• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.268-275
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• 2002

Seasonal variation in reproductive condition of the Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas was investigated from a suspended cultured oyster population in Gosung Bay, South Korea using histological techniques, Gametogenesis of oysters initiated in February when water temperature reached 11 to $13^\circ{C}$. Increase in oocyte size and the number resulting in follicle expansion was observed from March to May First spawning of oysters observed in mid Jun when the surface water temperature reached 22 to $25^\circ{C}$. Spawning activity of oysters extended from mid June to late September with two marked spawning peaks in June and August. Most oysters collected from October to December exhibited few residual eggs in packed follicles exhibiting a typical spent condition. No gametes were observed from December to February from oysters collected in the Bay. Gonadal development of oysters in the Bay seemed to follow a seasonal fluctuation in environmental conditions such as water temperature and food availability in the water column. Spawning of oysters in late June was in part associated with sudden drop in salinity due to vast amount of freshwater input in the Bay after the summer flooding. Sex ratio of oysters was 59.5% male and 39.8% female. Less than 1 percent (0.6%) of the oysters examined were hermaphrodite; few eggs were observed in testis.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.157-171
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• 2021

To determine whether the reproductive processes of sea bass, Lateolabrax japonicus, proceed normally after transportation from an outdoor net-cage into indoor tanks, we examined changes in the gonadosomatic index (GSI), histological gonadal tissue, and plasma levels of sex hormones (testosterone and estradiol-17ß) during their annual reproductive cycle. We also measured maturation and spawning across two sea water salinity levels (full and low salinity). Fecundity was estimated by the relationship between egg number and body size in female sea bass. Monthly changes in the GSI, histological gonadal tissues, and oocyte size showed both male and female sea bass reach final maturation in January and February, respectively, indicating that the spermiation of males occurs earlier than the spawning of females. The histological results indicated that the sea bass is a multiple spawner, similar to many marine teleosts, exhibiting group-synchronous oocyte development. Female maturation and spawning were enhanced in lower salinity seawater (29.6-31.0 psu) compared to that of normal salinity (34.5-35.1 psu). These results confirm that sea bass reproduction can occur successfully in captivity and imply that fertilized eggs can be collected from February to March. Additionally, our results show that lower salinity enhances oocyte maturation and spawning of female sea bass.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.208-218
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• 2001

We have investigated the gonad index (GI), gonadal development, reproductive cycle, first sexual maturity, sex ratio, the number of spawned eggs and spawning frequency of the Manila clam, Ruditapes philippinarum. Samples were collected from the intertidal zone of Komso Bay, Korea from January to December in 1999. Monthly changes in the gonad index (GI) and condition index showed a similar pattern in the reproductive cycle. The spawning period was once a year between early June and early October, there was a spawning peak between July and August when seawater temperature was over $20^{\circ}C$. The reproductive cycle of this species can be categorized into five successive stages; early active (February to March), late active (April to May), ripe (April to August), partially spawned (June to October), and spent/inactive stage (August to March). Percentages of first sexual maturity of female and male clams of l5.1-20.0mm in shell length were $56.3\%$ and $60.0\%$, respectively, and $100\%$ for the clams >25. mm. The sex ratio of individuals >15.1 mm in shell length was about 1:1 $(\chi^2= 0.02,\;p>0.05)$. Number of the eggs released from each clam by the induction increased as the size of clam in terms of shell length increased. Mean number of the eggs from the second induction of the spawning was $75.35-84.30\%$ $(average\;79.81\%)$ of the number of the eggs released in the first spawning. Our data indicated that R. philippinarum in Komso Bay has one major spawning peak with over two minor spawning, and the interval of each spawning was estimated to be approximately 15-17 (average 16.5) days.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.144-152
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• 2012

