Academic Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies

MCSER Publishing, Rome-Italy

E-ISSN 2281-4612
ISSN 2281-3993

Vol 2 No 8
October 2013

Influence of Sex on the Hematological and Morphometric Parameters of

Cyprinus Carpio (Linnaeus, 1758) from Shkodra Lake
Prof.As.Dr. Suzana Golemi
Dr. Neira Medja
Dr. Donalda Lacej
University "Luigj Gurakuqi"of Shkodr, Albania
Department of Biology Chemistry, Faculty of Natural Sciences,
E-mail: [email protected]
Doi:10.5901/ajis.2013.v2n8p45
Abstract
The aim of the presents study was to obtain the influence of sex on some parameters of Cyprinus carpio (Linnaeus, 1758). The
study has been carried out during spawning migration in the period March 2011 - May 2011 and involved 60 healthy individuals
of fish, randomly collected. The specimens were weighed and measured. Blood samples were taken to determine hematocrit,
hemoglobin, erythrocyte count and erythrocyte indices: mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin and mean
corpuscular hemoglobin concentration. The mean values of blood indices and morphometric parameters were determinate
annually for male and female. Comparison of blood parameters was performed according to sex differences. The results of this
study showed that male fish have higher values of hemoglobin, hematocrit, and erythrocyte count, than female. Statistical
analysis revealed that differences in hematological and morphometric parameters between males and females were significant.
Keyword: cyprinus carpio, hematological indices, morphometric parameters.

1. Introduction
Cyprinidae are a large family of freshwater fishes that comprise the carps, the true minnows, and their relatives.
Commonly called the carp family or the minnow family, its members are also known as Cyprinids. It is the largest fish
family and the largest family of vertebrate animals in general, with over 2,400 species in about 220 genera. Common carp
is hardy and tolerant of wide variety of conditions but generally favor large water bodies with slow flowing or standing
water and soft bottom sediments. They are omnivorous feeding mainly on aquatic insects, crustaceans annelids,
mollusks. Common carp is a hardy fish and adapted almost to all the environments.
The important place of cipriniculture in aquaculture is gave by the big quantity of Cyprinids realized in hatcheries,
the number of species, the improved natural trophic recourses, the plasticity and the rigidity at medium conditions, the
good capitalization of folder, the quality of foods input and the low cost price.
The studies about Shkodra carp and its forms present scientific interest for researches of the region. There are few
studies about normal hematological and biochemistry indices of Shkodra carp, so the evaluation of them in Cyrinus carpio
will serve as a good tool of monitoring stress situates diagnostic of pathologies. (Golemi and Lacej, 2012.).
Sex of the fish may also influence the blood parameters. Studies on sexually matured gold fish (Carrassius
auratus) (Summerfeld, 1967), brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) and brown trout (Salmo gairdneri) (Sniezsko, 1960)
showed that males consistenly had higher packed cell volume values than the females and suggested the need to
separate blood component data on the basis of sex to avoid attributing sex differences to other factors.
The goal of this study was to determinate the effect of sex on hematological indices and morphometric parameters
of Cyprinus carpio form Shkodra Lake with the hope of providing some useful information on this aspect of its biology.
2. Methods
2.1 Biological indices
Common carp (Cyprinus carpio) used in this study were captured from different station in Albanian side of Shkodra Lake.
Sixty fish were weighed and measured 28 males, 2598 124 gram and 43.3 3.2cm and 32 females, 29540.22 gram
45

E-ISSN 2281-4612
ISSN 2281-3993

Academic Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies

MCSER Publishing, Rome-Italy

Vol 2 No 8
October 2013

and 45.4 0.36 mm (mean values and standard deviation).

