In vivo assessment of gonad status, secondary sex characteristics and spawning in transparent Casper zebrafish

In this study, the effects of DES on reproduction were determined in a novel way by using transparent Casper zebrafish that allow direct visualization of gonad status over time. Changes in gonad status with DES treatment were correlated with effects on secondary sex characteristics (i.e., genital vent size and breeding tubercles) spawning and embryo production. The results suggest that the Casper zebrafish is a useful model for studying dynamics of reproductive events in vertebrate gonads in vivo and for determining effects of EDCs on zebrafish reproduction.
Source: Mechanisms of Development - Category: Biology Source Type: research