Gonadal development and sex steroids in a female Arctic charr broodstock

Abstract

Gonadal development and plasma levels of sex steroids were investigated in female Arctic charr at 3‐week intervals over a 12‐month period. Circulating levels of oestradiol‐17β (E2), testosterone (T) and 17,20β‐dihydroxy‐4‐pregnen‐3‐one (17,20β‐P) were measured by radioimmunoassay, and gonadal status assessed through histological examination and measurement of gonadosomatic index (GSI) and frequency distribution of oocyte size‐classes. Gonadal recrudescence during March‐July was characterized by modest but insignificant increases in plasma levels of E2 (2–4 ng ml−1) and T (2–5 ng ml−1) and recruitment of oocytes into yolk accumulation. Only a small and insignificant rise in GSI and no apparent increase in oocyte diameter occurred during this period, indicating that the rate of yolk formation and oocyte growth was low. Following transformation from stage V (peripheral yolk granule stage) to stage VI (yolk granule migration stage) in late July, the vitellogenic oocytes entered a phase of rapid growth which resulted in a marked rise in GSI until ovulation commenced in late September. Gonadal growth during this period was accompanied by increases in plasma levels of E2 and T which peaked at 11 ± 1 (mid‐August) and 71 ± 5ng ml−1 (late September), respectively. The levels of both steroids dropped rapidly during final maturation and ovulation, followed by a surge in plasma levels of 17,20β‐P which peaked at an average of 74 ± 17 ng ml−1 in early October. All three steroids returned to basal levels within a month after ovulation, and all steroids, except E2, remained low until March of the following year. A slight increase in E2 detected in February and March during the second season may have been associated with recruitment into vitellogenesis of a new generation of oocytes. It is suggested that the abrupt increase in vitellogenesis in late July may reflect a condition‐dependent decision to proceed with maturation, once the energy reserves have been repleted during spring‐early summer.