Evaluation of dual injection of LHRHa and the dopamine receptor antagonist pimozide in cage spawning of channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus

Control of reproduction in cultured fishes has been improved by the use of gonadotropin releasing hormones (GnRH's) and, in many fishes, the use of dopamine (DA) receptor antagonists. However, little successful use of these treatments has been reported for channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus. This study was conducted to investigate the potential of treatment with a gonadotropin hormone releasing hormone (GnRH) and a dopamine (DA) receptor antagonist to improve cage spawning success in channel catfish. Two and 3-yr-old catfish were selected from ponds. All males were injected with des-Gly(10), [D-Ala(6)]-Leuteinizing hormone releasing hormone ethylamide (LHRHa, 50 mu g/kg body weight). Females were randomly assigned to the various injection treatments, control (vehicle injected, C), LHRHa only (L), DA receptor antagonist (pimozide) only (P), and LHRHa and pimozide (LP). After injections, one male and one female were paired and placed into 1 m wide X 1.5 m long X 1.2 m deep spawning cages with a metal spawning can. Spawning cans were checked from 1 to 10 d after injection and successful spawning events were recorded. Five trials were conducted between 13 May and 5 June 1998. The LP treatment yielded significantly more spawns than any other treatment (LP, N = 24, 83% > L, N = 25, 44% > C, N = 23, 43 % > P, N = 11, 36%). The greatest promotion of spawning with LP treatment was in the first two induction trials. In the subsequent three trials, differences between treatments were not significant, although LP treated females tended to spawn more frequently. Percent hatch (60.5 +/- 3.4%) did not differ between treatments. Treatment of females with LHRHa + pimozide is a potentially useful method for increasing spawning success, particularly early in the spawning season.