Brain nonapeptide and gonadal steroid responses to deprivation of heterosexual contact in the black molly
Fish may respond to different social situations with changes in both physiology and behaviour. A unique feature of fish is that social interactions between males and females strongly affect the sexual characteristics of individuals. Here we provide the first insight into the endocrine background of...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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The Company of Biologists
2014-12-01
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| Series: | Biology Open |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://bio.biologists.org/content/4/1/69 |
| _version_ | 1819075579523104768 |
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| author | Ewa Kulczykowska Hanna Kalamarz-Kubiak Marta Nietrzeba Magdalena Gozdowska |
| author_facet | Ewa Kulczykowska Hanna Kalamarz-Kubiak Marta Nietrzeba Magdalena Gozdowska |
| author_sort | Ewa Kulczykowska |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Fish may respond to different social situations with changes in both physiology and behaviour. A unique feature of fish is that social interactions between males and females strongly affect the sexual characteristics of individuals. Here we provide the first insight into the endocrine background of two phenomena that occur in mono-sex groups of the black molly (Poecilia sphenops): masculinization in females and same-sex sexual behaviour, manifested by gonopodial displays towards same-sex tank mates and copulation attempts in males. In socially controlled situations, brain neurohormones impact phenotypic sex determination and sexual behaviour. Among these hormones are the nonapeptides arginine vasotocin (AVT) and isotocin (IT), counterparts of the well-known mammalian arginine vasopressin and oxytocin, respectively. To reveal potential hormone interactions, we measured the concentrations of bioactive AVT and IT in the brain, along with those of the sex steroids 17β-estradiol and 11-ketotestosterone in the gonads, of females, masculinized females, males displaying same-sex sexual behaviour and those who did not. These data were supplemented by morphological and histological analyses of the gonads. Correlations between brain nonapeptides and gonadal steroids strongly suggest a cross talk between hormonal systems. In the black molly, the masculinization process was associated with the production of brain AVT and gonadal steroids, whereas same-sex sexual behaviour involves both brain nonapeptides, but neither of the sex steroids. This study extends current knowledge of endocrine control of phenotypic sex and sexual behaviour in fish and for the first time links brain nonapeptides with the occurrence of male-male sexual behaviour in lower vertebrates. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-21T18:27:39Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-9aa1f1ebc8234dc4a9c38ac34b26b872 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2046-6390 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-21T18:27:39Z |
| publishDate | 2014-12-01 |
| publisher | The Company of Biologists |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Biology Open |
| spelling | doaj.art-9aa1f1ebc8234dc4a9c38ac34b26b8722022-12-21T18:54:22ZengThe Company of BiologistsBiology Open2046-63902014-12-0141697810.1242/bio.2014959720149597Brain nonapeptide and gonadal steroid responses to deprivation of heterosexual contact in the black mollyEwa KulczykowskaHanna Kalamarz-KubiakMarta NietrzebaMagdalena GozdowskaFish may respond to different social situations with changes in both physiology and behaviour. A unique feature of fish is that social interactions between males and females strongly affect the sexual characteristics of individuals. Here we provide the first insight into the endocrine background of two phenomena that occur in mono-sex groups of the black molly (Poecilia sphenops): masculinization in females and same-sex sexual behaviour, manifested by gonopodial displays towards same-sex tank mates and copulation attempts in males. In socially controlled situations, brain neurohormones impact phenotypic sex determination and sexual behaviour. Among these hormones are the nonapeptides arginine vasotocin (AVT) and isotocin (IT), counterparts of the well-known mammalian arginine vasopressin and oxytocin, respectively. To reveal potential hormone interactions, we measured the concentrations of bioactive AVT and IT in the brain, along with those of the sex steroids 17β-estradiol and 11-ketotestosterone in the gonads, of females, masculinized females, males displaying same-sex sexual behaviour and those who did not. These data were supplemented by morphological and histological analyses of the gonads. Correlations between brain nonapeptides and gonadal steroids strongly suggest a cross talk between hormonal systems. In the black molly, the masculinization process was associated with the production of brain AVT and gonadal steroids, whereas same-sex sexual behaviour involves both brain nonapeptides, but neither of the sex steroids. This study extends current knowledge of endocrine control of phenotypic sex and sexual behaviour in fish and for the first time links brain nonapeptides with the occurrence of male-male sexual behaviour in lower vertebrates.http://bio.biologists.org/content/4/1/69Arginine vasotocinIsotocinSex steroidsMasculinizationSame-sex sexual behaviourBlack molly |
| spellingShingle | Ewa Kulczykowska Hanna Kalamarz-Kubiak Marta Nietrzeba Magdalena Gozdowska Brain nonapeptide and gonadal steroid responses to deprivation of heterosexual contact in the black molly Biology Open Arginine vasotocin Isotocin Sex steroids Masculinization Same-sex sexual behaviour Black molly |
| title | Brain nonapeptide and gonadal steroid responses to deprivation of heterosexual contact in the black molly |
| title_full | Brain nonapeptide and gonadal steroid responses to deprivation of heterosexual contact in the black molly |
| title_fullStr | Brain nonapeptide and gonadal steroid responses to deprivation of heterosexual contact in the black molly |
| title_full_unstemmed | Brain nonapeptide and gonadal steroid responses to deprivation of heterosexual contact in the black molly |
| title_short | Brain nonapeptide and gonadal steroid responses to deprivation of heterosexual contact in the black molly |
| title_sort | brain nonapeptide and gonadal steroid responses to deprivation of heterosexual contact in the black molly |
| topic | Arginine vasotocin Isotocin Sex steroids Masculinization Same-sex sexual behaviour Black molly |
| url | http://bio.biologists.org/content/4/1/69 |
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