title: Plasma levels of follicle-stimulating and luteinizing hormones during the reproductive cycle of wild and cultured Senegalese sole (Solea senegalensis).
abstract: The intensive culture of the Senegalese sole (Solea senegalensis) is hampered by the low or null fertilization rates exhibited by the first generation (F1) of reared males. To investigate the regulation of the reproductive processes in this species by the pituitary gonadotropins follicle-stimulating and luteinizing hormones (Fsh and Lh, respectively), we developed a highly sensitive and specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for Lh measurements. Quantification of the Fsh and Lh plasma levels in cultured sole using the Lh ELISA developed here, and a previously developed ELISA for Fsh, indicated that in both males and females circulating Fsh steadily increased during autumn and winter and prior to the major spawning in spring, whereas an Lh surge occurred specifically during spawning. The increase in Fsh was associated with a rise of plasma levels of the steroid hormones testosterone (T), 11-ketotestosterone (11-KT) and estradiol-17β (E2), but that of Lh was concomitant with a strong decline of the levels of E2 in females and of 11-KT in males, possibly reflecting a rapid steroidogenic shift promoting the final maturation of gametes. Comparison of the plasma levels of gonadotropins and steroids between wild and F1 fish during autumn and spring revealed that F1 males showed significantly lower plasma Lh titres compared to wild males, whereas the levels of T and 11-KT were similar or more elevated in the F1 fish. These data suggest that an impaired Lh secretion during spawning, and perhaps altered Lh-mediated mechanisms in the testis, may be underlying causes for the low reproductive performance of Senegalese sole F1 males.
authors.affiliation: IRTA-Institut de Ciències del Mar, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), 08003 Barcelona, Spain; Department of Biology, Bergen High Technology Centre, University of Bergen, 5020 Bergen, Norway. Electronic address: francois.chauvigne@bio.uib.no.
authors.forename: François
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Chauvigné
authors.affiliation: IRTA-Sant Carles de la Rápita, Ctra. Poble Nou Km 6, 43540 Sant Carles de la Ràpita, Tarragona, Spain.
authors.forename: Elvira
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fatsini
authors.affiliation: IRTA-Sant Carles de la Rápita, Ctra. Poble Nou Km 6, 43540 Sant Carles de la Ràpita, Tarragona, Spain.
authors.forename: Neil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Duncan
authors.affiliation: IRTA-Institut de Ciències del Mar, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), 08003 Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Judith
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ollé
authors.affiliation: Department of Fish Physiology and Biotechnology, Instituto de Acuicultura de Torre de la Sal (IATS), CSIC, Ribera de Cabanes, 12595 Castellón, Spain.
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zanuy
authors.affiliation: Department of Fish Physiology and Biotechnology, Instituto de Acuicultura de Torre de la Sal (IATS), CSIC, Ribera de Cabanes, 12595 Castellón, Spain.
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gómez
authors.affiliation: IRTA-Institut de Ciències del Mar, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), 08003 Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Joan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cerdà
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005412:Flatfishes / Q000097:blood* / Q000502:physiology*; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D006062:Gonadotropins / Q000097:blood; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D012015:Reference Standards; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012098:Reproduction / Q000502:physiology*; D013256:Steroids / Q000097:blood; D013737:Testis / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D006062:Gonadotropins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D013256:Steroids; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone
keywords: ELISA; Flatfish; Gonadotropins; Spawning; Spermatogenesis; Steroids