First evidence of intersex condition in Caspian kutum, Rutilus kutum (Kamenski, ۱۹۰۱) in the Southwest Caspian Sea

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 ۳۵۰ pieces of kutumspecimens (۳۸.۵ ± ۱.۸۷ cm, ۷۵۵ ± ۶.۵۲ g, and +۳yr) as per their gender. Out of these numbers, a single male (+۳ years old and a length/weight of ۳۲.۲۵ cm/۶۲۸.۵ 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.

کلیدواژه ها:

Kutum ، Histological analysis ، Intersex gonads ، Oocytes