The effects of estradiol-17? on the sex reversal, survival, and growth of green sunfish Lepomis cyanellus

The feminization of green sunfish Lepomis cyanellus could expand their utility as a game fish or aquacultured species by preventing overcrowding and precocious reproduction in stocked systems. Feminization also help elucidate information on sex determination system. We report the cohorts via oral administration estradiol-17? (E2) during early development. A low-dose (100 E2 mg per kg diet) high-dose (150 experimental treatment were fed to juvenile from 30 90 days post-hatch. Fish subsequently evaluated for any effect gonadal development, survival, growth. Both treatments resulted 100% feminization, with no morphological histological differences detected between treated ovaries those control group. group was composed mostly males (82.61%). Overall, there survival (P = 0.310) growth rate data suggested statistical 0.0805). However, increased slightly higher after ended than other 0.042), suggesting that might suppress sunfish. In addition, did not exhibit period 0.266), whereas both groups 0.0003–0.0050). found low dose, 100 diet, sufficient fully feminizing if administered development post-hatch dosages may result deleterious effects sunfish's health