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An annual cycle of vitellogenesis in the elasmobranch Scyliorhinus canicula

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 May 2009

J. C. A. Craik
Affiliation:
Department of Zoology, University College of North Wales, Bangor, Gwynedd

Extract

Plasma vitellogenin synthesis in adult female Scyliorhinus canicula L. continued throughout the year but the rate of synthesis was significantly lower between March and August than during the rest of the year. The hepatosomatic index (liver weight as percentage of body weight) underwent annual variation in both sexes but this variation was considerably more pronounced in the female. Increase in hepatosomatic index in the female was accompanied by increase in the percentage of lipid in the liver and was largely caused by increase in the total lipid content of the liver. Comparison of livers of males and females showed that the percentage of lipid was not significantly different while the percentage of solids insoluble in water and organic solvents was greater in the female. Oviposition, as indicated by the percentage of females with eggs in the oviducts, continued throughout the year, reaching a minimum in September-October. Between July and October, parameters associated with vitellogenesis began recovery from their respective annual minima in the following order: plasma oestradiol level, hepatosomatic index, rate of synthesis of plasma vitellogenin, gonosomatic index, plasma vitellogenin level, rate of oviposition.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 1978

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