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J Exp Zool A Ecol Integr Physiol

Title:		Decreased attractivity in female garter snakes treated with an aromatase inhibitor
Author(s):		Rucker HR; Parker MR;
Address:		"Department of Biology, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, Virginia, USA"
Journal Title:		J Exp Zool A Ecol Integr Physiol
Year:		2022
Volume:		20210917
Issue:		2
Page Number:		171 - 180
DOI:		10.1002/jez.2546
ISSN/ISBN:		2471-5646 (Electronic) 2471-5638 (Linking)
Abstract:		"Most experimental studies on sexual signal regulation via hormone manipulation have focused on male signals, yet female signals demonstrate substantial phenotypic variation and hormone-dependent expression. Female red-sided garter snakes (Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis) produce a skin-based sex pheromone used by males in mate selection. The principle female sex steroid, 17 beta-estradiol, controls pheromone production in snakes, but studies manipulating female garter snakes have produced conflicting results, relied on behavioral tests with males in the laboratory, and did not quantify pheromone expression. Because aromatase is the terminal enzyme in estradiol biosynthesis, we hypothesized that female garter snakes rely on aromatase to ultimately control pheromone production during the annual cycle of this species. To test this, we used a known pharmacological inhibitor of aromatase, fadrozole (FAD). Wild-caught female garter snakes were chronically treated via subcutaneous injections of either FAD (1.0 mg kg(-1) ) or saline (control) for six months in the laboratory during the active period of the annual cycle then hibernated. In two separate field bioassays the next spring at the den site, FAD females received approximately 50% less courtship from wild, sexually active male garter snakes compared to SHAM females. Pheromone analysis revealed that four of the largest, unsaturated methyl ketones were specifically downregulated in FAD females, indicating that aromatase action is a crucial, permissive step in the maintenance of female attractivity"
Keywords:		"Animals Aromatase/metabolism Aromatase Inhibitors/pharmacology *Colubridae/physiology Estradiol/metabolism/pharmacology Female Flavin-Adenine Dinucleotide/metabolism Male Pheromones/metabolism Sexual Behavior, Animal aromatase chemical ecology courtship f;"
Notes:		"MedlineRucker, Holly R Parker, M Rockwell eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't 2021/09/18 J Exp Zool A Ecol Integr Physiol. 2022 Feb; 337(2):171-180. doi: 10.1002/jez.2546. Epub 2021 Sep 17"