Urine as a Social Signal in the Mozambique Tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus)

Almeida, Olinda; Miranda, António; Frade, Pedro R.; Hubbard, Peter C.; Barata, Eduardo N.; Canário, Adelino V.M.

doi:10.1093/chemse/bjh238

Cited by 58 publications

(54 citation statements)

References 8 publications

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“…Although an AVT neuronal population has never been described in the olfactory bulbs of teleosts, V1a receptors have been identified in this area (Kline et al, 2011), which together with the high AVT peptide levels reported here, suggest a role for AVT in the processing of olfactory stimuli in fish. The Mozambique tilapia may prove to be an excellent model species for investigating the AVT modulation of olfactory-based social communication in fish, since urine-born compounds are actively used both in agonistic male-male interactions and during courtship in this species (Almeida et al, 2005;Barata et al, 2007;Frade et al, 2002). Males store urine in the bladder and, by controlling a sphincter in the urogenital papilla, are able to release it in a pulsating way.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Males store urine in the bladder and, by controlling a sphincter in the urogenital papilla, are able to release it in a pulsating way. The rate of urination has been shown to be higher in the presence of a pre-ovulated female in contrast of a post ovulated female, demonstrating that males are able to assed the reproductive status of the female and alter their behavior accordingly (Almeida et al, 2005). Males also release short duration (ca.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Since in this species dominant males use urine to communicate social status (Almeida et al, 2005;Barata et al, 2007) and since AVT is known to have an antidiuretic effect in fish by decreasing glomerular filtration rate (Amer and Brown, 1995;Balment et al, 1993), we have also tested the hypothesis that higher volumes of urine stored by dominant males are associated with lower levels of systemic AVT. Therefore, this study has the following specific aims:…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Brain levels of arginine–vasotocin and isotocin in dominant and subordinate males of a cichlid fish

Almeida

Gozdowska

Kulczykowska

et al. 2012

Hormones and Behavior

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The nonapeptides arginine-vasotocin (AVT) and isotocin (IT), which are the teleost homologues of argininevasopressin and oxytocin in mammals, have well established peripheral effects on osmoregulation and stress response, and central effects on social behavior. However, all studies that have looked so far into the relationship between these nonapeptides and social behavior have used indirect measures of AVT/IT activity (i.e. immunohistochemistry of AVT/IT immunoreactive neurons, or AVT/IT or their receptors mRNA expression with in situ hybridization or qPCR) and therefore direct measures of peptide levels in relation to social behavior are still lacking. Here we use a recently developed high-performance liquid chromatography analysis with fluorescence detection (HPLC-FL) method to quantify the levels of both AVT and IT in macro-dissected brain areas [i.e. olfactory bulbs, telencephalon, diencephalon, optic tectum, cerebellum, and hindbrain (= rhombencephalon minus cerebellum)] and pituitary of dominant and subordinate male cichlid fish (Oreochromis mossambicus). The pituitary shows higher levels of both peptides than any of the brain macroareas, and the olfactory bulbs have the highest AVT among all brain areas. Except for IT in the telencephalon there is a lack of correlations between central levels and pituitary peptide levels, suggesting an independent control of hypophysial and CNS nonapeptide secretion. There were also no correlations between AVT and IT levels either for each brain region or for the pituitary gland, suggesting a decoupled activity of the AVT and IT systems at the CNS level. Subordinate AVT pituitary levels are significantly higher than those of dominants, and dominant hindbrain IT levels are significantly higher than those of subordinates, suggesting a potential involvement of AVT in social stress in subordinate fish and of IT in the regulation of dominant behavior at the level of the hindbrain. Since in this species dominant males use urine to communicate social status and since AVT is known to have an antidiuretic effect, we have also investigated the effect of social status on urine storage. As predicted, dominant males stored significantly more urine than subordinates. Given these results we suggest that AVT/IT play a key role in orchestrating social phenotypes, acting both as central neuromodulators that promote behavioral plasticity and as peripheral hormones that promote integrated physiological changes.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Brain levels of arginine–vasotocin and isotocin in dominant and subordinate males of a cichlid fish

