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The greater amberjack Seriola dumerili is economically important in both capture fisheries and aquaculture. It is a gonochoristic species with no noticeable sexual dimorphism, usually reaching maturity at 3–4 years. Spawning occurs in the Pacific from May to June but varies between regions. During a study on the maturity of greater amberjack, abnormal hermaphrodites (AH) with ovotestes were found. Of the 51 fish examined from June 2017 to April 2018, 2 individuals (3.9%) were classified as AH, with one each identified in February and April 2018. These AHs were larger than the gonochoristic (GC) individuals of the same age. In February, both AH and GCs had sperm-filled seminal lobules and ovaries at the primary yolk stage. By April, atresias were seen in both the AHs and GCs. While oocyte diameter increased in both AHs and GCs between February and April, the gonadosomatic index was lower in AHs. Plasma estradiol-17β and 11-ketotestosterone levels of AHs were similar to those of male GCs. These results suggest that AHs have accelerated growth with potential maturation as functional males. This is the first report on hermaphroditism in the Seriola genus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background The relationship of testosterone and estradiol concentrations with cognitive function among community-dwelling older men was inconclusive. To examine the association of serum testosterone and estradiol concentrations with cognitive function in older men with or without vascular risk factors (VRFs). Methods This cross-sectional study consisted of 224 community-dwelling men aged 65–90 years in the Songjiang District of Shanghai, China. Serum testosterone and estradiol were measured by electrochemiluminescence immunoassay. The following five factors were defined as VRFs in this study: obesity, history of hypertension, diabetes, stroke, and coronary heart disease. Multivariable linear regression was used to examine the association of testosterone and estradiol with the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) in participants with or without VRF. Restricted cubic spline (RCS) regression was performed to account for the nonlinearity of these associations. Results An inverted “U” shaped non-linear relationship was found between testosterone concentration and MMSE score in men with one VRF (P overall =.003, non-linear P =.002). Estradiol showed an inverted “U” shaped non-linear relationship with MMSE score independent of VRFs (men without VRF, P overall =.049, non-linear P =.015; men with one VRF, overall P =.007, non-linear P =.003; men with two or more VRFs, overall P =.009, non-linear P =.005). Conclusion In older men, an optimal level of sex steroid concentration may be beneficial to cognitive function and the VRFs should be considered when interpreting the relationship between sex steroid and cognitive function.

Background: The relationship of testosterone and estradiol concentrations with cognitive function among community-dwelling older men was inconclusive. To examine the association of serum testosterone and estradiol concentrations with cognitive function in older men with or without vascular risk factors (VRFs). Methods: This cross-sectional study consisted of 224 community-dwelling men aged 65–90 years in the Songjiang District of Shanghai, China. Serum testosterone and estradiol were measured by electrochemiluminescence immunoassay. The following five factors were defined as VRFs in this study: obesity, history of hypertension, diabetes, stroke, and coronary heart disease. Multivariable linear regression was used to examine the association of testosterone and estradiol with the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) in participants with or without VRF. Restricted cubic spline (RCS) regression was performed to account for the nonlinearity of these associations. Results: An inverted "U" shaped non-linear relationship was found between testosterone concentration and MMSE score in men with one VRF (P overall =.003, non-linear P =.002). Estradiol showed an inverted "U" shaped non-linear relationship with MMSE score independent of VRFs (men without VRF, P overall =.049, non-linear P =.015; men with one VRF, overall P =.007, non-linear P =.003; men with two or more VRFs, overall P =.009, non-linear P =.005). Conclusion: In older men, an optimal level of sex steroid concentration may be beneficial to cognitive function and the VRFs should be considered when interpreting the relationship between sex steroid and cognitive function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sex steroids are essential for whole body development and functions. Among these steroids, 17b-estradiol (E2) has been known as the principal "female" hormone. However, E2's actions are not restricted to reproduction, as it plays a myriad of important roles throughout the body including the brain. In fact, this hormone also has profound effects on the female brain throughout the life span. The brain receives this gonadal hormone from the circulation, and local formation of E2 from testosterone via aromatase has been shown. Therefore, the brain appears to be not only a target but also a producer of this steroid. The beneficial broad actions of the hormone in the brain are the end result of wellorchestrated delayed