Histological Comparison of the Edible Water Frog (Pelophylax ridibundus Pallas, 1771) Gonads Before and After Reproduction

In this study, testicular and ovarian structures of economically important edible Pelophylax ridibundus (Pallas, 1771) were histologically examined before and after reproduction in male and female individuals. Fourty eight (24 ♀, 24 ♂) adult frogs were collected from Gölbaşı Lake in Hatay. The average weight and length values of female frogs collected from nature were found to be 56.61±19.59 g and 79.54±7.07 mm; while, the average weight and length values of male frogs were 36.63±12.84 g and 69.29±9.15 mm, respectively. Frogs were brought to the frog farm established in Aydıncık and placed in breeding ponds with a width of 1m2. Frogs in the ponds were brought to the laboratory of Iskenderun Technical University in different periods, before breeding (March) and after breeding (June). Then, histological samples were taken from ovary and testis. The female frogs were determined ready for reproduction. Moreover, a large number of mature oocytes in the before breeding ovaries in vitellogenic stage, while after reproduction oocytes in primary structure and oocytes which have atresia status observed. Also, increase in the thickness of the theca layer was determined. In the male frog seminiferous tubules containing a large number of spermatogonia, spermatocyte, spermatid and a small number of spermatozoons including sperm bundles and leydig cells were found before reproduction. After the reproduciton, the density of spermatogonia, spermatocyte and spermatids were decreased; while, the density of spermatozoon and sperm bundle were increased in the seminiferous tubules. This study will contribute to the determination of mating and spawning in frog breeding by revealing the histological status of the gonad structure of P. ridibundus in the breeding process.