Attempts on artificial induction of sexual maturation of sterlet (Acipenser ruthenus) and identification of late spermatogenesis stage in hermaphroditic fish

Most of the 27 species of sturgeons are endangered or close to extinction which is connected to habitat degradation, water pollution and overfishing. Conservation programmes are facing the problem of late maturation which can be reached between 5 and 11 years depending on the species and gender. The aim of our study was to investigate the possibility of shortening the sexual maturation using hormonal administration, and measure the blood serum hormone content to distinguish different genders and maturation stages. There was no effect of a 20-week-long hormonal treatment (10 mg carp pituitary/bodyweight kg/week) on the sexual maturation. The number of females was relatively high (67.6% n = 23) and the number of males was relatively low (11.8%, n = 4). Moreover, the number of hermaphroditic fish was surprisingly high (20.6%, n = 7) and appeared independently from hormone administration. Hermaphroditic fish had fully developed spermatozoa and could be distinguished by the increased level of testosterone hormone in blood serum.