genomic and rapid non-genomic responses. A drastic and steady decline in circulating E2 in a female occurs naturally over an extended period of time starting with the perimenopausal transition, as ovarian functions are gradually declining until the complete cessation of the menstrual cycle. The waning of endogenous E2 in the blood leads to an estrogen-deficient brain. This adversely impacts neural and behavioral functions and may lead to a constellation of maladies such as vasomotor symptoms with varying severity among women and, also, over time within an individual. Vasomotor symptoms triggered apparently by estrogen deficiency are related to abnormal changes in the hypothalamus particularly involving its preoptic and anterior areas. However, conventional hormone therapies to "re-estrogenize" the brain carry risks due to multiple confounding factors including unwanted hormonal exposure of the periphery. In this review, we focus on hot flushes as the archetypic manifestation of estrogen deprivation in the brain. Beyond our current mechanistic understanding of the symptoms, we highlight the arduous process and various obstacles of developing effective and safe therapies for hot flushes using E2. We discuss our preclinical efforts to constrain E2's beneficial actions to the brain by the DHED prodrug our laboratory developed to treat maladies associated with the hypoestrogenic brain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Gut microbiota (GM) is the collection of small organisms such as bacteria, fungi, bacteriophages and protozoans living in the intestine in symbiotics relation within their host. GM regulates host metabolism by various mechanisms. Methods: This review aims to consolidate current information for physicians on the effect of GM on bone health. For this, an online search of the literature was conducted using the keywords gut microbiota, bone mass, osteoporosis, Lactobacillus and sex steroid. Results and Conclusions: There is a considerable degree of variation in bone mineral density (BMD) within populations, and it is estimated that a significant component of BMD variability is due to genetics. However, the remaining causes of bone mass variance within populations remain largely unknown. A well‐recognized cause of phenotypic variation in bone mass is the composition of the microbiome. Studies have shown that germ‐free (GF) mice have higher bone mass compared to conventionally raised (CR) mice. Furthermore, GM dysbiosis, also called dysbacteriosis, is defined as any alteration in the composition of the microbial community that has been colonized in the host intestine and associated with the development of bone diseases. For instance, postmenopausal osteoporosis (PMO) and diabetes. GM can be modulated by several factors such as genetics, age, drugs, food habits and probiotics. Probiotics are defined as viable bacteria that confer health benefits by modulating GM when administered in adequate quantity. Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) is a great example of such a probiotic. LGG has been shown to regulate bone mass in healthy mice as well as ovariectomized (OVX) mice via two different mechanisms. This review will focus on the literature regarding the mechanism by which GM and probiotic LGG regulate bone mass in healthy mice as well as in OVX mice, a model of PMO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The diverse reproductive strategies of elasmobranchs (sharks, rays, and skates) have attracted research attention, but the endocrine control of reproduction is still incompletely known in elasmobranchs. By long-term monitoring of the egg-laying cycle in cloudy catsharks (Scyliorhinus torazame), we recently demonstrated a transient increase in plasma progesterone (P4) levels just prior to the appearance of the capsulated eggs in the oviducts. In the present study, we examined the in vivo effects of P4 administration in mature female cloudy catsharks. Although no capsulated eggs were observed following the implantation of P4-containing silicone tubing, we did find dark swollen oviducts in the abdominal cavity, in which clumps of long and coiled tendrils were observed. The tendril is an extension of the egg capsule, and the formation of the egg capsule begins with the tendril before main capsule formation. During the period of P4 implantation, the tendrils elongated, and their diameters were significantly increased on day 2 of treatment. Tendril formation was also confirmed on the day of endogenous P4 surge. Tendrils were not formed in catsharks implanted with estradiol-17β or testosterone. Histological analysis of the oviducal gland revealed that P4 implantation induced the secretion of tendril materials from the secretory tubules in the baffle zone, while the tendril materials were stored in the cytoplasm of the secretory cells under low P4 condition. Morphometrically, the area of secreted luminal materials in the secretory tubules was highly correlated to the diameter of tendrils. Our results suggest that the P4 surge during the egg-laying cycle serves as a trigger for egg capsule formation in the oviducal gland of cloudy catshark, but the hormonal signals were incomplete as the main capsule was not formed. Further studies are required to identify the hormones required for ovulation and formation of the main egg capsule.

Abstract Introduction Gut microbiota (GM) is the collection of small organisms such as bacteria, fungi, bacteriophages and protozoans living in the intestine in symbiotics relation within their host. GM regulates host metabolism by various mechanisms. Methods This review aims to consolidate current information for physicians on the effect of GM on bone health. For this, an online search of the literature was conducted using the keywords gut microbiota, bone mass, osteoporosis, Lactobacillus and sex steroid. Results and Conclusions There is a considerable degree of variation in bone mineral density (BMD) within populations, and it is estimated that a significant component of BMD variability is due to genetics. However, the remaining causes of bone mass variance within populations remain largely unknown. A well‐recognized cause of phenotypic variation in bone mass is the composition of the microbiome. Studies have shown that germ‐free (GF) mice have higher bone mass compared to conventionally raised (CR) mice. Furthermore, GM dysbiosis, also called dysbacteriosis, is defined as any alteration in the composition of the microbial community that has been colonized in the host intestine and associated with the development of bone diseases. For instance, postmenopausal osteoporosis (PMO) and diabetes. GM can be modulated by several factors such as genetics, age, drugs, food habits and probiotics. Probiotics are defined as viable bacteria that confer health benefits by modulating GM when administered in adequate quantity. Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) is a great example of such a probiotic. LGG has been shown to regulate bone mass in healthy mice as well as ovariectomized (OVX) mice via two different mechanisms. This review will focus on the literature regarding the mechanism by which GM and probiotic LGG regulate bone mass in healthy mice as well as in OVX mice, a model of PMO.

Built on our recent work that heart rates (HRs) and function in Gambusia holbrooki are sexually dimorphic, this study assessed whether the species is an appropriate model to study sex-hormone effects on heart physiology. With a hypothesis that 17β-estradiol (E2) and 17α-methyltestosterone (MT) regulate the HR of juvenile G. holbrooki in a sex-specific manner, genetic males and females were treated with E2 and MT, respectively, and the HR; (bpm) was measured an hour following treatment using light-cardiogram. Results showed the HRs (bpm) of both sexes were significantly (P < 0.05) altered compared to controls. Specifically, the E2 accelerated HR in the males and conversely MT decelerated the HR in the females. The normal expression levels of estrogen (erα and erβ) and G protein-coupled estrogen (gper) receptor genes were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in female than male hearts. Interestingly, the activity of the erβ in the heart of the MT-treated females reversed and was significantly lower (P < 0.05) than those of males while erα and gper were non-responsive. In contrast, significant down- and up-regulation of erα and gper, respectively, occurred in the liver of MT-treated females. Morphological observations suggest that MT caused hepatomegaly, somewhat resembling an inflating balloon, perhaps induced by the accumulation of unexpelled gases. E2-induced ventricular angiogenesis in males was likely due to an influx of blood supply caused by the increased HRs. Collectively, the results demonstrate that the juvenile G. holbrooki heart readily responds to E2/MT in a sex-specific manner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Long-tailed macaques have been able to withstand the pressure of human activities and adapt well to reproduce in an anthropogenic environment. These increased human–macaque interactions bring about direct and indirect effects on humans, notably, the risk of zoonotic disease transmission, nuisance and aggressive behaviors toward tourists, and losses to farmers due to crop raids; as a result, they are regarded as pest primates. Culling and other lethal control methods are a few population control methods employed to address the pest behavior effect of long-tailed macaques, but they prove ineffective. However, contraception methods involving hormonal and non-hormonal methods are reported to have variable success rates in the long-tailed macaque. Knowledge about contraception and its side effects on the wild macaque is inadequate; therefore, future studies are required to address these issues in order to prove that contraception methods are better alternative to lethal population control methods. The contraception-based approach to wildlife management is a humane and effective alternative to population control methods. Wildlife management only has a few conventional ways to control overpopulation, such as culling, translocation, poisoning, and allowing natural death. Nevertheless, these methods usually have short-term, lethal, and unethical effects. The present systematic review aims to review the knowledge on contraception reported in long-tailed macaques as an alternative to population control. We obtained 719 records from searching CABI, PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Scopus electronic databases. After the screening and selection process, according to PRISMA guidelines, 19 articles that met the eligibility criteria were chosen. Of the 19 articles, 15 were studies on female long-tailed macaque contraception methods (six (6) hormonal and nine (9) non-hormonal). We analyzed four (4) selected articles on male Cynomolgus monkey contraception methods (two (2) hormonal and two (2) non-hormonal). One of the nine (9) articles on female long-tailed macaque contraception reports negative results. Furthermore, only two (2) studies used free-ranging long-tailed macaques as test subjects, while seventeen (17) tested on captive ones. The challenges of long-tailed macaque contraception identified in this review were the effectiveness of the contraceptive, the administration route, the economic feasibility, the distinction between captive and free-ranging Cynomolgus macaques, the choice of permanent or reversible contraception, the capability of contraceptive use for population control, and the lack of studies on the free-ranging long-tailed macaque. Notwithstanding the literature gap on long-tailed macaque contraception for population control, long-tailed macaque contraception exhibits potential as an alternative method to culling long-tailed macaque. Future research should address these obstacles to support the long-tailed macaque contraception as an alternative population control method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The diverse reproductive strategies of elasmobranchs (sharks, rays, and skates) have attracted research attention, but the endocrine control of reproduction is still incompletely known in elasmobranchs. By long-term monitoring of the egg-laying cycle in cloudy catsharks (Scyliorhinus torazame), we recently demonstrated a transient increase in plasma progesterone (P4) levels just prior to the appearance of the capsulated eggs in the oviducts. In the present study, we examined the in vivo effects of P4 administration in mature female cloudy catsharks. Although no capsulated eggs were observed following the implantation of P4-containing silicone tubing, we did find dark swollen oviducts in the abdominal cavity, in which clumps of long and coiled tendrils were observed. The tendril is an extension of the egg capsule, and the formation of the egg capsule begins with the tendril before main capsule formation. During the period of P4 implantation, the tendrils elongated, and their diameters were significantly increased on day 2 of treatment. Tendril formation was also confirmed on the day of endogenous P4 surge. Tendrils were not formed in catsharks implanted with estradiol-17β or testosterone. Histological analysis of the oviducal gland revealed that P4 implantation induced the secretion of tendril materials from the secretory tubules in the baffle zone, while the tendril materials were stored in the cytoplasm of the secretory cells under low P4 condition. Morphometrically, the area of secreted luminal materials in the secretory tubules was highly correlated to the diameter of tendrils. Our results suggest that the P4 surge during the egg-laying cycle serves as a trigger for egg capsule formation in the oviducal gland of cloudy catshark, but the hormonal signals were incomplete as the main capsule was not formed. Further studies are required to identify the hormones required for ovulation and formation of the main egg capsule. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Growth hormone stimulation testing (GHST) is used to diagnose growth hormone deficiency (GHD) in children. As sex steroids impact on anterior pituitary function, there is concern around the efficacy of GHST in peripubertal children, where endogenous sex steroid levels are low. Sex steroid priming before GHST is thought to improve test efficacy in these children, however evidence to support its use in clinical practice is limited. In this systematic review, we addressed the following research questions: Does priming increase GH stimulation test efficacy in peripubertal children? Does priming identify those who would benefit most from treatment in terms of final height? Is there evidence for an optimal sex‐steroid priming regimen? Design, Patients, Measurements: The study was registered with PROSPERO and conducted according to PRISMA guidelines. We searched Medline, Cochrane‐Library, Scopus, EMBASE and Web‐of‐Science and included all studies that included GHST in both primed and unprimed children. A GH cut‐off of 7 µg/L was used as a threshold for GHD. Study quality was assessed using the Risk‐Of‐Bias in Non‐ Randomized Studies (ROBINS‐I) tool or the revised Cochrane risk‐of‐bias tool for Randomised trials. Results: Fifteen studies met our inclusion criteria, of which 4/15 (27%) were randomised control trials. The majority (9/15) of the studies indicated that priming increases growth hormone response upon GHST in peripubertal children, increasing test specificity. Two studies investigated final height after treatment based on the results of primed versus unprimed GHST. These results indicate that growth hormone treatment based on results of a primed GHST improve outcomes compared with treatment based on an unprimed test. Conclusion: Sex‐steroid priming increases the growth hormone response during GHST, resulting in fewer patients meeting the threshold required for a diagnosis of GHD. Unnecessary GH treatment may be avoided in some patients without a detrimental effect on final height. Numerous sex‐steroid priming regimens have been used in clinical practice and the majority appear to be effective, but an optimal regimen has not been determined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent studies have shown that sex and sex steroids influence the composition of the gut microbiome. These studies also indicate that steroid regulation of the gut microbiome may play a role in pathological situations of hormonal excess, such as PCOS. Indeed, studies demonstrated that PCOS is associated with decreased alpha diversity and changes in specific Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes, previously associated with metabolic dysregulation. These studies suggest that androgens may regulate the gut microbiome in females and that hyperandrogenism may be linked with a gut 'dysbiosis' in PCOS. Future mechanistic studies will be required to elucidate how sex steroids regulate the composition and function of the gut microbial community and what the consequences of this regulation are for the host.

