A steroid sex pheromone synchronizes male–female spawning readiness in goldfish

Dulka, Joseph G.; Stacey, N. E.; Sorensen, Peter W.; Kraak, Glen J. Van Der

doi:10.1038/325251a0

Cited by 227 publications

(102 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…Chemical communication enhanced milt volume (sperm and seminal fluid) in Carassius auratus and Cyprinus carpio (10,34,35). Pinheiro et al (36) have shown that Nile tilapia males exposed to water with 17,20βP (5 x 10 -9 M) increased milt volume, spermatozoa motility and durability.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

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Visual communication stimulates reproduction in Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus (L.)

Castro

Gonçalves-de-Freitas

Volpato

et al. 2009

Braz J Med Biol Res

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Reproductive fish behavior is affected by male-female interactions that stimulate physiological responses such as hormonal release and gonad development. During male-female interactions, visual and chemical communication can modulate fish reproduction. The aim of the present study was to test the effect of visual and chemical male-female interaction on the gonad development and reproductive behavior of the cichlid fish Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus (L.). Fifty-six pairs were studied after being maintained for 5 days under one of the four conditions (N = 14 for each condition): 1) visual contact (V); 2) chemical contact (Ch); 3) chemical and visual contact (Ch+V); 4) no sensory contact (Iso) -males and females isolated. We compared the reproductive behavior (nesting, courtship and spawning) and gonadosomatic index (GSI) of pairs of fish under all four conditions. Visual communication enhanced the frequency of courtship in males (mean ± SEM; V: 24.79 ± 3.30, Ch+V: 20.74 ± 3.09, Ch: 0.1 ± 0.07, Iso: 4.68 ± 1.26 events/30 min; P < 0.05, two-way ANOVA with LSD post hoc test), induced spawning in females (3 spawning in V and also 3 in Ch+V condition), and increased GSI in males (mean ± SEM; V: 1.39 ± 0.08, Ch+V: 1.21 ± 0.08, Ch: 1.04 ± 0.07, Iso: 0.82 ± 0.07%; P < 0.05, two-way ANOVA with LSD post hoc test). Chemical communication did not affect the reproductive behavior of pairs nor did it enhance the effects of visual contact. Therefore, male-female visual communication is an effective cue, which stimulates reproduction among pairs of Nile tilapia.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…In cyprinids, the pheromone 4-pregnen-17α,20β-diol-3-one (17,20βP) delivered by female urine synchronizes spawning and enhances sperm production (10).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Visual communication stimulates reproduction in Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus (L.)

Castro

Gonçalves-de-Freitas

Volpato

et al. 2009

Braz J Med Biol Res

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“…Behavioural responses to a given stimulus occur usually within seconds, (Liley et al, 1986;Rouger and Liley, 1993;Stacey et al, 1989) but relatively rapid physiological changes, e.g. sex steroid synthesis and metabolism, are also possible within minutes or hours (Bayunova et al, 2011;Dulka et al, 1987;.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…After oocyte growth, a shift in steroidogenesis leads to the production of 17,20b-dihydroxypregn-4-en-3-one (17,20b-P) also in the granulosa cells which induces the resumption of meiosis and final oocyte maturation (Nagahama, 1997;Senthilkumaran et al, 2004). In goldfish 17,20b-P is also released to the water and is perceived by males thereby stimulating the endocrine system, spermiation as well as increased fertility and paternity (Dulka et al, 1987;Scott and Sorensen, 1994;Zheng et al, 1997).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tilapia male urinary pheromone stimulates female reproductive axis

Huertas

Almeida

Canário

et al. 2014

General and Comparative Endocrinology

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a b s t r a c tMozambique tilapia males congregate in leks where they establish dominance hierarchies and attract females to spawn in sandy pits. Dominant males store more urine than subordinates and the pattern of urination and the high sensitivity of females to male urine suggest chemical signalling via the urine. Here we show that pre-ovulated and post-spawn females when exposed to dominant male urine increased significantly, in less than 1 h, the release rate of the maturation-inducing steroid 17,20b-dihydroxypregn-4-en-3-one which is maintained elevated for at least 6 h. This indicates a pheromonal role for male urine in the synchronisation of spawning. Furthermore, we show that the lack of affinity of 17,20bP to sex steroid binding globulin explains, at least partly, its rapid release and lack of detection in the blood. Thus tilapia urine involvement in several communication processes confirms that cichlids have evolved a sophisticated chemical signalling system together with their complex visual, acoustic and behavioural displays.

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“…Many fish species release steroids or prostaglandins as sex pheromones (2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9), as demonstrated in the goldfish (Carassius auratus) (4,5). These pheromones are broadly termed ''hormonal pheromones'' because they or their precursors act as hormones in fishes (10).…”

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confidence: 99%

l -Kynurenine, an amino acid identified as a sex pheromone in the urine of ovulated female masu salmon

Yambe

Kudoh

Kamio

et al. 2006

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

127

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Many animals employ sex pheromones to find mating partners during their reproductive seasons. However, most sex pheromones of vertebrates remain to be identified. Over the past 20 years, steroids and prostaglandins have been identified as sex pheromones in several fishes. These pheromones are broadly termed “hormonal pheromones” because they or their precursors act as hormones in these fishes. Hitherto, no other type of sex pheromone has been unambiguously identified in teleost fish. Here we report the identification of a “nonhormonal pheromone” in teleost fish. The urine of the reproductively mature female masu salmon ( Oncorhynchus masou ) contains a male-attracting pheromone. Bioassay-guided fractionation yielded an active compound that was identical to l -kynurenine in spectral and chromatographic properties. l -Kynurenine is a major metabolite of l -tryptophan in vertebrates. This pheromone elicits a male-specific behavior at even picomolar concentrations; its electrophysiological threshold is 10 −14 M. l -Kynurenine is a reasonable substance for female masu salmon to advertise their readiness for mating.

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A steroid sex pheromone synchronizes male–female spawning readiness in goldfish

Cited by 227 publications

References 12 publications

Visual communication stimulates reproduction in Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus (L.)

Visual communication stimulates reproduction in Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus (L.)

Tilapia male urinary pheromone stimulates female reproductive axis

l -Kynurenine, an amino acid identified as a sex pheromone in the urine of ovulated female masu salmon

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