Almeida

Gozdowska

Kulczykowska

et al. 2012

Hormones and Behavior

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show abstract

“…Given that the complete excision of the gonads in this species involves damage to the urinary bladder (see details in the Methods Section 2.3), and the fact that male O. mossambicus use urine-born compounds to communicate social status (Almeida et al, 2005;Barata et al, 2007), the effects of urinary bladder damage were also investigated. In summary, the specific aims of this study were: (1) to characterize the effects of castration in circulating levels of androgens (testosterone, T; and 11-keto-testosterone, KT); (2) to investigate the effects of castration on reproductive and aggressive behaviors; and (3) to verify the effects of urinary bladder damage on circulating levels of androgens, and on aggressive and courtship behavior.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Castration affects reproductive but not aggressive behavior in a cichlid fish

Almeida

Canário

Oliveira

2014

General and Comparative Endocrinology

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a b s t r a c tGonads are the main source of sex steroids, which have been implicated in the regulation of sexually differentiated behavior, such as reproductive and aggressive displays. In the Mozambique tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus) territorial males have higher androgen levels than non-territorials, express reproductive behavior and use a urine-borne pheromone to signal their social status towards conspecifics. Here we investigated the effects of gonadectomy on the circulating levels of androgens and cortisol, and on the expression of aggressive and reproductive behavior (nest building, courtship behavior, and nuptial coloration). Males were either castrated, urine bladder damaged, or sham-operated and visually exposed to a group of females during 8 consecutive days and subsequently to a male on day 9. The urine bladder damaged treatment was included in the experimental design because a full castration procedure in this species causes quite often damage to the urine bladder. Gonadectomy lowers dramatically the circulating levels of androgens measured at 4 and 8 days post-castration and abolishes the expression of nest building, courtship behavior and nuptial coloration, but has no effect on the expression of aggressive behavior. These results confirm the gonads as the main source of androgens in this species and show that androgens are necessary for the expression of reproductive behaviors. However, the expression of aggressive behavior seems to be decoupled from gonadal steroids, namely androgens, suggesting the action of independent central mechanisms.

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“…In teleost fishes, the use of visual, chemosensory and acoustic communication is relatively well studied in different behavioral contexts such as territoriality, reproduction and parental care (Almeida et al, 2005;Amorim et al, 2003Amorim et al, , 2004Barata et al, 2007;Chen and Fernald, 2011;Grosenick et al, 2007;Keller-Costa et al, 2015;Korzan and Fernald, 2007;Korzan et al, 2008;Lobel, 1998;MartinovicWeigelt et al, 2012;Rosenthal and Ryan, 2000;Simoes et al, 2008). However, all fishes also possess another sensory system, the mechanosensory lateral line (Fig.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mechanosensory signaling as a potential mode of communication during social interactions in fishes

Butler

Maruska

2016

Journal of Experimental Biology

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Signals produced during social interactions convey crucial information about the sender's identity, quality, reproductive state and social status. Fishes can detect near-body water movements via the mechanosensory lateral line system, and this sense is used during several common fish behaviors, such as schooling, rheotaxis and predator-prey interactions. In addition, many fish behaviors, such as aggressive lateral displays and reproductive body quivers, involve fin and body motions that generate water movements that can be detected by the lateral line system of nearby fish. This mechanosensory system is well studied for its role in obstacle avoidance and detection of inadvertent hydrodynamic cues generated during schooling and predator-prey interactions; however, little research has focused on the role of mechanosensory communication during social interactions. Here, we summarize the current literature on the use of mechanosensation-mediated behaviors during agonistic and reproductive encounters, as well as during parental care. Based on these studies, we hypothesize that mechanosensory signaling is an important but often overlooked mode of communication during conspecific social interactions in many fish species, and we highlight its importance during multimodal communication. Finally, we suggest potential avenues of future research that would allow us to better understand the role of mechanosensation in fish communication.

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Urine as a Social Signal in the Mozambique Tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus)

Cited by 58 publications

References 8 publications

Brain levels of arginine–vasotocin and isotocin in dominant and subordinate males of a cichlid fish

Brain levels of arginine–vasotocin and isotocin in dominant and subordinate males of a cichlid fish

Castration affects reproductive but not aggressive behavior in a cichlid fish

Mechanosensory signaling as a potential mode of communication during social interactions in fishes

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