Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The reproductive physiology of three age classes of adult female diploid and triploid brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis)

  • Published:
Fish Physiology and Biochemistry Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Triploid female fish show impaired gametogenesis and are unable to produce viable offspring. The reproductive physiology of artificially-induced triploid female salmonids has been well described up until the time of first sexual maturation in diploids, but few reports exist for older triploids. This study reports the influence of triploidy on growth, ovarian development and reproductive endocrinology among three age classes of female brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) in comparison to sibling diploids. Triploids were larger than diploids for most of the study period, but the difference was statistically significant only during maturation and spawning of 2+ diploids. Plasma estradiol-17β (E2), testosterone (T) and vitellogenin (VTG) levels in triploids were generally lower than in diploids, and VTG was the only parameter to show seasonal fluctuations resembling those of diploids. Triploids showed significantly lower GSI and total oocyte number than diploids of similar age, and only half of all triploids sacrificed during the study (n=56) had developing oocytes in their ovaries. At age 3+, 13 of 19 triploid females had oocytes at various stages of development, including perinucleolar, yolk vesicle and yolk globule stages. In addition, three of these fish had collectively produced 72 mature stage oocytes. Thus, whereas diploid brook trout can produce mature oocytes as two-year-olds, triploids cannot do so until four years of age, with the number of mature oocytes being greatly reduced.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

REFERENCES

  • Allen, S.K. Jr. 1983. Flow cytometry: Assaying experimental polyploid fish and shellfish. Aquaculture 33: 317–328.

    Google Scholar 

  • Amano, M., Kobayashi, M., Okumoto, N. and Aida, K. 1998. Low GnRH levels in the brain and the pituitary in triploid female sockeye salmon. Fish. Sci. 64: 340–341.

    Google Scholar 

  • Benfey, T.J. and Sutterlin, A.M. 1984. Growth and gonadal development in triploid landlocked Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 41: 1387–1392.

    Google Scholar 

  • Benfey, T.J., Dye, H.M. and Donaldson, E.M. 1989a. Estrogeninduced vitellogenin production by triploid coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) and its effect on plasma and pituitary gonadotropin. Gen. Comp. Endocrinol. 75: 83–87.

    Google Scholar 

  • Benfey, T.J., Dye, H.M., Solar, I.I. and Donaldson, E.M. 1989b. The growth and reproductive endocrinology of adult triploid Pacific salmonids. Fish Phyiol. Biochem. 6: 113–120.

    Google Scholar 

  • Benfey, T.J. 1996. Ovarian development in triploid brook trout. In: Proceedings of the Fifth International Symposium on Reproductive Physiology of Fish, p. 357. Edited by F.W. Goetz and P. Thomas. Austin, Texas, U.S.A.

  • Benfey, T.J., McCabe L.E. and Pepin, P. 1997. Critical thermal maximum of diploid and triploid brook charr, Salvelinus foninalis. Environ. Biol. Fishes. 49: 259–264.

    Google Scholar 

  • Benfey, T.J. 1999. The physiology and behaviour of triploid fishes. Rev. Fish. Sci. 7: 39–67.

    Google Scholar 

  • Boulanger, Y. 1991. Performance comparison of all-female, diploid and triploid brook trout. Can. Tech. Rep. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 1789: 111–121.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brämick, U., Puckhaber, B., Langholz H.-J. and Hörstgen-Schwark, G. 1995. Testing of triploid tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) under tropical pond conditions. Aquaculture 137: 343–353.

    Google Scholar 

  • Carrasco, L.A.P., Doroshov, S., Penman, D.J. and Bromage, N. 1998. Long-term quantitative analysis of gametogenesis in autotriploid rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss. J. Reprod. Fert. 113: 197–210.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cherfas, N.B., Gomelsky, B., Ben-Dom, N., Peretz, Y. and Hulata, G. 1994. Assessment of triploid common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) for culture. Aquaculture 127: 11–18.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cotter, D., O'Donovan, V., O'Maoiléidigh, N., Rogan, G., Roche, N. and Wilkins, N.P. 2000. An evaluation of the use of triploid Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) in minimizing the impact of escaped farmed salmon on wild populations. Aquaculture 186: 61–75.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fauconneau, B., Aguirre, P. and Blanc, J.M. 1990. Protein synthesis in different tissues of mature rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri R.). Influence of triploidy. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. 97C: 345–352.

    Google Scholar 

  • Felip, A., Zanuy, S., Carrillo, M. and Piferrer, F. 1999. Growth and gonadal development in triploid sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax L.) during the first two years of age. Aquaculture 173: 389–399.

    Google Scholar 

  • Galbreath, P.F., St. Jean, W., Anderson, V. and Thorgaard, G.H. 1994. Freshwater performance of all-female diploid and triploid Atlantic salmon. Aquaculture 128: 41–49.

    Google Scholar 

  • Humphrey, C.D. and Pittman, F.E. 1974. A simple methylene blueazure II-basic fuchsin stain for epoxy-embedded tissue sections. Stain Technol. 49: 9–14.

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnson, O.W., Dickhoff, W.W. and Utter, F.M. 1986. Comparative growth and development of diploid and triploid coho salmon, Oncorhynchus kisutch. Aquaculture 57: 329–336.

