A Tripolar Spindle Formed at Meiosis I Assures the Retention of the Original Ploidy in the Gynogenetic Triploid Crucian Carp, Ginbuna Carassius auratus langsdorfii

A triploid crucian carp, ginbuna ( Carassius auratus langsdorfii ), reproduces by gynogenesis, in which sperm of diploid ginbuna or of other species triggers the development of the triploid eggs, but a male genome makes no contribution to the zygotic genome. Gynogenesis is maintained by two mechanisms: exclusion of male genome during fertilization and retention of somatic ploidy levels during oogenesis. We examined the mechanisms responsible for producing unreduced eggs. Microfluorometry with a DNA staining dye showed that DNA content in the ginbuna oocytes was not reduced in half during meiosis I. Cytological observations revealed that a tripolar spindle was formed at meiosis I and the first polar body was not extruded, whereas an ordinary bipolar spindle was formed and the second polar body was extruded at meiosis II. Activity of histone H1 kinase (as an indicator of maturation-promoting factor) decreased transiently between meiosis I and II, strongly suggesting a "normal" meiotic cycle progression in the ginbuna oocytes. These results have indicated that in the gynogenetic ginbuna the somatic ploidy levels are maintained by inhibiting the first polar body extrusion via the formation of the tripolar spindle at meiosis I.     

The maternal origins of the triploid ginbuna (Carassius auratus langsdorfi): phylogenetic relationships within the C. auratus taxa by partial mitochondrial D-loop sequencing

The hyper-variable segments (323-327 bp) of the mitochondrial D-loop for 169 Carassius auratus fishes in Japan were amplified by the polymerase chain reaction and the amplified products were sequenced directly and compared. A dendrogram showing three major clusters was generated with the sequence data for 37 haplotypes at 66 polymorphic sites. One cluster (cluster I) exclusively consisted of the gengorobuna, which was regarded as an independent (sub) species. The triploid ginbuna belonged to two remaining clusters, mainly in the diploid ginbuna cluster (cluster III) and partially in the goldfish cluster (cluster II). This finding suggests that the triploid ginbuna has been derived from two different maternal lineages. The triploid ginbuna was considered to have come into existence during the last ice age on the basis of this phylogenetic data. No geographic differentiation was observed with respect to the triploid ginbuna sampled at three different localities in Japan; the Shibuta River in Kanagawa, Lake Imba in Chiba and Lake Biwa in Shiga. The phylogenetic tree also demonstrated a monophyletic relationship amongst the nigorobuna, the nagabuna and the ginbuna, sharing cluster III. The nigorobuna and nagabuna populations have most likely arisen from geographic and temporal variations within the ginbuna populations. We also discuss the evolutionary origin of the triploid in view of its paternal ancestors.     

Chromosome synapsis and recombination during meiotic division in gynogenetic triploid ginbuna,Carassius auratus langsdorfii

Electron microscope examinations of primary oocytes of gynogenetic triploid ginbuna (Carassius auratus langsdorfii) and diploid gengoroubuna (Carassius auratus cuvieri) were carried out. Typical synaptonemal complexes were observed in both subspecies. In addition, clear differences in PGM-A electrophoretic patterns between a female parent ginbuna and her offspring were detected. It was concluded that synapsis and recombination occur between at least some homologous chromosomes in triploid ginbuna.     

Morphological and genetic analysis of fish of a Carassius complex (Cyprinidae) in Lake Kasumigaura with reference to the taxonomic status of two all-female triploid morphs

The classification of the Carassius complex (Cyprinidae) including all-female triploids, called ginbuna in Japanese, is so confused that three sympatric morphs of crucian carp in Lake Kasumigaura are categorized into two different subspecies within a species. We examined them in order to explain the coexistence of more than one subspecies and determine the founder of the triploid lineages in the crucian carp fauna in the lake. Principal component analysis proved that the three sympatric morphs had a morphometric basis distinguishable from each other. Ploidy was determined by flow cytometry which showed triploids in two morphs and diploids in the other morph. Stepwise discriminant analysis using only meristic characteristics could separate the diploids from the triploids. Phylogenetic analysis using mitochondrial DNA inferred two lineages in which one was composed of a triploid morph and the other was a diploid–triploid mixture. Disagreement between the taxonomic status and the phylogenetic status is explicable by assuming that the triploids in the Carassius complex had independent origins leading to the different subspecies. C. auratus langsdorfii appears to show genetic complexities that traditional taxonomic classification can not unravel.  © 2003 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2003, 79 , 351–357.     

