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Gender determination in the Paiche or Pirarucu (Arapaima gigas) using plasma vitellogenin, 17β-estradiol, and 11-ketotestosterone levels

Fish Physiology and Biochemistry volume 35, pages 125–136 (2009)Cite this article

Abstract

Arapaima gigas is an air-breathing giant fish of Amazonian rivers. Given its great economic and cultural importance, the aquaculture development of this species represents an evident solution to face the decline of wild populations. In captivity, reproduction occurs generally in large earthen ponds where stocks of a few tens of brooders are maintained together at the beginning of the rainy season (December–March in the Peruvian Amazon). Fry production relies on the spontaneous formation of male and female pairs, which build a nest, delimit a territory and guard the offspring for at least 20 days from other congeners and predators. However, as sex determination of A. gigas is not possible by morphological criteria, it is very difficult to optimize reproduction conditions and fry production in each pond, which seriously hampers the culture of this species. This situation prompted us to develop sexing methodologies based on (1) the detection of female specific plasma Vitellogenin (Vtg) using an enzyme immuno assay (EIA), and (2) the determination of plasma 17β-estradiol and 11-ketotestosterone levels for immature specimens. The Vtg purification was performed by electro-elution after polyacrilamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) from plasma of 17β-estradiol treated A. gigas juveniles. Two different Vtg molecules were isolated, (Vtg1 and Vtg2) with 184 and 112 kDa apparent molecular masses, respectively, and two antibodies were raised in rabbits for each Vtg molecule. Adult fish were 100% accurately sexed by Vtg EIA, while 100% of immature fish and 95% of adults were accurately sexed by 17β-Estradiol and 11-Ketestosterone ratios. We also observed different color pattern development in male and female adult fish (6-year-olds) around the reproductive period.

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Acknowledgments

The authors wish to express their gratitude to Dr. Dennis Del Castillo whose strong support started the biological research on A. gigas at the IIAP. This study was supported by a grant from INCAGRO, IIAP, and IRD (France).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. IIAP, PEA, Av. Abelardo Quiñones Km. 2.5, P.O. Box 784, Iquitos, Peru

    F. Chu-Koo, M. Alván Aguilar, A. Casanova Daza, F. Alcántara Bocanegra, C. Chávez Veintemilla, J.-F. Renno & Salvador Tello

  2. IRD, UR 175—GAMET, 361 Rue J. F. Breton, BP 5095, 34196, Montpellier cedex 5, France

    R. Dugué, F. Duponchelle, J.-F. Renno & J. Nuñez

  3. UNFV-FOPCA, Calle Roma No 350, Miraflores, Lima, Peru

    F. Duponchelle & J. Nuñez

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  1. F. Chu-Koo
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  2. R. Dugué
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  3. M. Alván Aguilar
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  4. A. Casanova Daza
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  6. C. Chávez Veintemilla
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  7. F. Duponchelle
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  8. J.-F. Renno
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  9. Salvador Tello
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  10. J. Nuñez
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Correspondence to J. Nuñez.

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Chu-Koo, F., Dugué, R., Alván Aguilar, M. et al. Gender determination in the Paiche or Pirarucu (Arapaima gigas) using plasma vitellogenin, 17β-estradiol, and 11-ketotestosterone levels. Fish Physiol Biochem 35, 125–136 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10695-008-9211-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10695-008-9211-8

Keywords

  • Amazon
  • Fish
  • Peru
  • Reproduction
  • Sexing
  • Sexual steroids

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