Histological assessment of White Sea cod Gadus morhua marisalbi gonads in the summer of 2011–2013

Abstract

In this paper the reproductive status of Gadus morhua marisalbi (White Sea cod) was investigated using histological methods. There was a high prevalence in gonad abnormalities. In 90.0% of females nucleoli hypertrophy and oocyte resorption observed, and in 95.0% of males germ cell were characterized by destruction processes. For the first time a case of hermaphroditism was documented in White Sea cod. The prevalence of individuals with bisexual gonads was 3.8% in the histologically examined specimens. Reproductive disorders are not species-specific, and similar gonads anomalies have been observed in other species of fish, especially near sites with high anthropogenic impact.