• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.253-261
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• 1985

The reproduction of marbled sole Limanda yokohamae, caught near around the southeastern coast of Korea, from December 1983 to November 1984, was investigated based on such annual variations as gonadosomatic index(GSL), gametogenesis, reproductive cycle, spawning number, hepatosomatic index (HSI), and fatness. GSI began to increase in the autumn season with the onset of shorter day length and colder water temperature, and reached the maximum value in December with the shortest day length and the lowest temperature over the year. The gonad activated the proliferation of oogonia and spermatogonia in June, reached the mature stage in October, ripe in December, and spawning from the end of December to January. After spawning, it showed the resting stage which gonad remained regressive and suppressive from February to May. In addition, the adult individuals observed discharged eggs only once during their spawning period. At yolk globular stage, the substance of vitellogenin synthesized from the liver was considered to participate in the active yolk accumulation of oocytes. Marbled sole was concluded to be a typical winter spawning species in that such environmental factors as short day length and low water temperature were closely related with the gametogenesis, the stimulation of oocyte maturation, and were also affecting the ovulation.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.3.1-3.8
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• 2020

Background: The IGF system plays important roles in controlling growth, development, reproduction, and aging of organisms. Methods: To estimate maturation of the Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas, we investigated the expression of insulin-like growth factor (IGF) system components and sex-specific genes. To determine the role of the IGF system in the growth and spawning period of female and male oysters, we examined mRNA expression levels of the C. gigas insulin receptor-related receptor (CIR), IGF binding protein complex acid labile subunit (IGFBP_ALS), and molluscan insulin-related peptide (MIP), as well as those of vitellogenin (Vg) and receptor-type guanylate cyclase (Gyc76C) in gonads of C. gigas collected between April and October, when sex can be determined visually in this species. Results: We found that MIP, IGFBP_ALS, and CIR mRNA expression levels were dependent on sex and month and were greater in males than in females. CIR and Vg mRNA expression levels were very similar among females, whereas IGF system components and Gyc76C were very similarly expressed among males. The highest expression values were observed in May, when oysters are mature; CIR and Vg mRNA expression levels were highest in females, and those of MIP, IGFBP_ALS, CIR, and Gyc76C were highest in males. Interestingly, we observed a 1:1 proportion of females to males during this period. Conclusion: Our results suggest that IGF system components, as well as Vg and Gyc76C, are associated with sexual maturation in C. gigas.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.483-488
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• 2015

We studied oocyte steroidogenesis in the blackfin flounder Glyptocephalus stelleri as a region-specific species, in the East Sea of Korea during the spawning season. Maturing oocytes (0.76, 0.82, 0.88, and 0.91 mm in oocyte diameter) were incubated in vitro in the presence of [$^3H$] $17{\alpha}$-hydroxyprogesterone ($[^3H]17{\alpha}$-OHP) as a precursor. Steroid metabolites were extracted from the incubated medium and oocytes, and the extracts were separated and identified by thin-layer chromatography (TLC), high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and gas chromatographymass spectrometry (GC/MS). The major metabolites produced from $[^3H]17{\alpha}$-OHP were androgens [androstenedione (A4) and testosterone (T)] and estrogens [$17{\beta}$-estradiol (E2) and estrone (E1)] and progestins [$17{\alpha},20{\alpha}$-dihydroxy-4-pregen-3-one ($17{\alpha}20{\alpha}P$) and $17{\alpha}20{\beta}$-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one ($17{\alpha}20{\beta}P$)] in maturing oocytes. The metabolic rate of $17{\alpha}20{\beta}$ was elevated (29.04%) in oocytes measuring 0.88 mm (nucleus migration stage following the induction of germinal vesicle breakdown), but was very low in oocytes measuring 0.76, 0.82, and 0.91 mm (0.42, 0.67, and 2.62%, respectively). From these results, we suggest that $17{\alpha}20{\beta}P$ acts as a maturation-inducing steroid in the blackfin flounder.

