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Annual changes in testicular development and plasma sex steroids in the captive male dojo loach Misgurnus anguillicaudatus

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Abstract

Testicular development in the captive male dojo loach Misgurnus anguillicaudatus was examined monthly in relation to the levels of plasma sex steroids [testosterone (T), 11-ketotestostrone (11-KT), and 17,20β-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one (DHP)]. On the basis of testicular histology, the annual gonadal cycle was found to be divisible into 3 periods: the recovery and proliferation period, which mainly consists of early spermatogenic testis from August to November (reproductive phase I); the preparation period for the next spawning period, which mainly consists of late spermatogenic testis from December to April (reproductive phase II); and the mature period, characterized by a high proportion of mature testis from May to July (reproductive phase III). Individual variability in testicular development was high, and continuous spermatogenesis was observed throughout the year. High levels of plasma T, 11-KT, and DHP were observed during reproductive phase III. 11-KT began to increase in February, while T was present at low levels in reproductive phase II. These results suggest that the physiologically active season of testis development for breeding in the dojo loach is from May to July, although spermatogenesis occurs throughout the year.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Dr. Greg Nishihara for editing the manuscript. This work was partly supported by a grant-in-aid from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Japan (grant no. 21405001).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Graduate School of Science and Technology, Nagasaki University, 1-14 Bunkyo-machi, Nagasaki, 852-8521, Japan

    Solomon Kiros & Kiyoshi Soyano

  2. Institute for East China Sea Research, Nagasaki University, 1551-7 Taira-machi, Nagasaki, 851-2213, Japan

    Solomon Kiros & Kiyoshi Soyano

  3. National Research Institute of Aquaculture, Tamaki Station, Fisheries Research Agency, Tamaki, Mie, 519-0423, Japan

    Jun-ya Aoki

  4. Public Works Research Institute, 1-6 Minamihara, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8516, Japan

    Chang-Beom Park

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  1. Solomon Kiros
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  2. Jun-ya Aoki
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  3. Chang-Beom Park
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  4. Kiyoshi Soyano
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Correspondence to Kiyoshi Soyano.

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Solomon Kiros, Aoki, Jy., Park, CB. et al. Annual changes in testicular development and plasma sex steroids in the captive male dojo loach Misgurnus anguillicaudatus . Ichthyol Res 58, 217–224 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10228-011-0213-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10228-011-0213-7

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