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Testicular maturation and regression in the common snook
Author(s) -
Grier H. J.,
Taylor R. G.
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
journal of fish biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.672
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1095-8649
pISSN - 0022-1112
DOI - 10.1111/j.1095-8649.1998.tb00999.x
Subject(s) - biology , germinal epithelium , annual cycle , seasonal breeder , zoology , regression , anatomy , physiology , medicine , endocrinology , ecology , spermatogenesis , psychology , psychoanalysis
During the annual reproductive cycle, the lobular testis of Centropomus undecimalis undergoes height, width, and morphological changes which reflect five reproductive classes: regressed; early, mid‐, and late maturation; and regression. Histological criteria, particularly differences between continuous and discontinuous germinal epithelia, are used to distinguish these five classes, even though they are only reference points within the annual gonadal cycle. A mechanism for lobular growth during early, mid‐, and late maturation is presented; and it is hypothesized that a permanent germinal epithelium first appeared in the fishes. Throughout the year, periodic acid‐Schiff‐positive macro‐melanophage centres and PAS‐positive granulocytes are observed in the testis. They are most abundant after the breeding season, and they may be involved in focal tissue degradation.