Cytogenetic analysis of two locariid species (Teleostei, Siluriformes) from Iguatemi River (Parana River drainage) in Brazil.

Fishes of the Loricariidae family, known as "cascudos", constitute an endemic group in Neotropical freshwaters. In this study, were cytogenetically examined two species of Loricariidae (Pterygoplichthysanisitsi Eigenmann & Kennedy, 1903 and Farlowellaamazonum (Günther, 1864) belonging to Hypostominae and Loricariinae subfamilies respectively) from Iguatemi River. Our study provide the first description regarding C-band and fluorochromic analysis in Farlowellaamazonum. In Farlowellaamazonum, diploid number was 58 chromosomes, with single Ag-NOR and heterochromatic blocks in centromeric regions of some chromosomes and large subtelomeric blocks were evidenced on the long arm of the pair 27, being this region CMA3 (+)/DAPI(-). The Pterygoplichthysanisitsi showed diploid number equal 52 chromosomes, with single Ag-NOR and heterochromatic blocks in centromeric and telomeric regions of some chromosomes and conspicuous large telomeric blocks on the long arm of the pair 10, being this region CMA3 (+)/DAPI(-). The results show that karyotype formula is nonconservative in Pterygoplichthysanisitsi and Farlowellaamazonum.

Introduction

Fishes of the family, known as “cascudos”, constitute an endemic group in Neotropical freshwaters and are morphologically characterised by the body covered by several rows of plates and a ventral mouth with lips forming a sucker (Graça and Pavanelli 2007). Currently, this family includes 887 valid species in seven subfamilies: , , , , , , and (Eschmeyer and Fong 2014). In earlier phylogenetic studies, (as a tribe ) was considered as a tribe in the family along with , , , and (Armbruster 2004). According to the latter author, the is composed by genera and species groups: Gill, 1858, group, being that Günther, 1864, and Weber, 1991 are recognized as synonyms of .

Available cytogenetic data for subfamily show that the diploid number ranges from 2n = 34 in Knaack, 1999 (Mariotto et al. 2009) and INPA-25625 (Oliveira et al. 2009) to 2n = 84 in sp. 2 (Cereali et al. 2008). The tribe is one of the most studied from the cytogenetic point of view, with wide variation in chromosome number ranging from 2n = 54 in (Linnaeus, 1758) (Muramoto et al. 1968, cited by Artoni and Bertollo 2001) to 2n = 80 in sp. E (Artoni and Bertollo 1996). On the other hand, for tribe cytogenetic studies are scarce, which all species presenting a diploid number of 52 chromosomes, as observed in (Weber, 1991) (Oliveira et al. 2006), Eigenmann & Kennedy, 1903 (cited as – Alves et al. 2006), (Hancock, 1828) (cited as – Alves et al. 2006) and (Kner, 1854) (cited as – Alves et al. 2006).

According to Alves et al. (2003), in subfamily, only some genera as: Steindachner, 1877, Linnaeus, 1758, Bleeker, 1862, Bleeker, 1862, and Swainson, 1838 were analyzed cytogenetically, presenting diploid number ranging of 2n = 36 in (Boulenger, 1900) (Giuliano-Caetano 1998) to 2n = 74 in Fowler, 1940 (Artoni and Bertollo 2001). Specifically, in the genus Eigenmann & Eigenmann, 1889 () cytogenetic studies are rare, and restricted to (Günther, 1864), which has showed a diploid number of 58 chromosomes (Fernandes et al. 2012).

In the present study, we carried out cytogenetic analyses in Eigenmann & Kennedy, 1903 and (Günther, 1864). Besides Giemsa, we used C-band, Ag-NOR, CMA3 and DAPI techniques to evaluate cytogenetically the species. Our results provide the first description of C-band and analysis with fluorochromes in and these results were used to discuss some aspects of the chromosome evolution in the and subfamilies.

Materials and methods

Four (2 males and 2 females) specimens of , from Dourado stream and four (2 males and 2 females) specimens of , from Água Boa stream were analyzed. Dourado (23°51'04,9"S and 54°25'13,9"W) and Água Boa (23°50'16,65"S and 54°20'55,54"W) streams are tributaries of right bank of the Iguatemi River, Mato Grosso do Sul State, Brazil (Fig. 1).

