Abstract
The Japanese catfish Silurus asotus is widely distributed throughout the freshwaters reservoirs, lakes and rivers of China, Korea and Japan, and is a commercially valuable aquaculture fish in some regions of China and Japan. We studied seasonal variations of gonadotropin (GtH) content of the plasma and pituitary as well as ovarian development. Plasma GtH titres increase in April in the Pearl River and in May in the Liao River in central China. Annual cycles of plasma GtH levels in both rivers are the same, with a gradual decrease after ovulation with the lowest values observed in September (in the Liao River) or October (in the Pearl River). Plasma GtH levels increase gradually in the early stages of ovarian development, with the highest values observed during the late stages of development, and with the lowest GtH titres observed during ovarian regression in both rivers. GtH content of the pituitary remained very high through the spawning period, with the highest titres observed in March in the Liao River, and in July in the Pearl River. As with plasma GtH, the lowest concentrations of pituitary GtH were observed during stages when the ovary was regressed. We analyzed the relationships between plasma and pituitary GtH and reproductive conditions, such as gonadosomatic index (GSI), hepatosomatic index (HSI), oocyte diameter (OD) and oocyte weight (OW). The results indicate that annual changes of GtH content of the plasma and pituitary paralleled GSI, OD and OW, but were negatively correlated with HSI in feral female catfish.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Cejasa, J.R., E. Almansab, J.E. Villamandos, P. Badia, A. Bolanos & A. Lorenzo. 2003. Lipid and fatty acid composition of ovaries from wild fish and ovaries and eggs from captive fish of white sea bream (Diplodus sargus). Aquaculture 216: 299-313.
Craig, S.R., D.S. MacKenzie, G. Jones & D.M. Gatlin III. 2000. Seasonal changes in the reproductive condition and body composition of free-ranging red drum, Sciaenops ocellatus. Aquaculture 190: 89-102.
Dufour, S., N.D. Belle & L.A.F. Fontaine. 1983. Development of a heterologous radioimmunoassay for eel (Anguilla anguilla) gonadotropin. Gen. Comp. Endocrinol. 49: 404-413.
Goetz, F.W. 1983. Hormonal control of oocyte final maturation and ovulation in fishes. pp. 117-170. In: W.S. Hoar, D.J. Randall & E.M. Donaldson (ed.) Fish Physiology, Vol. IXB, Academic Press, New York.
Goos H.J.Th., R. De Leeuw, E. Burawa-Gevard, M. Terlou & C.J.J. Richter. 1986. Purification of gonadotropin hormone from the pituitary of the African catfish, Clarias gariepinus, and the development of a homologous radioimmunoassay. Gen. Comp. Endocrinol. 63: 162-170.
Lee, W.K. & S.W. Yang. 2002. Relationship between ovarian development and serum levels of gonadal steroid hormones, and induction of oocyte maturation and ovulation in the cultured female Korean spotted sea bass Lateolabrax maculatus (Jeom-nong-eo). Aquaculture 207: 169-183.
Lin, H.R., C. Peng, G. Van Der Kraak, R.E. Peter & B. Breton. 1986. Effects of [D-Ala6, Pro9-N-ethylamide]-LHRH and catecholaminergic drugs on gonadtropin secretion and ovulation in the Chinese loach (Paramisgurnus dabryanus). Gen. Comp. Endocrinol. 64: 389-395.
Liu, H.L., H.Y. Pu, Zh.W. Hu & X.N. Luo. 1998. Critical technique for artificial propagation of catfish (Silurus asotus). J. Dali. Fish. Univ. 13: 1-8 (in Chinese).
Malison, J.A., L.S. Procarione, T.P. Barry, A.R. Kapuscinski & T.B. Kayes. 1994. Endocrine and gonadal changes during the annual reproductive cycle of the freshwater teleost, Stizostedion vitreum. Fish Physiol. Biochem. 13: 473-484.
Michio, Y., M. Tokimura, H. Fujita, N. Takeshita, K. Takeshita, M. Matsuyama & Sh. Matsuura. 2001. Reproductive cycle, fecundity, and seasonal distribution of the anglerfish Lophius litulon in the East China and Yellow seas. Fish. Bull. 99: 356-370.
Miwa, T., G. Yoshizaki, H. Naka, M. Nakatani, K. Sakai, M. Kobayashi & T. Takeuchi. 2001. Ovarian steroid synthesis during oocyte maturation and ovulation in Japanese catfish Silurus asotus. Aquaculture 198: 179-191.
Pacoli, C.Q., J.M. Grizzle & J.T. Bradley. 1990. Seasonal levels of serum vitellogenin and oocyte growth in channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus). Aquaculture 90: 353-367.
