Frontiers in Marine Science (Nov 2023)

Chitosan- hypothalamic hormonal analogue nanoconjugates enhanced the reproductive performance in Indian major carp, Labeo rohita

  • Mohd Ashraf Malik,
  • Subodh Gupta,
  • Tincy Varghese,
  • Shrinivas Jahageerdar,
  • Sunil Kumar Nayak,
  • Dhalongsaih Reang,
  • Irfan Ahmad Bhat,
  • Chandan Gowramma Mahadevaswamy,
  • Nisha Chuphal,
  • Showkat Ahmad Dar,
  • Arya Prabhakaran

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2023.1311158
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 10

Abstract

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The current study reports the potential of chitosan nanoparticles for the efficient delivery of hypothalamic hormonal analogue in Labeo rohita, aiming to improve reproductive performance. Here salmon gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogue (sGnRH-a) was conjugated with chitosan nanoparticles (ChN-sGnRH-a) to evaluate its efficiency in enhancing the reproductive gene expression, hormones as well as the overall reproductive output in L. rohita. A total of 54 pairs of brooders were selected and divided into six treatments viz; C0: Negative Control (fish injected with bare chitosan nanoparticles), C: Positive Control (fish injected with Gonopro-FH®, a commercially available inducing hormone, at a dose of 0.2 ml/kg body weight of fish), T1: fish injected with ChN-sGnRH-a at a dose of 0.2 ml/kg, T2: T1 + 10 mg/ml domperidone, T3: fish injected with ChN-sGnRH-a at a dose of 0.1 ml/kg, T4: T3 + 10 mg/ml domperidone. In T2 and T4 treatments, serum hormones, Testosterone (T); Estradiol (E2); Vitellogenin (Vtg); and 17α, 20β-dihydroxyprogesterone (17α, 20β-DHP) showed the sustained elevation. The means of reproductive traits like fecundity, fertilization rate, pseudo-gonadosomatic index and spawning rate were significantly (P<0.05) higher in T2 treatment, while no significant difference was found between C and T4 treatment. The mRNA expression level of follicle-stimulating hormone (fshβ), luteinizing hormone (lhβ) and their cognate receptors was significantly better in T2 treatment, while no significant difference was found between T4 and C treatments. Further, the histological analysis of ovaries showed increased post-ovulatory follicles in C, T2 and T4 treatments. The results indicate that ChN-sGnRH-a could help in reducing the recommended dose of sGnRH-a without affecting the reproductive performance in L. rohita females. The sustained releasing mechanism of this formulation may be used as an induced breeding strategy in female L. rohita broodstock.

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