Phylogenetic relationships of silver crucian carp Carassius auratus gibelio, C. auratus cuvieri, crucian carp C. carassius, and common carp Cyprinus carpio as inferred from mitochondrial DNA variation

PCR-RFLP analysis of the ND3/ND4L/ND4 and 12S/16S rRNA regions and nucleotide sequence variation of the cytochrome b gene were used to study the mtDNA divergence in species of the family Cyprinidae, to examine the phylogenetic relationships of the species, and to identify their taxonomic status. The results indicated that an ancestral form diverged into silver crucian carp and crucian carp after its separation from the common carp lineage. The divergence of continental Carassius auratus gibelio and Japanese C. auratus cuvieri occurred more recently. Two well distinguishable mtDNA phylogroups, suggesting divergent evolution, were observed in continental C. auratus gibelio populations. The divergence was possibly related to the formation of two silver crucian carp groups with different types of reproduction, triploid gynogenetic and diploid gonochoric. At the same time, the results supported the high probability of current genetic exchange between the forms. In view of these findings and high morphological similarity of the two forms, they were not considered to be separate species.     

Phylogenetic relationships of silver crusian carp Carassius auratus gibelio, C. auratus cuvieri, crucian carp Carassius carassius, and common carp Cyprinus carpio as inferred from mitochondrial DNA variation

PCR-RFLP analysis of the ND3/ND4L/ND4 and 12S/16S rRNA regions and nucleotide sequence variation of the cytochrome b gene were used to study the mtDNA divergence in species of the family Cyprinidae, to examine the phylogenetic relationships of the species, and to identify their taxonomic status. The results indicated that an ancestral form diverged into silver crucian carp and crucian carp after its separation from the common carp lineage. The divergence of continental Carassius auratus gibelio and Japanese C. auratus cuvieri occurred more recently. Two well distinguishable mtDNA phylogroups, suggesting divergent evolution, were observed in continental C. auratus gibelio populations. The divergence was possibly related to the formation of two silver crucian carp groups with different types of reproduction, triploid gynogenetic and diploid gonochoric. At the same time, the results supported the high probability of current genetic exchange between the forms. In view of these findings and high morphological similarity of the two forms, they were not considered to be separate species.     

四类不同倍性鲫鱼在胚胎发育期间同工酶基因表达的比较分析

Isozyme zymograms of esterase (EST), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), malate dehydrogenase (MDH) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were analysed by polyacrylamide gradient gel electrophoresis at different developmental stages of embryogenesis in 4 types of various ploidy crucian carp embryos, including haploids, diploids, natural triploids, and multiple tetraploids, and 2 types of haploid and diploid common carp embryos. Haploid embryos of crucian carp (Carassius auratus) and common carp (Cyprinus carpio) were produced by treating eggs with UV-irradiated milt from blunt snout bream (Megalobrama amblycephala). Natural triploid embryos were obtained from the eggs of gynogenetic silver crucian carp (Carassius auratus gibelio) inseminated with milt from red common carp. Multiple tetraploid embryos were also produced by gynogenesis from eggs of the newly discovered multiple tetraploid females inseminated with milt from red common carp. Gradient gel electrophoresis indicated that the band types and staining intensity of 4 isozymes expressed in haploid embryos of crucian carp and red common carp were similar to that in the correlative diploid embryos. In natural triploid silver crucian carp embryos, the zymograms of MDH and SOD isozymes were identical with that of diploid crucian carp embryos, but the EST and LDH isozymes manifested more new enzyme bands in comparison with diploid embryos. The corresponding expressed products of some bands in the triploid embryos, such as EST5 and EST6, could be observed also in red common carp embryos, which provided evidence for hybrid origin about the gynogenetic fish. The multiple tetraploids incorporated one foreign genome of red common carp, therefore, the effects of genes from the foreign genome could be observed in the multiple tetraploid embryos. Gene expression of the isozymes in the tetraploid embryos was somewhat similar to that in hybrids. Owing to interaction of triploid silver crucian carp genomes and common carp haploid genome, some isozyme bands, such as EST5 and EST6, changed in quantity, and some bands increased, such as s-SOD1, s-SOD2, s-SOD3 and s-SOD4 in the tetraploid embryos. Moreover, the heterogeneity was revealed among embryos developed from gynogenetic eggs of 3 different multiple tetraploid individuals.     

