First evidence of intersex condition in Caspian kutum, Rutilus kutum (Kamenski, 1901) in the Southwest Caspian Sea

Articles in Press

Authors

1 Aquaculture Department, Guilan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Rasht, Iran

2 Scientific Board Member of Animal Science Research Department, Guilan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Rasht, Iran

3 . International Sturgeon Research Institute, Agricultural Research Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Rasht, Iran

10.22124/cjes.2025.8368

Abstract

The present study showed intersex conditions in the wild population of Caspian kutum in the Southwest Caspian Sea. Evidence and examples of morphological and structural changes have been found in recent years among Caspian kutum, Rutilus kutum. The present study included sampling and examining morphological and anatomical characteristics of 350 pieces of kutumspecimens (38.5 ± 1.87 cm, 755 ± 6.52 g, and +3yr) as per their gender. Out of these numbers, a single male (+3 years old and a length/weight of 32.25 cm/628.5 g respectively) showed anomalies comprising seminal and gonadal sacs with simultaneous presence of male and female gonads. Histological observations of the male gonad revealed the presence of ovotestis tissue containing oocytes and spermatozoa throughout the entire testis. Male gonad tissue exhibited somniferous tubular structures with spermatogonia, spermatocytes, and spermatids. The histological examination of the gonads also showed the predominance of oocytes at different developmental stages. The intersexuality might have been due to determining processes or a combination of natural malformation and chemical contamination.

Keywords

References

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Available Online from 16 January 2025

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