Differing behavioral and endocrinological effects of two female sex pheromones on male goldfish

Neurogenic and Neuroendocrine Effects of Goldfish Pheromones

“…PGF 2␣ and its metabolites (mainly 15-keto-PGF 2␣ ) are also released into water as postovulatory pheromones that induce male spawning behavior and further increase male GTH-II and sperm production (Sorensen et al, 1988(Sorensen et al, , 1989Sorensen and Goetz, 1993). Therefore, PGF 2␣ also plays a dual role as a hormone and a pheromone, synchronizing male and female sexual behaviors in goldfish (Stacey, 1987).…”

“…The addition of new neurons to the brainstem motor area may enable a structural reorganization of the underlying neural network for spawning behavior. This altered the propensity of goldfish to execute multiple spawning behaviors during the breeding season because goldfish only exhibit overt sexual behavior during spawning season after exposure to waterborne PGF 2␣ (Sorensen et al, 1988(Sorensen et al, , 1989Sorensen and Goetz, 1993). Although the exact mechanisms have yet to be identified, our data strongly link a specific mating pheromone molecule (PGF 2␣ ) to adult neurogenesis in a specific brain region (diencephalon) known to be involved in reproduction.…”

“…Conversely, we found that exposure to PGF 2␣ increased sGnRH mRNA concentrations in the telencephalon and the cerebellum of male goldfish. This indicates that sGnRH may be involved in male spawning activity and/or in the process of increasing milt storage (Sorensen et al, 1988(Sorensen et al, , 1989Stacey, 1996, 1997). In both cases, sexual dimorphism in the roles of cGnRH-II and sGnRH in goldfish pheromonal systems was robust.…”

“…They have also been suggested to serve as nonreproductive social cues in goldfish as well as other fish (Hara et al, 1984;Saglio and Fauconneau, 1985). The concentration of PGF 2␣ or 17,20␤-P was chosen according to Sorensen et al (1988Sorensen et al ( , 1989Sorensen et al ( , 1990.…”

“…The goldfish (Carassius auratus) pheromone system contains at least two known pheromone molecules, prostaglandin F 2␣ (PGF 2␣ ) and 17␣,20␤-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one (17,20␤-P), detected by distinct sets of olfactory receptor neurons as tested by electroolfactogram (Sorensen et al, 1989). This system allows us to examine the mechanisms by which different pheromone molecules modulate brain plasticity and the neuroendocrine system.…”