, in adult females of a native species, Astyanax altiparanae from the Guarapiranga and Billings reservoirs.

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Diclofenac (DCF) and ibuprofen (IBU) are pharmaceutical compounds frequently detected in aquatic compartments worldwide. Several hazard effects including developmental abnormalities and redox balance impairment have been elucidated in aquatic species, but multiple endocrine evaluations are scarce. Therefore, the present study aimed to assess the disruptive physiological effects and toxicity of DCF and IBU isolated and combined, using females of the native freshwater teleost Astyanax lacustris.

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The vitrification of ovarian follicles is a strategic tool that may contribute to advances in aquaculture and the conservation of many important species. Despite the difficulties inherent to the cryopreservation of oocytes, some successful protocols have been developed for different species, but little is known about the capacity of oocytes to develop after thawing. Therefore, the profiles of the reproductive pathway genes and fatty acid membrane composition during the initial stages of development were analyzed in fresh ovarian follicles and follicles after the vitrification process.

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Article Synopsis
  • - An 8-week trial assessed how different ratios of DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) along with temperature variations affect fatty acid metabolism and liver structure in fish.
  • - Fish fed the highest DHA level (1.5%) displayed better growth in warmer temperatures, but the DHA/EPA ratio didn't impact overall performance at either temperature.
  • - Temperature significantly influenced lipid deposition and fatty acid profiles in muscle, liver, and eyes, highlighting the importance of both temperature and a balanced fat ratio in the diet for optimal marine fish health.
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Article Synopsis
  • Researchers studied how cobia fish's liver responds after eating by analyzing their gene expression and fatty acid profiles over a 24-hour period.
  • They fed the fish, fasted them, and then collected liver samples at various intervals to see how the diet affected specific fatty acids and gene activities.
  • The findings revealed that the best time to assess the liver's response was between 8 to 12 hours after feeding, as gene expression changes were minimal at 24 hours, indicating they were less impacted by food intake.
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To characterize the female reproductive biology of the endangered species Steindachneridion parahybae in captivity, the authors used the concentration of gonadal steroids and the oocyte development during the annual reproductive cycle (RC) and after artificial induced spawning (AIS) until 48 h. Three stages of gonadal maturation were identified, based on morphological and physiological features: early maturation or previtellogenic (PRV) oocyte, advanced maturation or vitellogenic (VTG) oocyte and regression (REG) or follicular atresia. They identified and characterized the following stages of germ cells: oogonia, perinucleolar and cortical alveoli, and VTG and atretic oocytes during RC.

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Phospholipids (PL) are membrane components composed of fatty acids (FA), while triglycerides (TG) are a main source of energy and essential FA. Polyunsaturated FA (PUFA), such as docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), are essential for marine carnivorous fish; thus, an 8-week experiment was performed to evaluate the influence of DHA and EPA, provided as PL and TG, on the morphophysiology of juveniles. A basal diet was manufactured, and DHA and EPA in PL form (PL1-low amount PL2-high amount) and TG form (TG1-low amount; TG2-high amount) were added.

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The synergistic effects of coastal urbanization have dramatically impacted biological communities. Yet, few studies have investigated how urbanization can influence the diet quality and trophic ecology of coastal sharks. In a preliminary study, we examined for spatial variation in the nutritional ecology of a highly active marine predator, the blacktip (Carcharhinus limbatus) exposed to regional differences in coastal urbanization in southeast Florida.

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The present study evaluated neurotoxic, biotransformation, genotoxic and antioxidant responses to relevant environmental concentrations of diclofenac (0.4 μg L) and caffeine (27.5 μg L), separate and combined, in adult males of the freshwater fish Astyanax altiparanae after a subchronic exposure (14 days).

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Vitamin A (VA) is essential for fish reproduction, however, knowledge of VA requirement of broodstock fish is scarce. We investigated the physiological role of VA supplementation in the ovarian maturation of Astyanax lacustris throughout the non-breeding season. Adult females were distributed in five nutritional treatments, which differed by the amount of VA supplemented in a plant-based diet: T1 = 0, T2 = 1800, T3 = 3600, T4 = 7200, and T5 = 14,400 IU kg of VA for 60 days after a period of 16 days feeding on a diet poor in VA to reduce body VA content.

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Article Synopsis
  • Cobia (Rachycentron canadum) has significant aquaculture potential, but genomic data on the species is currently sparse, limiting research opportunities.
  • A comprehensive de novo transcriptome assembly of cobia liver was created, resulting in over 100,000 unigenes and numerous transcripts, enhancing the genetic information available for the species.
  • This study identified a variety of gene sequences, including potential lncRNAs and microsatellites, which could support future advancements in fish farming and nutrigenomics.
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Cadmium (Cd) can adversely affect aquatic life, altering reproductive and molting processes in crustaceans. The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of Cd on reproduction and molting in the crab Callinectes danae. Adult females were obtained from environments with different levels of pollution: low (LC), medium (MC), and high contaminated (HC) areas.

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Many teleost fishes can withstand long feed deprivation periods, either due to an eventual lack of food or because of their behavior during reproduction and/or parental care. In this work, the effects of total food restriction on the oogenesis, spermatogenesis, and reproductive hormones of the neotropical cichlid fish Cichlasoma dimerus were studied. Specifically, different pairs were isolated after having a spawning event and were feed-deprived or daily fed for 3 weeks.

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Energetic condition is one of the most important factors that influence fitness and reproductive performance in vertebrates. Yet, we lack evidence on how energetic states change in response to reproduction in large marine vertebrates. In the present study, we used a non-lethal approach to assess relationships among reproductive stage, circulating steroid hormones (testosterone and relative corticosteroid levels), plasma fatty acids, and the ketone body β-hydroxybutyrate in male sharks of two species with divergent ecologies, the benthic nurse shark (Ginglymostoma cirratum) and the epipelagic blacktip shark (Carcharhinus limbatus).

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Aluminum (Al) and manganese (Mn) can be toxic to aquatic biota and cause endocrine disruption in fish, affecting reproduction. This study evaluates the physiological responses of the ray-finned teleost fish Astyanax altiparanae vitellogenic females after acute exposure (96 h) to Al and Mn (alone and combined) in acid pH followed by the same period of exposure to metal-free water in neutral pH. The aim of this second period of exposure was to assess the recovery capacity from the toxic effects these metals.

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Di-isononyl phthalate (DiNP) is a plasticizer reported to elicit hormone-like activity and disrupt metabolism and reproduction in fish and other vertebrates. In general, phthalates have been used at high concentrations beyond reported environmental levels to assess their adverse effects on fish gonadal physiology. The present study exposed adult female zebrafish to a wide range of DiNP concentrations [0.

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Structural modifications in the gill membranes maintain homeostasis under the influence of temperature changes. We hypothesized that thermal acclimation would result in significant modification of phospholipid fatty acids, with modulation of sodium pump activity during acute (24 and 48 h) and chronic (15 days) thermal shifts in the neotropical reophilic catfish Steindachneridion parahybae. Indeed, the time-course experiment showed acute and chronic changes in gill membrane at the lowest temperatures, notably linked to maintenance of membrane fluidity: significant preferential changes in phosphatidylethanolamine, with decrease of saturated fatty acids and increase of C18:1 in all groups kept below 30 °C in chronic trial, increase in polyunsaturated fatty acids n6 and C18:1 at 17 and 12 °C compared to 24 °C, as soon as the temperature was changed (initial time).

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