Title

Differential behavioral responses by reproductive and non-reproductive male round gobies (Neogobius melanostomus) to the putative pheromone estrone

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2007

Publication Title

Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part A: Molecular & Integrative Physiology

Volume

147

Issue

1

First Page

77

Last Page

83

Abstract

Previous studies have shown that the frequency of gill ventilation during exposure to estrone and gonadal extracts in the round goby (Neogobius melanostomus) is linked to olfactory sensory input. Control over gill ventilation may be a regulatory mechanism used for odorant sampling during reproductive periods. In this study, we examined changes in gill ventilation in osmic and anosmic (nasal occluded), reproductive and non-reproductive male round gobies to a putative steroidal pheromone estrone (1,3,5(10)-estratrien-3-ol-17-one). We tested 5 different concentrations of estrone (10− 12 to 10− 8 M) and showed that the response threshold for estrone varied with the male's reproductive status; it was 10− 11 M in reproductive males, and rose to 10− 9 M in non-reproductive males. However, anosmic reproductive and non-reproductive males did not respond to estrone. These findings suggest that olfactory responses to putative pheromones may change depending on the reproductive status of the fish.

DOI

10.1016/j.cbpa.2006.11.008

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