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Associate Professor Mark Lokman

Email mark.lokman@otago.ac.nzMark Lokman

Phone 64-3-479-5846

Teaching

Research Interests

  • Endocrine control of previtellogenic oocyte growth
  • Mechanisms controlling fecundity in fish
  • Evolution of vertebrate endocrine systems
  • Growth and reproduction of aquaculture species in NZ
  • Developmental Genetics

Current issues (potential research projects) in the NZ aquaculture industry include:
1. full artificial control of abalone reproduction
2. interaction between growth and reproduction in salmon
3. control of reproduction in eel, hapuka (groper) and giant kokopu
4. development of farming methods for new aquaculture species

Postgraduate Students

  • Erin Forbes (PhD) - effects of androgens on eel liver physiology
  • Khalid Alqaisi (PhD) - evolution of steroidogenesis in starfish
  • Sean Divers (PhD) - induced spawning of eel
  • Yair Kohn (PhD) - oogenesis and egg quality in hapuka
  • Ali Falahati (PhD) - GDF-9 signaling in the eel ovary
  • Alireza (Hamed) Shoae (PhD) - the ovarian IGF-I system in eel
  • Sam Van der Horst (MSc) - effects of steroids on eel heaptocytes
  • Tasman Gillies (MSc) - spawning induction in abalone

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Publications

Wansbrough, J., Lokman, P. M., & Closs, G. P. (2023). Local variation in the timing of reproduction and recruitment in a widely distributed diadromous fish. New Zealand Journal of Marine & Freshwater Research. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1080/00288330.2023.2212912

Babio, L., Damsteegt, E. L., & Lokman, P. M. (2023). Lipoprotein receptors in ovary of eel, Anguilla australis: Molecular characterisation of putative vitellogenin receptors. Fish Physiology & Biochemistry. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1007/s10695-023-01169-6

Muncaster, S., Goikoetxea, A., Lokman, P. M., De Farias e Moraes, C. E., Damsteegt, E. L., Edgecombe, J., Gemmell, N. J., & Todd, E. V. (2023). Genes involved in sex differentiation, epigenetic reprogramming, and cell fate regulate sex change in a wrasse. Reviews in Fish Biology & Fisheries. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1007/s11160-022-09755-2

Nguyen, A. T., Dao, H. T., Quang, H. T., Hagihara, S., Lokman, P. M., & Damsteegt, E. L. (2022). Genetic Diversity and Population Structure of the Giant Mottled Eel, Anguilla marmorata Quoy & Gaimard, 1824 in Central Vietnam. Fishes, 7, 286. doi: 10.3390/fishes7050286

Palstra, A. P., Bouwman, L. J., Jéhannet, P., Kruijt, L., Schipper, H., Blokland, M. H., … Lokman, P. M. (2022). Steroid implants for the induction of vitellogenesis in feminized European silver eels (Anguilla anguilla L.). Frontiers in Genetics, 13, 969202. doi: 10.3389/fgene.2022.969202

Babio, L., Damsteegt, E. L., Akhavan, S. R., & Lokman, M. (2022). The biology of making an egg: A fish's perspective. In A. E.-D. A. Bekhit (Ed.), Fish roe: Biochemistry, products, and safety. (pp. 19-40). London, UK: Academic Press. doi: 10.1016/B978-0-12-819893-3.00003-5

Chapter in Book - Research

Young, G., Kusakabe, M., Nakamura, I., Lokman, P. M., & Goetz, F. W. (2005). Gonadal steroidogenesis in teleost fish. In P. Melamed & N. Sherwood (Eds.), Molecular aspects of fish and marine biology (vol. 4): Hormones and their receptors in fish reproduction. (pp. 155-223). Singapore: World Scientific.

Chapter in Book - Research

Lokman, P. M., Rohr, D. H., Davie, P. S., & Young, G. (2003). The physiology of silvering in anguillid eels: Androgens and control of metamorphosis from the yellow to silver stage. In K. Aida, K. Tsukamoto & K. Yamauchi (Eds.), Eel biology. (pp. 331-349). Tokyo: Springer.

