Comparative analysis of male germ cell proliferation and apoptosis in wild and captive Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus L.)

Type Article
Date 2013-02
Language English
Author(s) Zupa R.1, Fauvel Christian2, Mylonas C. C.3, Santamaria N.1, Valentini L.1, Pousis C.1, Papadaki M.3, Suquet Marc2, de La Gandara F.4, Bello G.1, Metrio G.1, Corriero A.1
Affiliation(s) 1 : Univ Bari Aldo Moro, Dept Anim Prod, I-70010 Valenzano, BA, Italy.
2 : UM2 UM1 CNRS IRD IFREMER, Stn Ifremer, UMR ECOSYM 5119, Palavas Les Flots, France.
3 : Hellen Ctr Marine Res, Inst Aquaculture, Iraklion, Crete, Greece.
4 : Ctr Oceanog Murcia, Inst Espanol Oceanog, Puerto De Mazarron, Murcia, Spain.
Source Journal Of Applied Ichthyology (0175-8659) (Wiley-blackwell), 2013-02 , Vol. 29 , N. 1 , P. 71-81
DOI 10.1111/j.1439-0426.2012.02045.x
WOS© Times Cited 18
Abstract The most commonly observed reproductive dysfunction in male fishes reared in captivity is reduction in sperm volume and quality. The Atlantic bluefin tuna Thunnus thynnus (Osteichthyes: Scombridae) is one of the few large pelagic and migratory marine fishes maintained in captivity with the purpose of establishing breeding populations to support an aquaculture industry. The objectives of the present study were to compare male germ cell proliferation and apoptosis between wild and captive individuals at two different phases of the spermatogenetic cycle, and to evaluate sperm motility characteristics of captive individuals. Histological observations were performed to analyze testicular activity, and germ cell proliferation and apoptosis were evaluated through the immunohistochemical detection of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferasemediated d'UTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) method, respectively. Computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA) was used to evaluate sperm motility. Results showed that germ cell proliferation was delayed and germ cell apoptosis increased in captive animals relative to wild individuals. Sperm motility of samples obtained from captive individuals was anomalous, both in terms of motility duration and swimming efficiency. Thus it appears that rearing in captivity impairs male reproductive function through, at least, changes in germ cell proliferation and apoptosis.
Full Text
File Pages Size Access
11 872 KB Access on demand
Author's final draft 24 507 KB Open access
Top of the page

How to cite 

Zupa R., Fauvel Christian, Mylonas C. C., Santamaria N., Valentini L., Pousis C., Papadaki M., Suquet Marc, de La Gandara F., Bello G., Metrio G., Corriero A. (2013). Comparative analysis of male germ cell proliferation and apoptosis in wild and captive Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus L.). Journal Of Applied Ichthyology, 29(1), 71-81. Publisher's official version : https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1439-0426.2012.02045.x , Open Access version : https://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00125/23579/