%0 Journal Article
%T Changes in Plasma and Ovarian Steroid Hormone Level in Wild Female Blue Tang Fish Paracanthurus hepatus during a Reproductive Cycle
%A Ho Son Lam
%A Huynh Minh Sang
%A Le Ho Khanh Hy
%A Pham Xuan Ky
%A Phan Minh-Thu
%J Animals | An Open Access Journal from MDPI
%D 2019
%R https://doi.org/10.3390/ani9110889
%X This study aimed to document the seasonal cycle of steroid levels in the plasma and ovary, including testosterone (T), estradiol-17¦Â (E 2) and 17¦Á, 20¦Â-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one (DHP) in relation to ovarian development in wild populations of female blue tang fish. The gonadosomatic index (GSI%) maintained high values from April to July and increased from the II to IV ovarian stages and dropped in the V stage. Levels of plasma, ovary T and E 2 and DHP were high from March to July. Plasma T and E 2 levels were low in the II stage when most oocytes were previtellogenic, reaching a peak during spawning, and decreased in the V stages when fish were going to late spawning and termination. DHP was detected in all stages of the ovary with a higher level in spawning fish but decreased after spawning. These results revealed that T, E 2 and DHP could be involved in ovarian development and DHP may play a significant role as a maturational inducing hormone in blue tang fish. View Full-Tex
%U https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/9/11/889