Histological Insights into Testicular Apoptosis Associated with Spermatogenesis in Pre-Pubertal and Adult Meagre (Argyrosomus regius)
Recombinant gonadotropins—synthetic versions of pituitary hormones—are increasingly utilised in aquaculture for broodstock management. In this study, we explored how recombinant follicle-stimulating hormone (rFsh) affects spermatogenesis in meagre (Argyrosomus regius), with the aim of enhancing our...
| Authors: | ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; |
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| Format: | Article |
| Publication date: | 2025 |
| Country: | España |
| Institution: | Institut de Recerca i Tecnologia Agroalimentàries (IRTA) |
| Repository: | IRTA Pubpro. Open Digital Archive |
| OAI Identifier: | oai:dnet:irtapubpro__::13ee74957c16be5dd84687b375ba9e9e |
| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12327/4925 https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15182668 |
| Access Level: | Open access |
| Keyword: | 637 |
| _version_ | 1878733073808359424 |
|---|---|
| author | Ventriglia, Gianluca |
| author2 | Duncan, Neil Giménez, Ignacio Mylonas, Constantinos C. Pousis, Chrysovalentinos Varvara, Caterina Valentini, Luisa Passantino, Letizia Corriero, Aldo Zupa, Rosa |
| author2_role | author author author author author author author author author |
| author_browse | Corriero, Aldo Duncan, Neil Giménez, Ignacio Mylonas, Constantinos C. Passantino, Letizia Pousis, Chrysovalentinos Valentini, Luisa Varvara, Caterina Ventriglia, Gianluca Zupa, Rosa |
| author_facet | Ventriglia, Gianluca Duncan, Neil Giménez, Ignacio Mylonas, Constantinos C. Pousis, Chrysovalentinos Varvara, Caterina Valentini, Luisa Passantino, Letizia Corriero, Aldo Zupa, Rosa |
| author_role | author |
| collection | IRTA Pubpro. Open Digital Archive |
| description | Recombinant gonadotropins—synthetic versions of pituitary hormones—are increasingly utilised in aquaculture for broodstock management. In this study, we explored how recombinant follicle-stimulating hormone (rFsh) affects spermatogenesis in meagre (Argyrosomus regius), with the aim of enhancing our understanding of testicular apoptosis—a common form of programmed cell death involved in modulating germ cell development and sperm output. We assessed germ cell composition and testicular apoptosis in both pre-pubertal meagre treated with rFsh and adult fish in two spermatogenic phases (proliferative and meiotic). In pre-pubertal fish, rFsh treatment led to larger testes, wider seminiferous tubules, and increased sperm presence. There was a reduction in early spermatogonia (undifferentiated germ cells) but a rise in dividing germ cells, indicating progression toward meiosis. Notably, treated fish exhibited significantly lower spermatogonial apoptosis compared to controls, suggesting rFsh promotes germ cell survival by mitigating natural cell death. In adult fish, the density of spermatogonia decreased with the progression of spermatogenesis, whereas apoptosis increased and often involved entire clones of germ cells. Overall, the study demonstrates that rFsh effectively induces testicular maturation in pre-pubertal meagre by promoting progression toward meiosis and highlights how the role of apoptosis varies across reproductive stages. |
| eu_rights_str_mv | openAccess |
| format | article |
| id | ES_4f8d7424b8d06b092e7bde2d3dffc6f8 |
| institution | Institut de Recerca i Tecnologia Agroalimentàries (IRTA) |
| instname_str | Institut de Recerca i Tecnologia Agroalimentàries (IRTA) |
| network_acronym_str | ES |
| network_name_str | España |
| oai_identifier_str | oai:dnet:irtapubpro__::13ee74957c16be5dd84687b375ba9e9e |
| publishDate | 2025 |
| publishDateSort | 2025 |
| publisher | MDPI |
| publisherStr | MDPI |
| reponame_str | IRTA Pubpro. Open Digital Archive |
| spelling | Histological Insights into Testicular Apoptosis Associated with Spermatogenesis in Pre-Pubertal and Adult Meagre (Argyrosomus regius) Ventriglia, Gianluca Duncan, Neil Giménez, Ignacio Mylonas, Constantinos C. Pousis, Chrysovalentinos Varvara, Caterina Valentini, Luisa Passantino, Letizia Corriero, Aldo Zupa, Rosa 637 Recombinant gonadotropins—synthetic versions of pituitary hormones—are increasingly utilised in aquaculture for broodstock management. In this study, we explored how recombinant follicle-stimulating hormone (rFsh) affects spermatogenesis in meagre (Argyrosomus regius), with the aim of enhancing our understanding of testicular apoptosis—a common form of programmed cell death involved in modulating germ cell development and sperm output. We assessed germ cell composition and testicular apoptosis in both pre-pubertal meagre treated with rFsh and adult fish in two spermatogenic phases (proliferative and meiotic). In pre-pubertal fish, rFsh treatment led to larger testes, wider seminiferous tubules, and increased sperm presence. There was a reduction in early spermatogonia (undifferentiated germ cells) but a rise in dividing germ cells, indicating progression toward meiosis. Notably, treated fish exhibited significantly lower spermatogonial apoptosis compared to controls, suggesting rFsh promotes germ cell survival by mitigating natural cell death. In adult fish, the density of spermatogonia decreased with the progression of spermatogenesis, whereas apoptosis increased and often involved entire clones of germ cells. Overall, the study demonstrates that rFsh effectively induces testicular maturation in pre-pubertal meagre by promoting progression toward meiosis and highlights how the role of apoptosis varies across reproductive stages. The present work was funded by the project NewTechAqua (European Union’s Programme H2020, GA 862658) awarded to N.D., C.C.M., and A.C., and by a grant from the Apulian Region to R.Z. (POR PUGLIA FESR-FSE 2014/2020—Asse X-Azione 10.4—Research for Innovation—REFIN). info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion MDPI http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12327/4925 https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15182668 |
| spellingShingle | Histological Insights into Testicular Apoptosis Associated with Spermatogenesis in Pre-Pubertal and Adult Meagre (Argyrosomus regius) Ventriglia, Gianluca 637 |
| title | Histological Insights into Testicular Apoptosis Associated with Spermatogenesis in Pre-Pubertal and Adult Meagre (Argyrosomus regius) |
| title_full | Histological Insights into Testicular Apoptosis Associated with Spermatogenesis in Pre-Pubertal and Adult Meagre (Argyrosomus regius) |
| title_fullStr | Histological Insights into Testicular Apoptosis Associated with Spermatogenesis in Pre-Pubertal and Adult Meagre (Argyrosomus regius) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Histological Insights into Testicular Apoptosis Associated with Spermatogenesis in Pre-Pubertal and Adult Meagre (Argyrosomus regius) |
| title_short | Histological Insights into Testicular Apoptosis Associated with Spermatogenesis in Pre-Pubertal and Adult Meagre (Argyrosomus regius) |
| title_sort | Histological Insights into Testicular Apoptosis Associated with Spermatogenesis in Pre-Pubertal and Adult Meagre (Argyrosomus regius) |
| topic | 637 |
| topic_facet | 637 |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12327/4925 https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15182668 |