INDUCTION OF SPAWNING IN AFRICAN CATFISH (Clarias gariepinus ) BY USING HUMAN CHORIONIC GONADOTROPIN

Abstract

This work was designed to study the effect of Human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) on induction of spawning of African catfish (Clarias gariepinus ). In this experiment a total number of 90 catfish (745.8±9.2g body weight) were divided into three experimental groups (30 each) .The first group was considered as a control group and injected intramusculary with carp pituitary extract (0.3ml/kg/ b.w.).The second group was injected with HCG (1200 IU / kg body weight ). The third group was injected with both carp pituitary extract and HCG (0.15 ml/kg and 600 IU/kg body weight, respectively. The results of the present experiment showed significant differences in survival rate , fertilization rate (%), hatching rate (%), latency period, egg weight (g), egg diameter (mm) and total protein (g/dl). However, insignificant differences were detected in initial weight (g), condition factor and specific growth rate, body weight before spawning, body weight after spawning, egg number/g, gonadosomatic index, hepatosomatic index, cortisol (ug/dl) and estradiol17β(pg/m). Females treated with HCG had the highest values of fertilization rate, hatching rate, latency time and survival rate. Conclusively, the results of the present study indicated that at a level of 1200 IU from HCG was the most effective agent in inducing spawning of African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) females.