Levels of 17β estradiol, vitellogenin, and prostaglandins during the reproductive cycle of Oreochromis niloticus

Circulating levels of estradiol, vitellogenin and prostaglandins could be references of oocytes quality in the aquaculture industry. This study evaluated the performance of 17β-estradiol (E2) and vitellogenin (Vtg) levels in plasma and prostaglandins in oocytes (PGE 2) during the reproductive period of Oreochromis niloticus in a commercial farm in Ecuador. Adults fish females were treated with estradiol-synthetic (ES) and tilapia pituitary extracts (TP) during 25 days. For quantification of E2 and PGE 2, an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used, while for Vtg relative quantification a Western blot analysis was performed. Circulating E2 concentrations were different during the first week of follow-up ( P < 0.05) resulting in different levels of Vtg per treatment ( P < 0.05) affecting on gonadal growth. The ovaries had an asynchronous development, where the mature oocytes proportions were higher with ES and TP than control. Relative fecundity was different between treatments ( P < 0.05), where TP generated 15.7 ± 5.8 oocytes per g of spawning female. Furthermore, concentrations of PGE 2 were different between treatments ( P < 0.05). The information reported in this study will be useful to improve the reproduction methods and have some biological signals before ovulation in tilapia commercial culture.