Genetic analysis of offspring from intra‐ and interspecific crosses of Carassius auratus gibelio by chromosome and RAPD analysis

The ploidy of silver crucian carp Carassius auratus gibelio individuals, originating from nine natural habitats of Hungary, was estimated by erythrocyte nucleus area analysis. On the basis of DNA polymorphism, the genetic homogeneity or heterogeneity and the chromosome number of different offspring derived from the crossing of triploid and diploid populations and of two types of silver crucian carp females with other cyprinid males ( Cyprinus carpio, Carassius carassius, Carassius auratus and Barbus conchonius ) were determined. The results of chromosome and RAPD analysis demonstrated that diploid females could reproduce sexually with silver crucian carp and other cyprinid males and that the offspring of intra‐ and interspecific crosses contained the paternal DNA. Triploid females usually reproduced by gynogenesis and their offspring were clones, however, in very rare cases paternal genes were actually transmitted ( i.e . paternal leakage) to the offspring and the progeny were triploid interspecific hybrids. RAPD analysis showed that while the paternal DNA appeared in the offspring, the maternal phenotype was strongly expressed.     

Identification of triploid individuals and clonal lines in Carassius auratus complex using microsatellites

The Carassius auratus complex in natural populations includes diploid triploid and polyploidy individuals. Diploid individuals belong to the species Carassius auratus whereas triploid and polyploidy individuals are from the subspecies Carassius auratus gibelio. Triploid individuals are all female and reproduce clonally by gynogenesis. Therefore the Carassius auratus complex is an ideal system for studying evolution of unisexual reproduction. Identification of triploid individuals and clonal lines is the first step towards understanding of the evolution of unisexual clonal lines. We examined the ability of 10 microsatellites in identifying triploid individuals in 94 individuals from Japan and China. In 40 confirmed triploid individuals and eight confirmed diploid individuals, all triploid and diploid individuals can be identified by genotyping 10 microsatellite, and four triploid clonal lines were identified. Using the 10 microsatellites we genotyped 46 adult individuals (40 females and six males) from a natural population in China and found that all six males were diploid whereas the majority of females (36 of 40) were triploid and three triploid clonal lines were detected. In 18 diploid individuals from China, all individuals showed different genotypes, suggesting there is no diploid clonal line in diploid crucian carp. A phylogenetic analysis of 94 individuals from China and Japan showed that triploid individuals and clonal lines have originated recurrently.     

四类不同倍性鲫鱼在胚胎发育期间同工酶基因表达的比较分析

用聚丙烯酰胺梯度凝胶电泳比较分析了单倍体、二倍体、三倍体和复合四倍体4类不同倍性鲫鱼以及单倍体和二倍体鲤鱼在胚胎发育时期4种同工酶(EST,LDH,MDH,SOD)酶谱。结果表明,单倍体鲫鱼和单倍体鲤鱼胚胎与各自的二倍体胚胎相比,同工酶酶谱看不出差异;天然三倍体银鲫胚胎的MDH和SOD同工酶酶谱与二倍体鲫相似,但EST和LDH同工酶比二倍体增多了酶带,有的酶带如EST5和EST6还可在鲤鱼胚胎中找到相应的表达产物,提供了天然雌核发育三倍体银鲫杂交起源的证据;复合四倍体由于含有鲤鱼的一个外来基因组,其胚胎的基因表达有些与杂种类似,在所分析的4种同工酶酶谱中,都可观察到来自鲤鱼基因的影响。此外,在由源于不同复合四倍体个体的卵子发育形成的胚胎间,还观察到同工酶基因表达的异质性。     

