A reprodução em peixes é controlada pelo eixo hipotálamo-hipófise-gônadas e os fatores que alteram o funcionamento adequado deste eixo são chamados de disruptores endócrinos. Muitos metais têm o papel de disruptores endócrinos e dentre eles destaca-se o alumínio que, além de afetar o sistema endócrino de algumas espécies de peixes, pode alterar a deposição e/ou mobilização de substratos energéticos nestes animais. Sabe-se que o pH pode modular em muitos casos as respostas fisiológicas decorrentes da exposição de peixes a alguns metais, como é o caso do alumínio. Desta forma, o presente trabalho objetiva avaliar as possíveis alterações na fisiologia reprodutiva de duas espécies de peixes teleósteos continentais quando os mesmos são expostos às altas concentrações de alumínio e em pH ácido. Para avaliar estes efeitos foram conduzidos 2 tipos de experimentos: um crônico, realizado com fêmeas de uma espécie de desova total (sincrônica em grupo), Astyanax fasciatus (lambari), durante a sua fase reprodutiva, pelo período de 14 dias; e outro agudo, pelo período de 96 horas, com fêmeas de Oreochromis niloticus (tilápia), espécie de desova parcelada (assincrônica) também em fase reprodutiva. Foram determinadas as concentrações plasmáticas de hormônios esteróides como o cortisol, o estradiol e a 17 α OHP utilizando-se kits de elisaimunoensaio; substratos energéticos, como proteínas e lipídios, no fígado, plasma e gônadas, assim como os principais íons plasmáticos (cálcio, potássio, cloro, magnésio e sódio) também foram analisados. Análises histológicas das gônadas, fígado e brânquias foram conduzidas com a finalidade de avaliar o efeito do alumínio e do pH ácido nestes tecidos. Os resultados do presente trabalho evidenciam que o alumínio e o pH ácido afetam a fisiologia reprodutiva de peixes teleósteos, mas o efeito deste metal está relacionado à estratégia reprodutiva dos animais. Os dados mostram que em peixes de desova total, como o lambari, os efeitos do alumínio são mais evidentes na fase de vitelogênese, alterando a ação dos estrógenos e os processos de mobilização de lipídios e proteínas em uma fase anterior à maturação final. Já na tilápia, os efeitos do alumínio e do pH ácido são mais evidentes na fase de maturação final e ovulação, uma vez que alterações foram observadas na concentração do progestágeno 17 α OHP, precursor do MIS em peixes teleósteos. / Fish reproduction is controlled by the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonad axis and factors that alter the normal function of this axis are known as endocrine disrupters. Many metals act as endocrine disrupters, including aluminium, a metal that affects endocrine and metabolic parameters in fish. It is also known that the pH can alter the endocrine disruptor effect of metals such as aluminium in fish. Considering that, this work aims to analyze the alterations in the reproductive physiology of two freshwater teleosts exposed to high aluminium concentrations in an acidic pH environment. To evaluate these effects, two experiments were conducted: the first experiment was designed to evaluate chronic effects by using mature Astyanax fasciatus females, a group synchronic species over a 14 day period; the second experiment was aimed to assess acute effects over a 96 hour period using Oreochromis niloticus mature females, an asynchronous species. The plasma profile of the steroids hormones, cortisol, estradiol and 17 α OHP were analyzed using EIA (Enzyme Linked Immuno Sorbent Assay) kits. Metabolic substrates as protein and lipids were analyzed in liver, gonads and plasma and the main plasmatic ions (potassium, sodium, chloride, magnesium and calcium) were also determined. Histological analyses were performed in liver, gonads and gills to evaluate the influence of aluminium on these organs. The results showed that aluminium as well as the acidic pH affects the reproductive physiology of the analyzed species, but the effects were different, according to the reproductive strategy of the respective species. Group synchronic species suffer from the aluminium effects in vitellogenic events, such as estradiol, lipid and protein concentrations in a period prior to final maturation. In contrast, the effects of aluminium and pH in tilapia were more evident in final maturation/ovulation processes than in vitellogenesis, as a result of alteration in the 17 α OHP concentration, the MIS (maturation induction steroid) precursor in teleosts.

