Experimental studies on the changes in the female gonad of immature and mature freshwater fish, Heteropneustes fossilis (Bloch)

The present paper deals with the study of amino acids and lipid concentration in the immature and mature oocyte in the fish Heteropneustes fossilis .It was observed that the essential amino acids under the influence of gonadotrophins play a vital role in the gonadal maturation as well as in the synthesis of various enzymes needed for steroidogenesis. In the present study, the rate of incorporation of amino acids and their transformation in gonads indicate their vital role in the maturation of gonads. In addition to amino acids, the lipid fraction especially the ester cholesterol and the phospholipid were also found to play a significant role during the sequential changes which occur during maturation process of the gonads of heteropneustes fossilis.