银鲫与彩鲫卵母细胞cDNA文库构建及周期蛋白A1的cDNA克隆

分别取行天然雌核发育繁殖的银鲫和两性生殖的彩鲫的卵母细胞为材料,提取总RNA,分离mRNA,进而反转录合成cDNA并定向插入λgtll Sfi-Not克隆载体,经体外包装构建了银鲫与彩鲫卵母细胞的表达型cDNA文库。测试结果表明库容量分别达到3.1×106(银鲫)和1.6×106(彩鲫)。进一步人工合成Cyclin A1保守引物,采用PCR扩增文库的方法,克隆了银鲫(1616bp)与彩鲫(1626bp)的Cyclin A1全长cDNA。序列分析结果表明:两种鱼编码区长度均为1173bp,起始于一个包含在脊椎动物起始密码子ANNATG基元内ATG的单一开放读码框,编码391个氨基酸;5'-端非编码区长度也同为70bp,3-'端非编码区长度略有不同,银鲫为373bp,而彩鲫则为383bp;二者3'-端均带有AATAAA的Poly(A)加尾信号以及24bp(银鲫)和27bp(彩鲫)的Poly(A)尾巴。比较银鲫、彩鲫和金鱼与人、爪蟾Cyclin A1氨基酸序列同源性的结果表明,Cyclin A1在人、爪蟾与鱼类之间具有较高同源性;而在银鲫、彩鲫和金鱼之间,Cyclin A1仅在周期蛋白框外存在5个氨基酸的差异,且这些差异均是由个别碱基的变异造成的。       

新疆额尔齐斯河水系银鲫克隆多样性研究

银鲫（Carassius auratus gibelio Bloch）由于其独特的遗传背景和繁殖方式而成为研究进化遗传学和选择育种的一个独特的模式生物。到目前为止,我们对新疆额尔齐斯河水系银鲫群体的多样性状况一直知之甚少。为了更好地了解额尔齐斯河水系银鲫群体的克隆多样性状况,本研究中,我们采集了来自新疆额尔齐斯河水系的4个鲫鱼群体。通过流式细胞术分析血细胞样品,结果证实这些鲫鱼均为三倍体银鲫。通过血清转铁蛋白电泳表型分析,我们从这些银鲫群体中鉴定出总共8个不同的克隆。在这些鉴定的克隆中,有4个克隆(克隆A、J、M和S)同于以前鉴定的克隆,而另外的4个克隆是新发现的。克隆A和M分布最广,出现在所调查的4个群体中;克隆J出现在2个不同的群体中;其余的5个克隆中每个克隆均为单个群体所拥有。不同克隆在群体中的这种分布谱式可能反映了银鲫的各个克隆可在不同水体之间迁移以及同一克隆在不同水体中生存能力存在有差异。在取样的银鲫群体中,发现有一个群体的克隆多样性水平明显低于其他3个群体,而这后3个群体的克隆多样性水平是与已报道过的银鲫群体相似的。这一结果可能暗示着修建水利工程和过度捕捞等人类活动的不利影响。本研究所揭示的克隆多样性将有助于进化遗传学和选择育种研究。同时,也反映了保护额尔齐斯河水系银鲫克隆多样性的重要性。     

Evidence for recombination of mitochondrial DNA in triploid crucian carp

In this study, we report the complete mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequences of the allotetraploid and triploid crucian carp and compare the complete mtDNA sequences between the triploid crucian carp and its female parent Japanese crucian carp and between the triploid crucian carp and its male parent allotetraploid. Our results indicate that the complete mtDNA nucleotide identity (98%) between the triploid crucian carp and its male parent allotetraploid was higher than that (93%) between the triploid crucian carp and its female parent Japanese crucian carp. Moreover, the presence of a pattern of identity and difference at synonymous sites of mitochondrial genomes between the triploid crucian carp and its parents provides direct evidence that triploid crucian carp possessed the recombination mtDNA fragment (12,759 bp) derived from the paternal fish. These results suggest that mtDNA recombination was derived from the fusion of the maternal and paternal mtDNAs. Compared with the haploid egg with one set of genome from the Japanese crucian carp, the diploid sperm with two sets of genomes from the allotetraploid could more easily make its mtDNA fuse with the mtDNA of the haploid egg. In addition, the triple hybrid nature of the triploid crucian carp probably allowed its better mtDNA recombination. In summary, our results provide the first evidence of mtDNA combination in polyploid fish.     

