Abstract
To study the mechanism of protogynous sex change in honeycomb grouper, the wild fish of both sexes and transitionals were collected for one year, and changes in gonadal structures and serum levels of sex hormones in each individual were examined. The onset of sex change was associated with low serum estradiol - 17β (E2) levels. In order to clarify whether E2 deprivation causes sex change, maturing females were implanted with the non-steroidal aromatase inhibitor (Fadrozole, AI). AI caused complete sex change from female to functional males in two and half months. The present results suggest that E2 is an important endogenous factor which regulates protogynous sex change in the honeycomb grouper.
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References
Nakamura M., Hourigan T.F., Yamauchi K., Nagahama, Y. and Grau, G.E. 1989. Histological and ultrastructural evidence for the role of gonadal steroid hormones in sex change in the protogynous wrasse (Thalassoma duperrey). Env. Biol. Fish. 24: 117–136.
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Bhandari, R.K., Higa, M., Komuro, H. et al. Treatment with an aromatase inhibitor induces complete sex change in the protogynous honeycomb grouper (Epinephelus merra). Fish Physiology and Biochemistry 28, 141–142 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:FISH.0000030501.23595.2e
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/B:FISH.0000030501.23595.2e
Keywords
- Serum Level
- Estradiol
- Aromatase Inhibitor
- Serum Estradiol
- Wild Fish