Journal of the Marine Biological Association of India

Oocyte degeneration and post- ovulatory developments in the ovary of captive broodstock of black seabream, Acanthopagrus berda

Volume 67 Issue 1

P. P. Suresh Babu, M. T. Shilta, A. Anuraj, N. Rajesh, Tanveer Hussain, Mahendra Pal, Praveen Narayan Dube and Boby Ignatius

doi:10.6024/jmbai.2025.67.1.2581-05

Abstract

The study used ovarian biopsy and histological analysis to investigate oocyte hydration, follicular atresia, and post-ovulatory follicles (POFs) in captive broodstock of black seabream.
Acanthopagrus berda. Mature females were collected from the Kali Estuary, Karwar, India, and reared in floating net cages. Ovarian development was assessed using routine biopsy and histological techniques. Biopsy samples revealed the presence of hydrated oocytes, confirming ovarian maturity, while histological analysis identified distinct stages of oocyte hydration, including germinal vesicle breakdown and membrane fragmentation. In hormonally induced females, histological sections demonstrated the uneven distribution of hydrated oocytes across ovarian lobes, with a higher abundance in the posterior region. Follicular atresia was observed in both biopsy and histological samples, with alpha and beta atretic oocytes indicating progressive ovarian degeneration. The presence of numerous atretic oocytes in hormone-induced females suggested a possible link to spawning failure. Additionally, POFs were identified in regressing and regenerating ovaries, providing evidence of previous spawning events. The study highlights the value of ovarian biopsy as a cost-effective, real-time tool for assessing broodstock suitability while emphasizing the importance of histological analysis in understanding reproductive dynamics. These findings contribute to the improvement of broodstock management strategies in aquaculture. 

Keywords

Sparidae, oocyte atresia, hydration, post-ovulatory follicles, biopsy

Date : 16-06-2025