Open AccessEffects of estradiol and 11-ketotestosterone pre-treatment on artificial induction of maturation in silver female shortfinned eels (Anguilla australis)
Author(s) -
Erin L. Damsteegt,
Georgia ThomsonLaing,
Matthew J. Wylie,
P. Mark Lokman
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
plos one
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.99
H-Index - 332
ISSN - 1932-6203
DOI - 10.1371/journal.pone.0229391
Subject(s) - vitellogenin , endocrinology , medicine , gonadosomatic index , ovulation induction , ovulation , oogenesis , biology , oocyte , human fertilization , fish <actinopterygii> , hormone , fecundity , embryo , anatomy , fishery , population , environmental health
Our previous work documented significant advancements in steroid-induced progression of oogenesis, demonstrating that co-treatment of female eels with 11-ketotestosterone (11KT) and estradiol-17β (E 2 ) successfully induced uptake of vitellogenin by oocytes. Here we evaluate the effects of this steroid co-treatment on subsequent time to ovulation and egg quality in shortfinned eels artificially matured by hypophysation. Co-treatment with 11KT (1 mg) and E 2 (0.2 or 2 mg) significantly reduced time to ovulation and therefore, the amount of pituitary homogenate required, without any detrimental effects on gonadosomatic index, oocyte diameter or the total weight of stripped eggs. E 2 treatment resulted in promising increases in fertilization rates. These indicators suggest that co-treatment with 11KT and E 2 holds promise for future artificial maturation practices in terms of minimising fish handling and stress, and of reducing the need for expensive pituitary preparations.