Male germ cell proliferation and apoptosis during the reproductive cycle of captive-reared Atlantic bluefin tuna Thunnus thynnus (Linnaeus).

To summarize, this study a) described the changes of germ cell proliferation in captive-reared ABFT during the whole reproductive cycle; b) corroborated previous findings regarding a partial temporal overlapping between spermatogenesis in wild and captive ABFT; and c) showed the temporal changes of germ cell apoptosis that might be associated with a role of this form of cell death in the removal of aberrant cells as well as with the monthly trend of androgen levels. Further work is required to understand if the impairment of spermatogenesis in captive ABFT is entirely due to captive-induced dysfunctions along the reproductive axis or if environmental parameters can in some way affect the capacity of adaptation of this fish to captivity.