O sistema látero-sensorial dos peixes é responsável, dentre outras funções, pela percepção de vibrações e de movimentos na água. A unidade funcional desse sistema é denominada neuromasto, o qual pode estar presente na superfície ou em ranhuras da pele, ou também em canais que percorrem ossos dérmicos, alcançando a superfície externa da pele por intermédio de poros. O padrão de ossificação dos canais sensoriais cefálicos é conservado em diversas linhagens de peixes de tal forma que esse complexo morfológico representa uma rica fonte de informações filogenéticas, sendo amplamente utilizado em análises cladísticas de vários grupos de Ostariophysi, como, por exemplo, em Siluriformes. No entanto, o sistema láterosensorial cefálico de Characiformes, uma das mais diversificadas ordens de teleósteos e também um membro de Ostariophysi, nunca havia sido descrito em detalhes, sendo suas implicações filogenéticas pouco investigadas. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo realizar uma análise exploratória da homologia dos diversos elementos que compõem o sistema látero-sensorial em Characiformes, especificamente de: 1) levantar informações sobre os padrões de ramificação e de ossificação dos canais sensoriais cefálicos de todas as suas principais linhagens; 2) mapear as terminações destes ramos, os poros sensoriais, que se abrem na superfície da pele; e 3) identificar as principais implicações filogenéticas relacionadas a este sistema dentre os Characiformes e demais Ostariophysi. Para tal, foram analisados um total de trinta e seis táxons da ordem Characiformes, englobando representantes de todas as suas famílias e principais subfamílias. Além destes, outros treze componentes da ordem Ostariophysi, bem como sete demais Teleostei foram incluidos na análise como representantes do grupo-externo. Um dos principais resultados do presente estudo foi a constatação de que a disposição dos canais do sistema látero-sensorial cefálico, e o número de poros associados a cada um destes canais pouco variou dentre as diferentes famílias de Characiformes, mantendo-se também relativamente contantes nos demais Ostariophysi, e apresentando-se altamente informativas em um contexto filogenético. A complexidade morfológica desse sistema deixa implícito que o mesmo pode representar uma grande fonte de informações anatômicas combinando-os com demais caracteres morfológicos. Os resultados apresentados no presente trabalho indicam que os canais e poros da linha látero-sensorial cefálica constituem mais uma evidência de que novas fontes de caracteres morfológicos, apesar de não tradicionais, têm muito a contribuir com o entendimento das relações de parentesco entre peixes. / The laterosensory system of fishes is responsible, among other functions, for the perception of water movement and vibration. The functional unit of this system is the neuromast, which can be present on the skin surface or in grooves on it, or also in canals that are distributed along dermic bones, reaching the skin surface by pores. The ossification pattern related to the laterosensory canals is conserved among distinct fish lineages so that this morphological complex may represent a rich source of phylogenetic information. This system has been extensively used in cladistics analysis on several Ostariophysans, such as in Siluriformes and Cypriniformes. However, the laterosensory system of Characiformes, one of the most diverse order of teleost and also a member of the superorder Ostariophysi, has not been described in details yet, and its phylogenetic implications are poorly investigated. The present study aimed on performing an investigation on the laterosensory system components of Characiformes, having as its main goals: 1) a description of the cephalic laterosensory canals and branches for all main lineages of the order; 2) a characterization the canals ending points, i.e. the pores that open on the skin surface; and 3) a interpretation of the main philogenetical implications related to the laterosensory system among Characiformes and Ostariophysi. In order to accomplish these goals, a total of thirty-six Characiformes taxa were analysed, encompassing all families and main subfamilies of this order. Added to that, another thirteen representatives of other Ostariophysans, as well as seven taxa of other Teleostei were included to the comparative analysis as out-group material. As one of the main results of this survey is the acknowledgement that the distribution of the canals os the laterosensory system, as well as the number of branches and pores in association to this complex show little variation between the different lineages of Characiformes, keeping relatively stable among other Ostariophysi. This is interpreted as evidence that morphological traits in relation to this system may be very informative on a phylogenetical context when combined to other sources of characters. Therefore, these results indicate that features of the canals and pores of the laterosensory system may be one more source of anatomical characters, that even not traditionally used, are potentially informative on what regards the the relationship of fishes.

