Lack of evidence for a role of olfaction on first maturation in farmed sea bass Dicentrarchus labrax.
Chemical communication is widespread in the animal kingdom and olfaction constitutes a powerful channel for social and environmental cues. In fish, olfactory stimuli are known to influence physiological processes, including reproduction. Here we investigate the effects of olfaction on puberty in European sea bass Dicentrarchus labrax males. Intact sea bass coming to first maturity (puberty) are able to smell conspecific odours. However, induced anosmia during most of the spermatogenesis period had no effect on the sex ratio, gonad maturation state or gonado-somatic index at the time of reproduction. Furthermore anosmia decreased mRNA expression of brain KISS2 and pituitary LHb and FSHb, but not brain GnRH1 and GnRH3. Thus, although anosmia seems to modify gene expression of key reproduction related genetic factors, it seems to be insufficient to stop or delay growth or gonadal development and maturation.
Comparative Endocrinology and Integrative Biology Group, Centre of Marine Sciences (CCMAR), University of Algarve, Faro, Portugal. Electronic address: jsaraiva@ualg.pt.
João L
JL
Saraiva
Comparative Endocrinology and Integrative Biology Group, Centre of Marine Sciences (CCMAR), University of Algarve, Faro, Portugal.
Rute S
RS
Martins
Comparative Endocrinology and Integrative Biology Group, Centre of Marine Sciences (CCMAR), University of Algarve, Faro, Portugal.
Peter C
PC
Hubbard
Comparative Endocrinology and Integrative Biology Group, Centre of Marine Sciences (CCMAR), University of Algarve, Faro, Portugal.
Adelino V M
AV
Canário
D000818:Animals; D001492:Bass / Q000502:physiology*; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism; D029941:Fish Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006066:Gonads / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000378:metabolism; D011627:Puberty / Q000502:physiology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012098:Reproduction / Q000502:physiology*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012733:Sex Differentiation / Q000502:physiology; D012744:Sex Ratio; D012741:Sexual Maturation / Q000502:physiology*; D012903:Smell / Q000502:physiology*; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000502:physiology
D029941:Fish Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger
Chemical communication; Olfaction; Puberty; Reproduction; Sea bass