Comparative effects of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa) treatments on the stimulation of male Senegalese sole (Solea senegalensis) reproduction

The aquaculture of Senegalese sole (Solea senegalensis) is limited by the failure of cultured breeders (F1 generation) to produce fertilized spawning. Critical reproductive dysfunctions have been observed in both female and male Senegalese sole cultured breeders, including reduced fecundity and diminished sperm production. The present work aimed to study the effectiveness of different hormonal treatments on the stimulation of male reproduction. Male Senegalese sole cultured breeders were treated with 1) saline injections (controls), 2) gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa) injections (25 μg kg−1), 3) GnRHa slow release implants (40 μg kg−1) or 4) human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) injections (1000 IU kg−1). Each group of males was placed in separated spawning tanks together with females treated with GnRHa implants.All three hormonal treatments increased plasma testosterone (T) and 11-ketotestosterone (11-KT) levels and the gonadosomatic index (GSI), with highest effects exerted by the hCG treatment. Histological examination of the testes showed no effect of the GnRHa injection, but a clear stimulation of germ cell proliferation and testicular maturation by GnRHa implants and hCG injections. As expected, GnRHa implantation of females induced egg release in all experimental tanks and interestingly, female fecundity increased in tanks containing GnRHa- or hCG-treated males. A fertilized spawning was obtained only from the group containing hCG-treated males. In conclusion, hormonal treatments stimulated steroidogenesis and spermatogenesis in male Senegalese sole, with highest efficiency of the hCG multiple injection treatment. Female fecundity was affected by the hormonal treatment applied over the accompanying males, suggesting a pheromone communication between fish. However, none of the treatments seemed to be adequate in solving the problem of lack of fertilized spawning in cultured Senegalese sole broodstocks.