Sex pheromones of male yellowfin Baikal sculpin (Cottocomephorus grewingki): Isolation and chemical studies

Abstract

Three components of the male yellowfin Baikal sculpin pheromonal signal have been isolated from urine by diethyl ether extraction, thinayer chromatography (TLC), and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Using mass spectrometry, we have identified two of them as testosterone (T) and 11β-hydroxytestosterone (11HT). These steroids are synthesized in testes during full spermatogenesis, and they are excreted in male urine with milt. The third component is not a steroid. It is more likely to be a polyene alcohol (farnesol). 2Z,6E-Farnesol possesses behavioral activity.

A releaser pheromone that attracts males in the urine of mature female masu salmon

“…The present data also demonstrates clearly that in masu salmon, the releaser pheromone, which attracts the spermiating male parr, is present only in the urine of mature females. It is likely that salmonids, like many other fish species, also have a sex pheromone in the urine (Colombo et al, 1982;Adams et al, 1987;Yamazaki, 1990;Katsel et al, 1992). These results present some information about the chemical nature of the releaser pheromone in masu salmon.…”

“…Fax: +81 138 40 5537; email: odrxt225@ pop.fish.hokudai.ac.jp 1987) F-type prostaglandins (PGFs) in goldfish Carassius auratus (L.) (Sorensen et al, 1988(Sorensen et al, , 1989 and cobitid loach Misgurnus anguillicaudatus (Cantor) and tetrodotoxin in ovulated oocytes of puffer fish Takifugu niphobles (Jordan & Snyder) (Matumura, 1995) have been identified as releaser pheromones. Urine is one of the major sources of releaser pheromones in ovulated female black goby Gobius jozo (L.) (Colombo et al, 1982), male sea lamprey Petromyzon marinus (L.) (Adams et al, 1987), mature female goldfish (Yamazaki, 1990) and male yellowfin Baikal sculpin Cottocomephorus grewingki (Dybowski) (Katsel et al, 1992).…”

A releaser pheromone that attracts methyltestosterone- treated immature fish in the urine of ovulated female rainbow trout

“…In relation to the sources of sex pheromones, the urine has been reported in a number of animals including fish species 6–12 . In salmonids, it is known that mature males prefer the water conditioned by ovulated females 13,14 .…”

Species‐specific releaser effect of urine from ovulated female masu salmon and rainbow trout

“…Urine has also been shown to be the main source of releaser pheromones in a number of fish species (Colombo et al,1982;Adams et al, 1987;Yamazaki, 1990;Katsel et al, 1992;Yambe et al, 1999;Yambe & Yamazaki, 2001).…”