Sexual dimorphism in yellow European eels, Anguilla anguilla (L.)

Sexual dimorphism in yellow eels, Anguilla anguilla (L.). was studied to clarify the differences between sexes. The focus was on the relationship between length/weight and sex. Three samples of eels, grown in captivity in different places in Israel, were studied. Females were significantly lighter than undifferentiated eels in the length range 33-47 cm. The regression coefficient did not differ significantly between females and undifferentiated eels. Sex induction, by a single injection of human chorionic gonadotropin, resulted in a higher loss of body weight during differentiation into the female than into the male.     

The influence of phytoestrogens and oestradiol-17β on growth and sex determination in the European eel (Anguilla anguilla)

Under aquaculture conditions, European eels (Anguilla anguilla) produce a high percentage of males (80–95%) that normally stop growing at 100–200 g. Females continue to grow to 500–750 g and obtain higher market value. Therefore, increasing the percentage of females in a population would be beneficial to the culture of eels. The present study was carried out in order to examine the effect of oestradiol and phytooestrogens on sex differentiation and growth rate of eels. Juvenile European eels with undifferentiated gonads were fed pellets containing oestradiol‐17β (E2) or phytooestrogens for 100–150 days. Feeding E2 resulted in 50–61% increase in body weight compared with the control. Oestradiol‐17β and phytooestrogens both elevated significantly the percentage of females in the population. Feeding E2 at 20 mg kg^?1 feed resulted in 70% females, while lower concentration of E2 (2 mg kg^?1) resulted in only 30% after 100 days (Experiment 1). The same dose given for 150 days (Experiment 2) resulted in 88% females, indicating that both, the concentration and duration of E2 treatments had a significant effect on sex differentiation. Fish fed genistein at 2 mg kg^?1 for 100 days, resulted in 55% of females, but at a higher dose of 20 mg kg^?1 there were only 15% females. These results demonstrate that phytooestrogens can be used as alternatives to gonadal steroids for sex manipulation in eels, but the optimal concentrations and duration are still to be determined.     

Effect of water temperature and growth variation on the sex ratio of experimentally reared eels

In a controlled experiment, elvers (Anguilla anguilla L.) were reared for 137 weeks at 17, 20 and 26°C. Most eels with macroscopically sexable gonads were males. The proportions of females were 14% of sexable individuals at 26°C and 7–8% at 17 and 20°C. During the first 15 weeks, 20–50% of initial numbers were lost, but this early mortality was not significantly size selective. In spite of a long term experiment, a significant number of the survivors never attained a sexable size. Nongrowers (7–9 cm) were still alive nearly three years after being caught as glass eels. Among the earliest fast growers, 5% females, or less, were found. The proportion of females increased in later grading groups, but the pattern of increase did not indicate that males and females have separated mean ranks in a fixed growth hierarchy. Water temperature influenced observed sex ratios, but probably not through direct influence on the sex differentiation. Some alternative hypotheses, dealing with population density and individual growth status, are discussed.     

Change in Sox9 protein localization through gonad development in Russian sturgeon (Acipenser gueldenstaedtii)

The Russian sturgeon is a highly prized species reared in aquaculture. The process of gonad development in this critically endangered species is poorly understood. The aim of this study was to describe the localization of Sox9 protein during gonad development of the Russian sturgeon from the day of hatching to the 1440 day post hatching (dph). The larvae at age 1, 10, 25 dph and prepared gonads of 300, 720, 1440 dph individuals were immunohistochemistry‐stained for Sox9 detection. Sox9‐positive regions were detected in larvae in primordial germ cells cytoplasm. Analysis of 300 dph sturgeon gonads revealed the presence of the Sox9 protein in cytoplasm of some oocytes in the chromatin nucleus stage. In testes at 720 dph, Sox9 was observed in the cytoplasm of type A and early B spermatogonias. In the ovaries, Sox9 was observed in the cytoplasm of diplotene oocytes and prefollicular cells. In testes of 1440 dph sturgeon, Sox9 was present in the nucleus of the spermatocytes and in types A and B spermatogonias cytoplasm. Analysis of ovaries at 1440 dph reveals multiple diplotene oocytes with a Sox9‐positive cytoplasm. Furthermore, in 720 and 1440 dph, sturgeon presence of intersexual gonads was detected. In intersex gonads, Sox9 was observed in the cytoplasm of diplotene oocytes and type A spermatogonias. This study may be the first attempt to determine Sox9 protein localization during ontogenesis of the Russian sturgeon. Localization of Sox9 protein may become a useful marker of the maturation level in testis of the Russian sturgeon.     