O grupo Batoidea engloba as raias e seu monofiletismo é bem corroborado. Contudo, as inter-relações filogenéticas dentro do grupo ainda são discutíveis. Algumas filogenias consideram Pristiformes como grupo basal de Batoidea, enquanto outras consideram Torpediniformes como mais basal. O grupo dos Rhinobatiformes é visto como monofilético por alguns autores e como parafilético por outros. O grupo dos Myliobatiformes também apresenta problemas em suas inter-relações: alguns autores consideram Hexatrygon como grupo mais basal, outros consideram Urotrygon, além de outras hipóteses para a filogenia deste grupo. A distribuição dos canais do sistema sensorial de linha lateral apresenta grande variação entre os grupos de Batoidea e, apesar deste sistema não ser muito bem estudado em elasmobrânquios, constitui uma importante fonte de caracteres filogenéticos. Dessa forma, buscou-se, neste projeto, descrever a distribuição e a morfologia dos canais do sistema de linha lateral do grupo Batoidea, levantando possíveis caracteres de relevância sistemática que auxiliem na resolução dos problemas filogenéticos neste grupo. Com base na análise dos padrões encontrados em 55 espécies pertencentes a 39 gêneros e 18 famílias de Batoidea e em informações revisadas da bibliografia, foram propostos 13 caracteres, os quais foram discutidos de acordo com questões filogenéticas dentro de Batoidea. Assim, puderam ser abordados problemas como o grupo basal de Batoidea e o posicionamento dos gêneros Platyrhina e Zanobatus, além de discussões acerca do monofiletismo de Myliobatiformes e seus grupos internos / Batoidea includes all the rays and its monophyly is well-corroborated. However, the phylogenetic interrelationships within the group are still debatable. Some phylogenies consider Pristiformes as the basal group of Batoidea while others considered Torpediniformes the most basal group. Rhinobatiformes are seen as a monophyletic group by some authors and as paraphyletic by others. Phylogenetic positioning problems also are found within the genders of Torpediniformes, Rhinobatiformes, Rajiformes and Myliobatiformes. The distribution of the canals of the lateral line sensory system presents wide variation between batoid groups, and although this system is not well studied in elasmobranchs, its constitutes an important source of phylogenetic characters. The master\'s project bound to this proposal aimed to describe the distribution and morphology of the canals of the lateral line sensory system in Batoidea, gathering possible characters with phylogenetic relevance which may help elucidate the phylogenetic problems in this group. Based on the analysis of the patterns found in 55 species of 39 genders an 18 families of Batoidea and on information reviewed from literature 13 characters were proposed, which one was discussed according the phylogenetic questions within Batoidea. Therefore, problems such as the basal group in Batoidea and the position of Platyrhyna and Zanobatus could be discussed as much as the monophyly of Myliobatiformes and its internal groups

In the amphibious fish Polypterus senegalus, focussing on lateral line, vision and electrosensation, we investigated sensory abilities, their interactions, and changes in their effects on locomotor behaviour between aquatic and terrestrial environments. First, we blocked lateral line, vision, or both, and examined effects on locomotion in both environments. Both senses affected both types of locomotion. When fish could see but not feel, variation in several kinematic variables increased, suggesting that sensory integration may affect locomotor control. Next, we assessed response to optokinetic stimuli of varying size and speed. Temporal and spatial visual acuity were both low, as expected in a nocturnal ambush predator. Visual ability in air was much reduced. Finally, we attempted to record electrogenesis in Polypterus, but did not observe the electric discharges reported in a previous study. Future studies might examine changes in sensory function, interaction and importance in behaviour in Polypterus raised in a terrestrial environment.

