• Development and Reproduction
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.209-215
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• 2015

Red spotted grouper, Epinephelus akaara is a popular aquaculture species in many Asian countries. This species is a protogynous hermaphrodite that first differentiates into female and changes to male later. Due to this reproductive characteristic, stable supply of male and female gametes is a key to the success of seed production in this species. Thus, understanding early gonadal differentiation is required to develop effective sex control techniques. Red spotted grouper were reared in indoor tanks and sampled every 5 days from 40 days post-hatch (DPH) to 130 DPH. Changes of gonadal tissues were examined and analyzed by means of histology. A pair of gonadal primordium has already existed underneath the kidney in the posterior part of the body cavity at 38 DPH when this study began. Gonadal primordia of 38, 40 DPH consisted of germ cells surrounded by a few somatic cells. The blood vessel was observed in the gonadal primordium at 45 DPH. The number of somatic cells and size of gonadal primordium increased age-dependently up to 60 DPH. Formation of ovarian cavity was obvious by two protuberant aggregations of somatic cells at 65 DPH. Completed ovarian cavity and oogonia were first observed in the gonad of one fish sample at 105 DPH. Based on these histological observations, it can be suggested that induction of primary male differentiation could be more successfully applied at around 60 DPH in this species.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.185-193
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• 2012

For the gonadal sex management of younger longtooth grouper (Epinephelus bruneus), this work investigated the timing and histological process of ovary differentiation and oocyte development of longtooth grouper larvae and juvenile. Specimens (from 1 to 365 DAH) were collected for gonadal histological study from June 2008 to August 2009. Rearing water temperature was ranged from 20 to $24^{\circ}C$. The primordial germ cells could be observed from 10 to 15 DAH, while undifferentiated gonad occurs from 20 to 50 DAH in longtooth grouper. The initial ovarian phase was 60 to 110 DAH with the formation of ovarian cavity and the increased in size of gonad. The ovarian phase started at 140 DAH with appearance of oogonia. The gonad at 365 DAH appeared to have full of oogonia and primary growth stage oocyte. Formation of ovarian cavity indicates that the ovarian differentiation beginning at 60 DAH in longtooth grouper. The gonads in longtooth grouper differentiated directly into ovaries in all fish examined.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.75-80
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• 2002

A study on the effects of bisphenol A (BPA) on sex differentiation and gonadal development in medaka, Oryzias latipes, was investigated by histological examination. The fish were exposed to aqueous solutions of BPA at nominal concentrations of 50, 100, and 200 $\mu\textrm{g}$/L from newly-hatched larvae stage to 70 d. The ovaries of female fish were composed of oocytes at the chromatin nucleolus and peri-nucleolus stages at 20 d after the exposure. The testes contained a number of spermatogonia and spermatocytes at 30 d. In the process of sex differentiation. gonadal development was not different in all experimental groups until 30 d after the exposure. At 70 d after the exposure, however, advanced development of oocytes in the ovary and inhibition of spermatogenesis in the testis were observed in the BPA-treated groups compared to the non-treated controls. More females than males were identified in the 50 and 100 $\mu\textrm{g}$/L BPA-treated groups, in comparison to the 200 $\mu\textrm{g}$/L BPA-treated group and non-treated controls. Medaka exposed to 200 $\mu\textrm{g}$/L BPA were bigger compared to other experimental groups. The present study suggests that BPA may lead to problems in either mating or sexual behavior due to the difference in growth and disparity of sexual maturation between male and female fish.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.401-406
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• 2008

Early gonadal development and sexual differentiation of dark-banded rockfish (Sebastes inermis Cuvier) were followed from parturition to 400 days post parturition (dpp). During this period, average total length (TL) increased from 0.57 to 13.18 cm. Primordial germ cells (PGCs) were first detected at 0.68 cm TL (10 dpp). When fish reached 1.52 cm TL (50 dpp), initial stages of ovarian differentiation were identified by the presence of PGCs containing condensed chromatin and their transformation into meiotic oocytes. At 10.23 cm TL (300 dpp), the ovaries gradually developed into oocytes in the primary yolk stages. Ovary growth was rapid after sex differentiation, but testis tissue continued to multiply without growing until fish reached 6.97 cm TL (200 dpp), after which the production of spermatocytes, spermatogonia, and cyst cells was apparent. Histological analysis of gonadal structure suggested a gonochoristic sexual development pathway. Our analysis of the sex ratio at 400 dpp showed a significantly higher proportion of males.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.51-56
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• 2014

This study describes the developmental process of gonads in chameleon goby, Tridentiger trigonocephalus from the stage of hatching to 100 days after hatching (DAH). Based on histological observation, the primordial germ cells were observed in mesentery between mesonephric duct and gut at 15 DAH (total length, TL: $6.8{\pm}0.2mm$). At 20 DAH (TL: $7.9{\pm}0.1mm$), the primordial gonad began to protrude into peritoneal cavity and developed between mesonephric duct and gut. Initial ovarian differentiation was identified by the presence of ovarian cavity and oogonia in the gonads at 55 DAH (TL: $21.1{\pm}1.3mm$). Testicular differentiation started at 65 DAH (TL: $23.7{\pm}0.9mm$) with appearance of spermatogonial cells in the gonads. These findings indicate that sex differentiation in T. trigonocephalus occurs earlier in females than males, suggesting that this species can be classified as an undifferentiated gonochorist.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.311-319
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• 1997

