Androgens stimulate sex change in protogynous grouper, Epinephelus coioides: spawning performance in sex-changed males

Abstract

We examined the efficacy of androgens (1.0 mg/kg body mass), testosterone (T), 11-ketotestosterone (11-KT), 17α-methyltestosterone (MT), testosterone propionate (TP) or androgen mixture (T, MT and TP in an equal ratio), for induction of sex change in protogynous orange-spotted grouper, Epinephelus coioides. The spawning performance in sex-changed males was also investigated. MT and androgen mixture at a dose of 1.0 mg/kg BW induced a sex transition and completion of spermatogenesis up to the functional male phase. The androgen mixture was most effective. Significantly, higher plasma T levels were found in MT and androgen mixture groups compared to control and other androgen implantation (T, TP or 11-KT) groups. We found that plasma levels of estradiol-17β (E2) or 11-KT were not different among treated groups. Sex-changed males could successfully fertilize mature eggs. Fertilization and hatching rates were of 23.5–70.4% and 8.4–44.6%, respectively. The data demonstrated that induction of sex change by exogenous androgens in groups could apply to the aquaculture field for seed production.