The aim of this study is to evaluate the application of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to assess ovarian maturation in live female Rhinogobio ventralis (Sauvage & Dabry de Thiersant, 1874). The fish were randomly collected from the Jiangjin area of the Yangtze River between January and April 2014. Magnetic resonance imaging was performed using a 3.0 T clinical MRI scanner with a brain coil and two pulse sequences (IDEAL and 3D CUBE) were employed. Magnetic resonance and histologic images at different stages of ovarian maturation (I-IV) were acquired. An empirical equation (y = -0.1 + 1.56 × x) was derived by traditional method to describe the relationship between the gonadosomatic index (y) and the percentage volume of the ovary (x). A significant correlation (R(2) = 0.977, P < 0.01, N = 53) was found between measurements of the percentage volume of the ovary by MRI and traditional methods. The research findings suggested that MRI was a reliable, rapid, and noninvasive method to assess stages of ovarian maturity in female R. ventralis.
Keywords: Assessment; Magnetic resonance imaging; Ovarian maturation; Rhinogobio ventralis.
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