Pattern of sea bass oocyte development after ovarian stimulation by LHRHa

Abstract

The cyclic pattern of oocyte development in the sea bass, Dicentrarchus labrax L., was studied after induction of spawning by two injections, 24 h apart, of a luteinizing hormone releasing‐hormone analog (LHRHa) administered at the end of vitellogenesis. The first difference in the developmental stage of the ovary and in the size‐frequency distribution of oocytes between the LHRHa treated group and the control group, was detected 32 h after the first injection, the LHRHa group showing a higher proportion of the 900 μm diameter oocyte class (maturing oocytes) (P<0.01). At 48 h LHRHa‐treated females showed an increase in the 1000 and 1100 μm classes (maturing oocyte and ovulated eggs) (P<0.01) and at 72 h these females exhibited a bimodal pattern, reaching the highest proportions in the 1100 (27.4%) and the 600 (14.7%) μm classes (ovulated eggs and advanced vitellogenic oocytes, respectively). Bimodal distributions were present in 80% of the LHRHa‐treated females. Once oocyte final maturation was triggered by LHRHa the time needed for ovulation was about 48 h and the interval between consecutive ovulations and spawnings seemed to be 48–72 h.