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Curr Biol

Title:		Identity of a tilapia pheromone released by dominant males that primes females for reproduction
Author(s):		Keller-Costa T; Hubbard PC; Paetz C; Nakamura Y; da Silva JP; Rato A; Barata EN; Schneider B; Canario AVM;
Address:		"Centre of Marine Sciences, University of Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal; Department of Biology, University of Evora, Apartado 94, 7002-554 Evora, Portugal. Centre of Marine Sciences, University of Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal. Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Hans-Knoll-Strasse 8, 07745 Jena, Germany. Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal. Centre of Marine Sciences, University of Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal. Electronic address: acanario@ualg.pt"
Journal Title:		Curr Biol
Year:		2014
Volume:		20140821
Issue:		18
Page Number:		2130 - 2135
DOI:		10.1016/j.cub.2014.07.049
ISSN/ISBN:		1879-0445 (Electronic) 0960-9822 (Linking)
Abstract:		"Knowledge of the chemical identity and role of urinary pheromones in fish is scarce, yet it is necessary in order to understand the integration of multiple senses in adaptive responses and the evolution of chemical communication [1]. In nature, Mozambique tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus) males form hierarchies, and females mate preferentially with dominant territorial males, which they visit in aggregations or leks [2]. Dominant males have thicker urinary bladder muscular walls than subordinates or females and store large volumes of urine, which they release at increased frequency in the presence of subordinate males or preovulatory, but not postspawned, females [3-5]. Females exposed to dominant-male urine augment their release of the oocyte maturation-inducing steroid 17alpha,20beta-dihydroxypregn-4-en-3-one (17,20beta-P) [6]. Here we isolate and identify a male Mozambique tilapia urinary sex pheromone as two epimeric (20alpha- and 20beta-) pregnanetriol 3-glucuronates. We show that both males and females have high olfactory sensitivity to the two steroids, which cross-adapt upon stimulation. Females exposed to both steroids show a rapid, 10-fold increase in production of 17,20beta-P. Thus, the identified urinary steroids prime the female endocrine system to accelerate oocyte maturation and possibly promote spawning synchrony. Tilapia are globally important as a food source but are also invasive species, with devastating impact on local freshwater ecosystems [7, 8]. Identifying the chemical cues that mediate reproduction may lead to the development of tools for population control [9-11]"
Keywords:		Animals Female Glucuronates/*urine Hydroxyprogesterones/*metabolism Male Olfactory Perception Pregnanetriol/*urine *Reproduction Sex Attractants/*urine Social Dominance Tilapia/*physiology;
Notes:		"MedlineKeller-Costa, Tina Hubbard, Peter C Paetz, Christian Nakamura, Yoko da Silva, Jose P Rato, Ana Barata, Eduardo N Schneider, Bernd Canario, Adelino V M eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't England 2014/08/27 Curr Biol. 2014 Sep 22; 24(18):2130-2135. doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2014.07.049. Epub 2014 Aug 21"