Migration timing is a conserved life-history trait. To address the hypothesis that reproductive hormones are principal determinants of migration timing, I physiologically biopsied over 1000 sockeye salmon and monitored their subsequent behaviour with acoustic and radio telemetry as they migrated from the Pacific Ocean toward and into the Fraser River, and then onward to distant spawning areas. Links between physiology, behaviour, and survival were examined. Circulating testosterone was found to be positively correlated with the rates of river entry in Late-run females but not in males, despite having concentrations that were equal if not higher than those of females. The notion of protandrous migration, in which males synchronize their activities to the reproductive and migratory schedules of females, was postulated as the basis for this difference. Once in river however, successful males and females were those that (1) took longest to enter the river, and (2) had high somatic energy, low testosterone, and low gill Na+,K+-ATPase activities. An experimental test of the effect of reproductive hormones on the regulation of migration timing proved inconclusive. Relative to controls, GnRH and (or) testosterone treatment did not influence rates of ocean travel by males. Unfortunately, no females were examined. Nevertheless, significant, positive correlations between initial testosterone and travel times were found irrespective of hormonal treatment, which was unexpected but consistent with the previous studies. In an experimental simulation of an ‘early’ migration, normally timed Late-run sockeye exposed to typical 10 ºC river temperatures and then released to complete migration were 68% successful. In contrast, salmon held at 18 °C and released were half as successful. The expression of a kidney parasite was near maximal in the 18 °C fish and undetectable in the 10 °C fish. Only gill Na+,K+-ATPase activity differed between groups, with a drop in the 18 °C fish. Though no clear stress, reproductive, or energetic differences were observed between groups, the ultimate effect of high temperature treatment was high disease expression, slowed migration speeds, and high migration mortality. Changes in reproductive schedules, due to changes in latitudinal ocean distributions, are discussed as potential causes of early migration by Late-run sockeye.

Migration timing is a conserved life-history trait. To address the hypothesis that reproductive hormones are principal determinants of migration timing, I physiologically biopsied over 1000 sockeye salmon and monitored their subsequent behaviour with acoustic and radio telemetry as they migrated from the Pacific Ocean toward and into the Fraser River, and then onward to distant spawning areas. Links between physiology, behaviour, and survival were examined. Circulating testosterone was found to be positively correlated with the rates of river entry in Late-run females but not in males, despite having concentrations that were equal if not higher than those of females. The notion of protandrous migration, in which males synchronize their activities to the reproductive and migratory schedules of females, was postulated as the basis for this difference. Once in river however, successful males and females were those that (1) took longest to enter the river, and (2) had high somatic energy, low testosterone, and low gill Na+,K+-ATPase activities. An experimental test of the effect of reproductive hormones on the regulation of migration timing proved inconclusive. Relative to controls, GnRH and (or) testosterone treatment did not influence rates of ocean travel by males. Unfortunately, no females were examined. Nevertheless, significant, positive correlations between initial testosterone and travel times were found irrespective of hormonal treatment, which was unexpected but consistent with the previous studies. In an experimental simulation of an ‘early’ migration, normally timed Late-run sockeye exposed to typical 10 ºC river temperatures and then released to complete migration were 68% successful. In contrast, salmon held at 18 °C and released were half as successful. The expression of a kidney parasite was near maximal in the 18 °C fish and undetectable in the 10 °C fish. Only gill Na+,K+-ATPase activity differed between groups, with a drop in the 18 °C fish. Though no clear stress, reproductive, or energetic differences were observed between groups, the ultimate effect of high temperature treatment was high disease expression, slowed migration speeds, and high migration mortality. Changes in reproductive schedules, due to changes in latitudinal ocean distributions, are discussed as potential causes of early migration by Late-run sockeye.

