Reproductive Terminology
An emerging issue in applied fisheries reproductive biology is the need for common terminology. Many of the terms used to describe reproductive concepts and developmental stages are often inconsistent and specific to a study, species or region. This makes communication and comparative analyses difficult for researchers. In an effort to address the need for a common vocabulary, a group of biologists developed a list of commonly used reproductive terms and definitions (Lowerre-Barbieri et al. 2011) and standardized terms to describe reproductive development (Access publication: Brown-Peterson et al. 2011).
Reproductive Terms and Definitions
Definition
Development and growth of oocytes, from oogonia through maturation. Stages of oogenesis: oogonia (Oo); primary growth (PG); cortical alveolar (CA); vitellogenic (Vtg), also known as yolked (Yo); and oocyte maturation (OM).
References
Kjesbu 2009
Wallace and Selman 1981
Patiño and Sullivan 2002
Hunter and Macewicz 1985
Definition
Morphological and physiological changes during development of male germ cells. Stages of spermatogenesis: spermatogonia (Sg), spermatocytes (Sc), spermatids (St) and spermatozoa (Sz).
References
Grier and Uribe-Aranzábal 2009
Nagahama 1983
Definition
Gonadotropin-independent growth of oocytes, characterized by basophilic staining. Stages include: single nucleolus, multiple nucleoli and perinucleolar.
References
Wallace and Selman 1981
Definition
Gonadotropin-dependent growth of oocytes. Stages include: cortical alveolar (CA) and vitellogenic (Vtg). Vtg is often divided into three substages: primary vitellogenic (Vtg1), secondary vitellogenic (Vtg2) and tertiary vitellogenic (Vtg3).
References
Luckenbach et al. 2008
Abascal and Medina 2005
Matsuyama et al 1990
Definition
Resumption of meiosis and achievement of oocyte maturational competence, ending in ovulation. OM includes two nuclear events: germinal vesicle migration (GVM) and germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD). In some species, OM may also include: formation of large oil droplets, known as lipid coalescence (LC); yolk coalescence (YC); and hydration (H).
References
Grier et al. 2009
Jalabert 2005
Definition
Phases of gonadal development occurring in all fishes prior to, during and after spawning. Phases are defined as: immature (Imm); developing (Dev); spawning capable (SC), which includes the spawning (S) subphase; regressing (Rgs); and regenerating (Rgn).
References
Brown-Peterson et al. this 2011
Definition
Recruitment of oocytes from primary growth to secondary growth occurs prior to an individual’s spawning period.
References
Hunter et al. 1992
Murua and Saborido-Rey 2003
Definition
Recruitment of oocytes from primary growth to secondary growth continues throughout an individual’s spawning period.
References
Hunter et al. 1992
Murua and Saborido-Rey 2003
Definition
Females capable of ovulating and spawning multiple batches of oocytes during the individual spawning period. Batch spawners can have determinate or indeterminate fecundity.
References
Murua and Saborido-Rey 2003
Definition
Females ovulate and spawn all developing oocytes in a single event or within a very short time period as part of a single episode.
References
Murua and Saborido-Rey 2003
Definition
Sexually mature fish that fail to spawn during a reproductive season. Failure to spawn can be recognized by a lack of ovarian development (vitellogenesis) or by massive atresia prior to the spawning period.
References
Rideout et al. 2005
Definition
Synonymous with sexual maturity in both males and females, which is attained once in a lifetime.
References
Rideout et al. 2005
From Lowerre-Barbieri et al. 2011