Seasonality of serum levels of vitellogenin in male Japanese whiting, Sillago japonica, reared under natural temperature and photoperiod

Abstract

: Because blood vitellogenin (Vg) has been considered a biomarker for environmental estrogens, the basal levels of Vg and 17β-estradiol (E2) were determined in male Japanese whiting reared under natural conditions. Serum levels of Vg and E2 were measured and gonadal development was assessed by gonadosomatic index (GSI) and histological observation in 8–10 male fish at monthly intervals throughout the annual reproductive cycle. Serum E2 was 1%. Histological observation revealed that testes in such male fish were in active spermatogenesis and then all of the testes of male fish in which serum Vg decreased to ND levels were regressed. These results suggest that Vg productive potency (sensitivity to estrogens) may increase in the spermatogenic stage, resulting in production of Vg in response to very low levels of natural or xenobiotic estrogens.