Article

Masculinization of genetic female Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) by dietary administration of an aromatase inhibitor during sexual differentiation

Details

Citation

Kwon JY, Haghpanah V, Kogson-Hurtado LM, McAndrew B & Penman D (2000) Masculinization of genetic female Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) by dietary administration of an aromatase inhibitor during sexual differentiation. Journal of Experimental Zoology Part A: Ecological Genetics and Physiology, 287 (1), pp. 46-53. https://doi.org/10.1002/1097-010X%2820000615%29287%3A1%3C46%3A%3AAID-JEZ6%3E3.0.CO%3B2-X

Abstract
A series of experiments was carried out in which genetically female Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) fry were treated with Fadrozole, a nonsteroidal aromatase inhibitor (AI), in the diet during the period of sexual differentiation. Batches of tilapia fry treated with AI during the first 30 days following yolk-sac resorption (7-37 days post hatch, dph) showed a dose-dependent increase in the percentage of males from 0 to 200 mg · kg-1. The percentage of males remained approximately constant (92.5-96.0%) from 200 to 500 mg · kg-1. Any continuous 2- or 3-week treatment with 500 mg · kg-1 AI in this 4-week period successfully masculinized the majority of the treated fish (greater than 80%). Treatments of 1 week duration revealed that the most sensitive time to AI lies in the first week (between 7 and 14 dph). Progeny testing of males from AI-treated groups gave results indicating that these were XX males, as expected. These experiments strongly implicate aromatase activity as a key factor in sexual differentiation in the Nile tilapia.

Keywords
; Sex determination, Genetic; Nile Tilapia

Journal
Journal of Experimental Zoology Part A: Ecological Genetics and Physiology: Volume 287, Issue 1

StatusPublished
Publication date15/06/2000
Date accepted by journal17/11/1999
URLhttp://hdl.handle.net/1893/10033
PublisherWiley-Blackwell
ISSN1932-5223