Effects of accelerated photoperiod regimes on the reproductive cycle of the female rainbow trout: II Seasonal variations of plasma gonadotropins (GTH I and GTH II) levels correlated with ovarian follicle growth and egg size

Female rainbow trout were exposed over their second reproductive cycle to a simulated natural photoperiod (control group) and to two accelerated photoperiod regimes (S9 and S6 groups). Early spawning was achieved in both accelerated groups, coupled, however, with a reduction of mean egg size. To investigate this reduction of egg size, circulating levels of GTHs and two indices of ovarian growth (gonadosomatic index and follicle diameter) were regularly measured in association with histological studies of structural changes in ovarian follicles. Regardless of the photoperiod regime, the seasonal profile of plasma GTH I levels appeared to be multiphasic. The successive transient elevations in GTH I levels appeared to be connected with the initiation of ovarian growth and vitellogenesis and also, with the synchronization of the late stages of maturation and ovulation. In contrast, the seasonal profile of plasma GTH II levels was monophasic, with a single peak at ovulation, confirming that GTH II is not associated with ovarian growth but promotes gamete maturation and release. Our results demonstrate that the reduction of egg size cannot be due to a deficient secretion of GTH I in plasma, since GTH I levels were much higher during vitellogenesis in both accelerated groups, but rather to an alteration of ovarian follicle growth during the late stages of vitellogenesis. Finally, the early and middle stages of ovarian growth appeared to be photosensitive periods, whereas the late stages were less so, and appeared to be controlled rather by an endogenous biological clock synchronized by the photoperiod.