Cytogenetic and histological studies of the brook trout, Salvelinus fontinalis (Mitchill), and the Arctic char, S. alpinus (L.) hybrids

Although brook trout and the Arctic char hybrids are able to reproduce, individuals with decreased fertility or even fish that are unable to produce any gametes have been also described. Abnormal gonadal development and disturbances in the gamete production in the char hybrid offspring may be triggered by the odd chromosome number and disturbances in their pairing during meiosis. To verify this hypothesis, cytogenetic examination and the gonadal histology analysis of the brook trout x Arctic char hybrids were carried out. Diploid chromosome number in the studied char (F₁) hybrids varied from 82 to 84 (FN = 99–102). Among 28 hybrids, 12 males, three females, nine intersex individuals and two sterile specimens were described. In the case of two individuals, gonads were not found. Diploid chromosome numbers in the males and intersex individuals varied from 82 to 84. Chromosome numbers in the females were 82 and 83 chromosomes. Two sterile fish exhibited karyotypes composed of 82 and 84 chromosomes. Predominance of the ovarian component in the intersex gonads and gonadal sex ratio distortion towards the males suggested hybrid females had problems with gonadal differentiation. However, the lack of the clear relationship between chromosome number and gonadal development in the studied hybrids did not support our hypothesis that odd chromosome number may be responsible for such reproductive disturbances in the hybrid individuals. We have presumed that sterility and intersexual development of the gonads may be caused by interactions between brook trout and Arctic char genes on the sex chromosomes and autosomes rather than unpairing of the parental chromosomes.     

Estimation of gonadal status of Japanese female eel <Emphasis Type="Italic">Anguilla japonica</Emphasis> by a single injection of salmon pituitary extract

ABSTRACT:   Cultivated eels often either lack a part of the ovary (abnormal) or do not have any gonadal tissue (completely sterile). These abnormalities may cause a failure of induction of sexual maturation of female eels. In order to effectively induce sexual maturation and obtain good quality eggs, female eels having normal ovaries should be selected before induction of maturation. The present study examined effects of injection of salmon pituitary extract (SPE) on serum estradiol-17β levels to estimate gonadal status of sexually immature Japanese eels. At the initial stage (just prior to SPE injection), serum estradiol-17β levels were low and no significant difference was observed among eels possessing the different gonad types (normal, abnormal, and sterile), suggesting that gonadal status cannot be estimated by the measurement of serum estradiol-17β levels. A single injection of SPE significantly increased serum estradiol-17β levels in eels possessing normal and abnormal ovaries, but not in sterile eels. Serum estradiol-17β levels significantly increased from 24 h and were high on day 3. These data indicate that eels possessing ovaries can be distinguished from sterile eels by measurement of serum estradiol-17β between 1 and 3 days after a single injection of SPE.     

胶州湾菲律宾蛤仔的性腺发育

１９９６年４～６月,对胶州湾内的菲律宾蛤仔连续取样,将性腺用１０％福尔马林液固定,组织切片４～６μｍ,Ｈ．Ｅ染色,显微照相显示菲律宾蛤仔卵巢和精巢的发育是同步进行的,性腺在４月初开始进入繁殖初期的快速发育,４月中和４月底生殖细胞已明显增大,至５月上旬染滤已被成熟的生殖细胞充满,５月中旬前后生殖细胞被分批排放,５月下旬和６月上旬性腺进入休止状态,至此,形成了一个繁殖期,在繁殖期内,高龄贝比低龄贝发育     

海鳗性腺形态和发育的研究

本文对海鳗性腺的形态与组织结构及发育周年变化进行了研究。海鳗卵巢由许多紧密排列的卵巢叶片构成,精巢则由许多精巢叶片构成。整条卵巢或精巢的外部无被膜包裹。组织学表明,卵巢在５月下旬后陆续发育成熟,精巢在４月正旬陆续发育成熟。５月下旬进入繁殖期,６月－７月为繁殖盛期。随后产过卵的个体进入恢复期并重新发育。组织学与扫描电镜观察显示,海鳗的精子头部呈镰刀形,有一定较短的尾部     