Morphometric indices measured were body weight (W), maximal length (L), length till the tail bifurcation(I), length
till the end of scales (C) and maximal body height(H).
Blood samples were collected from 28 males and 32 females. The collection was done by caudal vein of 60
fish specimens with 5 ml sterile syringes and kept at ice-could tubes to with heparin (70 IU ml-1 had been added
(according to Ballarin et al., 2004) . samples have been taken after anesthesia with MS 222; 0.1-1 water (according to
Handy & Depledge, 2000).
2.2 Haematological analysis
The analysed of haematological parameters have been: RBCC, Hb, Hct, MCV, MCH, and MCHC WBC, lymphocytes,
monocytes, granulocytes. Haematological parameters were carried out using the HumaCount 30TS is a fully automated
3-part differential cell counter. Reagents that used analyser supplied by Human GmbH. Reagents are: HC-DILUENT:
Isotonic saline solution used to dilute whole blood specimens and to rinse the fluidic system between measuring
procedures. HC-LYSE: Used to prepare blood hemolysate for 3-part WBC differential and for total WBC and HGB
measurement. CLEANER: Used to perform cleaning process of the fluidics. Significance level was defined as p<0.05.

Figure 1. Investigation area

2.3 Statistical parameters used.
Differences in hematological parameters between males and females fish were statistically analyzed by students test
(p<0.05). Means and standard deviation (SD) were calculated for each parameters measured. Each parameter was
determined using MINITAB 16.
3. Results and discussion
3.1 Basic changes hematological of common carp Cyprinus carpio regardless of sex
The result of the hematological indices for males and females are shown in table 1: Age 5+, mean hemoglobin (Hb)
9.550.25 and 6.540.56g/dl; mean hematocrit (packed cell volume, Hct) 32.270.2%;25.351.2, and the number of
red blood cells (RBCc) 1.950.42, 1.560.24cells/ml: the number of leucocytes (WBCc) 11.920.18, 18.511.35cells/ml;
MCV 165.484.2, 162.5 8.06fl; MCH 48.973.12, 41.922.08 pg; MCHC 29.590.30, 25.71.08%, lymphocyte
68.51.21, 72.82.13%;neotrophile 4.30.20, 7.60.20 %; monocyte 17.10.47, 18.51.32% respectively. There were
significant differences.

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Academic Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies

MCSER Publishing, Rome-Italy

E-ISSN 2281-4612
ISSN 2281-3993

Vol 2 No 8
October 2013

Table 1. Hematological profile of Cyprinus carpio spawners (mean DS)

Parameters

Female

Male

RBC (10 / mm )
32
1.560.24
28
Hb (g/dl))
32
6.540.56
28
Hct (%)
32
25.351.2
28
MCV (mm3)
32
162.58.06
28
MCH (pg)
32
41.922.08
28
MCHC(g/dl)
32
25.7 1.08
28
WBC (103/ mm3)
32
18.51 1.35
28
Lymphocytes (%)
32
72.82.13
28
Neutrophils (%)
32
7.60.20
28
Monocytes (%)
32
18.51.32
28
Statically significant (P < 0.05)
Note: RBCc-red blood cell count; Hb-hemoglobin concentration; Hct-hematocrit,
MCV- mean corpuscular volume, MCH-mean corpuscular hemoglobin;
MCHC-mean corpuscularhemoglobin concentration, WBCc- whiteblood cell count,
6

1.950.42
9.550.25
32.270.2
165.484.2
48.973.12
29.590.30
11.920.18
68.51.21
4.30.20
17.10.47