Structural conservation and variation in the D-loop-containing region of vertebrate mitochondrial DNA

The nucleotide sequences of the D-loop-containing regions of three rat mitochondrial DNAs (mtDNAs), two from the species Rattus norvegicus and one from R. rattus, were determined. Comparisons made among these sequences and with the mouse sequence showed that, on the basis of both base composition and frequency of nucleotide alterations, three domains could be defined within the D-loop-containing region: a central conserved segment, poor in L-strand adenine, flanked by two divergent, adenine-rich regions. Deletions and insertions were found to occur at an unexpectedly high frequency in these sequences and the conserved sequence block called CSB-1 was found not to be intact in the R. rattus sequence. Although in comparisons of more distantly related mtDNAs the D-loop region is the most divergent on the molecule, it does not diverge more than typical protein genes between R. norvegicus and R. rattus, and its central conserved domain appears to be one of the molecule's most conserved regions. The most variable domain borders the tRNAPhe gene and contains the L and H-strand promoters and the 5' terminus for H-strand DNA synthesis. Within this region we have found sequences in all the mtDNAs we have examined, including those of human, two artiodactyls and Xenopus, that are capable of folding into cloverleaf structures. In the other divergent domain of the same mtDNAs, we find sequences capable of assuming similar secondary structural configurations at or near the sites for the termination of D-loop DNA synthesis. The evolutionary preservation of the potential to form such structures despite the high primary-structural divergence of the regions they occur in, suggests the structures are of principal importance for some processes occurring in the D-loop-containing region.     

Differential gene expression in fully-grown oocytes between gynogenetic and gonochoristic crucian carps.

Silver crucian carp (Carassius auratus gibelio) is a unique triploid bisexual species that can reproduce by gynogenesis. As all other gynogenetic animals, it keeps its chromosome integrity by inhibiting the first meiosis division (no extrusion of the first pole body). To understand the molecular events governing this reproduction mode, suppression subtractive hybridization was used to identify the genes differentially expressed in fully-grown oocytes of the gynogenetic and gonochoristic crucian carp (gyno-carp and gono-carp). From two specific subtractive cDNA libraries, the clones screened out by dot blots and virtual Northern blots were chosen to clone full-length cDNA by RACE. Four differentially expressed genes were obtained. Two are novel genes and are expressed specifically in the oocytes. The gyno-carp stores much more mRNA of cyclin A2, a new member of the fish A-type cyclin gene, in its fully-grown oocyte than in the gono-carp. The last gene is histone H2A. The histone H2As of these two closely related crucian carps are quite different in the C-terminus. Preliminary characterization of the four genes has been analyzed by nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequence and Northern analysis.     

Massive production of all-female diploids and triploids in the crucian carp

In many species of aquaculture importance, all-female and sterile populations possess superior productivity due to faster growth and a relatively homogenous size of individuals. However, the production of all-female and sterile fish in a large scale for aquaculture is a challenge in practice, because treatments necessary for gynogenesis induction usually cause massive embryonic and larval mortality, and the number of induced gynogens is too small for their direct use in aquaculture. Here we report the massive production of all-female triploid crucian carp by combining artificial gynogenesis, sex reversal and diploid-tetraploid hybridization. Previously, we have obtained an allotetraploid carp population (4n = 200) by hybridization between red crucian carp (Carassius auratus red var; ♀) and common carp (Cyprinus carpio; ♂). We induced all-female diploid gynogens of the Japanese crucian carp (Carassius cuvieri; 2n = 100). We also generated male diploid gynogens of the same species treated gynogenetic fry with 17-α-methyltestosterone, leading to the production of sex-revered gynogenetic males. Finally, these males were used to cross with the female diploid Japanese crucian carp gynogens and the allotetraploid females, resulting in the production of fertile all-female diploid Japanese crucian carp (2n=100) and sterile all-female triploid hybrids (3n = 150), respectively. Therefore, diploid crucian carp gynogenetic females and sex-reversed male together with an allotetraploid line provide an opportunity to produce all-female triploid populations in a large scale to meet demands in aquaculture industry.     

