Effects of aloe vera (Liliaceae) on Gonad development in Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus (L.) during intensive aquaculture

 

Author(s): Madan Prasad Kushwaha

Abstract: There is need to control undesirable tilapia recruitment in ponds using natural reproductive inhibitory agents in plants because they are less expensive and constitutes appropriate technology in developing countries. Aloe vera latex (AL) was added to a basal diet (350 g crude protein and 18.5 MJ gross energy/kg diet) at 0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 or 2.0 ml/kg diets and fed to mixed-sex Oreochromis niloticus for 60 days to evaluate the effects on growth and feed utilization, reproduction traits, and histology of gonads. There were no significant difference (P >0.05) in the growth parameters and food conversion ratio. Indices of reproduction traits decreased with increasing dietary A. vera latex (AL) levels. Fish fed with the control diet and 0.5 ml AL/kg diet had significantly higher and better indices of reproduction traits (P<0.05) than the other fish fed with 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 ml AL/kg diets respectively. Fish fed 0.0 ml AL/kg diet (control) showed normal testicular and ovarian tissues architecture, typical bilateral lobes of the ovaries were evident, normal olive green colour was maintained; and no pathological lesions occurred. Fish fed 0.5 ml AL/kg diet showed no visible alteration in the ovaries, testicular architecture and cystic seminiferous tubules. Fish fed 1.0 ml AL/kg diet showed testicular atrophy. Fish fed 1.5 ml AL/kg diet exhibited cystic seminiferous tubule and atrophy of tissues. Fish fed 2.0 ml AL/kg diet showed severe tissue atrophy, sperm cells disintegration and necrosis. Also, in fish fed 2.0 ml AL/kg diet, ovirectomy revealed a change in the colour of ovaries, histology showed ruptured follicle, granulomatous inflammation in the interstitium and necrosis of the ovaries. Reproduction traits and histological observations of gonads in Oreochromis niloticus fed high dietary levels of AL revealed that A. vera latex may be effective as reproduction inhibitory agent.

 

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