Chapter in Book - Research

Babio, L., Damsteegt, E. L., & Lokman, P. M. (2023). Lipoprotein receptors in ovary of eel, Anguilla australis: Molecular characterisation of putative vitellogenin receptors. Fish Physiology & Biochemistry. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1007/s10695-023-01169-6

Journal - Research Article

Muncaster, S., Goikoetxea, A., Lokman, P. M., De Farias e Moraes, C. E., Damsteegt, E. L., Edgecombe, J., Gemmell, N. J., & Todd, E. V. (2023). Genes involved in sex differentiation, epigenetic reprogramming, and cell fate regulate sex change in a wrasse. Reviews in Fish Biology & Fisheries. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1007/s11160-022-09755-2

Journal - Research Article

Wansbrough, J., Lokman, P. M., & Closs, G. P. (2023). Local variation in the timing of reproduction and recruitment in a widely distributed diadromous fish. New Zealand Journal of Marine & Freshwater Research. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1080/00288330.2023.2212912

Journal - Research Article

Babio, L., Lokman, P. M., Damsteegt, E. L., & Dutoit, L. (2022). Are cell junctions implicated in the regulation of vitellogenin uptake? Insights from an RNAseq-based study in eel, Anguilla australis. Cells, 11, 550. doi: 10.3390/cells11030550

Journal - Research Article

Divers, S. L., Johnson, S. L., & Lokman, P. M. (2022). Sperm quality of artificially matured shortfinned eel is not affected by human chorionic gonadotropin dose and route of administration. PeerJ. Advance online publication. doi: 10.7717/peerj.13742

Journal - Research Article

Goikoetxea, A., Todd, E. V., Muncaster, S., Lokman, P. M., Thomas, J. T., Robertson, H. A., … Gemmell, N. J. (2022). Effects of cortisol on female-to-male sex change in a wrasse. PLoS ONE, 17(9), e0273779. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0273779

Journal - Research Article

Nguyen, A. T., Damsteegt, E. L., Chia, J. H. Z., Kazeto, Y., & Lokman, P. M. (2022). Effects of gonadotropins, 11-ketotestosterone, and insulin-like growth factor-1 on target gene expression and growth of previtellogenic oocytes from shortfinned eels, Anguilla australis, in vitro. Fish Physiology & Biochemistry. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1007/s10695-022-01090-4

Journal - Research Article

Nguyen, A. T., Dao, H. T., Quang, H. T., Hagihara, S., Lokman, P. M., & Damsteegt, E. L. (2022). Genetic Diversity and Population Structure of the Giant Mottled Eel, Anguilla marmorata Quoy & Gaimard, 1824 in Central Vietnam. Fishes, 7, 286. doi: 10.3390/fishes7050286

Journal - Research Article

Palstra, A. P., Bouwman, L. J., Jéhannet, P., Kruijt, L., Schipper, H., Blokland, M. H., … Lokman, P. M. (2022). Steroid implants for the induction of vitellogenesis in feminized European silver eels (Anguilla anguilla L.). Frontiers in Genetics, 13, 969202. doi: 10.3389/fgene.2022.969202

Journal - Research Article

Vo, D. N., Nguyen, V. H., Nguyen, D. T., An Le, T. T., Wylie, M. J., Lokman, P. M., & Nguyen, A. T. (2022). Reproductive development of female wallago catfish (Wallago attu) in captivity. Animal Reproduction Science, 242, 107014. doi: 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2022.107014

Journal - Research Article

Falahati, A., Ozaki, Y., Damsteegt, E. L., Zadmajid, V., Freeman, K. J., & Lokman, P. M. (2021). Spatiotemporal expression of activin receptor-like kinase-5 and bone morphogenetic protein receptor type II in the ovary of shortfinned eel, Anguilla australis. Comparative Biochemistry & Physiology Part B, 251, 110509. doi: 10.1016/j.cbpb.2020.110509

Journal - Research Article

Goikoetxea, A., Muncaster, S., Todd, E. V., Lokman, P. M., Robertson, H. A., De Farias e Moraes, C. E., Damsteegt, E. L., & Gemmell, N. J. (2021). A new experimental model for the investigation of sequential hermaphroditism. Scientific Reports, 11(1), 22881. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-02063-y

