Evaluation of Ovaprim and Human Chorionic Gonadotropin Doses on Spawning Induction and Egg and Larval Quality of Pigfish, Orthopristis chrysoptera

Abstract

Pigfish, Orthopristis chrysoptera, readily undergo vitellogenesis in captivity, but final oocyte maturation (FOM), ovulation, and spawning can be unpredictable. The objectives of this investigation were to assess the effects of various doses of Ovaprim ® (sGnRHa [salmon gonadotropin-releasing hormone analog] + domperidone) and human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) on FOM, ovulation, and spawning in pigfish. Ovaprim dosages investigated were 0.25, 0.50, 1.00, and 2.00 mL/kg, which were injected into the dorsal musculature of female pigfish. Male pigfish received one half the dosage administered to females to ensure spermiation. HCG doses of 500, 1000, 2000, and 4000 IU/kg were administered to female pigfish, with male pigfish once again receiving half the female dosage. Eggs were collected over a 72-h period postinjection and enumerated and assessed for fertilization, hatching percentage, and survival to first feeding. Eggs and larvae were photographed and a suite of morphological parameters was determined. Hormone dose evaluations with pigfish showed that the low-dose (0.25 and 0.50 mL/kg) Ovaprim treatments resulted in better spawning performance. However, superior egg and larval characteristics validate the 0.50 mL/kg dose as the preferred choice for use with pigfish. The four doses of HCG administered to pigfish performed unreliably in this study; thus, no dose recommendation could be made.

Effects of egg stocking density on egg hatchability, larval quality and water quality for pinfish, Lagodon rhomboides , and pigfish, Orthopristis chrysoptera

“…Pinfish and pigfish larvae at hatch and first feeding were larger and very close to the size reported for each species in literature (Schimmel ; DiMaggio et al . , ), during the static incubation experiments vs. those observed in the other two experiments. This may be a manifestation of differences in the quality of the spawns obtained from the broodfish.…”

“…This may be due to differences in metabolism or to the larger size of eggs and embryos for pinfish (egg diameter: ~900 μm) compared to pigfish (egg diameter: ~800 μm) (Cardeilhac ; Schimmel ; Sutter & McIlwain ; DiMaggio et al . , ) and the overall greater biomass of eggs stocked at each density leading to a greater capacity for oxygen consumption and waste production by the developing embryos.…”

“…Surveys, both past and recent, demonstrate the strong market potential for cultured pinfish and pigfish sold as bait to supplement wild‐caught sources when seasonal shortages occur (Adams, Lazur, Zajicek & Zimet ). Research on both species has increased in recent years, demonstrating their desirable culture traits including successful juvenile grow out at high densities (Ohs, Grabe, DeSantis, Rhyne & DiMaggio ; Ohs, Grabe, DeSantis, DiMaggio & Rhyne ; DiMaggio, Ohs, Broach & Sink ) and when fed appropriate dietary rations (Oberg, Faulk & Fuiman ), and relative ease of spawning using hormonal aids (DiMaggio, Broach & Ohs , ) and manipulation of photo‐thermal cycles (Jason S Broach, personal observation). Larvae of both species have been successfully cultured in recirculating systems; however, survival for both species to complete metamorphosis into juveniles is low (≤10%; DiMaggio, Grabe, DeSantis & Ohs ; DiMaggio, Broach, Ohs & Grabe ).…”

Evaluation of cGnRH IIa for induction spawning of two ornamental Epalzeorhynchos species

“…GnRH, which acts on the pituitary via direct innervation, stimulates the secretion of gonadotropins (GtH) that act on the gonad resulting in the production of steroids and prostaglandins (Rottmann et al, ). Since the discovery of the GnRH decapeptide and its associated role in the HPG axis, a large body of research has focused on optimization of dose, identification of active variants and development of potent analogues (Alok, Talwar, & Garg, ; Bosma, Rebers, Dijk, Willems, & Goos, ; DiMaggio et al, ; DiMaggio, Broach, & Ohs, ; Forniés et al, ; Lovejoy et al, ; Mikolajczyk et al, ; Mylonas, Hinshaw, & Sullivan, ; Ngamvongchon, Rivier, & Sherwood, ; Podhorec & Kouril, ; Prayogo, Wijayanti, Sulistyo, & Sukardi, ; Quiniou, Bosworth, Chatakondi, & Oberle, ; Sahoo, Giri, & Sahu, ; Szabó, Radics, Barth, & Horváth, ; Taufek, Harmin, & Christianus, ; Zohar et al, ). One advantage of using GnRH is that it occurs earlier in the hormonal cascade stimulating the release of endogenous stores of GtH and facilitating the contribution of supplementary endocrine factors such as prolactin, thyroid hormones, insulin like growth factors and growth hormone (Podhorec & Kouril, ).…”

Evaluation of spawning aids and administration routes on ovulation success in an ornamental cyprinid

“…The administration of exogenous hormones has been utilized to overcome reproductive dysfunction in cultured fish (DiMaggio, Broach, & Ohs, 2014;Hill et al, 2005;Mylonas & Zohar, 2007;Silverstein, Bosworth, & Wolters, 1999). Spawning aids generally target the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonad (HPG) axis, acting at the level of the pituitary gland (e.g., Gonadotropin-releasing hormone [GnRH] and analogues) or the gonads (e.g., human chorionic gonadotropin [hCG], and carp pituitary extract [CPE]).…”