UNIVERSITAT AUTONOMA BARCELONA. DEPARTMENT CELL BIOLOGY, PHYSIOLOGY & IMMUNOLOGY.
Research discipline:STRESS & IMMUNE SUPPRESSION
Research purpose: Improved management of broodstock, prevention of diseases / alterations
Description of research: Work carried out by the group deals with immuno-endocrine interactions. There is a close connection between these two regulatory systems; stress episodes involve alterations in the hypothalamus-pituitary-interrenal and hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal axis. This may lead to alterations in reproductive performance and immune deficiency, which can result in disease. Studies focus on the effects of stressors and the mechanisms behind the immuno-endocrine connection.
Lead researcher(s): Professor Lluis TORT
Contact details: Unit Fisiologia Animal. Fac. Biosciencies, Dpt. Cell Biology, Physiology & Immunology, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, 08193-Bellaterra. Spain.
Tel: +34 935 811914 Fax: +34 935 812390
Website:www.FishImmuneStress.org
UNIVERSITY OF CADIZ. DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGY, FACULTY OF MARINE & ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES.
Research discipline:PHOTOPERIOD RECEPTIVITY. NEUROENDOCRINE REGULATION.
Research purpose: Improved management of broodstock and well-being.
Description of research: Morphofunctional, neuroendocrine and molecular studies in pineal, brain and pituitary of marine fish (sole, sea bass and sea bream); focusing on the central control of reproductive functions. Also biological rhythmns and fish development.
Lead researcher(s): Dr. Jose A. MUNOZ-CUETO
Contact details: Departamento de Biologia, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar y Ambientales, Universidad de Cadiz, Poligono Rio San Pedro, E-11510 - Pueto Real, Cadiz. Spain.
Tel: +34 956 016023 Fax: +34 956 016019
Website:http://www.uca.es/ ; http://www.uca.es/dpto/C138
CSIC (SPANISH COUNCIL FOR SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH) - IRTA (INSTITUTE OF MARINE SCIENCES)
Research discipline:GAMETOGENESIS (MALE & FEMALE), GAMETE QUALITY
Research purpose: Control of reproduction, cryopreservation.
Description of research: Reproductive biology of aquaculture fish species, such as the gilthead sea bream and the senegalese sole; as well as laboratory model species such as the zebra fish and the killifish. Study of the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying fish reproductive processes with the aim of developing novel biotechnological applications for aquaculture. The main research topics are: molecular physiology of water channels (aquaporins, AQP's) during oogenesis and embryonic development; application of AQP's in the cryopreservation of fish oocytes and embryos; functional genomics and proteomics of fish oogenesis and spertmatogensis in senegalese sole.
Lead researcher(s): Joan CERDA
Contact details: Lab IRTA - Institute of Marine Sciences, CMIMA (CSIC), Passeig Maritim 37-49, 08003-Barcelona, Spain.
Tel: +34 93 2309531 Fax: +34 93 2309555
Website:www.irta.es
CSIC - IATS (INSTITUTO DE ACUICULTURA DE TORRE DE LA SAL)
Research discipline:FISH REPRODUCTIVE PHYSIOLOGY. APPLICATION OF BIOTECHNOLOGY TO FISH REPRODUCTION.
Research purpose: Molecular, cellular and physiological mechanisms of fish reproduction. Development of environmental, hormonal, genetic engineering and manipulation technologies to study and control fish reproduction.
Description of research: To advance knowledge of the mechanisms that regulate reproduction processes in fish by: developing in vitro and in vivo models to study the function of gonadotrophins as key factors in gonad development and gametogenesis; studying the function of gonadotropins in sexual differentiation, puberty and the reproductive cycle; advancing the knowledge of the role of environmental factors such as photoperiod and temperature on puberty and the reproductive cycle; generating tools related to gene transfer in fish and their application to studies of gene function and evaluation for future biotechnological applications (gene therapy); promoting studies for identification and genetic analysis of molecular markers associated with traits of interest to aquaculture (sex ratio, precocity); developing biotechnological tools for application in the control and manipulation of reproductive processes in farmed populations.
Lead researcher(s): Silvia Zanuy, Manuel Carrillo, Ana Gomez, Alicia Felip and José Bayarri.
