Plasticity of the reproductive axis caused by social status change in an african cichlid fish: II. testicular gene expression and spermatogenesis.

ABSTRACT: Reproduction in all vertebrates is controlled by the brain-pituitary-gonad (BPG) axis, which is regulated socially in males of the African cichlid fish Astatotilapia burtoni. Although social information influences GnRH1 neurons at the apex of the BPG axis, little is known about how the social environment and dominance affects the cellular and molecular composition of the testes to regulate reproductive capacity. We created an opportunity for reproductively suppressed males to ascend in status and then measured changes in gene expression and tissue morphology to discover how quickly the perception of this opportunity can influence the testes. Our results show rapid up-regulation of mRNA levels of FSH receptor and several steroid receptor subtypes in the testes during social ascent. In contr

SUBMITTER: Maruska KP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3219049 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature