Changes in reproductive physiology and behaviour over the nesting cycle in male three-spined sticklebacks

Plasma 11‐Ketotestosterone (11 KT) and testosterone (T) levels and spiggin‐mRNA levels, as well as the kidney‐somatic index (IK) were measured in sexual males and in paternal males at the middle (5 days paternal) and at the end (8 days paternal with hatched eggs) of the nesting cycle in three‐spined...

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Published in:Journal of fish biology 2005-05, Vol.66 (5), p.1400-1410
Main Authors: Páll, M. K., Hellqvist, A., Schmitz, M., Olsson, P.-E., Mayer, I., Borg, B.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Agnatha. Pisces
androgen
Biological and medical sciences
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
gonadotropins
reproductive behaviour
reproductive behaviour
secondary sexual characteristic
secondary sexual characteristic
spiggin
Vertebrates: general zoology, morphology, phylogeny, systematics, cytogenetics, geographical distribution
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Summary:Plasma 11‐Ketotestosterone (11 KT) and testosterone (T) levels and spiggin‐mRNA levels, as well as the kidney‐somatic index (IK) were measured in sexual males and in paternal males at the middle (5 days paternal) and at the end (8 days paternal with hatched eggs) of the nesting cycle in three‐spined sticklebacks Gasterosteus aculeatus from two populations. Glueing (using threads of 11 KT induced kidney‐protein spiggin) and fanning behaviour was measured daily. Fanning increased in paternal fish and remained low in sexual males. Plasma 11 KT and T levels, on the other hand, declined significantly in parental compared to sexual males as did spiggin expression, IK and glueing behaviour. Thus, the drastic decrease in circulating 11 KT levels during the later parental phase may have resulted in an energy‐saving decrease in spiggin‐production and glueing, when this was no longer needed for nest maintenance. In addition, the mRNA levels of the β‐subunits of both gonadotropins, luteinising hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) were measured. The expression of both gonadotropins declined in the parental phase (not significant for β‐FSH in one of the populations) which was consistent with a decline in androgen levels possibly controlled via decreased gonadotropin secretion.
ISSN:0022-1112
1095-8649
DOI:10.1111/j.0022-1112.2005.00691.x