Journal Article
Title | Lack of evidence for a role of olfaction on first maturation in farmed sea bass Dicentrarchus labrax. |
Publication Type | Journal Article |
Authors | Saraiva, JL, Martins, RS, Hubbard, PC, Canario, AVM |
Year of Publication | 2015 |
Journal | Gen Comp Endocrinol |
Volume | 221 |
Date Published | 2015 Sep 15 |
Pagination | 114-9 |
ISSN | 1095-6840 |
Keywords | Animals, Bass, Brain, Fish Proteins, Gonads, Male, Pituitary Gland, Puberty, Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction, Reproduction, Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction, RNA, Messenger, Sex Differentiation, Sex Ratio, Sexual Maturation, Smell, Spermatogenesis |
Abstract | Chemical communication is widespread in the animal kingdom and olfaction constitutes a powerful channel for social and environmental cues. In fish, olfactory stimuli are known to influence physiological processes, including reproduction. Here we investigate the effects of olfaction on puberty in European sea bass Dicentrarchus labrax males. Intact sea bass coming to first maturity (puberty) are able to smell conspecific odours. However, induced anosmia during most of the spermatogenesis period had no effect on the sex ratio, gonad maturation state or gonado-somatic index at the time of reproduction. Furthermore anosmia decreased mRNA expression of brain KISS2 and pituitary LHb and FSHb, but not brain GnRH1 and GnRH3. Thus, although anosmia seems to modify gene expression of key reproduction related genetic factors, it seems to be insufficient to stop or delay growth or gonadal development and maturation. |
DOI | 10.1016/j.ygcen.2015.02.017 |
Sapientia | |
Alternate Journal | Gen. Comp. Endocrinol. |
PubMed ID | 25736451 |