Matrotrophic Transfer of Fluorescent Microspheres in Poeciliid Fishes
Fluorescent microspheres and confocal microscopy were used to assess matrotrophic transfer in livebearing poeciliid fishes. High levels of transfer occurred in an obligate matrotroph, Heterandria formosa, whereas low levels occurred in a proposed lecithotroph, Poecilia reticulata. Gambusia affinis and Gambusia geiseri, proposed facultative matrotrophs, exhibited variable transfer within each brood.Abstract
A stage 5 Gambusia geiseri embryo with part of the yolk sac and tail visible. (A) Confocal image, at 568 nm, with transferred 40 nm fluorescent microspheres. (B) Transmitted light image of the same embryo
Fluorescent microspheres (40 nm) are transferred to stage 1 Heterandria formosa embryos. Confocal images, at 568 nm, of stage 1 embryos from females injected with (A) Fluorescent microspheres or (B) Sterile water
Contributor Notes
Department of Biology, University of Puget Sound, 1500 N. Warner #1088, Tacoma, Washington 98416–1088. (AD) ademarais@ups.edu Send reprint requests to AD.