Unbiased stereological estimation of the potential fecundity in the pandalid shrimp, Plesionika edwardsii, using serial sections of the ovary

Abstract

The physical dissector was used for obtaining unbiased quantitative estimates of the numbers of vitellogenic oocytes in ovaries of the deepwater pandalid shrimp Plesionika edwardsii. The dissector method is a truly three-dimensional stereological probe that allows unbiased estimates of particle numbers using two consecutive histological sections. The total number of vitellogenic oocytes was calculated from count of their nuclei. Thre retraction of the tisse volume was estimated to be about 13% (n= 40). The average potential batch fecundity obtained from stereological quantification of advanced vitellogenic oocytes in ovigerous and non-ovigerous females was 8291 +- 5241 and 4076 +- 3123 oocytes/g respectively.