« Previous AbstractGlycoconjugate-specific developmental changes in the horse vomeronasal organ    Next AbstractAn anti-steroidogenic inhibitory primer pheromone in male sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) »

J Neurosci

Title:		Neurogenic and neuroendocrine effects of goldfish pheromones
Author(s):		Chung-Davidson YW; Rees CB; Bryan MB; Li W;
Address:		"Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824, USA"
Journal Title:		J Neurosci
Year:		2008
Volume:		28
Issue:		53
Page Number:		14492 - 14499
DOI:		10.1523/JNEUROSCI.3589-08.2008
ISSN/ISBN:		1529-2401 (Electronic) 0270-6474 (Print) 0270-6474 (Linking)
Abstract:		"Goldfish (Carassius auratus) use reproductive hormones as endocrine signals to synchronize sexual behavior with gamete maturation and as exogenous signals (pheromones) to mediate spawning interactions between conspecifics. We examined the differential effects of two hormonal pheromones, prostaglandin F(2alpha) (PGF(2alpha)) and 17alpha,20beta-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one (17,20beta-P) on neurogenesis, neurotransmission, and neuronal activities, and on plasma androstenedione (AD) levels. Exposure to waterborne PGF(2alpha) induced a multitude of changes in male goldfish brain. Histological examination indicated an increase in the number of dividing cells in male diencephalon (p < 0.05, Kruskal-Wallis test). Real-time quantitative PCR tests showed elevated levels of transcripts for the salmon gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) in the male telencephalon and cerebellum (p < 0.005, one-way ANOVA) and for ChAT (choline acetyltransferase) in the male vagal lobe and the brainstem underneath the vagal lobe (p < 0.05, one-way ANOVA). Therefore, PGF(2alpha) seemed to modulate male brain plasticity that coincided with behavioral changes during spawning season. Exposure to waterborne 17,20beta-P, however, increased circulatory levels of immunoreactive AD in males and the transcripts of androgen receptor and cGnRH-II (chicken-II GnRH) in the female cerebellum (p < 0.05, one-way ANOVA). PGF(2alpha) and 17,20beta-P thereby seemed to act through distinct pathways to elicit different responses in the neuroendocrine system. This is the first finding that links a specific pheromone molecule (PGF(2alpha)) to neurogenesis in a vertebrate animal"
Keywords:		Analysis of Variance Androstenedione/blood Animals Brain Chemistry/drug effects Choline O-Acetyltransferase/genetics/metabolism Diencephalon/cytology/drug effects Dinoprost/*pharmacology Gene Expression Regulation/*drug effects Glutamate Decarboxylase/gen;
Notes:		"MedlineChung-Davidson, Yu-Wen Rees, Christopher Benjamin Bryan, Mara Beth Li, Weiming eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S. 2009/01/02 J Neurosci. 2008 Dec 31; 28(53):14492-9. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.3589-08.2008"