Masculinization and Effect of Nile Tilapia Oreochromisniloticus Fed with Pawpaw Seed Based Diet and Steroid Hormone

I. INTRODUCTION

Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) is one of the most commonly cultured freshwater fish species in Nigeria. It is a prolific breeder, widely farmed across the nations of the earth and the third largest cultured finfish [1]. Oreochromis niloticus is a native of Africa [2], considered as a standout farmed fish because of its high nutritional qualities, fast growth rate, resistance to diseases and its ability to withstand sudden environmental changes [3]. In spite of these enviable characteristics, one major setback on commercial production of tilapia is the prolific breeding nature as well as its precocious maturity which brings about competition for space, feed, stunted growth and low market value [4]. As a result, there is a huge apathy amongst aquaculturist to culture Nile tilapia for commercial purposes. In order to proffer solution to this problem, it is important to masculinize(all male)populations of tilapia(Oreochromis niloticus) present in a pond, to inhibit the tendency of overpopulating the ponds, thereby allowing the production of marketable sized fish, which is the most effective technique of increasing Nile tilapia production under commercial culture system [5]. This could be achieved by the use of 17alpha methyl testeresterone, viewed by many aquaculturists as efficient and relatively a cheap means of masculinizing fry of at least 95percent for various tilapia species[6](Pelps and Popma 2000). Unfortunately, the use of this hormone has been widely criticized due to the negative effects of its residues in water and sediment, as well as the health implications to man [7]. Therefore, there is urgent need to source for alternatives that are cheap, non-toxic and readily available.

The alternatives that can be considered to reduce the use of synthetic steroid hormone for sex reversal of tilapia is the use of testes from farmed animals and plant extract (pawpaw seed powder) which are available from local market and abattoirs in the country. Little literature is available in the use of hormone from animals and plant extract, there is therefore need to add to the existing knowledge in this area of interest which has been given less attention in this nation. Plant sources with potential reversing mechanisms and growth-promoting effects could be worth studying since they have not been subjected to licensing for use in food animals. Many researchers used pawpaw seeds powder (PSP) as a natural reproductive inhibitor in Nile tilapia [8]. On the other hand, some of results showed that adding of PSP in diets caused delay of growth and high percentage of mortality in Nile tilapia fry [9,10 and 8]. Therefore, the present study was conducted to determine the effects of dietary supplementation of pawpaw seeds powder (PSP) based diet and methyl testosterone on hormonal imbalance of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) fry and fingerlings.

II. MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of (825) fry of Oreochromisniloticus (Nile tilapia) were obtained from the Tilapia family testing unit of Africa Regional Aquacultural Center (ARAC) Aluu, Port Harcout, Rivers State. The experiment was carried out in 15 different experimental ponds at ARAC and was distributed randomly into five groups, with Fifty five (55) fry each in triplicate. Steroid hormone ( 17α- methyl-testosterone)was gotten from the University of Lagos, Lagos State, boar testes was procured from Abuloma abattoir in Port Harcourt, while pawpaw fruit was collected from the Faculty of Agriculture experimental farm University of Port Harcourt and was sun-dried, grind.

Hormone preparation

60 mg of 17 α-Methyl testosterone and 10g of boar and bull testes, 4g of catfish testes were placed in a beaker containing 500ml of ethanol (95%) respectively, while 5.7g of pawpaw seed powder were dissolved in water for hormonal analysis (testosterone/estrogen) at the Chemical Pathology Laboratory, University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH) for hormonal analysis. Total testosterones from serum of each experimental animal were analyzed using Enzyme Immunoassay Testosterone test kit). The formulated feed was prepared by adding 0.06g of 17α- methyl-testosterone (A1), 17.47g of bull wet testes (A2), 25.59g of boar wet testes (A3), 20.48g of bull/African mud catfish (A4) at (80:20) 20.48g, and 20g of pawpaw seed powder (A5) based diet respectively to 1000g of feed as described by [11].

Exposure of test organisms:

Two kilograms of feed was formulated based on the working composition obtained from the feed mill of ARAC, using 40% crude protein. The feed ingredients were composed of soya-bean, fish meal, wheat bran in various percentages as described by [12]. The feeding frequency was three times daily during daylight. Feeding was given at 20% of fish body weight for 42 days hormonal trial. Thereafter, the fry were reared for 4 months for histology.

Qualitative phytochemical analysis of pawpaw seed powder

Qualitative phytochemical analysis of the pawpaw seed powder was carried out using standard procedures as described by [13].

Sex determination:

The sex of fingerlings was determined at the end of 4 months rearing period. Fingerlings in each treatment were collected in all the replicates and sex was confirmed by examining the external genitals of their gonads.

Data Analysis

Results were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 21. The data were expressed using descriptive statistical and percentages. Data gathered were subjected to Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) to determine significant differences among treatments. P-value less than or equal to 0.05 were taken as statistically significant. Differences were regarded as significant at P< 0.05. Duncan multiply range test (DMRT) was used to compare the means of significant result.

III. RESULTS

Monthly final weight gain

The final mean weights for all groups were significantly different (p<0.05) (Fig 1). Group A1 (Control) recorded the least mean final weight followed by group A2, A4, and A5 the highest was recorded in group A3.