• Journal of Fisheries and Marine Sciences Education
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.990-997
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• 2015

The condition factor (CF) were calculated by the morphometric data, and gonadal maturation and reproductive potential associated with fecundities of indoor cultured Hapalogenys nitens were investigated by microscopic and morphometric analysis from August 2011 to October 2012. Monthly changes in the GSI and CF were closely related to gonadal maturation and spawning. The ovary consisted of a pair of saccular structure with many ovarian lobules, the testis is a pair of lobular structure with many testicular lobules. The relationship between total fecundity (F) and total length (TL) of fish was expressed as $F=0.0449TL^{2.7926}$($r^2=0.0653$), and body weight (BW) was expressed as $F=1.4492BW^{0.8964}$($r^2=0.0863$). In this study, some exceptional special cases and phenomena were observed: absolute and relative fecundities were not increased with the increases of total length and body weight, respectively. Absolute and relative fecundities were no concerned with the increases of age classes of total length (cm) and of body weight (g).

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.140-149
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• 2010

We determined the seasonal gonad maturation in Strongylocentrotus nudus sea urchins inhabiting an artificially enhanced seaweed forest along the Samchuk Coast of Korea from April 2006 to March 2007. A total of 30 sea urchins per month were collected from the study area, and gonadosomatic index (GSI), gonad index (GI), egg diameter, and RNA/DNA variation were measured for each specimen. GSI values of female and male urchins achieved maximums of 17.6 and 17.0, respectively, in June. Based on histological studies, maximum GI values occurred in July (4.6 for females and 4.8 for males). A mean ovarian egg diameter of $73.7\;\pm\;14.2\;{\mu}m$ was measured in August; during the main spawning period in September, mean egg diameter reached a maximum of $74.2\;\pm\;17.8\;{\mu}m$. The RNA/DNA ratio and RNA content for both males and females showed a distinct peak during the ripe stage in July, but another peak occurred in the spring season from March to April, when urchins deposit protein into the nutritive phagocytes of immature gonads prior to gametogenesis. The reproductive cycle of S. nudus is divided into five stages: early active (December-May), late active (March-July), ripe (July-September), spent and degenerative (August-November), and inactive (October-February). Our continuous removal of sea urchins from the study area did not influence the reproductive cycle, as populations quickly recovered, and achieved normal gonad development cycle in the site.

• The Korean Journal of Malacology
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.127-134
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• 2014

Gonad maturation of Manila clam, Ruditapes philippinarum was induced in this study using a recirculation system over 8 weeks in early spring. Clams used in the experiment were collected in $15^{th}$ April 2010 from the west coast of Korea, as the surface water temperature remained $11^{\circ}C$. To induce gametogenesis and subsequent maturation seawater temperature was elevated $1^{\circ}C$ per day over 10 days to reach $20^{\circ}C$. For the experiment, clams were raised in 120 L quadrangle tank maintained with re-circulated seawater system over 57 days. Water quality parameters including the water temperature, salinity dissolved oxygen, ammonium ion and nitrate levels in the tanks were monitored daily. Mixture of concentrated microalgae including Tetraselmis, Isochrysis, Pavlova and Thalassiosira weissflogii was supplied to clams twice a day, and quantity of the daily ration was adjusted as 3% of clam body dry weight. Histology was applied to examine gonad maturation. Daily monitoring of the water quality parameters indicated that the recirculation system supplied suitable environment to Manila clam; the nitrogenous components stayed below toxic levels (< 0.2 mg/L). At the beginning of the study, clams were mostly in early developing stage. As the seawater temperature reached $20^{\circ}C$, 10 days after the experiment, 20% of clams reached late development at 12 days. First ripe clams were observed at 42 days and 40% of clams were in ripe and ready for spawning at the end of study, 57 days after the experiment. In this study, gametogenesis of Manila clam was successfully induced by elevating water temperature and supplying commercially produced microalgae in a recirculation tank system.

• Journal of Aquaculture
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.475-485
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• 1998

