Vitellogenin plasma levels in two cultured African catfish species,

Two specific Enzyme Linked lmmunosorbent Assays (ELISA) for vitellogenin were developed using two different antisera anti-plasma vitellogenin purified by SDS polyacrilamide gel electrophoresis and electroelution. Purified vitellogenins migrated as single bands under SDS conditions with an apparent molecular mass of 154 and 152 kDa for Chrysichthys nigrodigitatus and Heterobranchus longifilis respectively. The ELISA was performed on 96 well microtiter plates using specific antibodies raised on rabbits and a second antibody (Goat anti-rabbit) labeled with peroxidase. Parallel displacement curves were obtained between purified vitellogenin and female plasma as well as plasma from estradiol treated fish. Both antibodies cross-reacted with the heterologous vitellogenin but the curves were not parallel, indicating different antigenic structures of the two vitellogenin molecules from the two catfish species. The reliability and the specificity of these assays allowed us to quantify vitellogenin in plasma samples during vitellogenesis of the two species. The annual vitellogenin plasma levels presented a good correlation with mean oocyte diameter and reproduction period in Chrysichthys nigrodigitatus. In Heterobranchus longifilis the mean oocyte diameter is almost constant all year round, but vitellogenin levels presented significant variations with higher levels corresponding mainly to the low gonado-somatic index values observed during the dry seasons.