Orientador: Ricardo Cardoso Benine / Resumo: Moenkhausia representa um dos gêneros mais diversos em Characidae, atualmente com mais de 90 espécies válidas amplamente distribuídas nas bacias hidrográficas da América do Sul. O gênero é caracterizado por uma combinação de caracteres não exclusivos: linha lateral completa, cinco dentes na série interna do pré-maxilar e escamas cobrindo a base da nadadeira caudal. Considerando o grande número de espécies de Moenkhausia e que a maioria delas possui descrições pouco detalhadas, em adição às incertezas sobre suas relações filogenéticas, salienta-se a necessidade de estudos que busquem resolver essas questões. Análises recentes de grupos menores dentro do gênero têm aumentado o entendimento das espécies de Moenkhausia e, consequentemente, suas relações com outros caracídeos. Um desses grupos, denominado aqui de Moenkhausia collettii, é caracterizado por espécies que compartilham a presença de uma faixa escura horizontal no olho e uma faixa escura na base da nadadeira anal. Esse colorido também é utilizado para diagnosticar um outro grupo de espécies não-congêneres “Hemigrammus lunatus”, composto por H. barrigonae, H. changae, H. lunatus, H. machadoi e H. ulreyi. Dessa forma, este estudo objetivou a revisão taxonômica das espécies do grupo Moenkhausia collettii, bem como propor uma hipótese filogenética compreensiva para o grupo. Para a revisão taxonômica, foi empregada a análise de morfometria linear, a partir de 21 dados morfométricos e 16 merísticos. Com o exame de extensivo m... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Moenkhausia represents one of the most diverse genus of Characidae, currently with more than 90 valid species widely distributed in the hydrographic basins of South America. This genus is characterized by a combination of non-exclusive characters: complete lateral line, five teeth in the internal series of the premaxillary, and scales covering the base of the caudal fin. Considering the large number of species of Moenkhausia and that most of them have poorly detailed descriptions, in addition to the uncertainties among its phylogenetic relationships of these genus highlight the necessity of this study. Recent analyses of smaller groups within the genus has increased the knowledge of the identity of Moenkhausia species and, consequently, their relationship with the other characids. One of these groups, called here as Moenkhausia collettii, is characterized by species with horizontal dark band in the eye and a dark band at the base of the anal fin. This color is also diagnostic of the non-congeneric group “Hemigrammus lunatus”, composed by H. barrigonae, H. changae, H. lunatus, H. machadoi and H. ulreyi. This study aimed the taxonomic revision of the species of Moenkhausia collettii group, as well to propose a comprehensive phylogenetic hypothesis for the group. For the taxonomic revision was used linear morphometry analysis, based on 21 morphometric and 16 meristic data. The examination of extensive material deposited in Brazilian and foreign ichthyological collections enable ... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Doutor

Electroreception is a sensory modality found in some fish, which enables them to sense the environment through the detection of electric fields. Biological experimentation on this ability has built an intricate framework that has identified many of the components involved in electroreception's production, but lack the framework for bringing the details back together into a system-level model of how they operate together. This thesis builds and tests a computational model of the Electrosensory Lateral Line Lobe (ELL) in mormyrid electric fish in an attempt to bring some of electroreception's structural details together to help explain its function. The ELL is a brain region that functions as a primary processing area of electroreception. It acts as an adaptive filter that learns to predict reoccurring stimuli and removes them from its sensory stream, passing only novel inputs to other brain regions for further processing. By creating a model of the ELL, the relevant components which underlie the ELL's functional, electrophysiological patterns can be identified and scientific hypotheses regarding their behavior can be tested. Systems science's approach is adopted to identify the ELL's relevant components and bring them together into a unified conceptual framework. The methodological framework of computational neuroscience is used to create a computational model of this structure of relevant components and to simulate their interactions. Individual activation tendencies of the different included cell types are modeled with dynamical systems equations and are interconnected according to the connectivity of the real ELL. Several of the ELL's input patterns are modeled and incorporated in the model. The computational approach claims that if all of the relevant components of a system are captured and interconnected accurately in a computer program, then when provided with accurate representations of the inputs a simulation should produce functional patterns similar to those of the real system. These simulated patterns generated by the ELL model are compared to recordings from real mormyrid ELLs and their correspondences validate or nullify the model's integrity. By building a computation model that can capture the relevant components of the ELL's structure and through simulation reproduces its function, a systems-level understanding begins to emerge and leads to a description of how the ELL's structure, along with relevant inputs, generate its function. The model can be manipulated more easily than a biological ELL, and allows us to test hypotheses regarding how changes in the structures affect the function, and how different inputs propagate through the structure in a way that produces complex functional patterns.