Limited data are available regarding the gonadal development of farmed seahorse along with the physiological role of gonadotropins and sex steroids during gonadal maturation. In the present study, we conducted an examination of the developmental stages of gonad and brood pouch during the initial reproductive cycle of the farmed big-belly seahorse (Hippocampus abdominalis), and our results showed that males sexually matured half of a month later than females, and the brood pouch emerged at 3.5-month old and then reached the late-stage at 5.5-month old. Meanwhile, the open reading frame (ORF) of gonadotropin subunits (cgα , fshβ and lhβ) of the big-belly seahorse were cloned and characterized, and tissue distribution profiles of their transcripts were analyzed, revealing their detectability across various tissues, with a notable presence observed in the brain tissues. Furthermore, expression profiles of cgα , fshβ and lhβ transcripts and the plasma levels of 17β-estradiol (E2) and 11-ketotestosterone (KT) in farmed big-belly seahorse during the first reproductive cycle were also investigated. The findings indicated that cgα , fshβ and lhβ transcripts exhibited low expressions at the initial development of ovary or testis, raised continuously and reached their peak levels at the period of spawning or spermation, and they kept gradually increasing accompany with brood pouch growth. It is noteworthy that variation of mRNA levels of fshβ were slightly higher than those of lhβ. Besides, the results showed that plasma 11-KT levels presented an increasing trend during testicular development, peaking in fish with III and IV-stage testis and early-stage brood pouch, and plasma 17β-E2 levels were higher in vitellogenic stage of fish with II-stage ovary and early III-stage ovary. Taken together, these data reveal that gonadotropins and sex steroids likely play a role in the regulation of gonad and brood pouch growth in seahorse. These observations not only contribute to clarifying function of reproductive hormones on growth of gonad and brood pouch of seahorse, but also providing an important theoretical foundation for the artificial breeding of seahorses. • Males sexually matured half of a month later than females in cultured big-belly seahorse. • GTH genes expressions increased with gonadal growth and peaked at ovulation period. • 11-KT levels peaked in fish with III or IV-stage testis and early-stage brood pouch. • 17β-E2 levels were higher in vitellogenic stage of fish with II or III-stage ovary. • The data provide an important foundation for the artificial breeding of seahorses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: Data from real world settings on circadian disruption and subsequent hormone-related changes may explain the higher risk of hormone-dependent cancers among night shift workers.The present study examines the melatonin and sex steroid hormone levels among night shift workers. METHODS: We included 44 male, rotating shift workers from a car factory in Spain, sampled both at the end of a 3-week night shift (22:00–06:00 hrs) and a 3-week early morning shift (06:00–14:00 hrs). Participants collected all urine voids over 24-hours during each shift. Urinary concentrations of sex steroid hormones (estrogens, androgens and progestogens) and 6-sulfatoxymelatonin (aMT6s, major melatonin metabolite) were determined. Individual cosinor analysis was used to derive the acrophase (peak time) and area under the curve (total production). Linear mixed models examined intraindividual associations between night shift work and log-transformed 24-hour peak time and total production of hormones compared to early morning shift work. RESULTS: The acrophase was delayed during the night shift for aMT6s [geometric mean difference (GMD) 7.53 hrs, 95% confidence interval (CI) 4.46–10.60], androgens (eg, testosterone: GMD 6.83 hrs, 95% CI 0.34–13.32) and progestogens (eg, 17-hydroxyprogesterone: GMD 4.54 hrs, 95% CI 2.92–6.16) compared to the early morning shift. We found a higher production of adrenal androgen 11-oxoandrosterone/11-oxoetiocholanolone [geometric mean ratio (GMR) 1.43, 95% CI 1.12–1.81], and a lower production of adrenal progestogen 16-cysteinylprogesterone (GMR 0.79, 95% CI 0.67–0.93) during the night shift compared to the early morning shift levels. CONCLUSIONS: Night shift work was associated with melatonin and sex hormone-related changes in timing and total production, providing insight into the mechanistic path for its association with hormone-dependent cancer.