A reprodução em peixes é controlada pelo eixo hipotálamo-hipófise-gônadas e os fatores que alteram o funcionamento adequado deste eixo são chamados de disruptores endócrinos. Muitos metais têm o papel de disruptores endócrinos e dentre eles destaca-se o alumínio que, além de afetar o sistema endócrino de algumas espécies de peixes, pode alterar a deposição e/ou mobilização de substratos energéticos nestes animais. Sabe-se que o pH pode modular em muitos casos as respostas fisiológicas decorrentes da exposição de peixes a alguns metais, como é o caso do alumínio. Desta forma, o presente trabalho objetiva avaliar as possíveis alterações na fisiologia reprodutiva de duas espécies de peixes teleósteos continentais quando os mesmos são expostos às altas concentrações de alumínio e em pH ácido. Para avaliar estes efeitos foram conduzidos 2 tipos de experimentos: um crônico, realizado com fêmeas de uma espécie de desova total (sincrônica em grupo), Astyanax fasciatus (lambari), durante a sua fase reprodutiva, pelo período de 14 dias; e outro agudo, pelo período de 96 horas, com fêmeas de Oreochromis niloticus (tilápia), espécie de desova parcelada (assincrônica) também em fase reprodutiva. Foram determinadas as concentrações plasmáticas de hormônios esteróides como o cortisol, o estradiol e a 17 α OHP utilizando-se kits de elisaimunoensaio; substratos energéticos, como proteínas e lipídios, no fígado, plasma e gônadas, assim como os principais íons plasmáticos (cálcio, potássio, cloro, magnésio e sódio) também foram analisados. Análises histológicas das gônadas, fígado e brânquias foram conduzidas com a finalidade de avaliar o efeito do alumínio e do pH ácido nestes tecidos. Os resultados do presente trabalho evidenciam que o alumínio e o pH ácido afetam a fisiologia reprodutiva de peixes teleósteos, mas o efeito deste metal está relacionado à estratégia reprodutiva dos animais. Os dados mostram que em peixes de desova total, como o lambari, os efeitos do alumínio são mais evidentes na fase de vitelogênese, alterando a ação dos estrógenos e os processos de mobilização de lipídios e proteínas em uma fase anterior à maturação final. Já na tilápia, os efeitos do alumínio e do pH ácido são mais evidentes na fase de maturação final e ovulação, uma vez que alterações foram observadas na concentração do progestágeno 17 α OHP, precursor do MIS em peixes teleósteos. / Fish reproduction is controlled by the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonad axis and factors that alter the normal function of this axis are known as endocrine disrupters. Many metals act as endocrine disrupters, including aluminium, a metal that affects endocrine and metabolic parameters in fish. It is also known that the pH can alter the endocrine disruptor effect of metals such as aluminium in fish. Considering that, this work aims to analyze the alterations in the reproductive physiology of two freshwater teleosts exposed to high aluminium concentrations in an acidic pH environment. To evaluate these effects, two experiments were conducted: the first experiment was designed to evaluate chronic effects by using mature Astyanax fasciatus females, a group synchronic species over a 14 day period; the second experiment was aimed to assess acute effects over a 96 hour period using Oreochromis niloticus mature females, an asynchronous species. The plasma profile of the steroids hormones, cortisol, estradiol and 17 α OHP were analyzed using EIA (Enzyme Linked Immuno Sorbent Assay) kits. Metabolic substrates as protein and lipids were analyzed in liver, gonads and plasma and the main plasmatic ions (potassium, sodium, chloride, magnesium and calcium) were also determined. Histological analyses were performed in liver, gonads and gills to evaluate the influence of aluminium on these organs. The results showed that aluminium as well as the acidic pH affects the reproductive physiology of the analyzed species, but the effects were different, according to the reproductive strategy of the respective species. Group synchronic species suffer from the aluminium effects in vitellogenic events, such as estradiol, lipid and protein concentrations in a period prior to final maturation. In contrast, the effects of aluminium and pH in tilapia were more evident in final maturation/ovulation processes than in vitellogenesis, as a result of alteration in the 17 α OHP concentration, the MIS (maturation induction steroid) precursor in teleosts.

A grande maioria das espécies de anfíbios anuros apresenta um padrão de reprodução sazonal, caracterizado nos machos por um pico de andrógenos que desencadeia maturação testicular, bem como manutenção do comportamento sexual. No entanto, os altos níveis de andrógenos podem apresentar um efeito imunossupressor, podendo também aumentar a probabilidade de infecções parasitárias. A Caatinga brasileira é caracterizada por altas temperaturas e chuvas sazonais e imprevisíveis que determinam o padrão reprodutivo e de atividade dos anuros dessa região, algumas espécies como P. diplolister apresentam comportamento de estivação durante a seca, já Rhinella Jimi e R. granulosa permanecem ativos quanto ao forrageamento durante este período. As drásticas variações deste ambiente poderiam acentuar os ajustes fisiológicos apresentados por essas espécies, principalmente para a espécie estivadora. Foram estudadas as inter-relações entre caracteres morfológicos, fisiológicos e parasitológicos dessas três espécies de anuros, em