This study was carried out to investigate the ultrastructural changes of spermatozoa obtained from 20 of 3-year-old male chum salmon(Oncorhynchus keta) collected and analysed in middle October in 1995. The ultrastructural changes of gonad of fingerlings were examined to describe the sex differentiation of this species. The results obtained in this study were as follows : In spermatozoa, the nucleus is dense and homogeneous. Two spheroidal mitochondria(about 350nm long) are situated in parallel between the nucleus and the axoneme. Spermatozoa mitochondria are assembled into an organized sheath surrounding the outer dense fibres and axoneme of the flagellar midpiece. The sheath flagellum is situated beneath the base of the sperm head. The primordial germ cells of 6.8~7.2${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ in size, which were buried under fibrous mesenchymal tissue between gut duct and notochord of larva with a total length of 2.4cm at 50 days after hatching. In juvenile of 10.5cm in total length at 70 days after hatching, the gonad was occupied by bundles of oogonia. The dense drumstick bodies(large arrows) are observed in the nuclei of the primordial gonad and surrounding tissue cells of fingerling at 70 days after hatching. The oval Barr bodies(asterisk) are observed in the nuclei of the primordial germ cells under the mitosis(2n). Note the large mitochondria, ribosomes and rough endoplasmic reticulum in the cytoplasm. Accordingly, the fingerlings at 70 days after hatching are identified as the female(xx). In result, the gonadal sex differentiation begins from the 70 days after hatching in chum salmon.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.287-296
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• 2019

Avian sex determination system involves the male ZZ and female ZW chromosomes. However, very few studies are reported the expression, functional role and importance of genes on the W chromosome because of its small and highly heterochromatic genomic regions. Recent studies demonstrated that the W chromosome may have critical roles in physiology, sex determination and subsequent sexual differentiation in chickens. Therefore, gene annotation, including describing the expression and function of genes in the chicken W chromosome, is needed. In this study, we have searched the W chromosome of chickens and selected a total of 36 genes to evaluated their specific expression in the testis and ovary at various developmental stages such as embryonic day 6 (E6), hatch and adult. Interestingly, out of 36 genes in chicken W chromosome, we have found seven female-specific expression at E6.5 day, indicating that they are functionally related to female chicken gonadal differentiation. In addition, we have identified the stage specific gene expression from the sex specific genes. Furthermore, we analyzed the relative location of genes in the chicken W chromosome. Collectively, these results will contribute molecular insights into the sexual determination, differentiation and female development based on the W chromosome.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.127-131
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• 2014

We investigated the androgenic effects of $17{\alpha}$-methyltestosterone (MT) on gonadal sex reversal in juvenile red spotted grouper Epinephelus akaara. The fish were immersed in $17{\alpha}$-MT at 1 and 5 mg/L. Treatment method of $17{\alpha}$-MT was once weekly for 4 and 8 weeks. Fish were sampled at 12 months after end of the treatment period in order to histological analysis. At the initiation of an experiment (70 day after hatching), juvenile red spotted grouper have the paired primordial gonads with somatic cells bellow kidney in the posterior portion of the body cavity. Formation of ovarian cavity indicates that the ovarian differentiation beginning at 70 DAH in red spotted grouper. At 12 months after end of the treatment period, control group, $17{\alpha}$-MT 1 mg/L treatment group for 4 and 8 weeks, and $17{\alpha}$-MT 5 mg/L treatment group for 4 weeks were all female. However, sex-changed males without ovarian cavity were observed in the $17{\alpha}$-MT 5 mg/L treatment group for 8 weeks. In grouper, we firstly reported that the red spotted grouper be able to induce the primary males by hormone treatment prior to gonadal sex differentiation.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.69-74
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• 1998

The early gonadal development and sexual differentiation of Rhynchocypris oxycephalus are described from the stage of hatching to 150 days after hatching. During this peroid, the average length of the body grew from 0.64 cm to 5.96 cm. the primordial germ cells (PGCs), which could be recognized at the time of hatching, began to protrude into peritoneal cavity at a standard total length of 1.91 cm. At a standard total length of 2.29cm, initial ovarian differentiation wasidentified by the transformation of PGCs to meiotic oocytes. Finally, at the standard total length of 5.96 cm, the female gonads gradually developed towards migratory nucleus oocytes, characterisiing the maturation. Oocytes proliferated rapidly after sex differentiation while the testis entered a period of quiescence, as they continued to multiply but did not undergo growth until the standard total length of 4.00 cm. At a standard total length of 4.00 cm, spermatocytes arrested in thephase of interkinesis, Sertoli-like cells and sperm duct formation, with signs of meiotic activity, were observed. Therefore it may be concluded that R. oxycephalus belongs to the differentiated type of gonochoristic teleosts.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.367-377
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• 2016

Red spotted grouper, Epinephelus akaara, is a popular aquaculture species and a protogynous hermaphrodite. Induction of artificial sex change at the time of primary sex differentiation is of interest but has not been successful due to the lack of necessary basic information. To find out the potential neuroendocrine influence on the primary sex differentiation, the expression of key genes in the brain was investigated during the formation of ovarian cavity. Expression of cyp19a1b, esr1, gnrhr1, fsh, lh and cga in the brain was positively associated with the formation of ovarian cavity, showing gradual increase as the formation proceeds. However, the expression of gnrh1 was suppressed during the early part of the ovarian cavity formation, signifying potential hypothalamic influence on the primary sex differentiation in this species.