The objectives of the present study were to investigate the effects of oral administration of aromatase inhibitors on sex change, milt volume, 11-ketotestosterone (11-KT), and LH in plasma; aromatase activity in gonad, pituitary, and brain in the protandrous fish, black porgy (Acanthopagus schlegeli Bleeker). Two-year-old functional male black porgy were divided into two groups; one was fed a control diet and the other was fed a diet mixed with aromatase inhibitors (AIs; fadrozole and 1,4,6-androstatriene-3,17-dione, each 10 mg/kg feed) for 8.5 mo. A significantly higher gonadosomatic index was observed in the AI group. Fish treated with AIs showed complete suppression of natural sex change. Significantly higher levels of plasma 11-KT, LH, and milt volume were shown in the AI group than the controls. Lower aromatase activity in the gonad, pituitary, forebrain, midbrain, and hindbrain in concordance with the suppression of sex change was observed in the AI group. The data show that aromatase is directly involved in the mechanism of natural sex change of protandrous black porgy. AIs also enhanced male function in concordance with the elevated plasma levels of 11-KT and spermiation in milt volume.

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Changes in blood hemoglobin, hematocrit, leucocrit, osmolarity, lactate, glucose and cortisol concentrations were monitored in common carp, Cyprin~is carpio, exposed to decreasing temperatures (from 24°C to 4°C). n o experiments [rapid change (acute) and slow change (chronic)] were conducted. In the acute experiment, it took 3 days for the decrease of water temperatures from 24°C to 4'C. In the chronic experiment, it took 33 days for the decrease of water temperatures from 24°C to 4OC. Blood lactate and hemoglobin concentrations, hematocrit, and leucocrit significantly (P < 0.05) decreased in the cold-treated common carp in both experiments. Hemoglobin concentrations did not decrease until the temperature reached 4°C. Plasma glucose and cortisol levels increased in common carp in acute exposure to 4OC. The levels of plasma chloride and osmolarity did not change significantly (P > 0.05) in the cold-treated common carp in both acute and chronic exposure. Data indicate that levels of blood lactate, hematocrit, hemoglobin, and leucocrit were consistently responsive to the stress of low temperatures in common carp.

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We investigated the mechanism of estradiol-17beta (E2) action on stimulation of LH (=gonadotropin II) release in the black porgy fish (Acanthopagrus schlegeli Bleeker) using an in vivo approach and primary cultures of dispersed pituitary cells in vitro. In vivo, E2 but not androgens (testosterone [T] and 11-ketotestosterone [11-KT]) significantly stimulated plasma LH in a dose-dependent manner. Estradiol-17beta also increased brain content of seabream GnRH. GnRH antagonist prevented E2 stimulation of LH release in vivo, indicating that the effect of E2 on LH was mediated by GnRH. In vitro, sex steroids (E2, T, 11-KT) alone had no effect on basal LH release in the cultured pituitary cells, but GnRH significantly stimulated LH release. Estradiol-17beta potentiated GnRH stimulation of LH release, an effect that was inhibited by GnRH antagonist, and 11-KT, but not T, also potentiated GnRH stimulation of LH release. The potentiating effect of 11-KT on GnRH-induced LH release in vitro was stronger than that of E2. These data suggest that E2 triggers LH release in vivo by acting both on GnRH production at the hypothalamus and on GnRH action at the pituitary. In contrast, 11-KT may only stimulate GnRH action at the pituitary. The E2) induction of LH release, through multiple interactions with GnRH control, supports a possible central role of E2in the sex change observed in the protandrous black porgy.

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