Synopsis
Water from donor fish of either sex maintained in tank systems for 16 days was tested to determine intrasexual responses in a T-maze apparatus. Only donor water attracted fish, suggesting the presence of intrasexual pheromone(s). The sexual attractant(s) was removed by methylchloroform extraction. The residue from this extraction elicited positive responses in test fish. Dried residues showed 5 bands in thin-layer chromatograms, but only one band (Rf 0.94), identified as cholesterol ester. contained the sexual attractant(s).
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Algranati, F.D., Perlmutter, A. Attraction of zebrafish,Brachydanio rerio, to isolated and partially purified chromatographic fractions. Environ Biol Fish 6, 31–38 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00001797
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00001797