Growth patterns, sex maturation stages, and fatty acid profiling of hatchery-cultured male short-finned eel (Anguilla Bicolor) in relation to the reproduction index under different hormonal treatments

Hanis Binti Abd Mohmin; Shigeharu Senoo; Fui Fui Ching

doi:10.22034/ijab.v13i6.2528

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Hanis Binti Abd Mohmin Higher Institution Centre of Excellence, Borneo Marine Research Institute, University Malaysia Sabah, 88400 Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia.
Shigeharu Senoo Aquaculture Technology and Production Center, Kindai University, Shirahama, Wakayama, 649-2211, Japan.
Fui Fui Ching
cfuifui@ums.edu.my
Higher Institution Centre of Excellence, Borneo Marine Research Institute, University Malaysia Sabah, 88400 Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia.

Vol. 13 No. 6 (2025): December

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December 25, 2025

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This study investigated the effects of different hormonal treatments on growth performance, maturation, and fatty acid composition in hatchery-cultured male short-finned eel (Anguilla bicolor). A total of 12 individuals were subjected to four treatments — control (no hormone), Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG), pituitary gland extract (PG), and Ovaprim (OVP) — over 100 days. Growth patterns were assessed through morphometric measurements and allometric analysis, while reproductive development was evaluated using gonadosomatic index (GSI), hepatosomatic index (HSI), histological characteristics, and steroid hormone profiling (11-ketotestosterone and estradiol). Fatty acid composition was determined using gas chromatography (GC). The HCG treatment significantly enhanced gonadal development (GSI = 4.36±0.21, P<0.001) and elevated 11-KT levels, promoting advanced spermatogenesis, as further evidenced by histological analysis. However, the HCG-injected eel showed lower body weight gain and a weaker length-weight correlation, indicating a shift in energy allocation toward reproduction. Meanwhile, the OVP-injected eel exhibited balanced growth with strong weight-length relationships (R² = 0.94) and the highest monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) levels. PG-injected eel, however, demonstrated moderate effects on reproductive and growth indices. Fatty acid profiling revealed that HCG increased polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), particularly docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), which corresponded with higher spermatozoa abundance. These results show that HCG can effectively induce sexual maturation in male short-finned eels, although it may reduce somatic growth. The varied responses to hormone treatments suggest the potential for enhancing breeding strategies in eel aquaculture through more precise hormonal management.

Abd Mohmin, H. B., Senoo, S., & Ching, F. F. (2025). Growth patterns, sex maturation stages, and fatty acid profiling of hatchery-cultured male short-finned eel (Anguilla Bicolor) in relation to the reproduction index under different hormonal treatments. International Journal of Aquatic Biology, 13(6), 10–18. https://doi.org/10.22034/ijab.v13i6.2528

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