The effects of COX-Inhibitors (Diclofenac and Ibuprofen) on growth rate, mortality and sex reversal in Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus).

Abstract

Several studies have been conducted to detect the direct effect of inhibiting the aromatase activity, the rate limiting enzyme that converts androgens to estrogens needed for ovarian differentiation in fish to overcome the immediate need for a more environmentally friendly substitute of methyl testosterone. Cyclooxygenase (COX)-inhibitors are potent and irreversible inhibitors of the COX pathway and since studies on human breast cancer cells shows that they decrease aromatase messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) expression at the transcriptional level we tested the hypothesis of possible aromatase inhibition by the non-selective COX-inhibitors in fry fish tilapia. The effects of supplementation of COX-inhibitors (diclofenac and ibuprofen) in the diets of tilapia on growth rate, mortality and sexual differentiation have been studied. 20 Genetically females (XX) (O. niloticus) larvae were stocked in triplicates in a closed system and each were given control diet (C group) and control diet supplemented with (10 mgKg-1) diclofenac (1% diclofenac group), (5 mgKg-1) ibuprofen (0.5% ibuprofen group), and (5mgKg-1) (0.5% diclofenac group) respectively for 4 weeks. After the 4th week all diets were changed to control diet. At the end of 12-weeks, no significant differences were found in growth rate (GR) between diets (p>0.05). Mortality ranged from 1.67% +- 2.89 (SD, n=3) in control group to 58.3% +- 14.4 (SD, n=3) in the 1% diclofenac group during the experimental feeding and from 6.67+-2.89 (SD, n=3) to 63.3%+-10.4 (SD, n=3) at the end of 12-weeks period. 7% In the control group, 36% in the 1% diclofenac group, 17% in the 0.5% ibuprofen group, and 22.2% in the 0.5% diclofenac group respectively never produced egg during the entire experimental period. Macroscopically all the nonspawningfish in the experimental groups were females with apparently larger ovaries and full of eggscompared to control. Microscopically they were full of apparently normal eggs with morphology similar to those of control. Postulated mechanisms of action of the supplemented COX-inhibitors are discussed. Based on the above it can be concluded that the use of COX-Inhibitors during the crucial period could modulate aromatase activity and affect reproduction in Nile tilapia.

Authors and Affiliations

Mutaz Al-Qutob, Tharwat Nashashibi

Keywords

Related Articles

Growth rate of the chub (Squalius cephalus) and the nase (Chondrostoma nasus) from Raba, Dunajec, and Poprad River

In presented study growth rate of the chub Squalius cephalus and nase Chondrostoma nasus from Raba, Dunajec, and Poprad River were investigated using a back-scaling method. A total number of 167 chubs and 186 nases were...

Physiological response of the intertidal copepod Tigriopus japonicus experimentally exposed to cadmium.

The intertidal harpacticoid copepod Tigriopus japonicus is a benthic copepod and has been commonly used in ecotoxicology and environmental genomics studies as a marine model species. In this study, Laboratory experiments...

The influence of the anthropic activities on the benthonic macroinvertebrates communities existing in the Jiu and Jiul de Vest rivers, south-west of Romania.

The different sensibility of the benthonic macro-invertebrates has been used in determining the manner in which these communities are being influenced by the alteration of the water quality. The present study aims at fol...

Genetic basis of resistance to stress in fishes. Molecular and classical investigations in a few model organisms

The paper focuses on the recent scientific results from genetics of thermal stress tolerance and discusses about heat shock genes in several model fish organisms, such as: the guppy (Poecilia reticulata), the Antarctic f...

Evaluation of condition and technological performance of hybrid bester reared in standard and aquaponic syste

Bester sturgeon is considered a hybrid (cross between beluga Huso huso (Linnaeus, 1758) female and sterlet Acipenser ruthenus Linnaeus, 1758 male) with great potential for intensive aquaculture technology due to i...

Download PDF file
  • EP ID EP124003
  • DOI -
  • Views 117
  • Downloads 0

How To Cite

Mutaz Al-Qutob, Tharwat Nashashibi (2009). The effects of COX-Inhibitors (Diclofenac and Ibuprofen) on growth rate, mortality and sex reversal in Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus).. Aquaculture, Aquarium, Conservation & Legislation - International Journal of the Bioflux Society, 2(4), 381-390. https://europub.co.uk/articles/-A-124003