Germ Cell Transplantation in Teleost Fishes: A Viable Approach for Germline Conservation

Germ cell Transplantation, a powerful assisted reproductive technology, is widely used for basic and applied research. This technique, initially developed for mammals, has been recently used for teleost fishes for conservation and propagation of elite germplasm. In this technique, germ cells derived from donor fish are transplanted into the gonads of sterile recipients through surgical and non-surgical interventions (through genital papilla). The recipients upon attending sexual maturity are crossed through artificial insemination and natural spawning to generate surrogate offspring. The vast fishery resources could be effectively managed by germ cell Transplantation technique, especially to rejuvenate the population of endangered fish species or commercially important species which are too large for hatchery rearing and, that do not spawn due to the stress of confinement, or whose maturation cycle is associated with complex migratory behavior which cannot be reproduced in captivity. Keywords: Fish; Conservation; Surrogacy; Germ cell Transplantation; Endangered