Oogenesis and lipids in gonad and liver of daubed shanny (Leptoclinus maculatus) females from Svalbard waters

Oocyte and liver histomorphology of the daubed shanny (Leptoclinus maculatus) from Isfjorden and Kongsfjorden in Svalbard were investigated during three Arctic seasons: summer (July), autumn (October) and winter (April). Three oocyte developmental phases were observed: primary growth phase, secondary growth phase and maturation phase. We observed four different developmental stages: (1) perinucleolus stage with cortical alveolus formation, (2) lipid droplets formation, (3) vitellogenesis stage and (4) maturation. Late maturation stage of oocytes in the ovaries was from the autumn season. Females accumulated lipids in liver (up to 35.2?% dw) and deposited large amounts of lipids into gonads (up to 52.2?% dw) during maturation. Lipid classes in female gonads changed seasonally, with relative increase in cholesterol during summer and depletion of storage lipids (triacylglycerols and wax esters/cholesterol esters) during the winter. Lipid composition in liver changed during oocyte development and spawning, as neutral lipids were transferred to developing oocytes during summer to autumn. During winter, storage lipids were depleted during starvation. Based on the increase in gonadosomatic index (GSI) with length and observed maturation stages, females seem to mature at a length of about 125-130?mm. The GSI and hepatosomatic index of large females sampled in autumn (September-October) were significantly higher than for females in late winter (April) and spring (May). These results indicate that spawning takes place during winter in Isfjorden and that energy reserves stored in the liver are utilized by females during gonadal development and reproduction.