The effects of dietary supplementation of Hydroalcoholic Nettle extract (Urtica dioica) on gonads histological and sexual hormones in Goldfish (Carassius auratus) broodstock

In this experiment, the effects of different levels of Nettle (Urtica dioica) Hydroalcoholic extracts were investigated on gonads histological structure and sexual hormones in Goldfish (Carassius auratus) broodstock. Trial was performed randomly on three levels: 2, 4 and 8 gr/kg of the extracts and the control group. 5 fish with an average weight of 21.88 ± 4.70 g per 500-liter fiberglass tank were stocked and under the same conditions for 8 weeks fed with different levels of Nettle (Urtica dioica) extracts. Monitoring of plasma sex steroid levels revealed that experimental diets had significantly effect on progesterone levels in females fed 2gr/kg Nettle (P<0.05), but not significant in testosterone in males (P>0.05). In both males and females, gonads were in stage IV. Results showed that supplementation of diet with Nettle extracts can effect on fish reproduction.