Publication Abstract

Treatment of GnRHa-implanted Senegal sole males with 11-ketoandrostenedione stimulates spermatogenesis and increases sperm motility

Treatment of GnRHa-implanted Senegal sole males with 11-ketoandrostenedione stimulates spermatogenesis and increases sperm motility

M.J. Agulleiroa, A.P. Scott, N. Duncan, C.C. Mylonas and J. Cerda

The effect of 11-ketoandrostenedione (OA) on plasma concentrations of sexual steroids and spermatogenesis of Senegalese sole (Solea senegalensis) implanted with gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa) was investigated. Males were treated with saline (control) or with GnRHa implants (50 μg kg^− 1) in the presence or absence of OA (2 or 7 mg kg^− 1) during twenty eight days. Treatment with GnRHa alone slightly stimulated spermatogenesis and milt production with respect to controls, and this was associated with a transient elevation of plasma 11-ketotestosterone (11-KT) at day seven and an increase of 5β-reduced metabolite(s) of 17,20β-dihydroxy-pregn-4-en-3-one (17,20βP) at day twenty eight. However, treatment with GnRHa + OA increased plasma concentrations of 11-KT and free + sulphated 5β-reduced metabolites of 17,20βP at days seven, fourteen and twenty one. After twenty eight days, the testis of GnRHa + OA-treated fish showed a lower number of spermatogonia B and spermatocytes I, and a higher number of spermatids, than fish treated with GnRHa alone. In addition, the motility of spermatozoa produced by GnRHa + OA males was enhanced by 2-fold with respect to controls or GnRHa males. These results suggest that treatment of Senegalese sole with GnRHa + OA stimulates spermatogenesis resulting in more motile sperm. Such effects could be mediated by an increased synthesis of 11-KT and/or 17,20βP in the testis but further studies will be required to elucidate the specific mechanism involved.

Reference

M.J. Agulleiroa, A.P. Scott, N. Duncan, C.C. Mylonas and J. Cerda (2007) Treatment of GnRHa-implanted Senegal sole males with 11-ketoandrostenedione stimulates spermatogenesis and increases sperm motility. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology, 147: 885-892

M.J. Agulleiroa, A.P. Scott*, N. Duncan, C.C. Mylonas and J. Cerda

Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology, 147: 885-892