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Horm Behav

Title:		Pheromone-induced spawning of Pacific herring. II. Plasma steroids distinctive to fish responsive to spawning pheromone
Author(s):		Carolsfeld J; Scott AP; Sherwood NM;
Address:		"Biology Department, University of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada"
Journal Title:		Horm Behav
Year:		1997
Volume:		31
Issue:		3
Page Number:		269 - 276
DOI:		10.1006/hbeh.1997.1379
ISSN/ISBN:		0018-506X (Print) 0018-506X (Linking)
Abstract:		"A spawning pheromone in the milt (semen) and testes of the Pacific herring, Clupea harengus pallasi, is thought to facilitate school spawning of this species. We found that responsiveness to the spawning pheromone was variable among ripe fish (milt-producing or ovulated). Measurement of five principle reproductive steroids in the free form and five steroids in conjugated forms in the plasma of male fish early in the spawning season (newly ripe fish) showed that elevated plasma levels of 3 alpha, 17 alpha-dihydroxy-3 beta-pregnan-20-one and 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone coincided with responsiveness to the spawning pheromone in these fish; levels of other steroids did not differ. In contrast, responsiveness to the pheromone by female fish later in the spawning season (ripe-and-holding fish) coincided with lower levels of glucuronated 17 alpha,20 beta-dihydroxyprogesterone and a lower gonadosomatic index. We suggest that these differences indicate a more advanced mature reproductive state in the responsive individuals among both the newly ripe male and the ripe-and-holding female fish. We found no differences in the level of cortisol in the blood of the herring that could be correlated with differences in pheromonal responsiveness. We conclude that differences in responsiveness to the spawning pheromone coincide to some extent with levels of reproductive maturation but probably not with recent stress"
Keywords:		Animals Arousal/physiology Female Fishes/*physiology Gonadal Steroid Hormones/*blood Male Oviposition/*physiology Seasons Semen/physiology Sex Attractants/*physiology Sexual Maturation/physiology Testis/physiology;
Notes:		"MedlineCarolsfeld, J Scott, A P Sherwood, N M eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't 1997/06/01 Horm Behav. 1997 Jun; 31(3):269-76. doi: 10.1006/hbeh.1997.1379"