SEX DIFFERENTIATION IN PROTOGYNY HERMAPHRODITIC FISH: RICE FIELD EEL (MONOPTERUS ALBUS), A LITERATURE REVIEW

• Main Author: Alethea Az Zahra, Vida
• Format: Final Project
• Language: Indonesia
• Online Access: https://digilib.itb.ac.id/gdl/view/72009
• Institution: Institut Teknologi Bandung

Asian swamp eel (Monopterus albus) is a type of fish from the order Synbranchiformes that lives in fresh water. Cultivation of asian swamp eel has an important role economically in aquaculture production in the world. In the aquaculture system, knowledge of the reproductive system of the fish species to be cultivated is needed in carrying out an efficient aquaculture. Sexual differentiation in fish which is the basis for studies on sex differentiation in fish following Yamamoto's review in 1969. Sex differentiation in fish is distinguished in 2 forms, namely (1) differentiation of indifference gonads into male and female gonads directly, (2) differentiation into hermaphrodites then become male or female forms. Differentiation into hermaphrodites can be divided into 3 forms, namely (1) protandric hermaphrodites (changes in sex from male to female), (2) protogynous hermaphrodites (changes in sex from female to male), and (3) synchronous hermaphrodites (have male and female gonads that are both functional at the same time). Rice field eels are model organisms for biological reproduction studies because they experience the phenomenon of sex reversal. Therefore, rice field eels include fish that experience protogynous hermaphrodites, i.e. there is a change in female sex to male. In protogynous hermaphrodites, small eels <30 cm, undifferentiated gonads will develop into ovaries, in medium-sized eels 30 to 45 cm will become hermaphrodites, and in body sizes >45 cm the gonads will differentiate into testes. In this literature study, we collect information on the topic of sex differentiation and determination in fish, especially in asian swamp eels (Monopterus albus) so that it can assist in the development of biological reproduction studies. Search literature related to sex differentiation in fish through the search engines Pubmed, Researchgate, Nature, Elsevier, and Google Scholar. Based on several studies, found 3 dominant genes that play a role in gonad changes in asian swamp eels (Monopterus albus). These genes are CYP17, Cbx3, and Rab37. CYP17 gene expression was found in teleost fish undergoing sex reversal, with a role in gonadal steroidogenesis. The expression of the Cbx3 gene during gonadal reversal increased and was seen to be dominant in the testes area, so that Cbx3 had a role in spermatogenesis in fish. Rab37 gene expression is decreased during sex reversal, which is associated with follicular development during oogenesis.