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Reproductive Physiology of Fishes

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A Special Issue of Fishes (ISSN 2410-3888) belonging to the section "Physiology and Biochemistry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 January 2027 | Viewed by 5875

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Editors

Prof. Dr. Huapu Chen

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Guest Editor

Fisheries College, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China
Interests: fish reproduction; fish sex determination and differentiation; fish genetic analysis
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Wei Wang

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Guest Editor

Fisheries Science Institute, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing 100068, China
Interests: reproductive physiology; genetics and breeding

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Reproduction is the biological cornerstone of species continuity and a critical determinant of sustainable aquaculture production. The reproductive physiology of fishes is a complex process orchestrated by the hypothalamus–pituitary–gonad (HPG) axis, involving intricate endocrine, paracrine, and autocrine signaling. A comprehensive understanding of these mechanisms is essential for optimizing broodstock management, improving seed quality, and conserving wild populations, especially in the face of climate change and anthropogenic stressors.

This Special Issue, titled "Reproductive Physiology of Fishes," aims to gather cutting-edge research on the physiological, molecular, and environmental regulation of fish reproduction. We welcome contributions focusing on sex determination and differentiation, gametogenesis (oogenesis and spermatogenesis), reproductive endocrinology, and the impacts of environmental factors on reproductive performance. Studies utilizing multi-omics approaches (transcriptomics, proteomics) and novel biotechnologies (e.g., germ cell transplantation, gene editing, cryopreservation) to decipher reproductive pathways are particularly encouraged. Both original research articles and comprehensive reviews are welcome to provide new insights into the reproductive biology of both wild and farmed fish species.

Prof. Dr. Huapu Chen
Dr. Wei Wang
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-anonymized peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Fishes is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

reproductive endocrinology
gametogenesis
sex determination and differentiation
broodstock management
environmental regulation
molecular breeding

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

19 pages, 1016 KB

Open AccessArticle

Transcriptional Responses of HPG-Axis Genes and Hepatic vtg to 11-Ketotestosterone in Previtellogenic Sterlet (Acipenser ruthenus)

by Wei Wang, Ying Dong, Tian Dong, Linan Gao, Hua Zhu, Xuetong Bi and Hongxia Hu

Fishes 2026, 11(8), 447; https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes11080447 - 29 Jul 2026

Viewed by 401

Abstract

11-ketotestosterone (11-KT) has previously been shown to promote previtellogenic ovarian development and vitellogenin-related hepatic responses in sterlet (Acipenser ruthenus), but the endocrine genes involved in this process remain unclear. In this study, previtellogenic female sterlets were implanted with slow-release 11-KT strips at 5 or 25 mg/kg for 30 days, and transcriptional responses of HPG-axis-related genes, including GnRH paralogs, gonadotropins, and gonadotropin receptors, were examined in the brain-pituitary complex, liver, and ovary. In the brain-pituitary complex, 11-KT increased fsh expression in the 25 mg/kg group and upregulated fshr in both treatment groups, whereas gnrh paralogs showed limited responses. In the liver, most GnRH- and gonadotropin-related genes were not significantly altered, suggesting that hepatic expression of upstream reproductive-axis genes was not a major in vivo target of 11-KT feedback. The ovary exhibited the strongest response, with increased gnrh2 and fsh expression and reduced gnrh3, fshr, and lhr expression, especially at the higher dose. To further examine receptor-related regulation of hepatic vtg expression, liver tissue was incubated in vitro with 11-KT alone or in combination with the androgen receptor antagonist flutamide or the estrogen receptor antagonist fulvestrant. Flutamide did not abolish 11-KT-induced vtg expression, whereas high-dose fulvestrant reduced both era and vtg expression relative to 11-KT treatment alone. Overall, 11-KT elicited tissue-specific transcriptional responses in HPG-axis-related genes, particularly involving ovarian gnrh2, fsh, fshr, and lhr. The differential antagonist responses observed in liver explants provide in vitro evidence consistent with the involvement of ER-associated signaling in hepatic vtg expression, but do not establish direct receptor-mediated regulation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Reproductive Physiology of Fishes)

