Recombinant follicle-stimulating hormone induces vitellogenesis and spermatogenesis in flathead grey mullet (Mugil cephalus)

11th International Symposium on Reproductive Physiology of Fish (ISRPF-2018), New frontiers in reproductive diversity in a changing environment, 3-8 June 2018, Manaus, Brazil.-- 1 page
Introduction. The flathead grey mullet (Mugil cephalus) is a catadromous fish that does not spawn spontaneously in captivity. In Mediterranean aquaculture, few males produce flowing milt and females have dysfunctions at the early stages of vitellogenesis and oocyte maturation and ovulation. Research has focused on and hormonal therapies to address final maturation and spawning, but has been less successful in gametogenesis. Recently, promising results with the use of recombinant gonadotropins in finfish species have induced gametogenesis. Therefore, this study aimed to induce vitellogenesis and spermatogenesis in grey mullet using homologous recombinant follicle-stimulating hormone (mugil-rFSH), produced in Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cells. Methods: Two groups of 12 immature grey mullet (9♀and 3♂, mean weight 990 ± 212g) received weekly intramuscular injections either of CHO cells medium (control) or mugil-rFSH at a dose of 15 μg.kg-1. Approximately every two weeks blood and gonadal samples (with cannulas or abdominal pressure) were taken for analysis. Ovarian development was evaluated in situ examining the diameter of the most advanced vitellogenic oocytes (n=20) and in samples fixed for histology. The presence of milt was assessed and motility measured. Plasma levels of 11-ketoteststerone and 17β-estradiol (E2) were measured in plasma throughout the experiment. Females with oocytes greater than 350 μm and rFSH-treated males received exogenous luteinizing hormone (LH) or human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) (Solea senegalensis-rLH, hCG, hCG+Progesterone) in different consecutive weeks depending on the ovarian response. Statistical comparisons between groups were made with the Student's t-test. Results and discussion: Initial significant increases (P
The project received funding from the European Union 7FP (GA603121, DIVERSIFY)