Application of Hormones in Fish Culture

Abstract

Methyltestosterone, when incorporated in the diet at a concentration of 1 ppm, accelerated the growth of goldfish (Carassius auratus), horai masu, a variant of rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri), and kokanee (Oncorhynchus nerka). Simultaneous acceleration in the growth of the testes was also observed in some of the horai masu. Administration of 5 ppm methyltestosterone or diethylstilbestrol in the diet combined with injection of salmon gonadotropin was effective in accelerating the sexual maturation of rainbow trout. However, a concentration of 50 ppm methyltestosterone inhibited gonadal development if the treatment was initiated shortly after hatching and continued for a period of 5 mo. The fish thus treated were found to have threadlike gonads even after 3 yr. Courtship behavior and feeding behavior were also influenced by methyltestosterone treatment. The sex ratio of zebra fish (Zebrafario) and rainbow trout was altered when the administration of methyltestosterone was initiated just after hatching. This suggests a strong possibility of introducing sex reversal or mono sex culture in these important commercially raised fish. Results with the cobalt variant of rainbow trout, a fish lacking a complete pituitary and found only with immature gonads, suggest that this animal may be a promising model for future studies in fish endocrinology.