Effect of photoperiod on ovarian maturation in Cheirodon interruptus (Teleostei: Characidae)

Cheirodon interruptus is a ubiquitous small characid that inhabits the Pampean region and commonly used as bait. Its vast market is supplied from the wild population causing a significant environmental impact. In this study, we assess the effect of photoperiod on ovarian maturation in order to evaluate its potential as a tool to manipulate reproduction under artificial conditions. Four treatments in triplicate (light: dark, L: D) were tested: 24L: 0D, 12L: 12D, 0L: 24D and a progressive photoperiod corresponding to the daily photoperiod increments in wild during winter-spring transition, accelerated three times. The experiment was conducted for 45 days. Gonadosomatic index (GSI), oocyte mean diameter, vitellogenic oocyte proportions, plasma estradiol concentrations (E2), condition factor (Kn) and standard length were estimated. Values of mean GSI, oocyte diameter, vitellogenic oocyte proportions and E2 concentration were maximum in the progressive treatment indicating vitellogenesis stimulation. In turn the same parameters were minimum in the 24L: 0D, revealing the vitellogenesis inhibition. This study showed that photoperiodic regime play an important role in the onset of ovarian maturation in C. interruptus.

Photoperiodic regime influences onset of lens opacities in a non-human primate

Background Opacities of the lens are typical age-related phenomena which have a high influence on photoreception and consequently circadian rhythm. In mouse lemurs, a small bodied non-human primate, a high incidence (more than 50% when >seven years) of cataracts has been previously described during aging. Previous studies showed that photoperiodically induced accelerated annual rhythms alter some of mouse lemurs’ life history traits. Whether a modification of photoperiod also affects the onset of age dependent lens opacities has not been investigated so far. The aim of this study was therefore to characterise the type of opacity and the mouse lemurs’ age at its onset in two colonies with different photoperiodic regimen. Methods Two of the largest mouse lemur colonies in Europe were investigated: Colony 1 having a natural annual photoperiodic regime and Colony 2 with an induced accelerated annual cycle. A slit-lamp was used to determine opacities in the lens. Furthermore, a subset of all animals which showed no opacities in the lens nucleus in the first examination but developed first changes in the following examination were further examined to estimate the age at onset of opacities. In total, 387 animals were examined and 57 represented the subset for age at onset estimation. Results The first and most commonly observable opacity in the lens was nuclear sclerosis. Mouse lemurs from Colony 1 showed a delayed onset of nuclear sclerosis compared to mouse lemurs from Colony 2 (4.35 ± 1.50 years vs. 2.75 ± 0.99 years). For colony 1, the chronological age was equivalent to the number of seasonal cycles experienced by the mouse lemurs. For colony 2, in which seasonal cycles were accelerated by a factor of 1.5, mouse lemurs had experienced 4.13 ± 1.50 seasonal cycles in 2.75 ± 0.99 chronological years. Discussion Our study showed clear differences in age at the onset of nuclear sclerosis formation between lemurs kept under different photoperiodic regimes. Instead of measuring the chronological age, the number of seasonal cycles (N = four) experienced by a mouse lemur can be used to estimate the risk of beginning nuclear sclerosis formation. Ophthalmological examinations should be taken into account when animals older than 5–6 seasonal cycles are used for experiments in which unrestricted visual ability has to be ensured. This study is the first to assess and demonstrate the influence of annual photoperiod regime on the incidence of lens opacities in a non-human primate.

Photoperiodic regime influences onset of lens opacities in a non-human primate

Background. Opacities of the lens are typical age related phenomena which have high influence on photoreception and consequently circadian rhythm. In mouse lemurs, a small bodied non-human primate, a high incidence (more than 50% when > 7 years) of cataract has been previously described during aging. Previous studies showed that photoperiodical induced accelerated annual rhythms alter some of mouse lemurs’ life history traits. Whether a modification of photoperiod also affects the onset of age dependent lens opacities has not been investigated so far. The aim of this study was therefore to characterize the type of opacity and the mouse lemurs’ age at its onset in two colonies with different photoperiodic regimen. Methods. Two of the largest mouse lemur colonies in Europe have been investigated; Colony 1 with a natural annual photoperiodic regime and Colony 2 with an induced accelerated annual cycle. A Slit-lamp was used to determine opacities in the lens and a subset of all animals which showed no opacities in the lens nucleus in the first examination but developed first changes in the following examination were further used to estimate the age at onset of opacities. In total 387 animals were examined and 57 represent the subset for age at onset estimation. Results. The first and most common observable opacity in the lens was nuclear sclerosis. Mouse lemurs from Colony 1 showed a delayed onset of nuclear sclerosis compared to mouse lemurs of Colony 2 (4.35 ± 1.50 years vs. 2.75 ± 0.99 years). For colony 1, the chronological age was equivalent to the number of seasonal cycles experienced by the mouse lemurs. For colony 2, in which seasonal cycles are accelerated by factor 1.5, mouse lemurs had experienced 4.13 ± 1.50 seasonal cycles in 2.75 ± 0.99 chronological years. Discussion. Our study showed clear differences in the age at the onset of nuclear sclerosis formation between lemurs kept under different photoperiodic regimes. Instead of measuring the chronological age, the number of seasonal cycles (N = 4) experienced by a mouse lemur can be used as an estimation for risk of beginning NS formation. Ophthalmological investigations should be taken into account when animals older than 5 - 6 seasonal cycles are used for experiments in which unrestricted visual ability has to be ensured. This study is the first to assess and demonstrate the influence of annual photoperiod regime on the incidence of lens opacities in a non-human primate.