Contact details: IATS (CSIC), Department of Fish Physiology and Biotechnology, Ribera de Cabanes, 12 596 Castellon, Spain.
Website:www.iats.csic.es
GRUPO DE ACUICULTURA Y BIODIVERSIDAD, INSTITUTO DE CIENCA Y TECNOLOGIA ANIMAL. UNIVERSIDAD POLITECNICA DE VALENCIA.
Research discipline: ENDOCRINOLOGY, PHYSIOLOGY, AQUACULTURE.
Research purpose: Fish reproduction and genetic improvement
Description of research: Development of techniques for the improvement of European eel (Anguilla anguilla) reproduction in captivity (hormonal treatments, gamete quality evaluation, sperm cryopreservation, biotechnology etc.). Genetic improvement of gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata); use of microsatellites, growth experiments and evaluation of product quality for broodstock selection.
Lead researcher: Juan F. Asturiano
Contact details:email Juan F. Asturiano
Website:www.dcam.upv.es/dcia (see "investigacion, GIRA").
ICMAN-CSIC (INSTITUTO DE CIENCIAS MARINAS DE ANDALUCIA)
Research discipline: BIOLOGY OF REPRODUCTION, GAMETE QUALITY & GENETICS IN TELEOSTS
Research purpose: Improved control of fish reproduction
Description of research: Study of molecular mechanisms involved in yolk formation and lipid accumulation (oil droplet) in oocytes. Study of the control of early stages of oogenesis: role of growth differentiation factor-9 (GDF-9) and bone morphogenetic protein-15 (BMP-15) on the recruitment and growth of new oocytes. Effect of cryopreserved sperm on the efficiency of egg fertilisation and genetic variability. Effect of photoperiod, water temperature, fish handling and nutrition on sex steroids, gonadotropins and reproductive performance. Induction of spawning and milt production using GnRH analogs. Species studied: Dicentrarchus labrax, Sparus auratus, Solea senegalensis, Scophthalmus rhombus, Seriola dumerili.
Lead researcher (s): Francisco Prat, Gonzalo Martinez-Rodriguez
Contact details: Instituto de Ciencias Marinas de Andalucia (ICMAN, CSIC), Avda. Republica Saharaui 2, 11510 Puerto Real (Cadiz) Spain. Tel:+34 95682612. Fax: +34 956834701
Website: www.icman.csic.es
UNIVERSITY OF MURCIA, DEPT OF CELL BIOLOGY & HISTOLOGY
Research discipline: ROLE OF THE IMMUNE SYSTEM IN REPRODUCTION
Research purpose: Control of testicular regression and sex change by immune molecules and leukocyctes.
Description of research: Study of the growth factors, cyctokines and leukocyctes involved in the gametogenesis of gilthead seabream and zebrafish as experimental models. Role of sex hormones in fish immunocompetence and leukocycte physiology. Molecular, analytical and morphological analysis of the testis regression process and sex change.
Lead researcher: Alfonsa Garcia Ayala
Contact details: Dept of Cell Biology and Histology, Faculty of Biology, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain. Tel: +34 968364968, Fax: +34 968363963.
Website: http://www.um.es
IRTA SANT CARLES DE LA RAPITA
Research discipline: CONTROL OF REPRODUCTION WITH BIO-TECHNOLOGIES & HUSBANDRY
Research purpose: To improve industry-based production of eggs
Description of research: To apply and adjust available bio-technologies to control reproduction and obtain the spawning of good quality eggs. Activities include: acclimatisation of wild broodstock; manipulation of environmental parameters, holding systems and nutrition in order to obtain maturation to advanced stages, vitellogenesis and spermatogenesis; determination of stage of maturity; hormone induced spawning; environmentally controlled spawning; determination of egg and larval quality. The team is currently working on the meagre (Argyrosomus regius), Senegal sole (Solea senegalensis) and gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata).
Lead researcher(s): Neil Duncan, Alicia Estevez, Cristobal Aguilera
Contact details: IRTA Sant Carles de la Rapita, Crta. Poble Nou, km. 5.5, AP200, 43540 Sant Carles de la Rapita, Tarragona, Spain. Tel. +34 977745427, Fax. +34 977744138.
Website: www.irta.cat