To clarify annual reproductive cycle of Koran dark sleeper, odontobutis platycephala, we examined the seasonal changes of gonadosomatic index(GSI), testicular development stages and sex steroid hormones in blood from December 1995 to November 1997. Testis was podlike shape from July to October, and tadpole-like shape from November because of its expanded posterior part. GSI was 0.14~0.18 from July to September and increased to $0.43{\pm}0.04$ in October and then was not changed significantly until February. GSI was reincreased to $0.52{\pm}0.09$ from March and then was kept at similer levels until May, but fell down to $0.28{\pm}0.05$ in June. As results of histological observation, testis was divided into 3 parts(anterior, boundary, posterior) in the development progress of germ cells. In July, the testis was composed of only spermatogonia without seminiferous tubules in most fishes. In the anterior part of testis, the ferquency of spermatogenesis stage seminiferous tubules appearing in August was more than 80% from September to December. decreased gradually from January to March and drastically in April, and then disappeared in June. The frequency of spermiogenesis stage seminiferous tubules appearing in December, increased gradually from January to March and drastically to 80% in April, and reached to 90% the highest levels of the year in June. Post-spawning stage seminiferous tubules did not appear throughout the year. The frequency of spermatogonia was 100% and 65% in July and August, and less than 20% in the rest period of the year. In the boundary part, the frequency of spermatogenesis stage seminiferous tubules appearing in August increased from September and reached to 82% in November, decreased from December, adn disappeared in March. The frequency of spermiogenesis stage seminiferous tubules appearing in November was less than 18% until February, and increased to 29%~57% from March to June. The frequency of post-spawning stage seminiferous tubules appeared 12%~25% only from March to June. The frequency of spermatogonia was 100% in July, decreased to 85% in August and 10% in November, and increased gradually from December to 50% in April, and decreased again from May to June. In the posterior part, seminiferous tubules with some seminiferous tubules increased drastically 80%~85% in August and September, decreased drastically from October to November and remained below 10% until February, and disappeared after March. The frequency of spermiogenesis stage seminiferous tubules appearing in August increased sharply from October and reached to 75% in November. decreased to 15% in December and no significant changes until March, and disappeared after April. The frequency of post-spawning stage seminiferous tubules appearing very early in November increased to 82% in December and 85%~95% until June. The frequency of spermatogonia was 100% in July, decreased drastically to 15% in August, disappeared from October to Mrch, but reappeared from April and kept at less than 10% until June. The blood level of testosterone (T) increrased gradually from August was $0.61{\pm}0.09 ng/m\ell$ in November, increrased drastically to $3.99{\pm}1.22 ng/m\ell$ in December and maintained at in similar level until March, and decreased to $0.25{\pm}0.14 ng/m{\ell} ~ 0.17{\pm}0.13ng/m{\ell}$ in April and May and no significant changes until July (P<0.05). The blood level of 17, 20 -dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one $ng/m{\ell}$in the rest of year without significant changes(P<0.05). Taken together these results, the germ cell development of testis progressed in the order of posterior, boundary, anterior part during annual reproductive cycle in Korean dark sleeper. The testicular cycle of Korean dark sleeper was as follows. The anterior part of testis : i.e. spermatogonial proliferation period (July), early maturation period (from August to November), mid maturation period (from December to March), late maturation period (from April to May) and functional maturation period (June) were elucidated. The boundary of testis, i.e. spermatogonial proliferation period (July), early maturation period (from August to October), mid maturation period (from November to February) and the coexistence period of late maturation, functional maturation and post-spawn (from March to June) were elucidated. The posterior of testis, i.e. spermatogonial proliferation period (July), mid maturation period (from August ot September), late maturation period (October), functional maturation period (November) and post-spawn period (from December to June) were elucidated. It was showed that the changes of sex steroid hormone in blood played a important roles in the annual reproductive cycle of Korean dark sleeper.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.323-330
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• 2000

Early life history and spawning for Odontobutis interrupta were observed in the laboratory during May-August 1999 with a condition of natural habitats in the field. Optimal water temperature for spawning was between 17.5 and 22.$0^{\circ}C$ and appropriate water depth and current velocity in the natural habitat ranged 0.3-0.6 m and 0.1-0.3 m/sec, respectively. Ovary maturation index peaked at about 100mm in the total length and their values gradually decreased after the size. Male fishes showed a territory and courtship behavior to adult females and the males frequently pushed upper-ventral part of females for egg releases. After females spawned, the males guarded the egg masses and supplied dissolved oxygen using pectoral fins. According to observation of egg development in the laboratory, blastodisc formed in 1hr 17 min after the fertilization, cleavaging at 36-minute interval regularly. Blastulation occurred in 7 hr 12 min after the fertilization, with gastrulation after 11 hr 11 mins and formation of york plug after 32 hr 48 min. Embryo was formed in 33 hr 45 min after fertilization and optic vesicles appeared in 47 hr 27 mins when 30-31 somites were formed. Cardiac primordium was formed in 65 hr 15mins and its beat averaged 44- 48 time/min. Pectoral fins were formed in 138 hr 40 min, air-bladder and black vesicles were observed in lower portion of young fish. Embryo hatched from she-11 membrane after about 10 days and juvenile was 5.8$\pm$0.2mm in total length 3.0$\pm$0.5mg in weight.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.7-14
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• 1974

