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Steroidal regulation of the aromatase gene and dominant behavior in the false clown anemonefish Amphiprion ocellaris

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Abstract

The interaction between cortisol and aromatase may be a critical factor in sex determination or sex changes in teleost species. High cortisol concentrations inhibit transcription of the aromatase gene, resulting in masculinization. Anemonefish (Amphiprion spp.) are socially controlled, protandrous sex-changing fish, with a monogamous mating system. Females are the largest and most dominant members of social groups, second-ranking individuals become males, and other individuals remain nonreproductive. Individuals that change from male to female display high plasma cortisol concentrations, contrary to a previously established mechanism of masculinization. We investigated the effects of exogenous steroids on gene expression in the brain and gonads and on the occurrence of dominant behavior in the sexually immature ambisexual false clown anemonefish Amphiprion ocellaris. Transcription of the cyp19a1a aromatase gene increased in the gonads of estradiol pellet-fed fish but decreased in cortisol pellet-fed fish. Dominant behavior intensity significantly increased in estradiol pellet-fed fish, but decreased in cortisol pellet-fed fish. Methyltestosterone had no apparent effect on gene transcription or behavior. These results suggest that the masculinization mechanism induced by cortisol is common among teleost species, including protandrous sex-changing fish, and that behavioral changes induced by steroid supplements reflect social status in A. ocellaris.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by a Japan Society for the Promotion of Science KAKENHI grant (no. 24570075). We would like to thank Editage (www.editage.jp) for the English language editing.

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Author notes

  1. Eri Iwata

    Present address: Department of Veterinary Medicine, Okayama University of Science, 1-3, Ikoinooka, Imabari, Ehime, 794-8555, Japan

  2. Eri Iwata

    Present address: Institute of Osaka Marine Research, 19-34, Shimodachou, Nishi Ku, Sakai, Osaka, 593-8329, Japan

Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Science and Engineering, Iwaki Meisei University, 5-5-1, Chuodai Iino, Iwaki, Fukushima, 970-8551, Japan

    Eri Iwata & Nozomi Suzuki

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  1. Eri Iwata
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  2. Nozomi Suzuki
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Correspondence to Eri Iwata.

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Iwata, E., Suzuki, N. Steroidal regulation of the aromatase gene and dominant behavior in the false clown anemonefish Amphiprion ocellaris. Fish Sci 86, 457–463 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12562-020-01408-2

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