Influence of the gametogenic cycle on the biochemical composition of the ovary of the great scallop

✍ Scribed by A. J. Pazos; G. Román; C. P. Acosta; M. Abad; J. L. Sánchez

• Publisher: Springer Netherlands
• Year: 1996
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 995 KB
• Volume: 4
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0967-6120
• DOI: 10.1007/bf00117382

✦ Synopsis

The oogenic cycle and biochemical composition of the ovary of raft-cultured great scallop (Pecten maximus) were studied during the period April 1990-July 1991. The ovary condition index (FGI) and stereological studies showed the existence of two principal spawning periods, winter and late spring-early summer. No sexual resting period was found. Oocyte tysis was high throughout the year. Ovarian lipid levels displayed a clear seasonal pattern linked to the gametogenic cycle. Total lipid (TL, 16-21% dry weight), acyiglycerol (AG, 20-65% TL) and free sterol (FS, 2.8-6.4% TL) levels were, generally, higher in the ripe ovary and a decrease coincided with spawning. Protein (59-63% dry weight), glycogen (<: 3% dry weight) and phospholipid (PL, 26-35% TL) levels showed no clear seasonal trend. The TL and AG were a good index of ovarian sexual maturity. The TL (% of dry weight) correlated well with the female gonad condition index (r S = 0.779, p < 0.001), and AG (% of TL) correlated well with the mean oocyte diameter (r s = 0.630, p < 0.01) and the female gonad condition index (r S = 0.443, p < 0.05).