Techniques of immunofluorescence and confocal microscopy applied to the study of syngnathids gonadal structure and development and to the dopaminergic control of the reproduction in teleosts

Reproduction is an indispensable function for the perpetuation of the species and is perfomed with extraordinarily diverse reproductive strategies (adaptations that improve the chances of fertilization and/or increase the survaival rate of offsprings), each of wich is under control of a sophisticated network of regulatory signals. The array of resporductive strategies among teleosts are extraordinarily diverse and, among them, those of syngnathids are peculiar. The Syngnathidae are a small family of brackish and freshwater species. They have attracted attention for decades due to their unique morphology, remarkable camouflage ability and the distinctive phenomenon of male pregnancy. Females deposit eggs, on or into a male incubation area, on the tail (subfamily Urophori) or on the trunk (subfamily Gastrophori). Syngnathids Mediterranean species only belong toSyngnathus,HippocampusandNerophis genera. Very little is known about the male reproductive biology and on the nervous system control on the reproductibe cycle of these fish. The aims of this work are therefore to clarify: 1) relevant aspects of male reproduction in both internal and external brooder species, such as those belongin toSyngnathusandHippocanous(Urophori) andNerophis genera(Gastrophori); 2) characterize the Dopaminergic system in adult and young males of the pipefish Syngnathus abaster. The aims have been achieved using different techniques of light, confocal and electron microscopy.