Research Progress of Reproductive Physiology of Flatfish in China

Abstract:

The key to sustain the development of marine finfish aquaculture is to improve the understanding of reproductive physiology, which will pave the way for the successful breeding programs and larviculture. Recently, in China, northern coastal research institutes have made significant advances in the field of reproductive physiology in flatfish with focus on the hypothalamus- pituitary-gonadal axis (HPG axis), including histological characteristics, gonadal development, plasma sex steroids, and reproductive endocrine and regulatory mechanisms. This paper summarized the mechanisms of important functional genes in the HPG axis using Cynoglossus semilaevis and Paralichthys olivaceus as examples. Furthermore, we provided here a synoptic contents of some of these important advances related to the HPG axis, including the histology and endocrinology of secretory tissue cells, physiological characters of gonads, environmental factors, hormone-induced spawning, temperature, photoperiod and sex steroid levels, with emphasis on C. semilaevis, Verasper moseri and Kareius bicoloratus. This paper aims to provide the guidance for new breeding programs and laviculture in flatfish.