Ontogeny of sexual differentiation in different strains of zebrafish (Danio rerio)

The zebrafish (ZF) undergoes juvenile hermaphroditism, where in all fish, the gonad first develops as an ovary-like structure, before the sex is fixed and the gonad then differentiates into either a testis or an ovary. Sexual differentiation is being adopted as an endpoint for assessing endocrine disrupting chemicals, yet there is only very limited information on the timing and variability in sexual differentiation process both within and between strains of ZF. In this study, using gonad histology, the ontogeny of sexual differentiation was studied in two strains of ZF, one with a high level of heterozygocity (WIK strain) and another that had been in-bred for several generations. There was a high variability in the timing of sex differentiation between individuals within a specific strain (with no obvious relationship with body mass), but there were no differences between the two strains. Transformation of the immature gonad into testes in males started in week 5 post fertilization (pf) and completion of sexual differentiation for all fish in both study populations occurred by week 11–12 pf. The size of the fish containing transforming gonads in the WIK strain and in-bred strain were similar (ranging from 12 to 23 mm, and from 13 to 22 mm total length, respectively).     

Assessment of Ovarian Development and Its Relation to Mating in Wild and Pond-Reared Litopenaeus vannamei Shrimp in a Commercial Hatchery

The present study compares three scales for evaluation of ovary development stage in wild and pond-reared shrimp. An external visual scale was assessed according to color and size of ovaries observed through the exoskeleton in live shrimp by staff of a commercial hatchery. Shrimp were then sacrificed to obtain gonadosomatic index, and gonads were scaled according to their color and size upon dissection. Finally, a portion of ovaries was processed for histological analysis, from which oocyte diameters were obtained, and females were evaluated with another scale based on cytological organization of gonads and on frequency of oocyte sizes. The certainties of the external and internal scales were analyzed, based on differences in gonadosomatic index and oocyte diameter and by comparison with the more accurate scaling obtained by histological analysis. The external scale was, in general, less accurate than the internal scale. Maturation stage in pond-reared shrimp was underestimated or overestimated more frequently than in wild shrimp. The implications for hatchery operation and possible reasons are discussed. Pond-reared shrimp were found to have a non-linear relation between gonad weight and body weight, but this relation was linear for the larger wild shrimp. This reduced the validity of gonadosomatic index in pond-reared shrimp, which were still growing. Thus, oocyte diameter, which was not affected by body weight in growing shrimp, represents a more accurate numeric measure of ovary development. Spermatophores were found attached to the thelycum in females only at the cortical stage of maturation, independent of origin. However, a significant proportion of fully mature, pond-reared shrimp did not have an attached spermatophore, possibly indicating lower mating success or poorer spermatophore adherence in these shrimp.     

长鳍篮子鱼繁殖季节性腺的组织学研究

采用常规组织切片法研究了长鳍篮子鱼繁殖季节各期卵巢和精巢的组织学结构特征。在所获得样本中,未发现Ⅰ期、Ⅱ期的卵巢和精巢。Ⅲ期卵巢以第Ⅲ时相卵母细胞为主,这时期液泡、卵黄颗粒出现,同时含有少量Ⅰ时相和Ⅱ时相的卵母细胞;Ⅳ期卵巢以第Ⅳ时相卵母细胞为主,Ⅳ时相晚期卵母细胞开始出现油球,细胞核偏移和变形,放射带明显;Ⅴ期卵巢的卵细胞游离,卵细胞的外层分别有胶膜、放射带和质膜;Ⅵ期卵巢主要由Ⅲ时相卵母细胞和大量的空滤泡外膜组成。长鳍篮子鱼精巢为辐射型,精巢内生殖细胞分为初级精母细胞、次级精母细胞、精子细胞和精子,各期生殖细胞和支持细胞组成了精小管,同一精小管中的生精细胞发育不同步。精子成熟后,充满整个精小管,完成发育过程。     

