Gonadal Histology of Oreochromis Niloticus Linn. from Laguna de Bay

Abstract

The study was conducted niloticus to describe the gonads of male and female Oreochromis Linn. A total of 40 0, niloticus Linn. samples were taken from Taguig, West Bay of Laguna de Bay. The gonads were excised from the fishes and prepared for light microscopy. Unusual histological features, aside from its typical characteristics, were observed in the gonads of both males and females. Most of the testes exhibited golden brown bodies in the interstitium the ovaries, a thickening of the follicular layer was frequently observed. The incidence of encystment of large cells and vacuolations at the periphery and central portion of the ocytes were also noted. Most unusual, however, was the occurrence of an oocyte within an oocyte. Such histological features might indicate a manifestation of disturbance of certain physiological and reproductive aspects of Oreochromis niloticus Linn.