Journal - Research Article

Heenan, S. D., Michael, K. P., Smart, D. C., Lokman, P. M., & Lamare, M. D. (2021). Reproductive changes in Foveaux Strait Ostrea chilensis, Southern New Zealand, after Bonamia exitiosa epidemics. New Zealand Journal of Marine & Freshwater Research. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1080/00288330.2021.1982729

Journal - Research Article

Smart, D. C., Heenan, S., Lokman, P. M., & Lamare, M. D. (2021). Seasonal reproduction of the blue mussel (Mytilus galloprovincialis) from two locations in southern New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Marine & Freshwater Research, 55(2), 311-325. doi: 10.1080/00288330.2020.1757472

Journal - Research Article

Akhavan, S. R., Falahatkar, B., McCormick, S. P. A., & Lokman, P. M. (2020). Changes in lipid biology during ovarian development in farmed beluga sturgeon, Huso huso L. American Journal of Physiology: Regulatory, Integrative & Comparative Physiology, 319, R376-R386. doi: 10.1152/ajpregu.00364.2019

Journal - Research Article

Baker, N. J., Boubee, J., Lokman, P. M., & Bolland, J. D. (2020). Evaluating the impact of hydropower on downstream migrating anguillid eels: Catchment-wide and fine-scale approaches to identify cost-effective solutions. Science of the Total Environment, 748, 141111. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.141111

Journal - Research Article

Damsteegt, E. L., Thomson-Laing, G., Wylie, M. J., & Lokman, P. M. (2020). Effects of estradiol and 11-ketotestosterone pre-treatment on artificial induction of maturation in silver female shortfinned eels (Anguilla australis). PLoS ONE, 15(2), e0229391. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0229391

Journal - Research Article

Goikoetxea, A., Damsteegt, E. L., Todd, E. V., McNaughton, A., Gemmell, N. J., & Lokman, P. M. (2020). An in vitro ovarian explant culture system to examine sex change in a hermaphroditic fish. PeerJ, 8, e10323. doi: 10.7717/peerj.10323

Journal - Research Article

Horiuchi, M., Izumi, H., Lokman, P. M., Ijiri, S., & Adachi, S. (2020). Relationship between abundance and localization of maternal messenger RNA and egg quality in artificially matured Japanese eel Anguilla japonica. Fisheries Science, 86, 43-56. doi: 10.1007/s12562-019-01377-1

Journal - Research Article

Nguyen, A. T., Chia, J. H. Z., Kazeto, Y., Wylie, M. J., & Lokman, P. M. (2020). Induction of oocyte development in previtellogenic eel, Anguilla australis. General & Comparative Endocrinology, 291, 113404. doi: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2020.113404

Journal - Research Article

Palstra, A. P., Jéhannet, P., Swinkels, W., Heinsbroek, L. T. N., Lokman, P. M., Vesala, S., … Saukkonen, S. (2020). First observation of a spontaneously matured female European eel (Anguilla anguilla). Scientific Reports, 10, 2339. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-59331-6

Journal - Research Article

Rahdari, A., Khoshkholgh, M., Yarmohammadi, M., Ortiz-Zarragoitia, M., Lokman, P. M., Akhavan, S. R., … Falahatkar, B. (2020). The effects of 11-ketotestosterone implants on transcript levels of gonadotropin receptors, foxl2 and dmrt1 genes in the Previtellogenic ovary of cultured beluga (Huso huso). Journal of Fish Biology, 97, 374-382. doi: 10.1111/jfb.14366

Journal - Research Article

Akhavan, S. R., Falahatkar, B., Ward, J. M., & Lokman, P. M. (2019). 11-Ketotestosterone induces oocyte growth, but does not affect oocyte cytology in pre-vitellogenic captive beluga, Huso huso L. Comparative Biochemistry & Physiology Part B, 232, 51-59. doi: 10.1016/j.cbpb.2019.02.009

Journal - Research Article

Burgerhout, E., Lokman, P. M., van den Thillart, G. E. E. J. M., & Dirks, R. P. (2019). The time-keeping hormone melatonin: A possible key cue for puberty in freshwater eels (Anguilla spp.). Reviews in Fish Biology & Fisheries, 29, 1-21. doi: 10.1007/s11160-018-9540-3

