Residual impact of 17α-methyltestosterone and histopathological changes in sex-reversed Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)

Objective:To examine sex reversal both by oral and by immersion using 17α-methyltestosterone on the methyltestosterone residual concentration and the organ histopathology of tilapia fish.Methods:This study used oral and immersion treatment methods for sex reversal of tilapia fish and used normal fish as the control and each treatment was repeated 4 times.17α-methyltestosterone at dosages of 60 mg/kg feed and 0.5 mg/L were used for oral and immersion methods,respectively.In the first step,tilapia fry were reared at 100 L aquaria,with a density of 1 fish/L for 2 months.In the next step,male tilapias were reared at happa(net cage)of(2×1×1)m3 size in the controlled pond,with a density of 30 fish/happa for 3 months.The methyltestosterone residual concentrations were analyzed by one-way analysis of variance and Duncan's multiple range tests,while organ histopathology was analyzed by descriptive method.Results:Residual concentrations in the serum of methyltestosterone-treated fish were significantly lower than that in normal fish,especially in 4-and 5-month-old tilapias with averages of less than 5μg/L,while in normal fish was more than 5μg/L.In the flesh,methyltestosterone residual concentrations showed relatively no significant differences between the oral and immersion treatment groups and methyltestosterone-treated fish remained lower compared to normal fish,except in 5-month-old tilapia.Methyltestosterone-treated tilapia exhibited histopathological changes on gill,liver,kidneys,and intestine organs.Conclusions:Sex reversal either by oral or by immersion has methyltestosterone residual concentration,but does not exceed the limits(5μg/L or 5μg/kg)of synthetic steroid on the fish body,although methyltestosterone causes histopathological changes on gill,liver,kidneys,and intestine.

A multidisciplinary method to assess the reproductive biology of Mystus bleekeri

The study aims to afford a deeper knowledge on reproductive biology of Mystus bleekeri from Surma River,Bangladesh in a multidisciplinary way.Though,the species is in demand as food and ornamental fish in Bangladesh but still now comprehensive details on reproductive biology of this species is scanty.Total 600 fish samples were derived from commercial catches from July 2018 to June 2019.Periodic differences in sex ratio,size distribution,condition factor(Kn),fecundity,gonadosomatic index and gonadal maturation cycle were assessed.The results showed 384(64%)female and 216(36%)male with an overall sex ratio of 1.77:1(female:male).Mean total length(TL)and body weight(BW)of all fish studied were 14.85±3.38 cm TL and 27.54±15.76 g,respectively.The Kn varied with length groups,the highest(1.45±0.23)and lowest(0.89±0.18)values obtained in 16.0-16.9 and 10.0-10.9 cm TL groups,respectively.The highest Kn was documented in October while the lowest was in January.Monthly GSI values showed two peaks in July and November for both the sexes.The fecundity was found to vary from 1120 to 14790 eggs with average value of 4968±3047 with 14.4-18.3 cm in TL and 19.97-34.7g in BW.The relationship of fecundity with TL and BW was F=1.385TL13.405,r^(2)=0.885 and F=5.201BW^(4.827),r^(2)=0.944.Partial behavior of spawning together with allochronic oocytes development has also been found through histology.The results of this study could be used for predicting the response of populations of fish in Surma River and/or other where to human interferences and environmental change.