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25 pages, 3015 KB

Open AccessArticle

Seasonal Dynamics of Gonadal Antioxidant Biomarkers Associated with Reproductive Indices in Capoeta umbla and Capoeta trutta

by Nurgül Şen Özdemir, Muammer Kırıcı, Fatma Caf, Muharrem Güneş, Teoman Özgür Sökmen, Cebrahil Türk and Nurullah Demir

Fishes 2026, 11(7), 423; https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes11070423 - 17 Jul 2026

Viewed by 447

Abstract

Seasonal variability and reproductive investment influence oxidative metabolism in fish; however, the relationship between reproductive dynamics and antioxidant responses in freshwater cyprinids remains insufficiently understood. This study investigated seasonal and biological factors affecting antioxidant biomarkers in the gonads of Capoeta umbla and Capoeta trutta inhabiting the Karasu River (Türkiye). A total of 152 individuals were examined between April 2023 and March 2024, and reproductive indices (total body weight, gonad weight, and gonadosomatic index) were evaluated together with oxidative stress biomarkers, including malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione reductase (GR), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx). Multivariate analyses (PERMANOVA, SIMPER, and principal coordinate analysis) were used to determine the factors shaping oxidative responses. Females exhibited higher reproductive investment, while reproductive activity increased during spring and summer, accompanied by elevated MDA levels and antioxidant enzyme activities. PERMANOVA identified season as the primary factor explaining variation in oxidative biomarkers (p = 0.001), followed by reproductive parameters, and PCO revealed clear seasonal separation among groups. These findings indicate that oxidative balance in gonadal tissues is strongly associated with seasonal reproductive cycles and environmental variability in wild freshwater cyprinids. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Reproductive Physiology of Fishes)

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17 pages, 13454 KB

Open AccessArticle

Preliminary Study on Broodstock Management, Inducing Natural Spawning and Larval Rearing of Silver Pomfret, Pampus argenteus

by In Joon Hwang and Jong Cheol Han

Fishes 2026, 11(4), 250; https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes11040250 - 19 Apr 2026

Viewed by 1257

Abstract

Silver pomfret (Pampus argenteus, family Stromateidae) is a highly valuable marine fish species with significant commercial demand; however, its aquaculture remains undeveloped due to limited knowledge of captive breeding and seed production. To our knowledge, this is the first successful report on the induction of maturation, natural spawning, and larval rearing of silver pomfret under captive conditions in Korea. Wild broodstock (33 individuals in 2020; 250 individuals in 2021) were collected from the southern coastal waters of Korea using set nets. In the first year, water temperature management alone successfully induced gonadal maturation, as evidenced by a significant increase in the gonadosomatic index (GSI) and the presence of vitellogenic oocytes (400–500 μm) in April. In the second year, natural spawning was observed on fifteen occasions from May to September 2022, yielding a total number of 157,050 eggs. Fertilized eggs were spherical, transparent, and pelagic, with diameters ranging from 1.29 to 1.37 mm. Hatched larvae (total length: 4.85 ± 0.22 mm) exhibited poor feeding responses to rotifers and high early mortality within two weeks post-hatching, with the maximum rearing period reaching 24 days post-hatching. These findings demonstrate that water temperature management alone is sufficient to induce maturation and natural spawning of silver pomfret, and highlight the critical need for optimizing larval feeds, improving broodstock nutritional management, and conducting endocrine profiling during reproduction to establish a complete aquaculture protocol for this species. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Reproductive Physiology of Fishes)

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20 pages, 7157 KB

Open AccessArticle

Expression Patterns of Genes Involved in Sexual Development of Turbot (Scophthalmus maximus): A Histological Analysis by In Situ Hybridization on Differentiated Ovarian and Testicular Tissue

by Fátima Adrio, Xoana Taboada, Paulino Martínez and Ana Viñas

Fishes 2026, 11(4), 235; https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes11040235 - 16 Apr 2026