Journal - Research Article

Izumi, H., Gen, K., Lokman, P. M., Hagihara, S., Horiuchi, M., Tanaka, T., … Adachi, S. (2019). Maternal transcripts in good and poor quality eggs from Japanese eel, Anguilla japonica: Their identification by large-scale quantitative analysis. Molecular Reproduction & Development, 86, 1846-1864. doi: 10.1002/mrd.23273

Journal - Research Article

Jéhannet, P., Kruijt, L., Damsteegt, E. L., Swinkels, W., Heinsbroek, L. T. N., Lokman, P. M., & Palstra, A. P. (2019). A mechanistic model for studying the initiation of anguillid vitellogenesis by comparing the European eel (Anguilla anguilla) and the shortfinned eel (A. australis). General & Comparative Endocrinology, 279, 129-138. doi: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2019.02.018

Journal - Research Article

Matsubara, H., Lokman, P. M., Kazeto, Y., Okumura, H., Ijiri, S., Hirai, T., … Yamauchi, K. (2019). Changes in sex steroids and ovarian steroidogenic enzyme mRNA levels in artificially maturing Japanese eel (Anguilla japonica) and naturally maturing New Zealand longfin eel (Anguilla dieffenbachii) during vitellogenesis. Fishes, 4, 52. doi: 10.3390/fishes4040052

Journal - Research Article

Nguyen, A. T., Chia, J. H. Z., Kazeto, Y., & Lokman, P. M. (2019). Expression of gonadotropin subunit and gonadotropin receptor genes in wild female New Zealand shortfinned eel (Anguilla australis) during yellow and silver stages. General & Comparative Endocrinology, 272, 83-92. doi: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2018.12.001

Journal - Research Article

Ozaki, Y., Damsteegt, E. L., Setiawan, A. N., Miura, T., & Lokman, P. M. (2019). Expressional regulation of gonadotropin receptor genes and androgen receptor genes in the eel testis. General & Comparative Endocrinology, 280, 123-133. doi: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2019.04.020

Journal - Research Article

Stuart, R. E., Closs, G. P., Lokman, P. M., & Jellyman, D. (2019). The influence of environmental cues on the activity of silver eels (Anguilla dieffenbachii) in Lake Manapouri, New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Marine & Freshwater Research, 53(2), 169-181. doi: 10.1080/00288330.2018.1483955

Journal - Research Article

Thomas, J. T., Todd, E. V., Muncaster, S., Lokman, P. M., Damsteegt, E. L., Liu, H., … Gemmell, N. J. (2019). Conservation and diversity in expression of candidate genes regulating socially-induced female-male sex change in wrasses. PeerJ, 7, e7032. doi: 10.7717/peerj.7032

Journal - Research Article

Thomson-Laing, G., Damsteegt, E. L., Nagata, J., Ijiri, S., Adachi, S., Todo, T., … Lokman, P. M. (2019). Synergistic effects of estradiol and 11-ketotestosterone on vitellogenin physiology in the shortfinned eel (Anguilla australis). Biology of Reproduction, 100(5), 1319-1332. doi: 10.1093/biolre/ioz007

Journal - Research Article

Wylie, M. J., Setiawan, A. N., Irvine, G. W., Elizur, A., Zohar, Y., Symonds, J. E., & Lokman, P. M. (2019). Induced spawning of F1 wreckfish (Hāpuku) Polyprion oxygeneios using a synthetic agonist of gonadotropin-releasing hormone. Fishes, 4(3), 41. doi: 10.3390/fishes4030041

Journal - Research Article

Wylie, M. J., Symonds, J. E., Setiawan, A. N., Irvine, G. W., Liu, H., Elizur, A., & Lokman, P. M. (2019). Transcriptomic changes during previtellogenic and vitellogenic stages of ovarian development in wreckfish (hāpuku), Polyprion oxygeneios (Perciformes). Fishes, 4(1), 16. doi: 10.3390/fishes4010016

Journal - Research Article

Damsteegt, E. L., Davie, A., & Lokman, P. M. (2018). The evolution of apolipoprotein B and its mRNA editing complex: Does the lack of editing contribute to hypertriglyceridemia? Gene, 641, 46-54. doi: 10.1016/j.gene.2017.10.024

