Publication Abstract

Bile acid secreted by male sea lamprey that acts as a sex pheromone

Li Weiming, A.P. Scott*, M.J. Siefkes, Honggao Yan, Qin Li, Sang-Seon Yun and D.A. Gage

We show that reproductively mature male sea lampreys release a bile acid that acts as a potent sex pheromone, inducing preference and searching behaviour in ovulated female lampreys. The secreted bile acid 7α,12α,24-trihydroxy-5α-cholan-3-one 24-sulfate, was released in much higher amounts relative to known vertebrate steroid pheromones and may be secreted through the gills. Hence, the male of this fish species signals both its reproductive ststus and location to females by secreting a pheromone that can act over long distances

Reference:

Li Weiming, A.P. Scott, M.J. Siefkes, Honggao Yan, Qin Li, Sang-Seon Yun and D.A. Gage, 2002. Bile acid secreted by male sea lamprey that acts as a sex pheromone. Nature, 296: 138-141.