Histochemical and biochemical study of lipids during the reproductive cycle of the toadfish, Halobatrachus didactylus (Schneider, 1801). |
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J.A. Muñoz Cueto, M. Alvarez, M. Blanco, M.L. González de Canales, A. García-García and C. Sarasquete |
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Histochemical and biochemical aspects of the lipids of the female toadfish, Halobatrachus didactyllus, during its annual reproductive cycle were studied. Oil droplets containing neutral lipids, and protein-yolk granules containing phospholipids and glycolipids were observed in the vitellogenic oocytes. The cytoplasm of the hepatocytes also contained neutral lipids (oil droplets). The highest lipid concentrations were observed in the liver and the lowest in the serum. In the liver, triglycerides predominated in the fractional composition of lipids. The ovarian and hepatic total lipids and phospholipids, and the hepatic triglyceride levels were higher during the reproductive period (from January to May). A positive relationship between the gonadosomatic index (GSI), hepatosomatic index (HSI) and ovarian total lipids, cholesterol, and phospholipids was found. The HSI was also positively correlated with the hepatic and serum lipids, whereas the GSI showed a negative relationship with the serum lipids. Results obtained show that the GSI and HSI variations observed, during the annual reproductive cycle of H. didactylus females, are associated with histological-histochemical changes and to modifications in the ovarian, hepatic and serum lipid concentrations. |
Keywords: toadfish, reproductive cycle, lipids, ovary, liver, serum, histochemistry, biochemistry. |
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Sci. Mar. 60(2-3) : 289-296 |
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