Our results highlight the importance of the intrapituitary FSH/LH ratio during the period of peripubertal/pubertal transition. Similarly to what was established for mammals, the fact that such ratio in sexually immature BFT is higher than in pubertal stages indicates that it may be used as an important endocrine clinical marker in fish as well. Our in vivo and in vitro studies further attest the growing notion that KiSS and FSH are critical regulators of the initiation of pubertal development in general and of testis maturation in particular. Future studies testing the effects of captivity and hormone-based treatments on precocious maturity at relatively small body size are expected to facilitate the handling in confined environments, and to greatly improve the cost-efficiency of BFT farming.