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sGnRH‐A [( d ‐Arg 6 , Pro 9 , NEt‐)LHRH] in combination with domperidone induces gonad reversal in a protogynous fish, the bluehead wrasse, Thalassoma bifasciatum
Author(s) -
Kramer C. R.,
Caddell M. T.,
BubenheimerLivolsi L.
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
journal of fish biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.672
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1095-8649
pISSN - 0022-1112
DOI - 10.1111/j.1095-8649.1993.tb00320.x
Subject(s) - biology , domperidone , gonad , fish <actinopterygii> , sex change , sex reversal , medicine , ovary , endocrinology , fishery , zoology , genetics , gene , dopamine
The effects of thrice weekly injections of Ovaprim (sGnRH‐A in combination with domperidone) on the ovary of Thalassoma bifasciatum , a protogynous marine fish, after 4 and 6 weeks are described. At the end of 4 weeks of treatment, 72% ( n =13) of the original females showed signs of reversal. The majority of these were deemed early stage although mid‐ ( n =2) and late ( n =1) stage reversals were present. At 6 weeks, 92% of the females had ovaries that were undergoing transformation. None of these, however, progressed beyond the early stage. Only 3.8% of the control fish showed signs of reversal over the same periods. The blue head colour pattern, typical of the terminal phase, did not appear in any of the fish. To our knowledge, this is the first report investigating the hypothalamic influence on sex reversal in T. bifasciatum . These observations shed new light on the neuroendocrine control of reversal of gender in this species and hermaphroditic fishes in general.