Nucleotide sequence of a Xenopus laevis mitochondrial DNA fragment containing the D-loop, flanking tRNA genes and the apocytochrome b gene

Extensive corrections of the nucleotide sequence of the Xenopus laevis mitochondrial (mt) displacement (D) loop and surrounding genes [Wong et al., Nucl. Acids Res. 11 (1983) 4977-4995] are reported, including addition of two stretches of nucleotides and 60 scattered modifications. The additional sequences presented here correspond to the apocytochrome b gene, the tRNAGlu gene and part of URF6. This allows us to propose a conformational model for the X. laevis apocytochrome b protein and also permits comparisons with mammalian mtDNA. The D-loop sequence is poorly conserved except for sequences involved in the regulation of the mt genome (conserved sequence blocks and the DNA polymerase stop sequences). On the other hand, all genes show marked conservation both of their nucleotide sequence and their respective location on the mt genome. Organization of the genetic information described for mammalian mtDNA also holds for the X. laevis mtDNA. This result strongly suggests that all animal vertebrate mtDNAs have followed the same evolutionary pathway.     

Influence of environmental parameters on growth pattern and population structure of Carassius auratus gibelio in Eastern Ukraine

Population structure and growth parameters of Prussian carp (Carassius auratus gibelio) were studied in 12 freshwater ecosystems of the Donbass region (Eastern Ukraine). These ecosystems differed significantly with respect to their surface area, water transparency and annual concentrations of phosphorus and nitrogen. Amongst the studied ecosystems, diploid males and females as well as a smaller percentage of triploid females were found. The population structure of C. a. gibelio varied significantly in terms of the percentage of triploids and sex ratio amongst diploids. A considerable proportion of triploid females (>10%) was found in four ecosystems with intermediate surface area (38–50 ha) and relatively high growth rate of specimens. The sex ratio amongst diploids was significantly female-biased in seven of 12 ecosystems, including those where triploids were present in considerable numbers. The growth parameters of Prussian carp were significantly correlated with ecosystem characteristics, but the growth patterns of diploids and triploids were not significantly different from each other. The restricted distribution of triploid specimens suggests that the triploid form might counter diverse environmental challenges, whereas the diploid form of Prussian carp seems to be efficiently adapted to a wide range of ecosystem conditions.     

Breakdown of the sperm nuclear envelope is a prerequisite for male pronucleus formation: direct evidence from the gynogenetic crucian carp Carassius auratus langsdorfii

The gynogenetic fish, Carassius auratus langsdorfii (the ginbuna, a crucian carp), provides an interesting model for the study of the mechanisms controlling male pronucleus formation. When the sperm nucleus of a different subspecies (C. a. cuvieri) is incorporated into the gynogenetic egg, the nuclear envelope of the spermatozoon is not broken down, and the pronucleus fails to develop, although dispersion of the sperm chromatin occurs to some extent within the space limited by the nuclear envelope. When spermatozoa without plasma membranes and nuclear envelopes were microinjected into mature activated eggs, the sperm nuclei underwent chromatin dispersion, nuclear envelope formation, DNA synthesis, and transformation into male pronuclei. These results indicate that the failure of the male pronucleus to form in ginbuna is primarily due to the failure of sperm nuclear envelope breakdown. We conclude that sperm nuclear envelope breakdown is an indispensable step for the development of the male pronucleus.     

Comparative studies on histological and ultra-structure of the pituitary of different ploidy level fishes

The histological and ultra-structure of the pituitary in diploid red crucian carp (Carassius auratus red var.), triploid crucian carp and allotetraploid hybrids within and after the breeding season were comparatively studied. The result showed that there were six endocrine cell types in the pituitary of these three kinds of fishes, and there was an obvious difference in cell size among different ploidy level fishes. As for the same type of pituitary cells, the cell size was increased gradually with the increasing ploidy level. In the breeding season, the allotetraploid hybrids had higher proportion of gonadotropin cells (GTH) than triploids, and the trploids had higher proportion of GTH than diploids. The results were related to the earlier sexual maturity of allotetraploid hybrids and sterility of triploid crucian carp. On the other hand, among the three kinds of fishes, the proportion of somatotropin (STH) cells in triploids crucian carp was the highest, whereas that in allotetraploid hybrids was the lowest. The results might be connected with the faster growth rate of triploids and slower growth rate of allotetraploid hybrids. In addition, in GTH cells of meso-adenohypophysis after the breeding season, there were many endocrine particles in triploids, while those endocrine particles were released from the cells in allotetraploids and diploids. This result showed that the sterility of triploid crucian carp might be related to the hormone which was not released from the GTH cells. In a word, the present study indicated that the differences in the structure of pituitary among different ploidy level fishes contributed to their difference in the growth rate and gonadal development.