Carotenoid-based colour signals can be costly to produce and maintain, and trade-offs between signalling and other fitness traits are expected. In mutually ornamented species, trade-offs with reproduction may be stronger for females than males, because females often dedicate more resources to offspring production, which may lead to plastic investment in colour signals and plastic sexual dichromatism. Oestradiol is a candidate mediator of this trade-off because it regulates reproductive physiology and may also influence the expression of coloration. We tested this hypothesis by giving female common waxbills (Estrilda astrild) either oestradiol (17β-oestradiol) or empty implants during the early breeding season and measured spectral reflectance of carotenoid-based bill coloration weekly for two months. Using a model of avian vision, we found that bill colour in oestradiol-implanted females became less saturated, less red in hue and brighter, compared with control females and with unimplanted males. This resulted in a change in bill sexual dichromatism from imperceptible to perceptible. Results support the hypothesis that female reproductive physiology influences investment in coloration through changes in oestradiol and show a form of female-driven plastic sexual dichromatism. Greater sensitivity of female colour to physiological and/or environmental conditions helps explain why differences in sexual dichromatism among species differing in ecology often evolve owing to changes in female rather than male phenotype. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The contraception-based approach to wildlife management is a humane and effective alternative to population control methods. Wildlife management only has a few conventional ways to control overpopulation, such as culling, translocation, poisoning, and allowing natural death. Nevertheless, these methods usually have short-term, lethal, and unethical effects. The present systematic review aims to review the knowledge on contraception reported in long-tailed macaques as an alternative to population control. We obtained 719 records from searching CABI, PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Scopus electronic databases. After the screening and selection process, according to PRISMA guidelines, 19 articles that met the eligibility criteria were chosen. Of the 19 articles, 15 were studies on female long-tailed macaque contraception methods (six (6) hormonal and nine (9) non-hormonal). We analyzed four (4) selected articles on male Cynomolgus monkey contraception methods (two (2) hormonal and two (2) non-hormonal). One of the nine (9) articles on female long-tailed macaque contraception reports negative results. Furthermore, only two (2) studies used free-ranging long-tailed macaques as test subjects, while seventeen (17) tested on captive ones. The challenges of long-tailed macaque contraception identified in this review were the effectiveness of the contraceptive, the administration route, the economic feasibility, the distinction between captive and free-ranging Cynomolgus macaques, the choice of permanent or reversible contraception, the capability of contraceptive use for population control, and the lack of studies on the free-ranging long-tailed macaque. Notwithstanding the literature gap on long-tailed macaque contraception for population control, long-tailed macaque contraception exhibits potential as an alternative method to culling long-tailed macaque. Future research should address these obstacles to support the long-tailed macaque contraception as an alternative population control method.

Abstract Background It was reported that steroid-related gene expressions in the adipose tissue (AT) of women differ between women affected with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and non-PCOS. Although association between PCOS in mother and offspring’s health is a crucial issue, there are few studies focusing on AT of pregnant women suffering from PCOS. Our objectives were to determine the differences between mRNA expression levels of key steroid-converting enzymes in abdominal subcutaneous AT of pregnant women afflicted with PCOS and non-PCOS. Methods Twelve pregnant women with PCOS (case) and thirty six non-PCOS pregnant women (control) (1:3 ratio; age- and BMI-matched) undergoing cesarean section were enrolled for the present study. Expressions of fifteen genes related to steriodogenesis in abdominal subcutaneous AT were investigated using quantitative real-time PCR. Results No significant differences were detected with respect to age, BMI (prior pregnancy and at delivery day), gestational period and parity among pregnant women with PCOS and non-PCOS. Most of the sex steroid-converting genes except 17β-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases2 (17BHSD2), were highly expressed on the day of delivery in subcutaneous AT. Women with PCOS showed significantly higher mRNA levels of steroidgenic acute regulator (STAR; P