养殖银鲳性腺发育规律和性类固醇激素变化

为掌握养殖银鲳的性腺发育规律及其与性类固醇激素水平的关系,本研究采用组织切片技术和酶联免疫吸附法(Elisa),观察养殖条件下银鲳的精巢与卵巢发育特征和血清中性类固醇激素的周年变化,并分析性腺成熟指数(GSI)、肝重指数(HSI)和肥满度(CF)与性腺发育的关系。结果显示,养殖银鲳雌鱼1龄即可发育成熟,成熟卵巢呈一对""形的囊状结构。11月份有近一半个体发育至III期,33.3%已发育至IV期,12月—翌年1月越冬期间约2/3退化至II期,3月又迅速发育至IV期,4月份达到V期并产卵,5月份产卵结束卵巢进入恢复期IV期。银鲳精巢属小叶型,III期精巢出现小叶腔,IV期精巢出现精子,精巢发育速率快于卵巢,即"雄性早熟",7月龄约20%个体可达到性成熟,越冬时退化至III期,3月重新发育,精子分批成熟排精。雌鱼GSI值为0.19%~12.89%,HSI为0.97%~2.30%,CF为2.30~3.08 g/cm~3,雄鱼的GSI为0.08%~2.62%,HSI值为0.73%~1.83%,CF为2.11~2.80 g/cm~3,GSI值在V期时达到最大,HSI和CF值则于IV期达到峰值。雌鱼血清中雌二醇(E2)周年表达水平为23.27~59.13 pg/m L,雄鱼为15.90~36.20 pg/m L,雌鱼的睾酮(T)为14.57~68.67 nmol/L,雄鱼的T为18.62~66.49 nmol/L,E2水平与HSI值呈现显著正相关关系,T表达水平与GSI值呈现显著正相关关系。研究表明,银鲳血清中性类固醇激素含量与精巢和卵巢的发育密切相关,可作为了解养殖银鲳性腺发育的重要指标。     

Scp3 expression in relation to the ovarian differentiation in the protogynous hermaphroditic ricefield eel <Emphasis Type="Italic">Monopterus albus</Emphasis>

Synaptonemal complex protein 3 (Scp3), which is encoded by scp3, is a meiotic marker commonly used to trace the timing of gonadal differentiation in vertebrates. In the present study, the ricefield eel scp3 cDNA was cloned, and a fragment encoding amino acids 49 to 244 was overexpressed. The recombinant Scp3 polypeptide was purified and used to generate a rabbit anti-Scp3 polyclonal antiserum. In adult ricefield eels, scp3 mRNA was predominantly detected in the gonads and faintly detected in discrete brain areas. In the gonads, Scp3 immunoreactivities were shown to be localized to the germ cells, including meiotic primary growth oocytes, spermatocytes, and pre-meiotic spermatogonia. During early ovarian differentiation, immunoreactive Scp3 was not detected in the gonads of ricefield eels at 6 days post-hatching (dph) but was found to be abundantly localized in the cytoplasm of some oogonia at 7 dph, coinciding with the appearance of the ovarian cavity and ovarian differentiation. At 14 dph, strong Scp3 immunostaining was detected on one side of the nucleus with a distinct polarity in some germ cells, presumably at the leptotene stage. Consistent with these results, the expression of scp3 mRNA was faintly detected in the gonads of ricefield eels at 6 dph, increased at 8 dph, and then remained relatively high thereafter. Taken together, these results suggest that the appearance of immunoreactive Scp3 in oogonia could be a marker for early ovarian differentiation in ricefield eels. The translocation of the Scp3 protein from the cytoplasm to the nucleus in the oogonium of ricefield eels appears to be a controlled process that warrants further study.     

2种体色黄鳝性别、体长及体重之间的关联分析

为了解不同体色黄鳝的性别与体长、体重的差异,2011年5-7月,于洞庭湖地区随机采集灰色及黄色2种体色共208尾野生黄鳝,并对体长、体重及性别进行测量鉴定。样本中,雌性146尾,雄性62尾,雌雄比例为2.35∶1。其中黄色黄鳝83尾,灰色黄鳝125尾。分析结果表明,黄色黄鳝雌雄个体体重及肥满度均高于灰色群体;黄色黄鳝雌性体长大于灰色雌性,雄性小于灰色雄性。雌雄个体体重与体长的相关系数,黄色黄鳝分别为0.914、0.945,灰色黄鳝分别为0.567、0.438。黄色雌鳝比例随着体长的增加逐渐降低,雄性比例随体长的增加逐渐升高,雄鳝在35 cm以上占优势,40 cm之上雄性仅1尾。灰色雌鳝在40 cm以下占优势。2种体色黄鳝雌性比例与体重变化无明显规律。     

Positive feedback control by the gonads on gonadotropin (GTH) and gonadoliberin (GnRH) levels in experimentally matured female silver eels,Anguilla anguilla