Pan, W.Zh., J.X. Guo, F.Sh. Tian, Zh.B. Wang, B.W. Tian, J.Y. Yan & P.Y. Zhou. 1992. Artificial spawning of cat-fish (Parasilurus asotus). J. Fish. China 16(3): 278-281 (in Chinese).
Peter, R.E. 1981. Gonadotropin secretion during reproduction cycles in teleosts: Influences of environmental factors. Gen. Comp. Endocrinol. 45: 294-305.
Peter, R.E. & K.L. Yu. 1997. Neuroendcrine regulation of ovulation in fishes: basic and applied aspects. Rev. Fish Biol. Fish. 7: 173-197.
Peter R.E., C.S. Nahorniak, J.P. Chang & L.W. Crim. 1984. Gonadotropin release from the pars distailis of goldfish, Carassius auratus, transplanted beside the brain or into the brain ventricles: Additional evidence for gonadotropin release-inhibitory factor. Gen. Comp. Endocrinol. 55: 337-346.
Peter, R.E., V.L. Trudeau & B.D. Sloley. 1991. Brain regulation of reproduction in teleosts. Bull. Inst. Zool., Academia Sinica, Mono. 16: 89-118.
Poortenaar, C.W., S.H. Hooker & N. Sharp. 2001. Assessment of yellowtail kingfish Seriola lalandi lalandi reproductive physiology, as a basis for aquaculture development. Aquaculture 201: 271-286.
Prat, F., S.Z. Carillo, A. de Mones & A. Fostier. 1990. Seasonal changes in plasma levels of gonadal steriods of sea bass, Dicentrarchus labrax. Gen. Comp. Endocrinol. 78: 361-373.
Shiraia, N., H. Suzukib, S. Toukairinc & S. Wadaa. 2001. Spawning and season affect lipid content and fatty acid composition of ovary and liver in Japanese catfish Silurus asotus. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. B 129: 185-195.
Stacy, N.E., A.F. Cook & R.E. Peter. 1979. Ovulation surge of gonadtropin in the goldfish, Carassius auratus. Gen. Comp. Endocrinol. 37: 246-249.
Tacon, P., P. Ndiaye, C. Cauty, F. Le Menn & B. Jalabert. 1996. Relationships between the expression of maternal behaviour and ovarian development in the mouthbrooding cichlid fish Oreochromis niloticus. Aquaculture 146: 261-275.
Van Oordt, P.G.J., J. Peute, R. Van Den Hurt & W.J.A.R. Viveen. 1987. Annual correlative changes in gonads and pituitary gonadotropes of feral African catfish, Clarias gargeipinus. Aquaculture 63: 27-41.
Wallace, R.A. & K. Selman. 1981. Cellular and dynamic aspects of oocyte growth in teleosts. Amer. Zool. 21: 325-343.
Wei, G. & L. Huang. 1997. Studies on the reproductive biology of Silurus asotus. J. Fish. China 21: 225-232 (in Chinese).
Wen, H.Sh., L. Wang, Y.Z. Mao, Y.Ch. Zhang & T.M. Jin. 1998. Study on spawning type of the catfish (Silurus asotus). J. Zheli. Ani. Husbandry College 8: 9-15 (in Chinese).
Wen, H.Sh., K.J. Cao, L. Wang, Y.Z. Mao & Y.Ch. Zhang. 2000. Studies on the mechanism of reproductive regulation in population of catfish, Silurus asotus, in Liaohe River. J. Fish. Sci. China 7: 53-57 (in Chinese).
Wen, H.Sh. & H.R. Lin. 2001. Effects of LHRH-A and domperidone (DOM) on gonadotropin (GtH) secretion in catfish (Silurus asotus). J. Fish. China 25: 393-397 (in Chinese).
Whitehead, C., N.R. Bromage & J.R.M. Forster. 1978. Seasonal changes in reproductive function of the rainbow trout (Salmon gairdneri). J. Fish Biol. 12: 601-608.
Yaron, Z. & B. Levavi-Zermonsky, 1986. Fluctuation in gonadotropin and ovarian steroids during the annual cycle and spawning of common carp. Fish Physiol. Biochem. 2: 75-86.
Zohar, Y. & C.C. Mylonas. 2001. Endocrine manipulations of spawning in cultured fish: From hormones to genes. Aquaculture 197: 99-136.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Sh Wen, H., Lin, H.R., Mao, Y.Z. et al. Annual Variations of Gonadotropin Content and Ovarian Development of Feral Female Catfish, Silurus asotus, in Central China. Environmental Biology of Fishes 68, 283–291 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1027380029823
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1027380029823