Grass carp ova retention in the body cavity after ovulation: Ova composition and development capability of eggs and alevins


M. Kharroubi, M. Droussi, A. Badri, A. Bouzidi, E. Elboustani-2002

Bulletin Francais de la Peche et de la Pisciculture, 365(66): 507-523  (from Current Contents)

Abstract :

To investigate the effects of allowing the eggs to be retained by the grass carp within the abdominal cavity after ovulation, eggs of 15 females (3-5.6 kg) were obtained at increasing periods of time after ovulation (0, 30, 60, 90 and 120 min).
For each time of ova stripping, the fertilization rate, the embryonic survival rate, the hatching rate and the total length of alevins until 5 weeks after hatching (L1=total length 2 weeks after hatching, L2=total length 3 weeks after hatching, L3=total length 4 weeks after hatching, L4=total length 5 weeks after hatching) are determined. There was no significant differences between those biological parameters recorded just after ovulation and those recorded 120 min after ovulation.
Ova were analyzed for dry weight, water, ashes and levels of total proteins, total lipids, phospholipids, carbohydrates, calcium and iron. The above aspects of egg composition remained constant when the ova are retained in the abdominal cavity for 2 hours after ovulation.
These results indicate that the in vivo retention of grass carp ova for 2 hours after ovulation has no effect neither on their biochemical composition nor on egg viability, nor on embryonic survival nor on hatching nor on the growth (total length of alevins until 5 weeks after hatching). The lack of changes in the composition of ova during their retention in ovario may explain that we still obtain satisfactory rates of viability 2 hours after ovulation and that the growth of alevins is not influenced. However, the composition of ova, the developmental capability of eggs and the growth of alevins show a high variability between females (p<0.05 for each investigated parameter).

(Fac Sci Semlalia; Dept Biol; BP 2390; Marrakech 40001; Morocco, e-mail of M. Kharroubi: kharroubi2@yahoo.fr; A. Bouzidi: bouzidi@uh1.ac.ma) 

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