Masculinization of Convict Cichlid (Cichlasoma nigrofasciatum) by immersion in Tribulus terrestris extract

Abstract

We have examined the effects of Tribulus terrestris (TT), a non-toxic herb, on sex reversal in the Convict Cichlid Cichlasoma nigrofasciatum with the aim of introducing a new environmentally friendly method for masculinization in C. nigrofasciatum. TT is a natural plant product that elevates the testosterone levels in humans and animals. Different concentrations (0.0, 0.10, 0.20 and 0.30 g/l) of TT extract were tested for their effect on sex reversal in C. nigrofasciatum by immersing newly hatched offspring once weekly for 2 months in TT extract. Of the dosages used in the present study, 0.30 g/l TT was the most effective in terms of masculinization, resulting in a maximum male ratio of 87.23% (P < 0.001). Sex ratios of 79 and 85% at 0.10 and 0.20 g/l TT, respectively, were also significantly different from the expected 1:1 ratio (P < 0.001). Histological examinations revealed that the testes of fish treated with TT extract contained all stages of spermatogenesis, clearly demonstrating that the administration of TT extract to C. nigrofasciatum stimulated spermatogenesis. Total survival rates in all treatments and the control were uniformly high, ranging from 88.57 to 90% (P > 0.05). We concluded that TT had no negative effect on the survival rate of C. nigrofasciatum. In addition, all groups of TT-treated fish exhibited successful growth acceleration compared to the control group, but only the 0.30 g/l TT treatment significantly improved the growth rate of C. nigrofasciatum. (P < 0.01). Sex reversal in C. nigrofasciatum demonstrated that TT-treated 0-day-old larvae showed successful sex reversal, spermatogenesis and a better growth rate than untreated progenies.

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“…A dose-dependent increase in percentage of males was observed for all the solvent extracts of M. pruriens seed, while fish fed diets containing only methanol and successive methanol extracts of A. racemosus roots showed such dose dependent increase in percentage of males (Table 1). Such dose dependent masculinisation effect of plant extracts was also observed in other studies, where percentage of males increased with increase in the Tribulus terrestris concentration in Poecilia latipinna, P. reticulata, Cichlasoma nigrofasciatum and Clarias gariepinus (Kavitha & Subramanian, 2011;Kavitha et al, 2012;Çek et al, 2007a;Çek et al, 2007b;Turan & Çek, 2007). As the highest treatment concentration of 0.2 g/kg feed produced the maximum percentage of males for both the plants, further experiments with increased concentration might be required to achieve 100% sex reversal with these plants.…”

Effect of three natural phytochemicals supplementation on growth performance, testosterone level and feed utilization of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)

“…These results are supported by the findings of Goda () and Yan, Meng, Lee, Wang, and Kim () who reported a growth improvement of Nile tilapia and broiler checking with GE supplementation. Also, Çek, Turan, and Atik () and Turan and Cek () found that using TE by immersion or as a dietary supplementation improved growth performance of African catfish, guppy and convict cichlid fry. Similarly, Iftikhar, Bashir, Anwar, Mastoi, and Shahzad () reported a significant increase in albino rate body weight with DPPG supplementation.…”

Influence of Tribulus terrestris extract on the survival and histopathology of Oreochromis mossambicus (Peters, 1852) fry before and after Streptococcus iniae infection

“…Çek et al. () also reported that all groups of TT‐treated (0.0, 0.10, 0.20 and 0.30 g L −1 ) convict cichlid, C. nigrofasciatum fry exhibited a higher body weight and total length compared to the control group, but only the 0.3 g L −1 TT treatment significantly increased them (Çek et al., ).…”

“…Çek et al. () declared that TT treatment is a more effective method than the administration of synthetic hormone in terms of affecting sex reversal. Previous studies in different fish species also reported that TT improved growth performance.…”

“…O. mossambicus males grow faster and reach a larger final size than females (Davis et al., ). Previous studies showed that the TT improved the growth rate of Poecilia reticulata (Çek et al., ), Cichlasoma nigrofasciatum (Çek et al., ), Clarias gariepinus (Turan and Çek, ) and Poecilia latipinna (Kavitha and Subramanian, ). Additionally, TT has shown hepatoprotective and antioxidant activities in O. mossambicus (Kavitha et al., ).…”