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Role of photoperiod and melatonin in the regulation of ovarian functions in Indian carp Catla catla: basic information for future application

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Abstract

The major carp Catla catla is a popular freshwater edible fish and an extensively cultured species in India. However, basic information on the physiology of reproduction is lacking in this species. By virtue of its surface feeding habit, it maintains close contact with environmental light, and is a species of choice for the study of temporal organization of reproduction under natural and experimental conditions for understanding environmental and/or endocrine mechanisms that control the annual reproductive cycle. The present review covers information gathered in recent years to emphasize the temporal pattern of reproductive events and the importance of photoperiod and melatonin, a hormone of the pineal gland that links the environment with the endocrine system in the regulation of reproduction. Finally, the outcome of the research is discussed in terms of its direct and indirect applications to aquaculture of this species with a view to manipulate its breeding at a desired time of the year to meet market demand.

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Acknowledgements

Financial assistance from the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi (F. no. 4-(40)/96-ASR-I), the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India, (BT/PR2842/AAQ/03/131/2001), and the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi (37(1220)/05/EMR-II) is thankfully acknowledged. The authors are thankful to Professor K. P. Joy, Department of Zoology, Banaras Hindu University, India for his critical and thoughtful suggestions on a previous version of the manuscript.

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  1. Department of Zoology, Visva-Bharati University, Santiniketan, 731 235, India

    S. K. Maitra & A. Chattoraj

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Maitra, S.K., Chattoraj, A. Role of photoperiod and melatonin in the regulation of ovarian functions in Indian carp Catla catla: basic information for future application. Fish Physiol Biochem 33, 367–382 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10695-007-9174-1

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