Cytogenetic studies on Moenkhausia sanctaefilomenae (Characiformes, Characidae) cells cultured in vitro

Abstract

Cell culture is a technique widely used for various animal studies, which can result in excellent chromosomal preparations and allows the application of classical and molecular cytogenetic methodologies, such as the characterization of nucleolus organizing regions (Ag-NORs), the detection of distribution of constitutive heterochromatin (C-banding) and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). This great tool has still been little used in fish cytogenetics studies since technical limitations have only been overcome in recent years. The genus Moenkhausia has 71 species of Neotropical fish and among them is M. sanctaefilomenae, described for the Parnaíba, Uruguay, Paraguay, Paraná and São Francisco rivers. Previous studies show that the species has 2n = 50 chromosomes and the presence of B chromosomes in varying patterns. Taking into account the presence of populations of this species in different rivers in South America, the small amount of cytogenetic research on different populations and the great difficulty in obtaining high-quality chromosomal preparations, the objective of the present study is to apply classical and molecular in cell lines developed from specimens of the species Moenkhausia sanctaefilomenae, seeking to add more information about this species and add elements to our bank of cells cryopreserved from the cell lines developed.