Effects of 17-E2 on growth and gonad development of overwintering Whitmania pigra
Research article published in Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica (2019)
Abstract
The present study was conducted to explores the effects of short-term addition of 17β-E2 on the growth,gonad development and internal quality of overwintering Whitmania pigra. Before overwintering,0. 0,1. 0,10. 0,25. 0,50. 0,100. 0 μg·L~(-1) of 17β-E2 were added to the aquaculture water for 6 weeks and then hibernated for 60 days. The changes of growth performance,gonad index,morphological structure of spermary( ovary),endogenous steroid hormones level and internal quality were measured. The results showed that the body weight,weight gain rate,specific growth rate,female gonad index,oocyte development and endogenous estrogen level of the leech increased first and then decreased with the increase of the concentration of exogenous 17β-E2,which were higher than those of the control group. The body weight,weight gain rate and specific growth rate of the leech at the concentration of 25 μg·L~(-1)17β-E2 were significantly higher than those of the other groups( P<0. 05),oocyte development and endogenous estrogen levels were significantly higher than those of other groups at the concentration of 50 μg·L~(-1)( P<0. 05). When the concentration of exogenous 17β-E2 was higher than 50 μg·L~(-1),the levels of male gonad index,spermatocyte development,endogenous androgen and progesterone were significantly inhibited( P< 0. 05). There was no significant difference in endogenous corticosteroid levels among the groups. In conclusion,short-term addition of exogenous 17β-E2 of 10-25 μg·L~(-1) could promote the growth of overwintering leeches,oocyte development and antithrombin activity without inhibiting the development of male gonads.
Abstract sourced from PubMed (NCBI) for the cited record. See the original publication for the authoritative version.
Summary
The present study was conducted to explores the effects of short-term addition of 17-E2 on the growth,gonad development and internal quality of overwintering Whitmania pigra.
Why This Matters for Hirudotherapy
This study investigated how short-term addition of 17β-estradiol affects the growth, gonad development, and internal quality of overwintering Whitmania pigra leeches before hibernation. The findings are relevant to leech aquaculture and the ASH domain by demonstrating that specific low concentrations of exogenous 17β-E2 can promote leech growth, enhance oocyte development, and increase antithrombin activity without inhibiting male gonad development. This suggests potential hormonal interventions for optimizing the breeding and medicinal quality of leeches. However, the research is strictly an applied husbandry study, with no data on clinical hirudotherapy or the therapeutic use of the leech secretome in patients.
Citation
Effects of 17-E2 on growth and gonad development of overwintering Whitmania pigra
Wang S et al. · Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica, 2019
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