Gonadal development and steroid hormone profile of wild caught grey mullet (Mugil cephalus)

Abstract

The grey mullet Mugil cephalus is one of the popular and fast growing fishes being cultured in tropical and subtropical regions. In the present study, histological observation of gonadal development and corresponding changes in sex steroid levels from different maturity stages of wild caught male and female were studied. In female, testosterone and 17β-estradiol increased with the advancement of maturation and reached peak (17β-estradiol, 323 ± 13 pg/ml; testosterone, 938 ± 7.87 pg/ml) in mature stage, whereas the level of progesterone was maximum (488 ± 4.9 pg/ml) during ripe stage. Vitellogenin level in serum showed a similar trend as 17β-estradiol. In case of male, the testosterone level in serum increased gradually with advancement of maturation and was maximum (1820 ± 40.25 pg/ml) during ripe stage, whereas significant decrease in 17β-estradiol and progesterone was noticed with advancement of maturation. The fundamental information from this investigation would be useful for developing protocol for accelerating maturation and spawning under captive condition.

Keywords:

• mullet
• gonad
• maturation
• sex steroid
• vitellogenin
• histology

Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to the Director, Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture, for providing the necessary facilities to carry out this research the work and Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi, India, for financial support.

Disclosure statement

There is no conflict between the authors regarding the research data presented in the paper.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi, India, under 2011–2012 financial years.