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Chem Senses

Title:		Methyltestosterone-induced changes in electro-olfactogram responses and courtship behaviors of cyprinids
Author(s):		Belanger RM; Pachkowski MD; Stacey NE;
Address:		"Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada"
Journal Title:		Chem Senses
Year:		2010
Volume:		20091204
Issue:		1
Page Number:		65 - 74
DOI:		10.1093/chemse/bjp085
ISSN/ISBN:		1464-3553 (Electronic) 0379-864X (Linking)
Abstract:		"In the tinfoil barb (Barbonymus schwanenfeldii; family Cyprinidae), we previously found that increased olfactory sensitivity to a female prostaglandin pheromone could induce sexual behavior display in juvenile fish treated with androgens. Here, we determined if this phenomenon is widespread among cyprinid fishes by adding 17alpha-methyltestosterone (MT) to aquaria containing juveniles of 4 cyprinid species (tinfoil barbs; redtail sharkminnows, Epalzeorhynchos bicolor; goldfish, Carassius auratus; zebrafish, Danio rerio) and then using electro-olfactogram (EOG) recordings and behavioral assays to determine if androgen treatment enhances pheromone detection and male sex behaviors. In all 4 cyprinids, MT treatment increased the magnitudes and sensitivities of EOG response to prostaglandins and, consistent with our initial study on tinfoil barbs, did not affect EOG responses to the free and conjugated steroid to which each species is most sensitive. In zebrafish, EOG responses to prostaglandins were similar in MT-treated juveniles and adult males, whereas responses of control (ethanol exposed) fish were similar to those of adult females. Finally, as previously observed in tinfoil barbs, MT treatment of juvenile redtail sharkminnows increased courtship behaviors (nuzzling and quivering) with a stimulus fish. We conclude that androgen-induced increase in olfactory responsiveness to pheromonal prostaglandins is common among the family Cyprinidae. This phenomenon will help us unravel the development of sexually dimorphic olfactory-mediated behavior"
Keywords:		"Animals Cyprinidae/*physiology Electrophysiological Phenomena Female Goldfish/physiology Male Methyltestosterone/*pharmacology Prostaglandins/pharmacology Sexual Behavior, Animal/*drug effects *Smell Zebrafish/physiology;"
Notes:		"MedlineBelanger, Rachelle M Pachkowski, Melanie D Stacey, Norm E eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't England 2009/12/08 Chem Senses. 2010 Jan; 35(1):65-74. doi: 10.1093/chemse/bjp085. Epub 2009 Dec 4"