title: Use of laparoscopy for the evaluation of the reproductive status of tench (Tinca tinca).
abstract: The aim of the study was to evaluate the use of laparoscopy for the assessment of the reproductive tract and stage of gonadal development of the tench (Tinca tinca). Laparoscopy was carried out from February to March 2009, on 30 anesthetized tenchs, 15 males and 15 females, of approximately 250 g bodyweight and 30 cm length, using a 1.9-mm rigid cystoscope. Male and female gonads, attached to the swim bladder, were visualized. Testes were orange with a striped appearance. Mature ovaries were cluster-shaped and whitish. Histological samples were collected, from the reproductive organs of both the sexes, with a forceps and showed the presence of gametes at different stages of maturity. The application of this minimally invasive diagnostic imaging technique could clinically be used as a powerful tool to evaluate the gender and to establish the reproductive status of tench and other fish.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Macrì
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rapisarda
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Marino
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: De Majo
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Aiudi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003530:Cyprinidae / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D009865:Oocytes; D010053:Ovary / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D012098:Reproduction; D013090:Spermatocytes / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013737:Testis / Q000033:anatomy & histology