1. Stylochus ijimai spawns from May to October with peak spawning from July to September, P. obscurus spawns from June to October with peak spawning from July to September. 2. S. ijimai spawns approximately 96,000-132,000 eggs by one spawning. 1. Just after spawnings, the eggs of S. ijimai were $102\mu$ in diameter, and those of P. obscurus were $108\mu$. 4. S. ijimai and P. obscurus have simple eggs. S. ijimai develop indirectly having Gotte larvae, while P. obscurus develop directly. 5. These two species show very similar patterns of early developments from maturation division of eggs to the gastrula stage. 6. The zygots of S. ijimai reaches mesentoblast stage 48 hours after fertilization, and Gotte larvae hatch out 7 days after fertilization. The zygots of P. obscurus reaches mesentoblast stage 72 hours after fertilization, and juveniles hatch out 14 days after fertilization. 7. S. ijimai, have 14 days of planktonic larvae stages bearing strong phototacic behavior : P. obscurus have 7 days of planktonic life without phototacic behavior. 8. Newly hatched larvae of S. ijimai and P. obscurus are $138\mu\;and\;170\mu$ in length respectively. The early creeping forms of S. ijimai and P. obscurus are $152\mu\;and\;185\mu$ in length respectively. 9. In the early creeping stage S. ijimai are characterized by testing processes and flattening of the body. In the same stage P. obscurus lost 2 eye-spots in the cerebral area. 10. The early creeping larvae of these two species were found only in mud-flat substrates.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.82-93
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• 1998

Monthly changes of the gonad follicle index (GFI), reproductive cycle, egg-diameter composition, first sexual maturity of the Pacific oyster, Crassostrea gigas, were studied based on the samples which have been collected from the intertidal zone of Poryong west coast of Korea, from January to December, 1996. C. gigas, is dioecious, while a few individuals are alternatively hermaphroditic. Monthly variation of gonad follicle index (GFI) used for determination of spawning period, coincided with the reproductive cycle. GFI increased from April when seawater temperatures gradually increased and reached the maximum in May. And then, GFI sharply decreased from June to September due to spawning. Reproductive cycle of this species can be divided into five successive stages: in females, early active stage (March to April), late active stage (April to May), ripe stage (May to August), partially spawned stage (June to September) and spent/inactive stage (September to February); in males, early active stage (February to March), late active stage (April to May), ripe stage (May to September), partially spawned stage (June to September) and spent/ inactive stage (September to February). The diameter of fully mature eggs are approximately 50um. Spawning occurred from June to September, and two spawning peaks were observed in June and August when the seawater temperature was above $20^{\circ}C$. Percentages of the first sexual maturity of males of 20.1-25.0 mm in shell height were over $50\%$, while those of females of 25.1-30.0 mm in shell height were over $50\%$. All the males of > 30.1 mm and all the females of ^gt; 35.1 mm completed their first sexual maturity. The results suggest that C. gigas has a protandry phenomenon. Sex ratios of 919 oysters observed were 453 females $(49.29\%)$, 429 males $(46.68\%)$, 16 hermaphrodites $(1.74\%)$, and 21 indeterminate individuals $(2.29\%)$. In age class I, sex ratio of males were $64.00\%$, thus, a higher percentage than that of females. It was noted that $64.00\%$ of the young males (age class I) were more functional than females in age class I, but 2-3 year-old oysters showed higher percentage of females. Percentages of hemaphrodites in 2-3 year classes were relatively higher than those in other year classes. Histological pattern of hermaphrodites can be divided into two types: Type I (hermaphrodite having a number of newly formed developing oocytes on the oogenic tissues within a degenerating spermatogenic follicle after discharge of numerous spermatozoa) and Type II (hermaphrodite having two separate follicles in the same gonad).