Sulfated 17,20 beta-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one functions as a potent and specific olfactory stimulant with pheromonal actions in the goldfish.
This study demonstrates that in addition to using the maturational steroid hormone 17,20 beta-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one (17,20 beta-P) as a potent sex pheromone, the goldfish uses its sulfated metabolite 17,20 beta-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one 20-sulfate (17,20 beta-P-20S). As measured by electro-olfactogram recording (EOG), the goldfish olfactory epithelium is extremely sensitive to both free and sulfated 17,20 beta-P (detection thresholds of approximately 10(-12) and 10(-11) M) but not to glucuronidated or phosphated 17,20 beta-P. Furthermore, both structure-activity and cross-adaptation studies using EOG indicated that 17,20 beta-P-20S and 17,20 beta-P are detected by different olfactory receptor sites, suggesting that these cues function as a distinguishable mixture. Finally, although the pheromonal activity of 17,20 beta-P-20S appears to be slightly less than that of 17,20 beta-P, it too stimulates gonadotropin release and sperm production in male goldfish. The precise function of 17,20 beta-P-20S remains somewhat enigmatic, however, because it does not appear to enhance the actions of 17,20 beta-P and is released by a different mechanism. In any case, our findings clearly establish that a fish olfactory system can detect particular conjugated steroidal compounds in a highly specific manner and that naturally released conjugated steroids can function as components of a pheromonal mixture.
Sorensen
P W
PW
Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, University of Minnesota, St. Paul 55108, USA.
Scott
A P
AP
Stacey
N E
NE
Bowdin
L
L
D000818:Animals; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004847:Epithelial Cells; D004848:Epithelium / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006054:Goldfish / Q000502:physiology*; D006062:Gonadotropins / Q000378:metabolism; D006908:Hydroxyprogesterones / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D009830:Olfactory Bulb / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D009833:Olfactory Pathways / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D010675:Pheromones / Q000502:physiology*; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000032:analysis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D012741:Sexual Maturation / Q000502:physiology; D012903:Smell / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000502:physiology; D013431:Sulfates / Q000378:metabolism*
D006062:Gonadotropins; D006908:Hydroxyprogesterones; D010675:Pheromones; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D013431:Sulfates; C007433:17,20-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one