três períodos distintos, (A) durante a temporada reprodutiva, em um período entre dois surtos reprodutivos (período entre chuvas); (B) durante um surto reprodutivo que acompanhou um evento de chuvas e (C) no período da seca. As duas espécies de Rhinella apresentaram evidências de modulações imunológicas de acordo com período, e correlações entre caracteres imunológicos, fisiológicos e número de parasitas. Pleurodema diplolister apresentou padrões imunológicos coerentes com o processo de economia energética durante a estivação, como redução do número de leucócitos totais, com concomitante aumento na contagem de eosinófilos e relação positiva entre intensidade parasitária e contagem total de leucócitos. As três espécies estudadas apresentaram depleção das reservas energéticas durante o período reprodutivo, possivelmente associada à alta demanda energética do comportamento vocal. Também apresentaram padrões similares de maturação testicular, evidenciando que as espécies estudadas possuem um padrão de reprodução oportunista, típico de espécies que ocupam ambientes áridos. As três espécies também apresentaram relação entre parâmetros imunológicos e carga parasitária, no entanto, para esclarecer as relações causais entre esses fatores, são necessários testes adicionais de desafio imunológico, bem como infecção experimental por parasitas / Most part of anurans show a seasonal pattern of reproduction, when males display high levels of androgens associated with testicular development and sexual behavior maintenance. However, high androgens levels also can shows an immunosuppressive effect resulting in increased parasitological disease. The semi-arid Caatinga is an environment characterized by high temperatures and unpredictable seasonal rains that determine the breeding season of anurans. During the dry season, Pleurodema diplolister aestivate borrowed, Rhinella granulose and R. jimi remain foraging. Drastic variation in this environment could increase the physiological adjustments displayed by these species, mainly by P. diplolister. The inter-relation between morphological, physiological and parasitological characters was studied in these three anuran species, in three different periods: (A) dry season, (B) during the rainfall, when males are calling, and (C) in the interval between rainfalls, when males are foraging within the reproductive season. The Rhinella species presented evidences of immunological modulations according to the period and correlations between immunological, physiological parameters and number of parasites. Pleurodema diplolister presented immunological patters consistent with the process of energy economy during aestivation, including total leukocyte reduction, along with eosinophil increase and positive relation between total leukocyte and parasite intensity. The three species presented depletion in energy reserves during the breeding season, possibly associated with the high energy demand of vocal behavior. They also presented a similar pattern of testicular development, indicating that these species present opportunistic reproduction pattern, typical of species that occupy arid environments. The studied species also showed correlations between immunological parameters and parasite load, however, to clarify the causal relation between these parameters, additional immunological challenges and experimental parasite infection are necessary

Migration timing is a conserved life-history trait. To address the hypothesis that reproductive hormones are principal determinants of migration timing, I physiologically biopsied over 1000 sockeye salmon and monitored their subsequent behaviour with acoustic and radio telemetry as they migrated from the Pacific Ocean toward and into the Fraser River, and then onward to distant spawning areas. Links between physiology, behaviour, and survival were examined. Circulating testosterone was found to be positively correlated with the rates of river entry in Late-run females but not in males, despite having concentrations that were equal if not higher than those of females. The notion of protandrous migration, in which males synchronize their activities to the reproductive and migratory schedules of females, was postulated as the basis for this difference. Once in river however, successful males and females were those that (1) took longest to enter the river, and (2) had high somatic energy, low testosterone, and low gill Na+,K+-ATPase activities. An experimental test of the effect of reproductive hormones on the regulation of migration timing proved inconclusive. Relative to controls, GnRH and (or) testosterone treatment did not influence rates of ocean travel by males. Unfortunately, no females were examined. Nevertheless, significant, positive correlations between initial testosterone and travel times were found irrespective of hormonal treatment, which was unexpected but consistent with the previous studies. In an experimental simulation of an ‘early’ migration, normally timed Late-run sockeye exposed to typical 10 ºC river temperatures and then released to complete migration were 68% successful. In contrast, salmon held at 18 °C and released were half as successful. The expression of a kidney parasite was near maximal in the 18 °C fish and undetectable in the 10 °C fish. Only gill Na+,K+-ATPase activity differed between groups, with a drop in the 18 °C fish. Though no clear stress, reproductive, or energetic differences were observed between groups, the ultimate effect of high temperature treatment was high disease expression, slowed migration speeds, and high migration mortality. Changes in reproductive schedules, due to changes in latitudinal ocean distributions, are discussed as potential causes of early migration by Late-run sockeye. / Forestry, Faculty of / Graduate

