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The western mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis affinis): a new laboratory animal resource for the study of sexual dimorphism in neural circuits

Lab Animal volume 37, pages 263–269 (2008)Cite this article

Abstract

The western mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis affinis) is a useful model for the study of sexual dimorphism and the neural circuits associated with sexual differentiation. This is largely because of its anal fin, which undergoes radical postnatal transformation in males. Understanding the neural mechanisms involved in this process may also help elucidate basic principles of the nervous system. The authors describe the mosquitofish as a model for research and present guidelines for the care and use of this species.

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Figure 1: Western mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis affinis).
Figure 2: Spinal motor neuron and synapses.
Figure 3: Housing setup for mosquitofish.
Figure 4: Gravid and newborn mosquitofish.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Jo Taylor for helpful discussions and editorial comments. We thank Aquatic Habitats and Millipore Corporation for past and continued support in the development of the mosquitofish as a laboratory resource. We also thank Nikon Instrument's Nikon Research Alliance Program, specifically Ella de los Santos de Schwartz and Danilo Rosado-Sanchez, for access to cutting-edge imaging technology and technical support. Finally, we acknowledge the contributions of past members of the Biological Imaging Group who are too numerous to mention individually. Portions of this manuscript were presented at the 2006 meeting of the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science. Research in E.R-M.'s laboratory is supported by grants from the National Science Foundation (grant number NSF/IBN-0091120) and the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (grant number NIH/5U54 NS30405-07).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Animal Resources Facility, University of Puerto Rico-Rió Piedras, San Juan, 00931-1809, Puerto Rico

    Luis Rosario-Ortiz &  Eduardo Rosa-Molinar

  2. Biological Imaging Group, University of Puerto Rico-Rió Piedras, San Juan, 00931-1809, Puerto Rico

    Stephanie Rivera-Pabon,  Irma Torres-Vázquez, Eduardo G. Ortiz-Perez,  Luzed Diaz-Perez, Loren Pesquera-Diaz,  Nydia L. Rivera-Rivera, Elymic Colon-Garcia,  Jose L. Serrano-Vélez &  Eduardo Rosa-Molinar

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Correspondence to Eduardo Rosa-Molinar.

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Rosario-Ortiz, L., Rivera-Pabon, S., Torres-Vázquez, I. et al. The western mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis affinis): a new laboratory animal resource for the study of sexual dimorphism in neural circuits. Lab Anim 37, 263–269 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1038/laban0608-263

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