Journal - Research Article

Mordenti, O., Emmanuele, P., Casalini, A., Lokman, P. M., Zaccaroni, A., Di Biase, A., & Parmeggiani, A. (2018). Effect of aromatable androgen (17-methyltestosterone) on induced maturation of silver European eels (Anguilla Anguilla): Oocyte performance and synchronization. Aquaculture Research, 49(1), 442-448. doi: 10.1111/are.13475

Journal - Research Article

Nguyen, A. T., Tsukamoto, K., & Lokman, P. M. (2018). Composition and distribution of freshwater eels Anguilla spp. in Vietnam. Fisheries Science, 84, 987-994. doi: 10.1007/s12562-018-1239-9

Journal - Research Article

Thomson-Laing, G., Jasoni, C. L., & Lokman, P. M. (2018). The effects of migratory stage and 11-ketotestosterone on the expression of rod opsin genes in the shortfinned eel (Anguilla australis). General & Comparative Endocrinology, 257, 211-219. doi: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2017.06.025

Journal - Research Article

Wylie, M. J., Setiawan, A. N., Irvine, G. W., Symonds, J. E., Elizur, A., & Lokman, P. M. (2018). Effects of neuropeptides and sex steroids on the pituitary-gonadal axis of pre-pubertal F1 wreckfish (hāpuku) Polyprion oxygeneios in vivo: Evidence of inhibitory effects of androgens. General & Comparative Endocrinology, 257, 113-121. doi: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2017.08.018

Journal - Research Article

Wylie, M. J., Setiawan, A. N., Irvine, G. W., Symonds, J. E., Elizur, A., Dos Santos, M., & Lokman, P. M. (2018). Ovarian development of captive F1 wreckfish (hāpuku) Polyprion oxygeneios under constant and varying temperature regimes: Implications for broodstock management. General & Comparative Endocrinology, 257, 86-96. doi: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2017.08.022

Journal - Research Article

Di Biase, A., Lokman, P. M., Govoni, N., Casalini, A., Emmanuele, P., Parmeggiani, A., & Mordenti, O. (2017). Co-treatment with androgens during artificial induction of maturation in female eel, Anguilla anguilla: Effects on egg production and early development. Aquaculture, 479, 508-515. doi: 10.1016/j.aquaculture.2017.06.030

Journal - Research Article

Liu, H., Todd, E. V., Lokman, M. P., Lamm, M. S., Godwin, J. R., & Gemmell, N. J. (2017). Sexual plasticity: A fishy tale. Molecular Reproduction & Development, 84(2), 171-194. doi: 10.1002/mrd.22691

Journal - Research Article

Alqaisi, K. M., Lamare, M. D., Grattan, D. R., Damsteegt, E. L., Schneider, W. J., & Lokman, P. M. (2016). A comparative study of vitellogenesis in Echinodermata: Lessons from the sea star. Comparative Biochemistry & Physiology Part A, 198, 72-86. doi: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2016.04.013

Journal - Research Article

Damsteegt, E. L., McHugh, N., & Lokman, P. M. (2016). Storage by lyophilization: Resulting RNA quality is tissue dependent. Analytical Biochemistry, 511, 92-96. doi: 10.1016/j.ab.2016.08.005

Journal - Research Article

Damsteegt, E. L., Ozaki, Y., McCormick, S. P. A., & Lokman, P. M. (2016). Triacylglyceride physiology in the shortfinned eel, Anguilla australis: The effects of androgen. American Journal of Physiology: Regulatory, Integrative & Comparative Physiology, 310, R422-R431. doi: 10.1152/ajpregu.00149.2015

Journal - Research Article

Di Biase, A., Casalini, A., Emmanuele, P., Mandelli, M., Lokman, P. M., & Mordenti, O. (2016). Controlled reproduction in Anguilla anguilla (L.): Comparison between spontaneous spawning and stripping-insemination approaches. Aquaculture Research, 47(10), 3052-3060. doi: 10.1111/are.12755

Journal - Research Article

Lokman, P. M., Damsteegt, E. L., Wallace, J., Downes, M., Goodwin, S. L., Facoory, L. J., & Wylie, M. J. (2016). Dose-responses of male silver eels, Anguilla australis, to human chorionic gonadotropin and 11-ketotestosterone in vivo. Aquaculture, 463, 97-105. doi: 10.1016/j.aquaculture.2016.05.009

Journal - Research Article

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