Sex differentiation in the European eel (Anguilla anguilla L.): effects of sex steroids

• Main Authors: COLOMBO, Giuseppe, GRANDI, Gilberto
• Other Authors: Colombo, Giuseppe, Grandi, Gilberto
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: "Halocynthia" Association, Palermo Redazione Ed Amministrazione:Via Archerafi 18, 90123 Palermo Italy:[phone] 1991
• Subjects: Anguilla anguilla; sex steroid; sex differentiation
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/11392/461831

Small yellow eels, 15-18 cm long, reared in warmed (22°-24°C) fresh water were treated by 17-alfa-methyltestosterone (MT) or 17-alfa-ethylestradiol (EE) given with the diet, at two different dosages and two durations. At the rearing conditions the untreated eels develop in a very large majority male gonads. The expected masculizing effect of MT could not be shown. The histological observations of MT treated eel gonads suggests that the androgen may inhibit the ovarial differentiation. EE at the higher dose and longer duration produce a feminization effect.