Objective: Concerns are growing about the decrease in male reproductive health. Caffeine is one of the popular nutrients that has been implicated as a risk factor for infertility. In the present study, we examined whether in utero and lactational exposure to caffeine affects the reproductive function of the offspring of rats. Methods: Pregnant rats received caffeine via drinking water during gestation (26 and 45 mg/kg) and lactation (25 and 35 mg/kg). Body and reproductive organ weight, seminiferous tubule diameter, germinal epithelium height, sperm parameters, fertility rate, number of implantations, and testosterone level of the offspring were assessed from birth to adulthood. Results: Significant dose-related decreases were observed in the body and reproductive organ weight, seminiferous tubule diameter, and germinal epithelium height of the offspring. Sperm density had declined significantly in offspring of the low-dose and high-dose groups, by 8.81% and 19.97%, respectively, by postnatal day 150. The number of viable fetuses had decreased significantly in females mated with male offspring of the high-dose group at postnatal days 60, 90, 120, and 150. There were also significant reductions in testosterone levels of high-dose group offspring from birth to postnatal day 150. Conclusion: It is concluded that maternal caffeine consumption impairs gonadal development and has long-term adverse effects on the reproductive efficiency of male offspring rats.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.338-346
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• 1995

Studies on activities of hepatocytes and changes of protein and total RNA contents in liver and muscle tissues associated with the gonadal maturation were performed using the adult rockfish, Sebastes schlegeli collected monthly from the adjacent waters at Poryong, Chungnam, Korea. Hepatosomatic index (HSI) of female increased from September and reached the maximum value (2.58) in February (growing stage of ovary). HSI of male began to increase from October (early maturation stage) and revealed the maximum value (3.20) in April (recovery stage). During the period of yolk formation in oocyte, the amount of glycogen particles and lipids in the hepatocytes of female gradually decreased, but total RNA contents increased. In the hepatocytes of male, a number of lipid droplets remained until the mature stage of testis. With the gonadal development of both sexes, granular endoplasmic reticula (Er) became abundant in the hepatocyte. These Ers might be supposed to have the leading role for the syntheses of protein and vitellogenin in the cytoplasm of the hepatocytes. Protein and total RNA contents in the liver and muscle tissues of female began to increase from January (growing stage) and reached the maximum value in early April (maturation stage), and then decreased in late April (gestation stage). In male, their contents began to increase from October (early maturation stage), thereafter reached the maximum value in December (maturation and copulation stage), and decreased in January (degeneration stage).

• 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.

• Journal of Aquaculture
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.529-546
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• 1998

Gonadal part that developed by indifferentiation period for 6 months after hatching is made as gonad and fat body. These gonad are thin semi-transparant and undistinguished germ cell. Germinal epithelium is distinguished by development of gonad epithelial tissue from 7 months after hatching. Sex differentiation is begun by oogonia develoment at 8 months after hatching. Primary oocytes grow over germinal epithelium of gonadal cavity, at 9 months after hatching, gonadal cavity become ovarian cavity as they increasing. As soon as oocytes at 13 months after hatching are filled with the whole part of gonad, degeneration of oocyte is begun. And then, gonad has cavity tissue, a small number of oocyte are located in gonadal cavity. At 15 months after hatching, new primary oocyte develop and cavity of ovarian tissue in the central of ovarian cavity. Spermatogonia multiplicate and cavity tissue consist of testicular tissue. These gonad become hermaphrodite and then ditermine the sex of female and male. These results show the red sea bream is juvenile hermaphrodite and undif-ferentiated gonochoristic teleost. Male and female differentiation type of gonad is divided in undifferentiation stage, oogonia-like stage, ovary-like stage, ovary development stage, hermaphroditic testis stage, hermaphroditic ovary stage, and testis development stage. Undifferentiation stage is continued total lenth 18cm at 13 months after hatching. ovary-like stage is continued total length 11~18cm at 13 months after hatching. Ovary-like stage is continued total length 14~26cm at 10~14 months after hatching. Ovary development stage begins from total length 20cm, 14 months after hatching. At 20 months after hatching, 44 percent of total sampled individuals had ovary. Hermaphroditic ovary stage first begins total length 19~20 cm at 15 months after hatching, but it is not observed total length 28~29cm at 20months after hatching. Hermaphroditic testis stage first begins total length 21~22cm at 20months after hatching and is continued for 20months. Testis development stage first begins total length 20~21cm at 20 months after hatching, and is occupied 33 percent total length 28~29cm at 20 months. The beginning of sex differentiation more than 50 percent is from total length 16cm at 11 months after hatching. Sex determination begins total length 20cm, 14months after hatching in female and total length 20cm, 15 months after hatching in male. Sex determination more than 50 percent begins total length 23cm,, 17 months after hatching. Undifferentiated gonadal part of red sea bream consist gonad and fat body. As differentiation is going on and gonad is growing, fat body shrinks. This appearence is showed the same tendency in 3-year old red sea bream. 1.9mm larvae after hatching grow about 19mm larvae for 47 days. The relationship between the total length and body weight of larvae and juveniles in $BW=4.45{\times}10^{-6}TL^{3.4718}$ r=0.9820. Fishes in cage culture grow to maximum total length 28.4cm. The relationship between the total length and body weight of these fishes is $BW=2.36{\times}10^{-2}TL^{2.9180}$, r=0.9971. Undifferentiated gonadal part of red sea bream consist gonad and fat body. As differentiation is going on and gonad is growing, fat body shrinks.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.15-22
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• 2005

