title: Sex pheromones of the sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus): Steroid studies.
abstract: Pheromone-containing and pheromone-devoid samples of male sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) urine were analyzed for the concentrations of nine steroids [dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), testosterone (T), dihydrotestosterone (DHT), progesterone (P), androstenedione (A), estrone (E1), estradiol (E2), corticosterone (B), and cortisol (F)] by radioimmunoassay (RIA). Samples analyzed included native urine that had been enzymatically hydrolyzed with mixed β-glucuronidase/sulfatase. Values of the analyses were used to prepare solutions of the individual steroids for bioassay at concentrations which bracketed the urinary concentrations. Results show that only testosterone elicited a preference response in spawning-run female sea lampreys, and in concentrations three to four orders of magnitude greater than those found in active, unhydrolyzed male urine. The possibility that testosterone acts as a pheromone in this species is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Monell Chemical Senses Center, University of Pennsylvania, 3500 Market Street, 19104, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Adams
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Teeter
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Katz
authors.forename: P B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Johnsen