In fish, sex dimorphism generates benefits for farming when one gender displays better production traits than the other. In such cases, farming exclusively one sex becomes more profitable. The tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum) is the Brazilian native species with the highest production in the Brazilian fish industry. In tambaqui farming, it is more lucrative to produce females because they grow faster than males. As the species has the XX/XY genetic sex determination system, the use of XX neomales (masculinized genetic females) as breeders to produce solely all-female populations is the most sustainable approach. With the aim of obtaining tambaqui neomales, we tested three doses of mesterolone (1-α-methylandrosterone; at 10, 20 and 40 mg kg−1) through the diet of pre-differentiated juveniles for three months, to masculinize the females. The sex ratio and immediate and long-term effects on the physiology of the fish were evaluated by hematological and biochemical analyses of the blood plasma at the end of the treatment, and three months later. Possible hepatotoxic and mutagenic effects of mesterolone were assessed via liver histopathology, hepatic enzyme production and the micronucleus test (fragmented DNA) in the erythrocytes. The results indicate that 20 and 40 mg kg−1 of mesterolone produced over 76% phenotypic males, have no influence on growth and on the biochemical parameters, do not cause DNA damage, nor do they have toxic effects in the liver of tambaqui. A decrease in the hepatosomatic index and an increase in some hematological parameters were observed during the treatment, but all values were similar to the control three months after the end of the experiment. • 20 mg kg−1 mesterolone in the feed of tambaqui results in 77% of phenotypic males. • Mesterolone does not affect tambaqui growth. • Hematocrit, hemoglobin, erythrocyte, MCH and MCHC are immediately affected by mesterolone. • Mesterolone added to the diet does not cause mutagenic effects in tambaqui. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) homed to the Sanriku region, Japan, most of the fish are matured in bays and spawn near river mouths in coastal short rivers; therefore, their upriver migration is extremely short, but their behavioural characteristics have remained unknown. Upriver migration in the Otsuchi River, a typical coastal river, was evaluated from behavioural and physiological aspects. Homing salmon tracked in Otsuchi Bay held in the inner bay for less than 1 day to more than 10 days before river entry. The varied holding duration was negatively correlated with plasma 17α, 20β‐dihydroxy‐4‐pregnen‐3‐one (DHP) concentration, an indicator of maturation. After river entry, however, most fish were captured in weirs near the river mouths within 2 days regardless of the DHP concentration. Of the 34 fish released in the river, on the contrary, eighteen and five fish were seen next day in the main spawning sites located at c. 1.5 km upstream and in the branch creek, respectively, and 85% of the fish held position there until their death. The mean survival time of released fish was 5.8 days. Plasma DHP level suggested that preparations for spawning were already completed at the timing of the release. Taken together, homing salmon completed spawning preparation in the bay, and then they moved to their spawning sites immediately after river entry and spawned there during their short remaining life. This upriver migration contrasts with those of other populations, such as early migrants and long river migrants, whose maturation is completed during upriver migration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Concerted conservation efforts have brought the giant panda ( Ailuropoda melanoleuca ) back from the brink of extinction, but pandas continue to face anthropogenic threats in the wild and breeding success in captivity remains low. Because stress can have detrimental impacts on reproduction, monitoring stress- and sex-steroid levels would help assess the effectiveness of conservation mitigation measures in panda populations as well as monitor the welfare and reproductive health of captive animals. In this proof-of-concept study, we used faecal sex steroid and cortisol concentrations ( n  = 867 samples collected from five males and five females at Beijing Zoo every 4 days over the course of 12 months) as a reference to investigate if testosterone, estradiol, progesterone and cortisol can be meaningfully measured in panda hair ( n  = 10) using radio-immuno-assays. Additionally, we calculated the ratio of testosterone to cortisol (T:C ratio) for each male, which can provide a biomarker of stress and physical performance. Our findings revealed distinct monthly variations in faecal sex-steroid and cortisol concentrations, reflecting reproductive seasonality and visitor-related stress among individual pandas. Notably, the oldest male had a significantly lower T:C ratio than other males. Our results confirm that the level of sex steroids and cortisol can be assayed by panda hair, and the hair cortisol concentrations correlate significantly with that in faeces with one month lag behind ( r  = 0.68, P  = 0.03). However, the concentrations of hormones detected in saliva are lower than those in faeces by two orders of magnitude, making it difficult to ensure accuracy. By assessing the applicability of hair, faecal and salivary sampling, we can infer their utility in monitoring the reproductive status and acute and chronic stress levels of giant pandas, thereby providing a means to gauge the success of ongoing habitat restoration efforts and to discuss the feasibility of sample collection from wild populations., Competing Interests: The authors declare that there were no conflicts of interest with this article., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press and the Society for Experimental Biology.)

