ARTIFICIAL

SPAWNING IN
FISH

Presented by: Ayesha Shafqat (56)

Presented to: DR. Nadia Nazish
INDUCED BREEDING
 Induced breeding is a technique where organism is
stimulated by particular hormone or other synthetic
hormone or by providing condition, introduced to breed
in captive condition.
HYPOPHYSATION TECHNIQUE
 The technique of induction of breeding by administration of any chemical or biological
agent is known as Hypophysation technique.
 In India the first attempt to induce C. mrigala spawn by the injection of mammalian
pituitary extracts was done by Khan. H (1937).
 Later Chaudhury, H. (1955) succeed in inducing L. rohita, C. mrigala, C. reba, P. sarana to
spawn with carp pituitary.
 The precise combination of environmental factors required for maturation, ovulation and
spawning.
 However, quite often, under farm conditions, the requisite environmental factors are either
not available or do not persist for sufficient length of time for spontaneous maturation to
occur.
WHY INDUCED BREEDING IS NECESSARY
FOR FISH CULTURE
 IT GIVES PURE SPAWN OF CERTAIN SPECIES OF FISHES UNDER CULTIVATION. SPAWN
COLLECTED FROM NATURAL WATER IS NOT PURE AS BECAUSE SOME UNDESIRABLE WILD
SPECIES MAY COME WITH THEM
 IT ASSURES TIMELY AVAILABLE OF PURE SEED, WHERE AS IN NATURE THE AVAILABILITY OF
SEED IS QUITE UNCERTAIN.
 IT CAN FULFIL ANY QUANTITY OF DEMAND IN ANY TIME.
 IT ALSO CUTS SHORT THE HOLDING POTENTIAL SPAWNERS OVER LONG PERIODS IN
UNCERTAIN HOPE OF THEIR BREEDING IN TIME. MANY CARPS TAKE THEIR FULL MATURITY IN
CONFINED WATER BUT DO NOT BREED.
 THE TECHNIQUE IS VERY SIMPLE AND DOES NOT NEED TOO MUCH TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
OR KNOWLEDGE. IT CAN BE EASILY LEARNT BY A LAYMAN WITHOUT MUCH TRAINING.
 THE COST OF EXPENDITURE IS VERY LOW THAN THE NATURAL COLLECTIONS OF SPAWNS.
INDUCING AGENTS OF HYPOPHYSATION

 The agents which are to be used for induced

breeding of fish in hypophysation technique
are known as Inducing agents.
 There are mainly two types of inducing
agents :
A. Natural inducing agents (e.g. pituitary extracts)
B. Synthetic inducing agents (e.g. mammalian gonadotrophin,
steroids, ovatide, ovaprim and other drugs etc.)
NATURAL INDUCING AGENT

Natural inducing agent is mainly pituitary extracts used in hypophysation

technique. The different steps involved in hypophysation technique are:
A. Collection of pituitary gland

B. Preservation of pituitary glands

C. Preparation of pituitary gland extracts and

D. Administration of pituitary extracts to the brood fish.

COLLECTION OF PITUITARY GLANDS
The pituitary gland is usually collected from a freshly
killed or ice preserved mature fish.
 This pituitary gland is also known as hypophysis.

 In fishes it is located at sella turcica of sphenoid

bone.
 It is situated on the ventral side of the brain just

behind the optic chiasma and below the

hypothalamus.
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 The donor fish for pituitary can be carp of either sex.

 The brain is dissected out by cutting open the dorsal side of skull and
then the pituitary is picked up and kept on the watch glass for
preservation.
 Pituitary can also be obtained from freshwater catfish such as B.
bagarius, P. pungasius, M. singhala at a slightly higher dose.
Removal of the gland:

 The foramen magnuma (a large oval opening (foramen) in the occipital bone of the
skull in humans and many other animals) is first exposed by removing vertebral
parts adhering to skull.
 Fat is removed first by means of forceps and then cotton piece.
 A pair of forceps then inserted into foramen magnum dorsally to the brain and
anterior part of the brain now detached and remaining is carefully lifted out through
the foramen magnum.
 The gland is then located and removed
PRESERVATION OF PITUITARY GLANDS

