Sexual Maturity in Western Atlantic Bluefin Tuna

Overview

Journal Sci Rep

Specialty Science

Date 2014 Nov 29

PMID 25431301

Citations 6

Authors

Gilad Heinisch

Hanna Rosenfeld

Jessica M Knapp

Hillel Gordin

Molly E Lutcavage

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

We introduce a novel endocrine approach for assessing the unresolved matter of the timing of sexual maturation in western Atlantic bluefin tuna (ABFT), a highly migratory population whose status remains uncertain. Ratios of follicle stimulating hormone to luteinizing hormone, a sexual maturity indicator, in all ABFT ≥ 134 cm curved fork length (CFL) were <0.4, similar to Mediterranean spawners, indicating that western ABFT mature at considerably smaller sizes and at a much younger age than currently assumed (≥ 185 cm CFL).

Citing Articles

Combining genetic markers with stable isotopes in otoliths reveals complexity in the stock structure of Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus).

Brophy D, Rodriguez-Ezpeleta N, Fraile I, Arrizabalaga H Sci Rep. 2020; 10(1):14675.

PMID: 32895410 PMC: 7477220. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-71355-6.

A possible new spawning area for Atlantic bluefin tuna (): the first histologic evidence of reproductive activity in the southern Gulf of Mexico.

Cruz-Castan R, Saber S, Macias D, Gomez Vives M, Galindo-Cortes G, Curiel-Ramirez S PeerJ. 2019; 7:e7187.

PMID: 31308999 PMC: 6612257. DOI: 10.7717/peerj.7187.

Reply to Safina and Walter et al.: Multiple lines of evidence for size-structured spawning migrations in western Atlantic bluefin tuna.

Richardson D, Marancik K, Guyon J, Lutcavage M, Galuardi B, Lam C Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2016; 113(30):E4262-3.

PMID: 27436889 PMC: 4968718. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1607666113.

Discovery of a spawning ground reveals diverse migration strategies in Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus).

Richardson D, Marancik K, Guyon J, Lutcavage M, Galuardi B, Lam C Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2016; 113(12):3299-304.

PMID: 26951668 PMC: 4812764. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1525636113.

Individual Spawning Duration of Captive Atlantic Bluefin Tuna (Thunnus thynnus) Revealed by Mitochondrial DNA Analysis of Eggs.

Gordoa A, Sanz N, Vinas J PLoS One. 2015; 10(8):e0136733.

PMID: 26317343 PMC: 4552825. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0136733.

References

Rifkind A, Kulin H, ROSS G . Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteninizing hormone (LH) in the urine of prepubertal children. J Clin Invest. 1967; 46(12):1925-31. PMC: 292945. DOI: 10.1172/JCI105682. View

Block B, Teo S, Walli A, Boustany A, Stokesbury M, Farwell C . Electronic tagging and population structure of Atlantic bluefin tuna. Nature. 2005; 434(7037):1121-7. DOI: 10.1038/nature03463. View

Moles G, Gomez A, Carrillo M, Zanuy S . Development of a homologous enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for European sea bass FSH. Reproductive cycle plasma levels in both sexes and in yearling precocious and non-precocious males. Gen Comp Endocrinol. 2012; 176(1):70-8. DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2011.12.029. View

Gomez J, Weil C, Ollitrault M, Le Bail P, Breton B, Le Gac F . Growth hormone (GH) and gonadotropin subunit gene expression and pituitary and plasma changes during spermatogenesis and oogenesis in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Gen Comp Endocrinol. 1999; 113(3):413-28. DOI: 10.1006/gcen.1998.7222. View

Rooker J, Secor D, De Metrio G, Schloesser R, Block B, Neilson J . Natal homing and connectivity in Atlantic bluefin tuna populations. Science. 2008; 322(5902):742-4. DOI: 10.1126/science.1161473. View

Wankowska M, Polkowska J . The pituitary endocrine mechanisms involved in mammalian maturation: maternal and photoperiodic influences. Reprod Biol. 2010; 10(1):3-18. DOI: 10.1016/s1642-431x(12)60034-5. View

