The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogue (GnRHa), administered through injections or with sustained-release implants, on spermiation and sperm quality in thicklip grey mullet, Chelon labrosus. Male broodstock transferred from extensive lagoons were randomly allocated to three treatment groups: (a) weekly saline injections (Saline-INJ), (b) weekly GnRHa injections (10 μg kg−...

Thick-lipped grey mullet (Chelon labrosus) has important characteristics that make it a promising candidate species for diversifying Mediterranean aquaculture. However, spontaneous spawning in captivity has not been documented, mainly due to failure of females to spawn, highlighting the need for further research on reproduction control. This study evaluated the efficacy of GnRHa administration, using repeated intramuscular inj...

Fanconi anaemia (FA) is a rare autosomal recessive disease in humans that is distributed worldwide. Fanconi anemia complementation (Fanc) proteins are essential for the appropriate functioning of the FA DNA repair pathway. They are also linked to a number of other biological processes, including oxygen metabolism, cell cycle regulation, haematopoiesis and apoptosis. So far, little research has been conducted on teleosts, but e...

Atresia of ovarian follicles, that is the degenerative process of germ cells and their associated somatic cells, is a complex process involving apoptosis, autophagy and heterophagy. Follicular atresia is a normal component of fish oogenesis and it is observed throughout the ovarian cycle, although it is more frequent in regressing ovaries during the postspawning period. An increased occurrence of follicular atresia above physi...

The family Carangidae contains several species of aquaculture interest, including the amberjacks, yellowtails and trevallies. Among them, the greater amberjack ( Seriola dumerili ), the Japanese amberjack or yellowtail ( Seriola quinqueradiata ) and the yellowtail kingfish ( Seriola lalandi ) are considered the species with the highest potential for commercial aquaculture. Understanding the reproductive physiology–biology, spa...

The greater amberjack Seriola dumerili is a new aquaculture fish that may display reproductive dysfunctions. During extensive follicular atresia, which is a common reproductive dysfunction in females during vitellogenesis, part of the reabsorbed yolk returns to the liver to be metabolized and recycled. Melanomacrophage centres (MMCs) are aggregates of macrophage‐like cells that play a role in the destruction, detoxification an...

Four different wreckfish (Polyprion americanus) broodstock batches were maintained in research facilities under different photo and thermo-period conditions, one in Greece, the Helenic Center for Marine Research (HCMR, n = 3) and three in Spain: Instituto Español de Oceanografía (IEO, n = 13) in Vigo, Aquarium Finisterrae (MC2, n = 21) in A Coruña and Consellería do Mar (CMRM, n = 11). The CMRM includes two centers that work t...

Successful spontaneous reproduction and the production of viable offspring of wild fish in captivity can take some years of adaptation, and may also involve different environmental conditions, sex ratios and densities compared to natural populations. We followed the reproductive cycle of wreckfish Polyprion americanus—a late maturing, deep-sea benthic species—in captivity in three different broodstocks in Spain under natural p...

The development of a sustainable aquaculture industry requires the closing of the life-cycle of a potential species in captivity, and the establishment of breeding selection programs using hatchery-produced breeding stocks. The greater amberjack Seriola dumerili is a cosmopolitan pelagic species that has been considered as a good candidate for the species diversification of aquaculture production in the Mediterranean region. H...

The osteological development of the vertebral column and fins in shi drum Umbrina cirrosa was studied in order to improve knowledge for its introduction in Mediterranean aquaculture. The osteological development was studied in 171 individuals, of total length ( L T ) from 2·7 to 30·2 mm that were reared under the mesocosm technique. Vertebral ontogeny starts at 3·4 and 4·0 mm L T , with the formation of the first cartilaginous...