Effect of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and salinity on growth, reproductive indexes, and hormonal profiles of male short-finned eel (Anguilla bicolor)

Ade Fatikasari Maryland; Fui Fui Ching; Shigeharu Sen

doi:10.22034/ijab.v14i4.2883

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Ade Fatikasari Maryland Higher Institution Centers of Excellence (HICoE), Borneo Marine Research Institute, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia.
Fui Fui Ching
cfuifui@ums.edu.my
Higher Institution Centers of Excellence (HICoE), Borneo Marine Research Institute, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia.
Shigeharu Sen Higher Institution Centers of Excellence (HICoE), Borneo Marine Research Institute, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia.

Vol. 14 No. 4 (2026): August

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June 12, 2026

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Anguilla bicolor is a catadromous teleost with high aquaculture potential; however, captive reproduction is constrained by males failing to mature spontaneously in captivity. This study evaluated the factorial effects of salinity manipulation (0 or 30 ppt) and with and without human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) induction on growth performance, reproductive indices, and hormonal profiles of male A. bicolor. The experiment was conducted for 7 weeks. Findings reveal that survival was 100% across all treatment groups, while seawater at 30 ppt combined with hCG significantly enhanced the gonadosomatic index (GSI: 0.47%), hepatosomatic index (HSI: 1.54%), and plasma testosterone (66.91 ng/mL) compared with freshwater groups. Histological analysis confirmed more advanced spermatogenic progression in males reared in 30 ppt with hCG, including the presence of spermatocytes and early spermatozoa. Eye index, body coloration, and condition factor remained relatively similar across all groups (P>0.05), indicating that external silvering indicators were not initiated under the experimental conditions. These findings demonstrate a synergistic interaction between salinity and hCG in captive male A. bicolor, providing a scientific basis for broodstock conditioning in eel aquaculture.

Maryland, A. F., Ching, F. F., & Sen, S. (2026). Effect of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and salinity on growth, reproductive indexes, and hormonal profiles of male short-finned eel (Anguilla bicolor). International Journal of Aquatic Biology, 14(4), 51–58. https://doi.org/10.22034/ijab.v14i4.2883

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