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Updated: Jul 19, 2025
Necropsy-based Wild Fish Health Assessment
Published on: September 11, 2018
A Quantitative Histologic Analysis of Oogenesis in the Flatfish Species Pleuronectes platessa as a Tool for Fisheries
Carine Sauger1,2, Jérôme Quinquis2, Clothilde Berthelin1
1Unity Biology of Organisms and Aquatic Ecosystems (UMR 8067 BOREA), University of Caen-Normandie, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Sorbonne University, CNRS, IRD, Université des Antilles, Esplanade de la Paix, 14032 Caen, France.
Abstract:
The following paper gives a detailed description of the oogenesis cycle for the European Plaice (Pleuronectes platessa), from oogonia to post-ovulatory follicle, including ovarian follicle and zona pellucida sizes. Noteworthy particularities were the difficulty in identifying cortical alveoli due to their very small size. Quantitative histology (stereology) on histological slides was used to determine a first size at maturity for females from the English Channel, which was found to be smaller compared to the literature (19 cm). Stereology also determined a first spawning event starting in January, with a peak in February and ongoing until March. Moreover, the use of stereology showed misclassifications for individuals categorized into a maturity phase using a macroscopic visual method. Misclassifications were found with individuals that had spawned (D) but were put under the immature (A) phase, and individuals in development (B) classified under D.
