Age-related changes in ovarian characteristices, plasma sex steroids and fertility during pubertal development in captive female Murray cod Maccullochella peelii peelii

Age-related changes in ovarian development characteristics and plasma sex steroids in female Murray cod were examined throughout their second, third and fourth years of life to better understand the physiological and endocrine processes associated with puberty in this species in captivity. Spawning...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Dane Newman, Paul Jones, Brett Ingram
Format: Other Non-Article Part of Journal/Newspaper
Language:unknown
Published: 2008
Subjects:
Physiology
Zoology
age-at-maturity
ovarian development
recirculating aquaculture systems
spawning
Science & Technology
Life Sciences & Biomedicine
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
FOLLICLE-STIMULATING-HORMONE
SALMON SALMO-SALAR
MORONE-SAXATILIS
ATLANTIC SALMON
STRIPED BASS
MITCHELL PERCICHTHYIDAE
GONADAL DEVELOPMENT
REPRODUCTIVE-CYCLE
ENERGY RESERVES
COHO SALMON
Atlantic salmon
Salmo salar
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/10536/DRO/DU:30017885
https://figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/Age-related_changes_in_ovarian_characteristices_plasma_sex_steroids_and_fertility_during_pubertal_development_in_captive_female_Murray_cod_Maccullochella_peelii_peelii/21055540
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Summary:Age-related changes in ovarian development characteristics and plasma sex steroids in female Murray cod were examined throughout their second, third and fourth years of life to better understand the physiological and endocrine processes associated with puberty in this species in captivity. Spawning performance of 2+ and 3+ year old females was also assessed to identify ontogenetic differences in egg fertility. Puberty was acquired in 38% of 1+ year old females and 100% of age 2+ females. By age 3+, all females had developed full (adult) reproductive function. Ovarian development in pubertal fish was characterised by a rapid transition between cortical alveoli and lipid droplet oogenic phases, coinciding with significantly lower plasma 17β-oestradiol in age 2+ females ( p < 0.05). Mean mature oocyte diameter (2.44 mm), post-fertilisation viability (30.80%) and hatchability (0.99%) of eggs from age 2+ females were significantly reduced relative to age 3+ adults (2.81 mm, 84.89% and 23.58%, respectively). Ovaries of pubertal Murray cod exhibited both vitellogenic and ovulatory capacities, yet functional abnormalities during secondary oocyte growth are likely to have contributed to poor egg fertility and consequently, evaluations of age-at-first maturity based on the presence of advanced ovarian stages may overestimate the reproductive potential of younger broodstock populations.

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