Induced reproduction and early development in dourado, Salminus franciscanus Lima & Britski, 2007 (Pisces: Characiformes)

Morphological analysis of Prochilodus argenteus ovaries in successful and unsuccessful hypophysation-induced reproduction

Pampus argenteus is a species of economic importance for professional fishing and aquaculture. To analyse the quality of oocytes of P. argenteus, 10 females were kept in tanks of 200 m² with an average depth of 1 m in the Integrated Center of Fishing Resources and Aquaculture of Três Marias - CODEVASF. Specimens were submitted to hypophysation-induced reproduction with crude extract of common carp pituitary (EBHC). Females received two doses (0.8-1.0 and 5.0-6.6 mg of EBHC/kg body weight, respectively), with a 12-h interval between doses. For males, a single dose (2.7 mg/kg body weight) was applied at the same time as the females' second dose. Oocytes were extruded manually 8 h after the second hormonal dose at 26°C. It was observed that seven females responded positively to the procedure while the other three released bloody and lumpy oocytes. For histological analysis, ovarian fragments were fixed in Bouin's liquid for 8-12 h and submitted to routine histological techniques. The protocol was considered successful for 70% of females and 100% of males. The fertilization rate of the females from the unsuccessful group was very low, and histological analyses showed that most of their oocytes were in follicular atresia, suggesting a delay in hormonal administration or extrusion could have occurred. Despite the hypophysation protocol being considered adequate for the induced reproduction of P. argenteus, complementary studies are necessary to evaluate the possible causes of this degenerative process.