title: Social status and GnRH soma size in female convict cichlids (Amatitlania nigrofasciatus).
abstract: Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) neurons in the preoptic area (POA) of the hypothalamus play a key role in regulating reproductive function. These neurons in turn are modulated by environmental influences, including the social environment. In both the Old World cichlid Astatotilapia burtoni and the New World cichlid Amatitlania nigrofasciatus, the size of the soma of GnRH expressing neurons in the POA varies with social status in males and breeding state in females. Dominant males have larger GnRH-releasing cells than subordinate males, and spawning females have larger GnRH-releasing cells than brooding females. A. nigrofasciatus is monogamous and both sexes engage in similar levels of aggression and territorial defense. Here we test whether female A. nigrofasciatus display GnRH-releasing cell plasticity as a function of dominant status. We find that GnRH-releasing neuron soma sizes are larger in dominant females and that this difference is independent of differences in gonado-somatic index in A. nigrofasciatus.
authors: Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Canada.
authors: Erin
authors: E
authors: Nesjan
authors: Centre for Neuroscience, University of Alberta, Canada.
authors: Cristian
authors: C
authors: Gutierrez-Ibanez
authors: Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Canada; Centre for Neuroscience, University of Alberta, Canada; Department of Psychology, University of Alberta, Canada.
authors: Jason R
authors: JR
authors: Cameron
authors: Department of Psychology, University of Alberta, Canada.
authors: Sydele
authors: S
authors: Merrigan
authors: Centre for Neuroscience, University of Alberta, Canada; Department of Psychology, University of Alberta, Canada. Electronic address: dwylie@ualberta.ca.
authors: Douglas R
authors: DR
authors: Wylie
authors: Centre for Neuroscience, University of Alberta, Canada; Department of Psychology, University of Alberta, Canada.
authors: Peter L
authors: PL
authors: Hurd
mesh_terms: D000374:Aggression / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D002452:Cell Count; D048429:Cell Size; D023681:Cichlids / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology; D004291:Dominance-Subordination; D005260:Female; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000378:metabolism*; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000378:metabolism; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D011301:Preoptic Area / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone
keywords: Amatitlania nigrofasciatus; Convict cichlid; Gonadotropin releasing hormone; Social status