Viewed by 955

Abstract

Genes involved in sexual development have been identified in many teleost fishes, including the turbot, a flatfish of high commercial value in aquaculture. In this species, a major sex determination (SD) Quantitative Trait Locus has been identified, and Sox2 has been proposed as the SD gene. Although RT-PCR, qPCR, and transcriptomic analyses have been performed on turbot gonads, histological studies remain limited. Here, we examined the tissue-specific expression patterns of several sex-related genes in turbot using in situ hybridization on paraffin sections (SISH) of differentiated ovaries and testes of juvenile and adult specimens. Vasa, Foxl2, Amh, Sox2 and Sox17 transcripts were detected in both male and female gonads, whereas Cyp19a1a and Sox19 expression was restricted to the ovary; these results support previous gene expression analyses and suggest a role for these genes in gonadal development and reproductive functions in this species. SISH provides complementary information to molecular analyses by identifying the specific cell types expressing the sex-related genes analyzed in gonadal tissue, thereby offering a more comprehensive understanding of gonadal differentiation in turbot. Comparison with results reported for the gonads of other teleost species revealed similar tissue-specific gene expression patterns during sexual development. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Reproductive Physiology of Fishes)

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15 pages, 1459 KB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Effects of GnRHa Delivery Systems on Spermiation and Sperm Quality in Captive Male Thicklip Grey Mullet (Chelon labrosus)

by Lambros E. Kokokiris, George Minos, Cosmas Nathanailides, Maria Papadaki and Constantinos C. Mylonas

Fishes 2026, 11(4), 210; https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes11040210 - 1 Apr 2026

Viewed by 926

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogue (GnRHa), administered through injections or with sustained-release implants, on spermiation and sperm quality in thicklip grey mullet, Chelon labrosus. Male broodstock transferred from extensive lagoons were randomly allocated to three treatment groups: (a) weekly saline injections (Saline-INJ), (b) weekly GnRHa injections (10 μg kg⁻¹ bw; GnRHa-INJ), and (c) a single GnRHa EVAc implant (50 μg kg⁻¹ bw; GnRHa-IMP). Males were maintained with females under the same treatment protocols and allowed to spawn. Sperm condition, density, motility, duration of motility, and androgen levels were evaluated weekly at five sampling points (Days 0, 7, 14, 21, and 28). All males exhibited complete spermiation during the first two weeks (Days 0 and 7), followed by a gradual decline throughout the rest of the study (Days 14 and 21). This pattern of decline was not as evident in the groups treated with GnRHa, especially in the GnRHa-INJ group. Sperm density, motility, and motility duration varied strongly over time; however, no significant differences were observed among treatments. GnRHa treatment prolonged the spermiation period and delayed its seasonal decline without significantly altering sperm quality. These results may enable more frequent sperm collection and greater sperm availability, as inferred from the spermiation condition (SCI) and qualitative observations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Reproductive Physiology of Fishes)

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15 pages, 2393 KB

Open AccessArticle

Spawning Ecology of Female Largehead Hairtail (Trichiurus japonicus): Inferences from the Reproductive Cycle and Otolith Chemistry

by Jin Namgung, Hye-na Moon, Seungjun Kim, Songeun Yoo and InKyu Yeo

Fishes 2026, 11(2), 111; https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes11020111 - 11 Feb 2026

Viewed by 1209

Abstract

The largehead hairtail (Trichiurus japonicus) is an economically important fish species distributed in East Asian waters; however, size- or stock-specific spawning traits in females remain poorly understood. In this study, we conducted an integrated analysis of reproductive indices, otolith growth characteristics, and otolith elemental ratios in female T. japonicus collected from July to December through local commercial landings based on handline fisheries operating in waters adjacent to Jeju Island, Korea. In medium-sized females (approximately 2–3 years old), spawning activity peaked during summer, coinciding with significantly elevated otolith Sr:Ca ratios. This pattern indicates that reproductive maturation is closely associated with otolith chemical composition and underscores the importance of considering physiological influences when interpreting otolith chemistry in relation to spawning periods. Variations in otolith growth indices and elemental signatures observed after September further suggest the possible coexistence of individuals with different early life histories, although this interpretation should be regarded as hypothesis-generating rather than conclusive. Overall, this study provides baseline information for integrating reproductive condition and otolith chemistry in T. japonicus and supports a more cautious interpretation of otolith-based ecological signals for fisheries resource assessment and management. Future work should quantitatively disentangle reproductive and environmental effects on otolith chemistry by integrating plasma Ca, reproductive status, and environmental data, thereby refining ecological interpretations and supporting evidence-based seasonal fisheries management. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Reproductive Physiology of Fishes)

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