Abstract
Over 500 species of teleost fish have been identified as live-bearers. These fish breed by internal fertilization, and, in some species, the embryo weight increases during pregnancy. This indicates that these fish likely possess the specific machinery required to absorb maternally derived nutrients. Approximately 170 viviparous species are included in the order Cyprinodontiformes. This chapter focuses on a viviparous teleost species, Xenotoca eiseni, which belongs to the family Goodeidae. Members of the family Goodeidae have a unique structure called the “trophotaenial placenta,” which is a branching, ribbonlike structure that extends from the perianal region of the goodeid embryo. The trophotaenial placenta is a hindgut-derived pseudoplacenta that allows the absorption of maternal nutrients during the prenatal stage. The trophotaeniae preliminarily regress when the embryo is born. Because the offspring can ingest food orally soon after birth, the trophotaeniae become unnecessary. Immunohistochemistry indicates that caspase-3-activated cells with fragmented nuclei are present in the regressed processes of the fry immediately after birth. This finding suggests that the trophotaeniae are rapidly resorbed by apoptosis during the last phase of the pregnancy. Such prenatal regression of pseudoplacentae has not been reported in other viviparous vertebrates. Therefore, the small teleost might be a convenient model for understanding the diversity of viviparity in vertebrates.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Blackburn DG (2014) Evolution of vertebrate viviparity and specializations for fetal nutrition: A quantitative and qualitative analysis. J Morphol. https://doi.org/10.1002/jmor.20272
Blackburn DG, Flemming AF (2012) Invasive implantation and intimate placental associations in a placentotrophic African lizard, Trachylepis ivensii (Scincidae). J Morphol 273:137–159
Buckley D, Alcobendas M, García-París M, Wake MH (2007) Heterochrony, cannibalism, and the evolution of viviparity in Salamandra salamandra. Evol Dev 9:105–115
Castro JI (2009) Observations on the reproductive cycles of some viviparous north American sharks. Aqua 15:4–15
Hollenberg F, Worums JP (1994) Ultrastructure and protein uptake of the embryonic trophotaeniae of four species of goodeid fishes (Teleostei: Atheriniformes). J Morphol 219:105–129
Ichijo R, Kobayashi H, Yoneda S, Iizuka Y, Kubo H, Matsumura S, Kitano S, Miyachi H, Honda T, Toyoshima F (2017) Tbx3-dependent amplifying stem cell progeny drives interfollicular epidermal expansion during pregnancy and regeneration. Nat Commun 8:508
Iida A, Nishimaki T, Sehara-Fujisawa A (2015) Prenatal regression of the trophotaenial placenta in a viviparous fish, Xenotoca eiseni. Sci Rep 5:7855
Ishizuya-Oka A, Hasebe T, Shi YB (2010) Apoptosis in amphibian organs during metamorphosis. Apoptosis 15:350–364
Jacobson MD, Weil M, Raff MC (1997) Programmed cell death in animal development. Cell 88:347–354
Kaneko-Ishino T, Ishino F (2012) The role of genes domesticated from LTR retrotransposons and retroviruses in mammals. Front Microbiol 3:262
Lombardi J, Wourms JP (1985a) The trophotaenial placenta of a viviparous goodeid fish. II. Ultrastructure of trophotaeniae, the embryonic component. J Morphol 184:293–309
Lombardi J, Wourms JP (1985b) The trophotaenial placenta of a viviparous goodeid fish. III: Protein uptake by trophotaeniae, the embryonic component. J Exp Zool 236:165–179
Mendoza G (1937) Structural and vascular changes accompanying the resorption of the proctodaeal processes after birth in the embryos of the Goodeidae, a family of viviparous fishes. J Morphol 61:95–125
Mendoza G (1965) The ovary and anal processes of “Characodon” eiseni, a viviparous cyprinodont teleost from Mexico. Biol Bull 129:303–315
Mendoza G (1972) The fine structure of an absorptive epithelium in a viviparous teleost. J Morphol 136:109–130
Power DM et al (2001) Thyroid hormones in growth and development of fish. Comp Biochem Physiol C Pharmacol Toxicol Endocrinol 130:447–459
Sakahira H, Enari M, Nagata S (1998) Cleavage of CAD inhibitor in CAD activation and DNA degradation during apoptosis. Nature 391:96–99
Schindler JF (2014) Structure and function of placental exchange surfaces in goodeid fishes (Teleostei: Atheriniformes). J Morphol. https://doi.org/10.1002/jmor.20292
Schindler JF, Hamlett WC (1993) Maternal-embryonic relations in viviparous teleosts. J Exp Zool 266:378–393
Sharp AN, Heazell AE, Crocker IP, Mor G (2010) Placental apoptosis in health and disease. Am J Reprod Immunol 64:159–169
Smith SC, Baker PN, Symonds EM (1997) Placental apoptosis in normal human pregnancy. Am J Obstet Gynecol 177:57–65
Specker JL (1988) Preadaptive role of thyroid hormones in larval and juvenile salmon: growth, the gut and evolutionary considerations. Am Zool 28:337–349
Turner CL (1933) Viviparity superimposed upon ovo-viviparity in the goodeidae, a family of cyprinodont teleost fishes of the Mexican plateau. J Morphol 55:207–251
Turner CL (1937) The trophotaeniae of the goodeidae, a family of viviparous cyprinodont fishes. J Morphol 61:495–523
Turner CL (1938) Adaptations for viviparity in embryos and ovary of Anableps anableps. J Morphol 62:323–349
Turner CL (1940a) Pseudoamnion, pseudochorion, and follicular pseudoplacenta in poeciliid fishes. J Morphol 67:59–89
Turner CL (1940b) Adaptations for viviparity in jenynsiid fishes. J Morphol 67:291–297
Wourms JP (1981) Viviparity: the maternal-fetal relationship in fishes. Am Zool 21:473–515
Yaron F, Hermann S (2011) Programmed cell death in animal development and disease. Cell 147:742–758
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2018 Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Iida, A. (2018). Xenotoca eiseni, a Viviparous Teleost, Possesses a Trophotaenial Placenta for Maternal Nutrient Intake. In: Hirata, H., Iida, A. (eds) Zebrafish, Medaka, and Other Small Fishes. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-1879-5_14
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-1879-5_14
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Singapore
Print ISBN: 978-981-13-1878-8
Online ISBN: 978-981-13-1879-5
eBook Packages: Biomedical and Life SciencesBiomedical and Life Sciences (R0)