The present Thesis explored spatial reorientation behaviour of three species of fish (the zebrafish Danio rerio, the redtail splitfin fish Xenotoca eiseni, the goldfish Carassius auratus) and one species of reptiles (the Hermann tortoise Testudo hermanni) to widely assess three issues: 1) the use of environmental geometry with and without landmarks; 2) the role of two geometric tasks, one driven by spontaneous behaviour (“social-cued memory task”) and the other by learning processes (“rewarded exit task”); 3) the involvement of extra-visual sensory channels in visual transparency conditions, and motion patterns. The present Thesis applied behavioural assessments and analyses to pursue a line of comparison, across species, methodologies, and sensory systems. As regards environmental geometry and landmarks in fish and tortoises (Chapter 2), the studies were carried out within several apparatuses, that is, a rectangular opaque arena or two different sized square opaque arenas or a transparent square arena, with conspicuous or local landmarks: Study 1, Conspicuous landmark (blue wall) in zebrafish; Study 2: Local landmarks (corner panels) in zebrafish; Study 3, Environmental geometry in tortoises; Study 4, Conspicuous landmark (blue wall) in tortoises. As regards spontaneous vs. acquired geometric spatial reorientation in fishes (Chapter 3), the studies were carried out within a rectangular or square transparent arena, with or without geometric cues or a 3D landmark: Study 5, Nonvisual environmental geometry in zebrafish, redtail splitfin fish, and goldfish; Study 6, Isolated environmental geometric cues in zebrafish; Study 7, 3D outside landmark (blue cylinder) in zebrafish. As regards extra-visual sensory systems and motion patterns in fish (Chapter 4), one study was carried out within a rectangular transparent arena: Study 8, Lateral line pharmacological ablation in zebrafish. In respect of comparisons among species, overall results suggested that zebrafish, redtail splitfin fish, and goldfish reoriented similarly through transparent surfaces, which defined a distinctive global shape, supporting spatial reorientation under undefined situations (e.g., seek out food within a visually lacking and unenriched environment) as a shared skill among teleosts, despite ecological specificities. Likewise, the Hermann tortoise reoriented within a geometric environment with precision to meet a survival need, suggesting that even non-nomadic species that hibernate for long can benefit from orientation by extended terrain surfaces. In respect of memory tests (“working” vs. “reference”, spontaneous vs. acquired), overall results indicated that the rewarded exit task designed to train fish and tortoise to reorient required learning processes allowing them to overcome natural predispositions to improve other related abilities, such as landmark-use. The dissociation between working and reference memory in spatial domain must be considered highly dependent on task’s demands where attentional factors determine short-term memories and motivational states long-term ones. In respect of sensory channels and motion patterns, overall results revealed that fish and tortoises used modalities driven by touch, in synch with sight, to determine geometric parameters during spatial reorientation. Therefore, a promising link between other vertebrates and humans takes place, in consideration of orientation mechanisms used to face situations of visual deprivation or impairments. The present Thesis may even contribute to a general understanding of reorientation behaviour in phylogenetically remote vertebrate species, thus supporting the widespread use of geometry-grounded tools in everyday activities. This also provides comparative support among species that inhabit on Earth and share cognitive adaptations to deal with similar requests.

No description available.