Photoperiodic regime influences onset of lens opacities in a non-human primate

Background. Opacities of the lens are typical age related phenomena which have high influence on photoreception and consequently circadian rhythm. In mouse lemurs, a small bodied non-human primate, a high incidence (more than 50% when > 7 years) of cataract has been previously described during aging. Previous studies showed that photoperiodical induced accelerated annual rhythms alter some of mouse lemurs’ life history traits. Whether a modification of photoperiod also affects the onset of age dependent lens opacities has not been investigated so far. The aim of this study was therefore to characterize the type of opacity and the mouse lemurs’ age at its onset in two colonies with different photoperiodic regimen. Methods. Two of the largest mouse lemur colonies in Europe have been investigated; Colony 1 with a natural annual photoperiodic regime and Colony 2 with an induced accelerated annual cycle. A Slit-lamp was used to determine opacities in the lens and a subset of all animals which showed no opacities in the lens nucleus in the first examination but developed first changes in the following examination were further used to estimate the age at onset of opacities. In total 387 animals were examined and 57 represent the subset for age at onset estimation. Results. The first and most common observable opacity in the lens was nuclear sclerosis. Mouse lemurs from Colony 1 showed a delayed onset of nuclear sclerosis compared to mouse lemurs of Colony 2 (4.35 ± 1.50 years vs. 2.75 ± 0.99 years). For colony 1, the chronological age was equivalent to the number of seasonal cycles experienced by the mouse lemurs. For colony 2, in which seasonal cycles are accelerated by factor 1.5, mouse lemurs had experienced 4.13 ± 1.50 seasonal cycles in 2.75 ± 0.99 chronological years. Discussion. Our study showed clear differences in the age at the onset of nuclear sclerosis formation between lemurs kept under different photoperiodic regimes. Instead of measuring the chronological age, the number of seasonal cycles (N = 4) experienced by a mouse lemur can be used as an estimation for risk of beginning NS formation. Ophthalmological investigations should be taken into account when animals older than 5 - 6 seasonal cycles are used for experiments in which unrestricted visual ability has to be ensured. This study is the first to assess and demonstrate the influence of annual photoperiod regime on the incidence of lens opacities in a non-human primate.

Photoperiodic entrainment of seasonal changes in the appetite, feeding behaviour, growth rate and pelage of pony colts