Figure 1.

Localization of the Água Boa and Dourado streams from Iguatemi River Basin where specimens were captured. Dark circles indicate the sampled points.

The fishes were identified and deposited in the State University of Mato Grosso do Sul, Mundo Novo. The experiments followed ethical conducts, and before evisceration process, the fishes were anesthetized by an overdose of clove oil (Griffiths 2000). Metaphasic chromosomes were obtained from anterior kidney cells using the air-drying technique (Bertollo et al. 1978). Analysis of the C-positive heterochromatin (C-bands) followed the basic procedure of Sumner (1972), with some minor adaptations. The NORs were detected by means of silver nitrate staining (Ag-NORs), according to Howell and Black (1980). Regions rich in GC and AT were detected by fluorochromes chromomycin A3 (CMA3) and DAPI (4’6-diamidino-2-phenylindole) respectively, according to procedure proposed by Schmid (1980).

About 30 metaphases were analyzed for each specimen and those with better chromosome morphology were used in the karyotype analysis. The chromosomes were classified as metacentric (m), submetacentric (sm), subtelocentric (st) and acrocentric (a) according to their arm ratio (Levan et al. 1964). For the determination of the fundamental number (FN), or number of chromosome arms, the m, sm and st chromosomes were considered as bearing two arms and the acrocentric chromosomes only one arm.

Results

presented a modal diploid number of 52 chromosomes in males and females, distributed in 14m+26sm+8st+4a, with a FN of 100 in both sexes (Fig. 2a). The Ag-NORs were located in a subtelomeric position on the long arm of the acrocentric pair 9, coinciding with a secondary constriction (Fig. 2a). Heterochromatic blocks evident at telomeric regions were observed in the pairs 17, 25 and 26. Also, evident bitelomeric markings were present in the pairs 10 and 15, and conspicuous large telomeric blocks were present on the long arm of the pair 10 and interstitial blocks were evidenced on the long arm pair 9, adjacent to the Ag-NOR region (Fig. 2b). CMA3 staining produced fluorescent signals in the telomeric regions of some chromosomes, fluorescent signals bitelomeric in the pairs 9, 10 being conspicuous the fluorescent signals on the long arm of the pair 10 (Fig. 3a). DAPI staining proved adjacent markings to CMA3+ and fluorescent signals in the telomeric regions of some chromosomes, indicating that those regions are rich in AT (Fig. 3b). In addition, DAPI staining revealed pale regions corresponding to telomeric regions on the long arm of the pair 10, coinciding with CMA3+ region, confirming that those regions are poor in AT.

Figure 2.

Karyotypes stained with Giemsa (a) and C-banding (b) of from Água Boa stream. Box: pair 9, bearing the NOR.

Figure 3.

Metaphases of stained with (a) Chromomycin A3 and (b) DAPI. Arrows indicate pair 10 and arrows head indicate pair 9 (NOR-bearing).

presented a modal diploid number of 58 chromosomes in males and females, distributed in 12m+30sm+10st+6a, with a FN of 110 in both sexes (Fig. 4a). The Ag-NORs were located in a telomeric position on the long arm of the pair 27, coinciding with a secondary constriction and with size heteromorphism (Fig. 4a). Heterochromatic blocks at centromeric regions were observed in the pairs 8, 11, 13, 14, 22, 23 and 27 and large subtelomeric blocks were evidenced on the long arm of the pair 27, adjacent to the NOR region (Fig. 4b). CMA3 staining produced fluorescent signals on the long arm of the pair 27, corresponding to Ag-NOR region with size heteromorphism. This staining also evidenced fluorescent signals on the end portion of the long arm of the pair 28, indicating that these regions are rich in GC (Fig. 4a). DAPI staining revealed only pale regions corresponding to the CMA3 marked regions, confirming that those regions are poor in AT (Fig. 4b).

Figure 4.

Karyotypes stained with Giemsa (a) and C-banding (b) of from Dourado stream. Box: pair 27, bearing the NOR.

