Aromatase pathway mediates sex change in each direction.
The enzyme aromatase controls the androgen/oestrogen ratio by catalysing the irreversible conversion of testosterone into oestradiol (E2). Therefore, the regulation of E2 synthesis by aromatase is thought to be critical in sexual development and differentiation. Here, we demonstrate for the first time that experimental manipulation of E2 levels via the aromatase pathway induces adult sex change in each direction in a hermaphroditic fish that naturally exhibits bidirectional sex change. Our results demonstrate that a single enzymatic pathway can regulate both female and male sexual differentiation, and that aromatase may be the key enzyme that transduces environmental, including social, cues to functional sex differentiation in species with environmental sex determination.
Kroon
Frederieke J
FJ
CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems, Tropical Forest Research Centre, , PO Box 780, Atherton, QLD 4883, Australia. frederieke.kroon@csiro.au
Munday
Philip L
PL
Westcott
David A
DA
Hobbs
Jean-Paul A
JP
Liley
N Robin
NR
D000818:Animals; D001141:Aromatase / Q000378:metabolism*; D004343:Drug Implants; D004958:Estradiol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006066:Gonads / Q000187:drug effects; D057850:Hermaphroditic Organisms; D006652:Histological Techniques; D010140:Pacific Ocean; D010473:Perciformes / Q000502:physiology*; D019849:Sex Determination Processes / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects*
D004343:Drug Implants; D004958:Estradiol; D001141:Aromatase