Hassin S, Claire M, Holland H, Zohar Y . Ontogeny of follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone gene expression during pubertal development in the female striped bass, Morone saxatilis (Teleostei). Biol Reprod. 1999; 61(6):1608-15. DOI: 10.1095/biolreprod61.6.1608. View

Prat F, Sumpter J, Tyler C . Validation of radioimmunoassays for two salmon gonadotropins (GTH I and GTH II) and their plasma concentrations throughout the reproductivecycle in male and female rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Biol Reprod. 1996; 54(6):1375-82. DOI: 10.1095/biolreprod54.6.1375. View

Berkovich N, Corriero A, Santamaria N, Mylonas C, Vassallo-Aguis R, de la Gandara F . Intra-pituitary relationship of follicle stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone during pubertal development in Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus). Gen Comp Endocrinol. 2013; 194:10-23. DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2013.08.005. View

10.

Evans K, Patterson T, Reid H, Harley S . Reproductive schedules in southern bluefin tuna: are current assumptions appropriate?. PLoS One. 2012; 7(4):e34550. PMC: 3326032. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0034550. View

11.

Mananos E, Swanson P, Stubblefield J, Zohar Y . Purification of gonadotropin II from a teleost fish, the hybrid striped bass, and development of a specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Gen Comp Endocrinol. 1997; 108(2):209-22. DOI: 10.1006/gcen.1997.6966. View

12.

Knapp J, Aranda G, Medina A, Lutcavage M . Comparative assessment of the reproductive status of female Atlantic bluefin tuna from the Gulf of Mexico and the Mediterranean Sea. PLoS One. 2014; 9(6):e98233. PMC: 4049594. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0098233. View

13.

Zupa R, Corriero A, Deflorio M, Santamaria N, Spedicato D, Marano C . A histological investigation of the occurrence of non-reproductive female bluefin tuna Thunnus thynnus in the Mediterranean Sea. J Fish Biol. 2010; 75(6):1221-9. DOI: 10.1111/j.1095-8649.2009.02355.x. View

14.

Holland M, Hassin S, Zohar Y . Seasonal fluctuations in pituitary levels of the three forms of gonadotropin-releasing hormone in striped bass, Morone saxatilis (Teleostei), during juvenile and pubertal development. J Endocrinol. 2001; 169(3):527-38. DOI: 10.1677/joe.0.1690527. View

15.

Le Gac F, Blaise O, Fostier A, Le Bail P, Loir M, Mourot B . Growth hormone (GH) and reproduction: a review. Fish Physiol Biochem. 2013; 11(1-6):219-32. DOI: 10.1007/BF00004569. View

16.

Schulz R, de Franca L, Lareyre J, Le Gac F, LeGac F, Chiarini-Garcia H . Spermatogenesis in fish. Gen Comp Endocrinol. 2009; 165(3):390-411. DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2009.02.013. View

17.

Schreibman M, Blum V . Distribution of variant forms of immunoreactive gonadotropin-releasing hormone and beta-gonadotropins I and II in the platyfish, Xiphophorus maculatus, from birth to sexual maturity. Gen Comp Endocrinol. 1994; 94(1):135-50. DOI: 10.1006/gcen.1994.1067. View

18.

Carlsson J, McDowell J, Carlsson J, Graves J . Genetic identity of YOY bluefin tuna from the eastern and western Atlantic spawning areas. J Hered. 2006; 98(1):23-8. DOI: 10.1093/jhered/esl046. View

19.

Hassin S, Gothilf Y, Blaise O, Zohar Y . Gonadotropin-I and -II subunit gene expression of male striped bass (Morone saxatilis) after gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogue injection: quantitation using an optimized ribonuclease protection assay. Biol Reprod. 1998; 58(5):1233-40. DOI: 10.1095/biolreprod58.5.1233. View

20.

Rosenfeld H, Mylonas C, Bridges C, Heinisch G, Corriero A, Vassallo-Aguis R . GnRHa-mediated stimulation of the reproductive endocrine axis in captive Atlantic bluefin tuna, Thunnus thynnus. Gen Comp Endocrinol. 2011; 175(1):55-64. DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2011.09.013. View