Induced Ovulation of Southern Flounder Paralichthys lethostigma Using Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone Analogue Implants |
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| Authors: | David L. Berlinsky William King V Ted I. J. Smith Richard D. Hamilton II John Holloway Jr. Craig V. Sullivan |
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| Affiliation: | Department of Zoology, North Carolina State University, Campus Box 7617, Raleigh. North Carolina 27695 USA;South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, Marine Resources Research Institute, P.O. Box 12559, Charleston, South Carolina 29422 USA;South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, Waddell Mariculture Center, P.O. Box 809, Bluffton. South Carolina 29910 USA;Department of Zoology, North Carolina State University. Campus Box 7617, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695 USA |
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| Abstract: | Implanted pellets that provide a sustained release of [D-Ala6 Des-Gly10] LHRH-ethylamide (GnRHa) were used to induce maturation and ovulation of Southern flounder Paralichthys lethostigma . Of the 12 females whose ovaries contained follicles with a maximum diameter ≥500 μm, 11 ovulated for the first time within 90 h of hormone implantation. Only 1 fish with a maximum follicle diameter less than 500 μm ovulated within 2 wk after implantation. Ovulated eggs were manually stripped from the females and mixed with sperm from several males. Most females were spawned 1 to 3 times on consecutive days with variable fertility. One female was spawned 11 times producing 668,000 eggs. Fertility was evaluated by examining the incubated eggs for early stages of embryonic cleavage. The percentage of fertile eggs in subsamples of incubated eggs ranged from 7–95%. The results indicate that GnRHa implants can be used to induce repeated ovulation in this species. The variability in fertility is discussed in relation to egg quality. |
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