Mean values of Cyprinus carpio hematological indices are presented in histograms below and they represent their
relation by sex. Hct is higher in male (32.270.2%) than female (25.351.2%) as shows figure 2. The result obtained by
different authos are the same, so this metabolic index is higher during all over the year in male than female (Etim L, et
al.1999, Ballarin, L, et al 2004, Beqiraj,D et al 2011). They recommended in consideration the sex to avoid its influence
from other factors.
High level of Hct is result of higher metabolism in male than female (Jawad et al, Kori-Siakpere et al 2005, Beqiraj
et al 2009. These differences on hematological data depend by different needs of oxygen in male and female, especially
in reproduction period.
Figure 3 shown that value of RBC, is higher in male (1.950.42 x 106/ mm3) than female (6.540.56 x106/ mm3)
while value of WBC is higher in female (18.51 1.35x 103/ mm3) than male (11.920.18 x103/ mm3).
Higher values of some hematological indices for male than females are caused by varying activity of erythropoietin.
Testosterones, the male sex hormones, stimulate its production while estrogens, the female hormones, have a
suppressing effect (Trojan, 2003). This conclusion is in accordance with other authors (Kori-Siakpere, 2005) they are
comparable with ones of the other species as well as.
3.2 Sex-related changes on morph metric data of common carp Cyprinus carpio.
Total weight, maximal length, length till the tail bifurcation, length till the end of scales and maximal body height were
determined in common carp Cyprinus carpio the result of them are presented in table 2.
Table 2. Morphological indices level in freshwater fish Cyprinus carpio.
Parameters

Female

Male

Age(year)
Weight (W)
Length (L)
Length till the tail bifurcation (H)
Length till the end of scales (C)
Maximal body height (I)

32
32
32
32
32
32

5+
29540.22
45.40.36
12.52.01
43.26.01
39.11.23

28
28
28
28
28
28

5+
2598 124
43.3 3.2
10.182.1
36.71.305
41.420.56

Higher values of morph metric parameters of Cyprinus carpio ( body weight, length, length till the tail bifurcation, length
till the end of scales , maximal body height ) were observed in females than males, as we have shown in table 2, figure
4 and 5.

47

E-ISSN 2281-4612
ISSN 2281-3993

Academic Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies

MCSER Publishing, Rome-Italy

Vol 2 No 8
October 2013

35
30
25

Value

20
15
10
5

Sex

F e m a le M a le
H b

F e m a l e M a le
H ct

Figure 2. Comparison between males and females in hemoglobin concentration (Hb) and hematocrit value (Hct).
20

Value

15

10

F e m a le
M a le
RBC

F e m a le
M a le
W BC

Figure 3. Comparison between males and females in red blood cells (RBC, x 100) and white blood cells (WBC).
50

40

Value

30

20

10

Female Male
Length (L)

Female Male
I

Female Male
C

Female Male
H

Figure 4. Comparison between males and females in morphometric parameters.

3 5 0 0
3 0 0 0

Weight (g)

2 5 0 0
2 0 0 0
1 5 0 0
1 0 0 0
5 0 0
0

F e m

a le

Figure 5. Comparison between males and females in weight.

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a le

E-ISSN 2281-4612
ISSN 2281-3993

Academic Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies

MCSER Publishing, Rome-Italy

Vol 2 No 8
October 2013

Sex has an important in growth of Cyprinus carpio. It has good correlations with metabolic activity and the oxygenation of
the water. Authors reported that females hypothalamus hypophyse system has an important role in growth and
reproduction of them. On the other hand, there are different environment factors influenced in it (Beqiraj z., et al 2009)
The results of this study showed that sex (condition factor) has an important influence on average value of weight,
length, maximal body height, in carp. There are significant statistically differences of weight, length, maximal body height
mean values between two sexes of Cyprinus carpio.
4. Conclusion
In conclusion:
Sex has effect on Hct, Hb, RBC and WBC in Cyprinus carpio.
Male fish have higher values of parameters than female, and there are significant differences between the
sexes.
Suggest that such differences between sexes may be related to the genetic differences to the metabolic rates
which are higher in males than in females.
Sex factor has an important effect on morph metric parameters.
This study revealed that the sex of fish may exert some degrees of influence on some of hematological
characteristics and morph metric parameters of Cyprinus carpio and hence the need to reckon with these factors in the
assessment and reporting of the hematological indices of this fish species. Hence, this gives valuable information on
health of economically important fish species Cyprinus carpio.
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