Publication Abstract

Sulfated 17, 20beta-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one functions as a potent and specific olfactory stimulant with pheromonal actions in the goldfish

Sulfated 17,20beta-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one functions as a potent and specific olfactory stimulantwith pheromonal actions in the goldfish

P.W. Sorensen, A.P. Scott, N.E. Stacey and L. Bowdin

Thisstudy demonstrates that in addition to using the maturational steroid hormone 17,20 beta-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one (17,20 beta -P) as a potent sex pheromone, the goldfish usesits sulfated metabolite, 17,20 beta -dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one 20-sulfate (17,20 beta-P-20S). As measured by electroolfactogram recording (EOG), the goldfish olfactoryepithelium is extremely sensitive to both free and sulfated 17,20 beta -P (detectionthresholds of approximately 10 super(-12) and 10 super(-11) M) but not to glucuronidatedor phosphated 17,20 beta -P. Furthermore, both structure-activity and cross-adaptationstudies using EOG indicated that 17,20 beta -P-20S and 17,20 beta -P are detected bydifferent olfactory receptor sites, suggesting that these cues function as adistinguishable mixture. Finally, although the pheromonal activity of 17,20 beta -P-20Sappears to be slightly less than that of 17,20 beta -P, it too stimulates gonadotropinrelease and sperm production in male goldfish. The precise function of 17,20 beta -P-20Sremains somewhat enigmatic, however, because it does not appear to enhance the actions of17,20 beta -P and is released by a different mechanism. In any case, our findings clearlyestablish that a fish olfactory system can detect particular conjugated steroidalcompounds in a highly specific manner and that naturally released conjugated steroids canfunction as components of a pheromonal mixture.

Reference:

P.W. Sorensen, A.P. Scott, N.E. Stacey and L. Bowdin, 1995. Sulfated 17,20beta-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one functions as a potent and specific olfactory stimulantwith pheromonal actions in the goldfish. General and Comparative Endocrinology, 100:128-142.

P.W. Sorensen, A.P. Scott*, N.E. Stacey and L. Bowdin

General and Comparative Endocrinology, 100: 128-142