Artemia and Aquaculture Research Institute, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran., Shehid beheshti st., Urmia, Iran , a.irani@urmia.ac.ir
Abstract: (125 Views)
Introduction: All-female fish can be produced by direct methods (feminization using hormones such as estradiol) or indirect methods (masculinization and production of xx males and mating them with normal females). In fish such as common carp (Cyprinus carpio), the indirect method is more suitable because in this method, there is no need for hormonal treatment of fish intended for human consumption and all offspring produced by this method are female. In this study, masculinization of common carp by oral administration (50 and 100 mg/kg of food each for 6 and 8 weeks) and immersion (1 mg/liter of water for 24, 48 and twice 48 hours) of 17-alpha methyl testosterone were investigated. Materials and Methods: In the oral method, 17-alpha methyl testosterone hormone was dissolved in alcohol and sprayed onto commercial food. The rations were kept overnight at room temperature to evaporate the alcohol and then kept in the refrigerator. In the immersion method, the methyl testosterone and alcohol solution was dissolved in 50 liters of water and the fish were kept in it. After the treatments period, the fish were fed with common carp commercial diets during the rest of experimental period. Results and Discussion: The results showed that 17-alpha methyl testosterone was ineffective on growth and feeding indicators, so that none of the treatments showed a statistical difference compared to the control group (p>0.05). Methyl testosterone did not have significant effect on sex reversal of common carp in immersion method (p>0.05). In contrast, the oral administration of methyl testosterone was more effective for common carp masculinization (p<0.05). Conclusion: According to the results, feeding with a dose of 100 mg of methyl testosterone per kilogram of food for 8 weeks has produced about 70% of males in common carp. Therefore, this method can be used for masculinization of common carp fingerlings (about 9 g at the start of the experiment).