The effects of miticides on the reproductive physiology of queens and drones were examined. The first study examined the effects of Apistan (fluvalinate), Check Mite+ (coumaphos), and Apilife VAR (74% thymol) on sperm production and viability in drones. Drones from colonies treated with each miticide were collected at sexual maturity. Sperm production was determined by counting the number of sperm in the seminal vesicles. Sperm for viability assays was analyzed by dual fluorescent staining. Apilife VAR and coumaphos significantly lowered (P<0.0001) sperm production and coumaphos treatments caused a significant decrease (P<0.0001) in the sperm viability. The effects of miticides on queens was examined by treating queen-rearing colonies and examining the number and viability of sperm in the spermathecae of newly mated queens. Queens from each treatment group were collected after mating and the spermathecae were removed and analyzed. Colonies treated with coumaphos failed to provide viable queens and were excluded. Apilife VAR was found to significantly decrease (P<0.0016) sperm viability. No significant differences in sperm numbers were found between treatments. The effect of miticides on sperm viability over time was also examined. Drones were reared as described, but the spermatozoa were collected as pooled samples from groups of drones. The pooled samples from each treatment were subdivided and analyzed periods of up to 6 weeks. Random samples were taken from each treatment (n = 6 pools) over a period of 6 weeks. The exposure of drones to coumaphos during development significantly reduced sperm viability for all 6 weeks, and caused a large decline in week 6. The potential impacts of these results on queen performance and failure are discussed. / Master of Science in Life Sciences

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:32:58Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2009-04-27Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T21:05:27Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 signor_a_dr_botfmvz.pdf: 560532 bytes, checksum: 83329148a6a5185429d5e4c31d176bfc (MD5) / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) / Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP) / A composição nutricional da levedura a destaca como alimento funcional. O presente trabalho objetivou avaliar a ação da levedura (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) nas respostas reprodutivas de fêmeas de tilápia do Nilo. No Estudo-I 105 fêmeas da linhagem GIFT foram distribuídas em 15 aquários de 500L (três tratamentos e cinco repetições com sete peixes/aquário). No Estudo-II foram utilizados 63 fêmeas e 21 machos da linhagem GIFT distribuídos em três aquários com capacidade de 7000L de água/cada (21 fêmeas e sete machos/aquário). Em ambos os Estudos, os reprodutores foram alimentados ad libitum com dietas isoprotéica e isoenergética contendo 2,0% de levedura íntegra, 2,0% de levedura autolisada ou ausente de inclusão. O Estudo-I foi realizado na UNESP – AquaNutri, Campus de Botucatu e o Estudo-II foi conduzido no Caunesp - Tilapilcultura Campus de Jaboticabal. Avaliou-se nas fêmeas o desempenho produtivo, status nutricional e composição química das gônadas e, o desempenho reprodutivo e o desenvolvimento inicial das larvas. Os dados foram submetidos à análise de variância e quando significativo aplicou-se o teste de comparações múltiplas de médias. A suplementação de levedura íntegra ou autolisada na dieta das reprodutoras, não melhorou o desempenho produtivo e não influenciou o desempenho reprodutivo das fêmeas. Entretanto, melhorou o desenvolvimento larval 72h após eclosão, com melhor desenvolvimento nas larvas dos reprodutores alimentados com a dieta suplementada com 2,0% de levedura íntegra. / The nutritional composition yeast detach how functional food. The research present objective evaluates the action yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) in the response reproductive of females of Nile tilapia. In Study-I 105 females of GIFT lineage was randomized in 15 500L-aquarius (three treatments and five repetition with seven fish/aquarium). In Study-II was utilized 63 females and 21 males of GIFT lineage was randomized in three 7000L-aquarium (21 female and seven male for aquarium). The spawning was feed ad libitum with diet isoproteic and isoenergetic with 2,0% whole yeast and autolised yeast or supplementation absent. In Study-I were realize in UNESP – AquaNutri Campus de Botucatu and Study-II in Caunesp – Tilapicultura Campus de Jaboticabal. Was evaluation in female productive performance, nutritional status and chemistry composition of gonad (Study-I) and reproductive performance of spawning and development larvae (Study-II). The data was submitted variance analyses and multiple comparison test of mean. The supplemented whole yeast or autolised yeast in diet of spawning didn’t improvement productive performance and didn’t influence reproductive performance of female. Therefore improved of development larvae at 72h after eclosion with improved development in larvae of spawning feed with diet 2,0% whole yeast.