Masculinization and Effect of Nile Tilapia Oreochromisniloticus Fed with Pawpaw Seed Based Diet and Steroid Hormone - Image 1

Effect of experimental diet on Masculinization of Nile Tilapia (O. niloticus)

Morphological examination on sex ratio is presented in Table 1. MT– treated based diet (Control) had the highest male population (100%). The least male value was observed in Group E (78.48±2.04%) Table1. MT based diet recorded the highest male/female ratio which was significantly different (p<0.05) from other treatment.

Masculinization and Effect of Nile Tilapia Oreochromisniloticus Fed with Pawpaw Seed Based Diet and Steroid Hormone - Image 2

Phytochemical constituents of pawpaw seed powder (Carica Papaya)

The phytochemical constituent found in the experimental pawpaw seed powder showed that it contain Cyanogenic glycoside of 0.042% which was the lowest constituent followed by Saponin 1.28%, Alkaloid 2.31%, flavonoid 2.97%, Anthraquinol 5.11% and Tannin 9.23% having the highest constituent (Table 2).

Masculinization and Effect of Nile Tilapia Oreochromisniloticus Fed with Pawpaw Seed Based Diet and Steroid Hormone - Image 3

The presents figure represents the resulting degree of gonad differentiation observed and recorded for sexually mature tilapia that received various experimental diets. Figure1 and 2 represent a comparison of normal and abnormal gonad differentiation observed in sexually tilapia that received various experimental diets over a period of 4months

Masculinization and Effect of Nile Tilapia Oreochromisniloticus Fed with Pawpaw Seed Based Diet and Steroid Hormone - Image 4

IV. DISCUSSION

The morphological external examination on the gonad (genital papillae) of O. niloticus showed little variation from the gonad examination. The result on the gonad examination of Groups A1 –A5 (100, 89.14, 93.40, 92.43 and 78.48) on O. niloticusis shown in Table 1. The result showed that there where significance difference within the means of Treatments. O. niloticus fed the control diet (Group AI) obtained the highest percentage male population. The result obtained is in line with the findings of [14, 15] who reported 100% reversal but disagrees with the findings of [16, 17 and 18]. However other treatment groups were able to skewed sex to male deviating from the theoretical 50:50 sex ratio. Group A3 had male ratio of 93.40 this findings disagrees with [19] who had 79.33% male ratio when fed lypolized boar testes diet. Gomelsky et al. [20] and Odin et al. [21] reported that hormones administered for sex reversal are metabolized and eliminated from the body of fish. Abucay and Mair [22] observed sex reversal of untreated fish reared within a system previously used with hormone treatment. He also reported that sex reversal treatments are more successful in closed water systems where metabolites and leachates can build up. In this study, the active metabolites of the testosterone excreted by treated fry during sex reversal from the uneaten food increase the build-up of the hormone during the treatment period. The longer exposure of the treated fry to active metabolites of testosterone may have increase the percentages of males produced in this study. However, these results are higher compared to the reported 74% male population of sex-reversed tilapia fry fed with carp testes for 24 days by [23]. Meyer et al. [24] where percent males obtained from tilapia fry fed ad libitum with fresh bull testes and fresh hog testes were 87 and 83%, respectively and lower compare to the reported 93% phenotypic males produced from ad libitum feeding of tilapia fry with frozen bull testes after 30-day treatment period [25].

Similarly, [19] concluded that the process of lyophilization of the testes from animal might have reduced their efficiency. This shows that the age and size of fish fry is a function of environmental factors which also influences the growth and gonad differentiation of fish species [6]. However, failure to obtained 100% male ratio using animal testes might be that during animal testes diet preparation, the tough and fibrous septa inside the testes were not removed and the indigestible parts of the testes remained in the diet. In this study, it is assumed that the fry treated with the animal testes diet assimilated less amount of testosterone since some parts of the diet were indigestible in the fish body. The low percentages of males obtained from tilapia fry fed with wet testes from bull, boar and a combination of bull and mud catfish might be attributed to the restricted feeding of tilapia fry with testes diets at 20% feeding rate in this study, the duration of the experiment and increase in growth rate compare to MT diet. Hence, it is assumed that fry which were masculinized consumed fewer hormones than the required minimum amount for sex reversal during the gonad differentiation period.

Meanwhile, plant extract (pawpaw seed powder) showed the least percentage 73% in this study. This might be as a result of high estrogen found in PSP as against testosterone concentration. Omeje et al., [26] reported that pawpaw seed extract had masculinizing effect on fish but inclusion level varied their efficacy. This assertion was in line with the findings of [27] who reported 65% male population at 15g/kg inclusion level. The male ratio in this study might be as a result of the phytochemical constituents (table 2) found in PSP.

V. CONCLUSION

It can be concluded that steroid, animal hormone and pawpaw seed based diet showed efficacy of mansculization although pawpaw seed powder have the capacity to delay puberty, and restrain the precocious breeding in tilapias,thus could be used successfully to control reproduction in tilapia. However, the highest percentage of males produced by pawpaw seed based diet is 78%, which is below the ideal requirement of 100% male population. An ideal treatment would be required for the production of all-male tilapia population using steroid, animal hormone and plant extract to establish a conclusive evidence regarding its efficacy to be used as a sex-reversal agent in tilapia culture, on the appropriate inclusion levels and duration of application, size of the fish for commercial purpose.

This article was originally published in International Journal of Engineering Applied Sciences and Technology, 2020. Vol. 5, Issue 5, ISSN No. 2455-2143, Pages 291-297.

Masculinization and Effect of Nile Tilapia Oreochromisniloticus Fed with Pawpaw Seed Based Diet and Steroid Hormone

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