Discussion

Diploid chromosome numbers ranged from 2n = 34 to 2n = 84 in (Cereali et al. 2008; Mariotto et al. 2009). However, when different tribes of are separately analyzed, it is possible to notice that this variation is not widespread among them. If is concerned, the diploid number of 52 chromosomes found in PageBreak is also observed in from Lago Quatro Bocas (Oliveira et al. 2006), from Miranda and Tietê Rivers (Alves et al. 2006), from Orinoco River (Alves et al. 2006), and from Orinoco River (Alves et al. 2006). In spite of this trend towards conservatism in relationship to diploid number, differences in karyotype constitution in , especially regarding the number of acrocentric chromosomes are observed. presented four acrocentric chromosomes, as well as, populations of from Tietê River (Alves et al. 2006) and Preto River (Artoni et al. 1999), while from Miranda River presented sixteen acrocentric chromosomes (Alves et al. 2006). On the other hand, (Oliveira et al. 2006), (Alves et al. 2006) and (Alves et al. 2006) do not present acrocentric chromosomes. Thus, all these populations of studied differ in their karyotypic formulae, with intra- and interspecific variations, suggesting the occurrence of chromosome rearrangements, such as pericentric inversions, that can alter the morphology of the chromosomes without changing the diploid number.

The intraspecific variation in may be explained by the distribution of species already analyzed. Thus, populations of the Iguatemi (present study), Tietê and Preto Rivers (Alves et al. 2006) that belong to the same watershed (Upper Paraná River Basin) showed no differences in the number of acrocentric chromosomes, except the population of the Miranda River (Alves et al. 2006) that belongs to another basin (Paraguai River basin) showed a number of acrocentric chromosomes different. Therefore, the geographical isolation of populations (Paraná River Basin and the Paraguai River Basin) may have facilitated the establishment of karyotypic variation. The and populations (Alves et al. 2006) are also geographically isolated (Orinoco River basin) of the populations. Thus, the lack of gene flow between them could favor the establishment of distinctive changes in each sample, putatively resulting in a speciation process.

With respect to nucleolar organizer regions, the present study detected two active NORs in . Others species previously analyzed of tribe as (Oliveira et al. 2006), (Artoni et al. 1999, Alves et al. 2006), (Alves et al. 2006; Alves et al. 2012) and (Alves et al. 2006) also present this same pattern, with subterminal markings, but with differences in location (long or short arm) and type of NOR-bearing chromosome. According to Oliveira and Gosztonyi (2000) the condition of single Ag-NORs in subterminal location is the possible basal condition for the . Thus, in all species analyzed presented single Ag-NORs in subterminal location, suggesting the maintenance of this basal condition. The presence of single Ag-NORs also is described in (Alves et al. 2006; Mariotto et al. 2011; Cardoso et al. 2013), which is coincident with Ag-NORs results for . Furthermore, diploid number of 52 chromosomes is predominant in (Kavalco et al. 2005, Alves et al. 2006). This statement reinforces the sister-group relationship between and hypothesized by Armbruster (2004).

In PageBreak, the present study revealed that Ag-NOR is compositionally GC-rich and heterochromatin blocks adjacent NOR region are compositionally AT-rich (Fig. 6a). In sp. B heterochromatin blocks adjacent NOR regions also are compositionally AT-rich (Artoni and Bertollo 1999). In addition, heterochromatin blocks visualized by C-banding correspond to majority of the chromosomes marked with CMA3, suggesting that these constitutive heterochromatins are compositionally GC-rich. This can be clearly observed in the pair 10, which was C-band+, CMA3+ and DAPI-. The DAPI standing produced fluorescent signals adjacent to CMA3+ markings, and also in the telomeric regions of some chromosomes, probably in those with heterochromatic blocks CMA3-, showing that these regions are compositionally AT-rich. In , there are few studies focused on constitutive heterochromatin, which are restricted to from Preto River (Artoni et al. 1999), confirming the pattern of compositionally GC-rich regions. The constitutive heterochromatin GC-rich are commonly found in (Artoni et al. 1999; Artoni and Bertollo 1999; Kavalco et al. 2004; Rubert et al. 2008). However, constitutive heterochromatin AT-rich as described for is rare event among fishes, being reported mainly among some species (Artoni and Bertollo 1999).