Resumo: A composição nutricional da levedura a destaca como alimento funcional. O presente trabalho objetivou avaliar a ação da levedura (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) nas respostas reprodutivas de fêmeas de tilápia do Nilo. No Estudo-I 105 fêmeas da linhagem GIFT foram distribuídas em 15 aquários de 500L (três tratamentos e cinco repetições com sete peixes/aquário). No Estudo-II foram utilizados 63 fêmeas e 21 machos da linhagem GIFT distribuídos em três aquários com capacidade de 7000L de água/cada (21 fêmeas e sete machos/aquário). Em ambos os Estudos, os reprodutores foram alimentados ad libitum com dietas isoprotéica e isoenergética contendo 2,0% de levedura íntegra, 2,0% de levedura autolisada ou ausente de inclusão. O Estudo-I foi realizado na UNESP - AquaNutri, Campus de Botucatu e o Estudo-II foi conduzido no Caunesp - Tilapilcultura Campus de Jaboticabal. Avaliou-se nas fêmeas o desempenho produtivo, status nutricional e composição química das gônadas e, o desempenho reprodutivo e o desenvolvimento inicial das larvas. Os dados foram submetidos à análise de variância e quando significativo aplicou-se o teste de comparações múltiplas de médias. A suplementação de levedura íntegra ou autolisada na dieta das reprodutoras, não melhorou o desempenho produtivo e não influenciou o desempenho reprodutivo das fêmeas. Entretanto, melhorou o desenvolvimento larval 72h após eclosão, com melhor desenvolvimento nas larvas dos reprodutores alimentados com a dieta suplementada com 2,0% de levedura íntegra. / Abstract: The nutritional composition yeast detach how functional food. The research present objective evaluates the action yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) in the response reproductive of females of Nile tilapia. In Study-I 105 females of GIFT lineage was randomized in 15 500L-aquarius (three treatments and five repetition with seven fish/aquarium). In Study-II was utilized 63 females and 21 males of GIFT lineage was randomized in three 7000L-aquarium (21 female and seven male for aquarium). The spawning was feed ad libitum with diet isoproteic and isoenergetic with 2,0% whole yeast and autolised yeast or supplementation absent. In Study-I were realize in UNESP - AquaNutri Campus de Botucatu and Study-II in Caunesp - Tilapicultura Campus de Jaboticabal. Was evaluation in female productive performance, nutritional status and chemistry composition of gonad (Study-I) and reproductive performance of spawning and development larvae (Study-II). The data was submitted variance analyses and multiple comparison test of mean. The supplemented whole yeast or autolised yeast in diet of spawning didn't improvement productive performance and didn't influence reproductive performance of female. Therefore improved of development larvae at 72h after eclosion with improved development in larvae of spawning feed with diet 2,0% whole yeast. / Orientador: Luiz Edivaldo Pezzato / Coorientador: Margarida Maria Barros / Coorientador: Teresa Cristina Dias Ribeiro Koberstein / Doutor

European eel (Anguilla anguilla, L., 1758) is suffering a strong population decrease and at the same time it is a very appreciated species and by now it has not been possible closing its cycle life. In fact, this species does not mature in captivity unless hormonally induced. So all the production is up to the natural population. All these factors together make urgent achieving the closing of the productive cycle and for this aim it is important to understand the reproductive physiology and the reasons of this development blockage. The present thesis wants to be a new contribution to the knowledge of reproductive physiology in female European eel submitted at hormonal treatment. To achieve this goal, expression of genes not previously studied in this species (cyp19a1, ara, arb, gnrhr1a, gnrhr1b, gnrhr2, zpb and zpc) was analyzed in eels reared under a constant thermal regime, accordingly to the usual rearing conditions. Also, the effect of rearing temperature on gene expression and steroid profile (T, 11-KT and E2) was studied. In fact, eels migrate to Sargasso Sea to reproduce and during the travel experiment temperature changes, while traditionally they are reared at a constant high temperature which could affect vitellogenesis progression and final oocyte quality. For the study it was necessary cloning and characterizing some genes which have not still been sequenced in European eel. Gene expression was studied by qPCR after designing primer and optimizing the qPCR race. Steroid profiles were analyzed by immunoassays and the gonadal development stages were established by histology. The first result obtained at the end of the study were six new genes characterized in European eel. The analysis of gene expression allowed to understand the involvement of specific genes during vitellogenesis (arb, gnrhr1b and gnrhr2) in different brain regions. The temperature was conformed as a crucial environmental factor affecting vitellogenesis. On one hand, eels matured at lower starting temperatures showed better reproductive parameters which could have an influence in the final oocyte quality. On the other hand higher temperatures are necessary to achieve further vitellogenetic stages / Mazzeo, I. (2014). Effect of thermal regime on the expression of key reproductive genes during hormonally-induced vitellogenesis in female European eels [Tesis doctoral no publicada]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/48490 / TESIS