Experiment of Sex Reversal in Siberian Sturgeon

The effects of oral administration of estradiol-17β(E2) and soybean isoflavone on the gonadal development of siberian sturgeon were investigated during period of 6 months. Thirty three days post-hatch siberian sturgeon fed a diet containing 10 mg kg^-1 of E2 or 100 mg kg^-1 soybean isoflavone. The gonads of the treated siverian sturgeon in the period of 17-18 month old were observed by laparotomy. Administration of E2 resulted in 66.7% females, 9.8% males, 17.6% bisexuals and indistinguishable was 5.9% (n=51). On the other hand, administration of soybean isoflavone resulted in 48% females, 50% males, and indistinguishable was 2.0% (n=50). The results suggest that oral administration of E2 to 33days old siverian sturgeon for 6 months is effective to transsexual from genetic males to functional females. However, effectiveness of soybean isoflavon is inarticulate.