Figure 6.

NOR-bearing chromosomes of (upper row – a) and (lower row – b).

Metaphases of stained with (a) Chromomycin A3 and (b) DAPI. Arrows indicate pair 28 and arrows head indicate pair 27 (NOR-bearing).

With 239 species, is second largest subfamily of in species number (Eschmeyer and Fong 2014). Despite this high species number, cytogenetic descriptions are restricted to the karyotypes of few genera. analyzed in this study had a diploid number of 58 chromosomes, which is coincident with previously described diploid number of a population from Água Boa stream (Fernandes et al. 2012), but with minor karyotype differences, mainly regarding to the number of metacentric and submetacentric chromosomes. The population analyzed here presented 12 metacentric and 30 submetacentric chromosomes, while the population previously described by Fernandes et al. (2012) presented six metacentric and 38 submetacentric chromosomes. Although the two streams are tributaries of the Iguatemi River, which could facilitate gene flow between the two populations of and conservation of micro- and macrostructure karyotypic, it is possible that this is not happening, since the differences in numbers metacentric and submetacentric chromosomes between the two populations is significant. Therefore, probably the isolation two populations may have facilitated the establishment of karyotypic changes. In this species, the occurrence of chromosome rearrangements, such as pericentric inversions, that can alter the morphology of the chromosomes without changing the diploid number probably occurred in the karyotypic evolution of the group. This inference emphasizes the importance of develop more studies focused on cytogenetic of genus in order to clear such question.

In PageBreak, were detected single Ag-NORs in a telomeric position on the long arm of the pair 27, corresponding to the same location described in from Água Boa stream (Fernandes et al. 2012). Others species previously analyzed of as Miranda Ribeiro, 1908, (Miranda Ribeiro, 1911), (Hensel, 1868), n. sp., Steindachner, 1877 (Alves et al. 2003) and Rapp Py-Daniel & Oliveira, 2001 (Blanco et al. 2014) also presented two NOR-bearing chromosomes, but located on the short arm, except the and that presented NOR interstitial on the long arm.

The CMA3/DAPI results for , which is the first description of literature, showed that Ag-NOR is compositionally GC-rich (Fig. 6b). In , (Hensel, 1868) and Langeani & de Araújo, 1994 the Ag-NOR also showed compositionally GC-rich (Maia et al. 2010). On the other hand, that presented C-bands conspicuous in the NOR-bearing did not present positive CMA3 or DAPI staining heterochromatin (Kavalco et al. 2004). NOR-size heteromorphism among homologues detected in by Ag-NOR and confirmed by CMA3/DAPI staining, is a common event in fish. According to Phillips et al. (1989), CMA3 analysis coupled to silver nitrate has been useful in detecting polymorphism of these sites. The NOR-size heteromorphism may be explained by transposition events or unequal crossing-over in this region.

Regarding to C-band pattern, also inedited for , the results revealed weak centromeric markings in some chromosomes and large subtelomeric blocks on the long arm of the pair 27, adjacent to the NOR region. These large heterochromatic blocks showed correlation with CMA3 markings, suggesting that these constitutive heterochromatins are compositionally GC-rich (Fig. 6b).

The interstitial position heterochromatic blocks adjacent to the NOR region in and may indicate that heterochromatin dispersive processes, as proposed by (Schweizer and Loidl 1987), are common to the subfamilies and , that revealed to be independent of the heterochromatin compositional, AT-rich in and GC-rich in .

According to Kavalco et al. (2005) in , the diploid number of 54 chromosomes seems to be a plesiomorphic condition. The cytogenetic data obtained in present study for , as well as, those described in the literature for species of (Artoni et al. 1999, Alves et al. 2006, Oliveira et al. 2006), show that all have 2n = 52 chromosomes. The presence of 2n = 52 chromosomes in is probably an apomorphic characteristic, suggesting the reduction in the diploid number in the ancestor of this tribe. The diploid number of 58 chromosomes in also is probably an apomorphic characteristic, suggesting the increase in the diploid number in the ancestor in the . According to Kavalco et al. (2005) in the subfamily , both centric fusion, centric fissions and pericentric inversions arise as common karyotypic rearrangements.