Relationships among photoperiod and changes in voluntary food intake, feeding behaviour, growth and pelage were determined in seven, 2-year-old pony colts (182·4 (s.e. 5·4) kg). Individually housed colts were provided with ad libitum access to a complete pelleted diet (gross energy = 16·7 MJ/kg dry matter). Voluntary food intake (VFI, kg/ day) was calculated daily and body weights were recorded weekly throughout the 36-week study. Feeding behaviour was evaluated at approximately 4-week intervals by continuous observation (24 h), and the hair weight density (HWD, mg/cm2) of shoulder pelage was determined fortnightly. Day length was artificially manipulated to mimic the prevailing mid-summer photoperiod (16 h light: 8 h dark, 16L: 8D). After 1 week of the study (and the preceding fortnight), day length was abruptly decreased and thereafter animals were exposed to alternating 14-week periods of short (SD, 8L: 16D) and long days (LD, 16L: 8D). The mean daily VFI of individual ponies was calculated weekly and normalized for digestible energy (DE) content and metabolic body weight (DEI, MJ/kg M0·75). The average daily gain (ADG, kg/day) in body weight of each individual was calculated weekly. The apparent digestibility of dietary energy (digestibility) was determined over 72 h (no. = 6) on two occasions (days 92 to 95 and 190 to 193) during the study. Digestibility was similar in both periods (0·48, s.e. 0·01). DEI, ADG and HWD changed in a cyclic manner throughout the study. The period of the appetite cycle (24·4 (s.e. 1·3) weeks) did not differ from that of the 28-week photoperiodic regime. DEI decreased from a maximum of 1·4 (s.e. 0·03) MJ/kg M0.75 per day (day 21), to a nadir of 0·75 (s.e. 0·02) MJ/kg M0.75 per day (day 154, P < 0·001) and had increased (P < 0·001) to attain a second zenith (0·93 (s.e. 0·01) MJ/kg M0.75 per day) before the end of the study. Ponies ate discrete meals of similar duration, but meal frequency was associated with changes in VFI (r = 0·77) as was proportion of time spent feeding (r = 0·79). Changes in ADG reflected those of DEI. Body weight was stable for 4 weeks at the nadir of the appetite cycle. Maximal HWD was coincident with the nadir of the appetite and growth cycles. Regression of individual values for DEI on ADG described a linear relationship (R2 = 0·80) which could be used to predict the energy requirements of growing ponies maintained under similar conditions:DEI total (MJ/kg M0·75 per day) = 0·654ADG (kg/day) + 0·789 (1).The duration of the photoperiod, appetite, growth and pelage cycles were similar, suggesting a causal relationship. Physiological responses to photoperiodic change were not immediate and exhibited a delay of 5 to 8 weeks.

Seasonal changes of metabolism and appetite in Soay rams

Relationships between photoperiod and cycles of voluntary food intake (VFI) and maintenance energy requirements (MER) were determined in Soay rams, subjected to a 6-month photoperiodic regime. Food was offered ad libitum (no. = 5) or at a predicted maintenance level (no. = 5). All rams demonstrated 6-month cycles of VFI, growth and reproductive status. Metabolizable energy intake (MEI) was greatest in rams given food ad libitum (666 (s.e. 21.7) kJ/kg metabolic live weight (M0·75) and food-restricted (528 (s.e. 12.2) kJ/kg M0·75) rams during sexual quiescence. Conversely, MEI was minimal (ad libitum, 289 (s.e. 8.4) kJ/kg M0·75; restricted, 428 (s.e. 8.1) kJ/kg M0·75) during the rut. Distinct cycles of heat production (HP) accompanied changes in MEL Changes in HP were similar (P > 0·05) for both groups (ad libitum, 520 (s.e. 22.1) to 394 (s.e. 9.2) kJ/kg M0·75; restricted 503 (s.e. 14.0) to 407 (s.e. 17.5) kJ/kg M0·75) and therefore energy retention varied more (P < 0·015) when rams were given food ad libitum (ad libitum, 131 (s.e. 43-1) to -106 (s.e. 38.2) kJ/kg M0·75; restricted, 78·0 (s.e. 27.1) to -53.0 (s.e. 38.2) kJ/ kg M0·75). Apparent digestibility of dietary energy varied inversely with MEI (P < 0·01). MERs ranged from 524 (s.e. 35.0) kJ/kg M0·75 to 401 (s.e. 27.3) kJ/kg M0·75, a proportional fluctuation of ±0·13. Changes in metabolic rate preceded those in appetite, suggesting a causal relationship.

Photoperiodic cercarial emergence patterns of the digeneans Echinoparyphium recurvatum and Plagiorchis sp. from a mixed infection in Lymnaea peregra

Photoperiodic emergence patterns of the cercariae of two digeneans, Echinoparyphium recurvatum (Echinostomatidae) and Plagiorchissp. (Plagiorchiidae), were studied experimentally using a photoperiodic regime of 12 h light: 12 h dark at a constant 18°C. In single species infections of the first intermediate host snail Lymnaea peregra, the cercariae of E. recurvatum emerged exclusively during the light phase and those of Plagiorchis sp. emerged exclusively during the dark phase. In double infections, each species retained its own discrete photoperiodic emergence pattern. This result demonstrates the absence of interference between the mechanisms responsible for the photoperiodic emergence pattern of each species. A degree of interference between the two parasites in double infections of L. peregra was evident. The presence of E. recurvatum significantly reduced the number of Plagiorchis sp. cercariae emerging in a 24 h period and also delayed the mean peak emergence time of Plagiorchissp. cercariae by 2 h. This result is consistent with the well documented antagonistic effect that the redial stages of echinostomes are known to have against the sporocysts of other digeneans within the same host mollusc.