Cyclical rhythms in the cytomorphology of testis of brackish water grey Mullet Liza parsia (Hamilton, 1822) inhabiting South-Eastern coast of India

Abstract

The cytomorphological changes occurring in the testicular tissues of the brackish water teleost fish Liza parsia (Hamilton, 1822) was elaborated during different seasonal conditions. The testes were synchronously arranged with various stages of germ cells such as primary and secondary spermatogonia, primary spermatocytes, secondary spermatocytes, spermatids and spermatozoa. The seasonal changes in the testis were described into five reproductive phases namely growth, maturation, spawning, post spawning and resting according to the variations in the gonadosomatic index and the occurrence of different developmental stages. However, the first highest spawning peakrnoccurred in February and second highest peak in December. The sequential proliferative pattern of the germ cells during different reproductive phases was correlated with the gonadosomatic index and testicular morphology.