Testosterone modulates female chirping behavior in the weakly electric fish, Apteronotus leptorhynchus

Dulka, Joseph G.; Maler, Leonard

doi:10.1007/bf00240215

Cited by 75 publications

(71 citation statements)

References 41 publications

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“…Somewhat paradoxically, testosterone feminizes EODf in A. leptorhynchus (Dulka and Maler, 1994). The feminizing effect of testosterone on EODf is likely mediated by aromatization and estrogen receptors.…”

Section: Hormonal Regulation Of Eodfmentioning

confidence: 94%

“…Treatment of female A. leptorhynchus with androgens partially masculinizes chirping (i.e. increases chirp rate, FM and AM), although androgenized females still chirp less than males (Dulka and Maler, 1994;Dulka et al, 1995). Combined, these results suggest that (1) activational effects of androgens contribute to sex differences in chirping in A. leptorhynchus, but likely explain only part of the sex difference; and (2) the androgenic regulation of within-sex variation in chirping in males is complex and may depend on social or environmental conditions.…”

Section: Hormonal Regulation Of Chirpingmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Evolution and hormonal regulation of sex differences in the electrocommunication behavior of ghost knifefishes (Apteronotidae)

2013

Journal of Experimental Biology

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SummaryThe ghost knifefishes (family Apteronotidae) are one of the most successful and diverse families of electric fish. Like other weakly electric fish, apteronotids produce electric organ discharges (EODs) that function in electrolocation and communication. This review highlights the diversity in the structure, function and sexual dimorphism of electrocommunication signals within and across apteronotid species. EOD frequency (EODf) and waveform vary as a function of species, sex and/or social rank. Sex differences in EODf are evolutionarily labile; apteronotid species express every pattern of sexual dimorphism in EODf (males>females; males

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Section: Hormonal Regulation Of Eodfmentioning

confidence: 94%

Section: Hormonal Regulation Of Chirpingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evolution and hormonal regulation of sex differences in the electrocommunication behavior of ghost knifefishes (Apteronotidae)

2013

Journal of Experimental Biology

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“…A trend among these studies is the treatment of females with androgens, which typically results in females exhibiting the male signal [e.g. waveforms in electric fish (Dulka and Maler, 1994), calling behavior in frogs (Penna et al, 1992), morphology in anoles (Lovern et al, 2004), plumage in ruffs (Lank et al, 1999) and mounting behavior in rodents (Phoenix et al, 1959;Goldfoot and van der Werff, 1975). ]…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

How to make a sexy snake: estrogen activation of female sex pheromone in male red-sided garter snakes

Parker

Mason

2012

Journal of Experimental Biology

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SUMMARYVertebrates indicate their genetic sex to conspecifics using secondary sexual signals, and signal expression is often activated by sex hormones. Among vertebrate signaling modalities, the least is known about how hormones influence chemical signaling. Our study species, the red-sided garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis), is a model vertebrate for studying hormonal control of chemical signals because males completely rely on the female sex pheromone to identify potential mates among thousands of individuals. How sex hormones can influence the expression of this crucial sexual signal is largely unknown. We created two groups of experimental males for the first experiment: Sham (blank implants) and E2 (17-estradiol implants). E2 males were vigorously courted by wild males in outdoor bioassays, and in a Y-maze E2 pheromone trails were chosen by wild males over those of small females and were indistinguishable from large female trails. Biochemically, the E2 pheromone blend was similar to that of large females, and it differed significantly from Shams. For the second experiment, we implanted males with 17-estradiol in 2007 but removed the implants the following year (2008; Removal). That same year, we implanted a new group of males with estrogen implants (Implant). Removal males were courted by wild males in 2008 (implant intact) but not in 2009 (removed).Total pheromone quantity and quality increased following estrogen treatment, and estrogen removal re-established male-typical pheromone blends. Thus, we have shown that estrogen activates the production of female pheromone in adult red-sided garter snakes. This is the first known study to quantify both behavioral and biochemical responses in chemical signaling following sex steroid treatment of reptiles in the activation/organization context. We propose that the homogametic sex (ZZ, male) may possess the same targets for activation of sexual signal production, and the absence of the activator (17-estradiol in this case) underlies expression of the male phenotype.

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“…induces female-like waveforms in at least some weakly electric fishes (Dulka and Maler, 1994;Mills and Zakon, 1987;Zakon, 1996;Zakon et al, 1991). A causal link between gonadal hormones and expression of socially-behavior in electric fish interacting with other individuals has not been shown.…”

Section: Gonadectomy Feminizes the Eod Frequency And Duration Of Malementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Injections or implants of the non-aromatizable androgen 5a-dihydrotestosterone (DHT) extend EOD duration in males, females, and juveniles (Dulka and Maler, 1994;Silva et al, 1999). Fish in the genus Apternotus produce rapid EOD modulations in response to social stimuli, behaviors known as chirps.…”

Section: Chapter 4 Androgens Enhance Responsiveness To Social Challementioning

confidence: 99%

Neuroendocrine control of a dynamic communication signal

Allee¹

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Testosterone modulates female chirping behavior in the weakly electric fish, Apteronotus leptorhynchus

Cited by 75 publications

References 41 publications

Evolution and hormonal regulation of sex differences in the electrocommunication behavior of ghost knifefishes (Apteronotidae)

Evolution and hormonal regulation of sex differences in the electrocommunication behavior of ghost knifefishes (Apteronotidae)

How to make a sexy snake: estrogen activation of female sex pheromone in male red-sided garter snakes

Neuroendocrine control of a dynamic communication signal

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