Treatment of sham-operated female silver eels with carp pituitary extract stimulated ovarian development and induced increases in pituitary gonadotropin (GTH) and gonadoliberin (GnRH) contents. Both effects of carp pituitary extract were abolished in ovariectomized eels, indicating the involvement of the gonads. Endogenous sexual steroids, the secretion of which was increased during sexual maturation, should be responsible for the stimulation of GTH and GnRH levels. Ovariectomy itself had no significant effect on pituitary GTH and GnRH contents, reflecting the fact that, at the silver stage, sexual steroid levels are too low to exert any significant effect on pituitary GTH and GnRH. The positive feedback control exerted by the gonads on GTH and GnRH levels during sexual maturation, in the eel as well as in some other teleosts, would produce an amplification of the pubertal stimulation of the hypothalamo-pituitary-gonadal axis.     

莫桑比克罗非鱼幼鱼的性腺发育与分化

本文介绍了莫桑比克罗非鱼幼鱼性腺的发育和分化的观察结果。用组织学方法观察，莫桑比克罗非鱼幼鱼的性腺发育，可以明显地区分为三个阶段，即：性腺的原始阶段，性腺分化前期阶段，性腺分化完成阶段。作者认为，对莫桑比克罗非鱼的诱变试验，应在前两阶段进行；当幼鱼体长达到15mm以后，性腺分化已基本完成，性激素的处理不可能取得性诱变的明显效果。     

日本鳗鲡产卵后生存及其繁育

为证明日本鳗鲡(Anguilla japonica)生活史最后一步一产后鳗的命运,本研究模拟产后的日本鳗鲡继续在海水中养殖,观察其存活率及繁育情况.结果表明,产后鳗在海水中停食约18 d后,体能得到恢复,部分亲鱼开始出现摄食,1个月左右全部恢复摄食,经244 d养殖,雌、雄鳗体质量增加,存活率达94.6%.随后,给产后鳗注射外源性促性腺激素(鲤鱼脑垂体匀浆CPE和人绒毛膜促性腺激素HCG)后激发其退化的性腺(卵巢和精巢)重新发育(与当年银鳗作对照).通过性腺组织切片观察产后鳗和对照鳗性腺发育成熟的全过程及其差异,发现产后鳗起初性腺发育比当年银鳗差,但经多次注射激素后,产后鳗性腺成熟与当年银鳗同步,证明产后鳗生殖细胞对激素的敏感件高.应用17α,20β-双羟孕酮和促性腺激素释放激素类似物(GnRH-A3)使催熟的产后鳗和对照鳗均产卵和排精,并孵化出仔鱼,从而有力地证明,鳗鲡产后虽体质弱,但待体能恢复后能够继续生存和繁殖.本研究旨在探讨利用产后鳗作为今后鳗鲡人工繁殖亲鳗的可行性.     

黄山浦溪河光唇鱼的性腺发育周年变化

采用组织切片法,对黄山浦溪河光唇鱼(Acrossocheilus fasciatus)的性腺发育、产卵时间和产卵类型等进行了研究。结果显示:其性腺的发育分为六6个时期,卵母细胞的发育分为5个时相。产卵时间始于四月,持续到八月。光唇鱼属于一次性产卵类型,每年成熟一次。在整个性腺发育过程中,雌性个体右侧性腺先于左侧性腺发育;雄性个体右侧性腺在整个发育过程中一直处于优势。     

Expression of dmrt1 and sox9 during gonadal development in the Siberian sturgeon (Acipenser baerii)

The sex differentiation period of the Siberian sturgeon was investigated through expression profiling of two testicular markers (dmrt1 and sox9). At the molecular level, a clear sexual dimorphism of dmrt1 and sox9 was observed in 3-year-old fish with immature gonads, in which males showed higher expression of these genes. Among 16-month-old sturgeons cultured in Uruguay, gonad morphology analyses showed one group of fish with undifferentiated gonads and a second group which had started their histological differentiation into ovaries or testes. dmrt1 showed a significantly higher expression in testes of recently differentiated fish, but this was not the case for sox9. In undifferentiated fish, we observed two clearly different groups in terms of expression: one group of fish over-expressing male markers (dmrt1, sox9) and another group of fish showing very low expression of these genes. This suggests that fish undergoing male differentiation can be identified by their profiles of gene expression before they undergo morphological differentiation.