 Alcohol preservation: The freshly collected pituitary are

preserved in absolute alcohol. This can be kept in refrigerator or
in a cool place. Refrigerator increase the self life of the gland up
to two years.
 Acetone preservation: The fresh gland put in fresh acetone or a
in dry ice chilled acetone and kept in a refrigerator for 36-48
hours. Then glands are taken out from the acetone , put on a filter
paper and allowed to dry at room temperature. Then the gland are
transferred to the separate phials and stored in refrigerator.
PREPARATION OF PITUITARY GLAND
EXTRACT
 The extracts of the gland is usually prepared just before the injection.
 Weighed the gland Homogenized in distilled water or 0.3% saline  
 Add the distilled water such way that the final volume will be 0.2ml/kg
breeder.
 Usually the volume may not exceed over 1-1.5ml for one fish.
Selection of the brooders:

o Factors should be noted while selecting brooders:

 The brooders must be healthy enough and ripe

 2 – 4 years of age is generally selected
 1 – 5 kg body weight is preferable
ADMINISTRATION OF PITUITARY
EXTRACTS TO THE BROOD FISH
 Usually the female is given two doses of pituitary gland injection.
 The first one is called as initial dose or booster dose and the second
one is called as final dose or resolving dose.
 The male usually given only one dose at the time of the second dose
given to female.
 Dosage required for successfully spawning varies from species to
species or from fish to fish even the same species.
 The dosage depends on the readiness of the brood fish, their size age
and sensitivity.
DOSE OF PITUITARY EXTRACTS

 The first dose of injection is given to advance the final maturation of oocytes.
 The interval between initial dose and final dose varies from species to spices or from place to
place depending on the temperature.
 For females of Indian Major Carps one initial (preparatory) dose and after 5-6 hours another final
is administrated.
 But in sub-tropical or temperate climates sometimes one preparatory dose followed after 18-
22hours by to resolving dose.
 The degree hours depends on the species of fish, size and age of the female, type of treatment etc.
 After injection brooders are released to hapa.
Synthetic Hormones

Synahorin:
Along with carp pituitary gland was successful in breeding rohu and
silver carp.
Ovaprim: It is the new inducing hormone for fish and absolute
substitute of pituitary extract though it’s costly. Ovaprim is far superior
to carp pituitary in inducing spawning in several species of carps.
Spawning:

 In hapa breeding, the hapa is the fine netting, rectangular in shape and is held by
four bamboo poles one at each corner.
 Closed meshed mosquito netting is preferred for that purpose, as its meshes will
allow a good circulation of water and will also not let the laid eggs and milt escape
through the meshes.
 The hapa measures the range of 3m × 1.5m × 1m for breeders weighing to 3 to 5kgs.
 The height of the hapa should remain about 20cm above to the level of water. The
roof can be open or closed.
Continue..

 The spawning takes place with in 3-6hrs following the second dose.
It turns out the midnight if the second injection was given in the
evening.
 Successful induced breeding results in the spawn of fertilized eggs.
 The fertilized eggs are transparent, pearl like where as unfertilized
eggs are opaque or whitish.
Dosage of different synthetic hormones:
Factors influencing induced spawning:

 Favorable climate , cool weather (temperature btw 24-31C), cloudy and rainy
periods are good
 Flowing water
 Turbidity should be 100-1000ppm
 Illumination (it brings early maturation and spawning in fishes)
 Heavy rain
 Problem occurs due to incorrect choice of breeders, wrong doses of pituitary and
unfavorable climatic conditions.
ADVANTAGES OF HYPOPHYSATION
TECHNIQUE
a. The technique, therefore, permits a rather accurate prediction of the time of
spawning and the aqua culturist can plan his work well in advance.
b. The nurseries can be stocked with seed of uniform age, size and quality.
c. This technique can increase the breeding period of the fishes.
d. We can collect the fish seed of any size at any time from the farms without
depending on the nature and season.
PROBLEMS OF HYPOPHYSATION
TECHNIQUE
 Farmer cannot measure the potency of the available gland
 Serious difficulties in large scale collection and storage of pituitary
 Large gap between the supply and demand of pituitary
 Basic equipment’s like chemical balance, centrifuge and refrigerator normally not
available in several farms
 Pituitary gland very costly in market.