Neurogenic and neuroendocrine effects of goldfish pheromones.
Goldfish (Carassius auratus) use reproductive hormones as endocrine signals to synchronize sexual behavior with gamete maturation and as exogenous signals (pheromones) to mediate spawning interactions between conspecifics. We examined the differential effects of two hormonal pheromones, prostaglandin F(2alpha) (PGF(2alpha)) and 17alpha,20beta-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one (17,20beta-P) on neurogenesis, neurotransmission, and neuronal activities, and on plasma androstenedione (AD) levels. Exposure to waterborne PGF(2alpha) induced a multitude of changes in male goldfish brain. Histological examination indicated an increase in the number of dividing cells in male diencephalon (p < 0.05, Kruskal-Wallis test). Real-time quantitative PCR tests showed elevated levels of transcripts for the salmon gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) in the male telencephalon and cerebellum (p < 0.005, one-way ANOVA) and for ChAT (choline acetyltransferase) in the male vagal lobe and the brainstem underneath the vagal lobe (p < 0.05, one-way ANOVA). Therefore, PGF(2alpha) seemed to modulate male brain plasticity that coincided with behavioral changes during spawning season. Exposure to waterborne 17,20beta-P, however, increased circulatory levels of immunoreactive AD in males and the transcripts of androgen receptor and cGnRH-II (chicken-II GnRH) in the female cerebellum (p < 0.05, one-way ANOVA). PGF(2alpha) and 17,20beta-P thereby seemed to act through distinct pathways to elicit different responses in the neuroendocrine system. This is the first finding that links a specific pheromone molecule (PGF(2alpha)) to neurogenesis in a vertebrate animal.
Chung-Davidson
Yu-Wen
YW
Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824, USA.
Rees
Christopher Benjamin
CB
Bryan
Mara Beth
MB
Li
Weiming
W
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000735:Androstenedione / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D001923:Brain Chemistry / Q000187:drug effects; D002795:Choline O-Acetyltransferase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004027:Diencephalon / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D015237:Dinoprost / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D005968:Glutamate Decarboxylase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006054:Goldfish / Q000502:physiology; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006908:Hydroxyprogesterones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D055495:Neurogenesis / Q000187:drug effects*; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D011944:Receptors, Androgen / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
D006908:Hydroxyprogesterones; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011944:Receptors, Androgen; C007433:17,20-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; D000735:Androstenedione; D015237:Dinoprost; D002795:Choline O-Acetyltransferase; D005968:Glutamate Decarboxylase