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnstone, R., McLay, H.A. and Walsingham, M.V. 1991. Production and performance of triploid Atlantic salmon in Scotland. Can. Tech. Rep. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 1789: 15–36.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kavumpurath, S. and Pandain, T.J. 1992. Effects of induced triploidy on aggressive display in the fighting fish, Betta splendens Regan. Aqua. Fish. Mgmt. 23: 281–290.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kitamura, S., Ogata, H. and Onozato, H. 1993. Triploid male masu salmon Oncorhynchus masou shows normal courtship behaviour. Nippon Suisan Gakkaishi 57: 2157.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kobayashi, T., Fushiki, S., Sakai, N., Hara, A., Amano, M., Aida, K., Nakamura, M. and Nagahama, Y. 1998. Oogenesis and changes in the levels of reproductive hormones in triploid female rainbow trout. Fish. Sci. 64: 206–215.

    Google Scholar 

  • Koedprang, W. and Na-Nakorn, U. 2000. Preliminary study on performance of triploid Thai silver barb, Puntiius gonionotus. Aquaculture 190: 211–221.

    Google Scholar 

  • Krisfalusi, M., Wheeler, P., Thorgaard, G.H. and Cloud, J.G. 2000. Gonadal morphology of female diploid gynogenetic and triploid rainbow trout. J. Exp. Zool. 286: 505–512.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lincoln, R.F. and Scott, A.P. 1984. Sexual maturation in triploid rainbow trout, Salmo gairdneri Richardson. J. Fish Biol. 25: 385–392.

    Google Scholar 

  • McMaster, M.E., Munkittrick, K.R. and Van Der Kraak, G.J. 1992. Protocol for measuring circulating levels of gonadal sex steroids in fish. Can. Tech. Rep. Fish Aquat. Sci. 1836: 1–26.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nakamura, M., Nagahama, Y., Iwahashi, M. and Kojima, M. 1987. Ovarian structure and plasma steroid hormones of triploid female rainbow trout. Nippon Suisan Gakkaishi 53: 1105.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pandian, T.J. and Koteeswaran, R. 1998. Ploidy induction and sex control in fish. Hydrobiologia 384: 167–243.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pantin, C.F.A. 1960. Notes on microscopical technique for zoologists. Cambridge University Press, pp. 1–49.

  • Penman, D.J., Skibinski, D.O.F. and Beardmore, J.A. 1987. Survival, growth rate and maturity in triploid tilapia. In: Proc. World Symp. on Selection, Hybridization, and Genetic Engineering in Aquaculture, Vol. II, pp. 277–288. Edited by K. Tiews. Berlin: Heenemann Verlag. GmbH.

    Google Scholar 

  • Piferrer, F., Benfey, T.J. and Donaldson, E.M. 1994. Gonadal morphology of normal and sex-reversed triploid and gynogenetic diploid coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch). J. Fish Biol. 45:541–553.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schafhauser-Smith, D. and Benfey, T.J. 2002. The purification and development of a quantitative enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the measurement of vitellogenin in diploid and triploid brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis). Fish Physiol. Biochem. 24: 287–298.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sheehan, R.J., Shasteen, S.P. and Suresh, A.V. 1999. Better growth in all-female diploid and triploid rainbow trout. Trans. Am. Fish. Soc. 128: 491–498.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shoobridge, M.P.K. 1983. A new principle in polychrome staining: A system of automated staining, complementary to hematoxylin and eosin, and usable as a research tool. Stain Technol. 58: 245–258.

    Google Scholar 

  • Solar, I.I., Donaldson, E.M. and Hunter, G.A. 1984. Induction of triploidy in rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri Richardson) by heat shock, and investigation of early growth. Aquaculture 42: 57–67.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sumpter J.P., Scott, A.P., Baynes, S.M. and Witthames, P.R. 1984. Early stages of the reproductive cycle in virgin female rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri Richardson). Aquaculture 43: 235–242.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thorgaard, G.H. and Gall, G.A.E. 1979. Adult triploids in a rainbow trout family. Genetics 93: 961–973.

    Google Scholar 

  • Warrillow, J.A., Josephson, D.C., Youngs, W.D. and Krueger, C.C. 1997. Differences in sexual maturity and fall emigration between diploid and triploid brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) in an Adirondack lake. Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 54: 1808–1812.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wu, C.Y.R., Chen, Y.R. and Liu, X. 1993. An artificial multiple triploid carp and its biological characteristics. Aquaculture 111: 255–262.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yamamoto, A. and Iida, T. 1995. Bactericidal activity of serum of all-female triploid rainbow trout. Fish Pathol. 30: 123–124.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, University of New Brunswick, Bag Service 45111, Fredericton, N.B., E3B 6E1, Canada

    D. Schafhauser-Smith & T.J. Benfey

Authors
  1. D. Schafhauser-Smith
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. T.J. Benfey
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Schafhauser-Smith, D., Benfey, T. The reproductive physiology of three age classes of adult female diploid and triploid brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis). Fish Physiology and Biochemistry 25, 319–333 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1023285008072

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1023285008072

Search

Navigation