Dans cette thèse, je me suis intéressé aux mécanismes qui permettent aux axones des neurones sensoriels de trouver leurs organes cibles à une grande distance. Dans le cas du système de la ligne latérale postérieure (LLP) du poisson-zèbre, des organes sensoriels sont déposés au cours de la migration d'un primordium. Des neurites sensoriels accompagnent le primordium au cours de cette migration et sont ainsi guidés vers leurs organes cibles. J'ai démontré que l'inactivation du signal «Glial cell line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor » (GDNF) rend les axones sensoriels incapables de suivre le primordium. GDNF est également utilisé comme signal de guidage lors de la régénération axonale après section du nerf et donc permet aux axones de retrouver leur cible. Ensuite j'ai démontré que le signal « Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor » (BDNF) exerce un autre rôle dans le développement de la LLP puisqu'il est essentiel pour l'ancrage et la connexion des axones à leurs organes cibles. Dans une deuxième partie, nous avons montré que le développement de la LLP embryonnaire du Thon Rouge est fortement similaire à celui du Poisson-Zèbre, pourtant relativement basal. Cette similitude comprend le fait que les axones de la LLP suivent le primordium. / In this thesis, I address the question of how peripheral axons of sensory neurons find their distant target organs. In the case of the posterior lateral line (PLL) system of zebrafish, sensory organs are deposited by a migrating primordium and sensory neurites accompany this primordium during its migration. In this way, the neurites are guided to their prospective target organs. I show that the inactivation of «Glial cell line Derived Neurotrophic Factor » (GDNF) signaling leads to the inability of sensory axons to track the migrating primordium. GDNF signaling is also used as a guidance cue during axonal regeneration following nerve cut. I conclude that GDNF is a major determinant of directed neuritic growth and of target finding in this system, and propose that GDNF acts by promoting local neurite outgrowth. Further, I demonstrate that «Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor » (BDNF) signaling exerts another role in PLL development as it is essent ial to anchor and properly connect axons to their targets organs.In another project, we could demonstrate that the development of the embryonic PLL of the atlantic blue-fin tuna shows striking similarities to that of the relatively basal zebrafish, including that PLL axons follow the migrating primordium.

The purpose of this thesis is to introduce and demonstrate several biological processes or phenomena using posterior lateral line system of zebrafish as a model. The first part of this work focuses on the highly dynamic tissue remodeling under the control of morphogenetic territories. In particular, eya1 gene is studied to add a susbtantial mechanism during migration of lateral line primordium. I propose that combinatorial Wnt/β-catenin and Fgf signaling control the spatialtemporal profile of Dkk expression to dynamically confine Wnt/β-catenin to the mesenchyme. The second part of this thesis mainly discusses about the existence of tissue compartment whereby Notch signaling involves in governing the regeneration anisotropy. I also discuss the importance of centrifugal movement of hair cell progenitors to propagate and maintain bilateral symmetry in the neuromasts. The last part of this thesis emphasizes on the epigenetic study in order to validate the involvement of macroH2A during development of zebrafish embryos. / La intención de ésta tesis es introducir y demostrar diversos procesos biológicos o fenómenos, usando como modelo el sistema de la línea lateral posterior del pez cebra. La primera parte de éste trabajo se enfoca en el proceso dinámico de remodelación de los tejidos bajo el control de territorios morfogénicos. En particular, se estudia el gen Eya1, como mecanismo sustancial en la migración del primordio de la linea lateral. Propongo que la señalización combinatorial de Wnt/B-catenin y FGF controla el patrón de expresión de Dkk, para confinar dinámicamente Wnt/B-catenin al tejido mesenquimal. La segunda parte de ésta tesis, principalmente discute acerca de la existencia de una compartimentalización de los tejidos, en dónde la señalización via Noch está involucrada en el control de la anisotropía en la regeneración. También se discute la importancia de los movimientos centrífugos de los progenitores de las células ciliadas para propagar y mantener la simetria bilateral en los neuromastos. La última parte de la Tesis emfatiza en el estudio epigenético, para validar la implicación de macroH2A en el desarrolllo de los embriones del pez cebra.

No description available.