The objective of the present study was to investigate changes of sex steroid(testosterone: T and $estradiol-17{\beta}:\;E_2$), cortisol levels and gonadal development following $T_3$ treatment to protandrous black porgy, Acanthopagrus schlegeli. Exogenous $T_3$ was found to significantly stimulate the increase of T levels in plasma of black porgy after 60 days of treatment. However no effects of $T_3$ on $E_2$ levels and oocyte size were found. $T_3$ treatment resulted in stimulated spermatogenesis and testicular development in gonad and prolonged spermiation. Also, the levels of cortisol were significantly increased in the fish treated with $T_3$ as compared to control fish at 60 days. The results showed that exogenous $T_3$ had direct effect on the release of T and cortisol, thus $T_3$ seems to play, either directly or indirectly, an important role in the testis development of functional male black porgy.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.13-20
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• 2008

Internal and external reproductive parameters of the striped bitterling, Acheilognathus yamatsutae were compared. Internal reproductive parameters was used gonadosomatic index (GSI), hepatosomatic index (HSI) and gonadal development stage. External reproductive parameters was used ovipositor in female and pearl organ, dorsal and caudal fin nuptial color in male. The GSI and HSI of the female and male showed highest in February. Gonadal development was observed mainly ripe and spawning/spent stage in February to May. The ovipositor length index (OLI) of the female showed highest in March to April. Pearl organ number and expression rate of the male showed highest in February to May. Dorsal fin nuptial color expression rate and index (NCI-DF) showed highest in February to May. Caudal fin nuptial color expression rate and index(NCI-CF) showed highest in February to April. The study suggested same change of internal and external reproductive parameters in female and male.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.198-203
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• 1999

Gonadal development and reproductive cycle off Gomphina melanaegis collected in the coastal waters of Chumunjin, Korea were investigated monthly from April 1996 to April 1997. G. melanaegis was dioecious, The gonads were located between the digestive diverticula and muscle tissues of the foot, The ovary was composed of a number of ovarian sacs, and the testis was composed of several testicular tubules. The flesh weight rate was reached the maximum in August ($23.0\%$), and then decreased to $19.8\%$ in September. In March, the value was reached the minimum ($17.8\%$) and then increased, The size of mature oocyte was ranged $50\~60\mu$m in diameter and had a germinal vesicle with a nucleolus. Mature oocyte contained a large number of yolk granules and lipid granules in its cytoplasm. The spermatozoon was consisted of a conical nucleus with acrosome, a middle piece containing four mitochondria and proximal and distal centrioles, and a flagellum, Sex ratio (male/female) and minimum size for sexual maturation of G. melanaegis were 0.79 and about 25 mm in shell length, respectively. The reproductive cycle could be classified into five succesive stages: multiplicative (December to March), growing (April and May), mature(June), sprawning (July and August), and degenerative and resting (September to November) stages.