Duncan et al. reviewed the response to growth hormone stimulation testing after priming in peripubertal children. The concern is that there is little research documenting the response to growth hormone treatment in patients with sex hormone primed growth hormone stimulation testing and those unprimed. The controversy about priming or not can be summarized as follows: if one wants to know if the production of growth hormone during puberty will be adequate in terms of peak growth hormone responses then stimulation with priming should be done. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: It was reported that steroid-related gene expressions in the adipose tissue (AT) of women differ between women affected with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and non-PCOS. Although association between PCOS in mother and offspring's health is a crucial issue, there are few studies focusing on AT of pregnant women suffering from PCOS. Our objectives were to determine the differences between mRNA expression levels of key steroid-converting enzymes in abdominal subcutaneous AT of pregnant women afflicted with PCOS and non-PCOS.Methods: Twelve pregnant women with PCOS (case) and thirty six non-PCOS pregnant women (control) (1:3 ratio; age- and BMI-matched) undergoing cesarean section were enrolled for the present study. Expressions of fifteen genes related to steriodogenesis in abdominal subcutaneous AT were investigated using quantitative real-time PCR.Results: No significant differences were detected with respect to age, BMI (prior pregnancy and at delivery day), gestational period and parity among pregnant women with PCOS and non-PCOS. Most of the sex steroid-converting genes except 17β-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases2 (17BHSD2), were highly expressed on the day of delivery in subcutaneous AT. Women with PCOS showed significantly higher mRNA levels of steroidgenic acute regulator (STAR; P < 0.001), cytochrome P450 monooxygenase (CYP11A1; P < 0.05), 17α-hydroxylase (CYP17A1; P < 0.05), and 11β-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11BHSD1 and 11BHSD2; P < 0.05). The expression of steroid 21-hydroxylase (CYP21) in non-PCOS was fourfold higher than those of women with PCOS (P < 0.001). There were no significant differences between relative expression of aromatase cytochrome P450 (CYP19A1), 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3BHSD1 and 3BHSD2), and 17BHSD family (1, 3, 5, 7, and 12) between the two groups.Conclusion: The expression levels of genes related to sex steroids metabolism were similar to age-matched and BMI- matched pregnant non-PCOS and pregnant women with PCOS at delivery day. However, the alterations in gene expressions involved in glucocorticoids and mineralocorticoids metabolism were shown. It is necessary to point out that further studies regarding functional activity are required. More attention should be given to AT of pregnant women with PCOS that was previously ignored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urethral sphincter mechanism incompetence (USMI) is a common cause of urinary incontinence in dogs. Although estrogen is often prescribed for the medical therapy of USMI for spayed female dogs, they are known to have limited effectiveness and potential adverse effects. In castrated male dogs with USMI, testosterone reagents have been attempted besides estrogen. In this study, the effect of testosterone drugs, mainly methyltestosterone, on spayed female dogs with USMI was retrospectively evaluated. Ten spayed female dogs with USMI were included. Diagnosis of USMI was based on the results of the dogs' medical history, clinical signs, and no abnormalities in physical examinations, urinalysis, ultrasonography, X-ray imaging, and neurological examinations. Methyltestosterone was administered at doses of 0.32-1.27 mg/kg BW p.o. semel in die (sid.) to twice a week. Nine of the ten dogs had good or excellent responses 2 to 4 weeks after the start of treatment. The minimum effective dose was 0.32 mg/kg/day. Although no severe adverse symptoms occurred in any dog, a mild increase in alanine aminotransferase was temporally observed at doses of 1.0 and 1.1 mg/kg/day in the two dogs. After dose reduction or withdrawal, two of eight dogs had recurrence of urinary incontinence. Resumption of testosterone treatment clearly improved the symptoms in the two dogs. These results indicate that testosterone reagents might be an option for treating USMI in spayed female dogs as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sexual maturation and spawning of teleosts are regulated by the external environment and the endocrine system. When the environmental conditions are artificially adjusted at a fish farm, the maturity and spawning of fish can be controlled. In this study, sexual maturation and spawning of the starry flounder, Platichthys stellatus, were artificially induced by adjusting the water temperature and photoperiod at a fish farm to accelerate the species' natural spawning period. One experimental group acted as a control and was exposed to a natural photoperiod and natural water temperature (NPNT). In contrast, another experimental group was exposed to an adjusted environment consisting of a regulated photoperiod and temperature (RPRT). Daylight time was reduced by 10 minutes every 3 days from 13 hours to a duration of 8 hours. The water temperature was first reduced by 1oC every day, starting at 22oC and ending at 8oC, and then raised to 10oC until the spawning period. Both experimental groups were treated with gonadotropin-releasing hormone analog (GnRHa) pellets to induce ovulation. The results show that when the water temperature and photoperiod were artificially controlled, ovulation could be induced 97 days earlier than the natural spawning. Plasma testosterone levels of RPRT and NPNT tended to increase and then decrease 1-2 months before spawning, and plasma levels of 17α,20β-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one increased 1-2 months before spawning. The concentration of estradiol-17β (E2) in plasma was not associated with spawning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In pikeperch, Sander lucioperca, aquaculture hormonal treatment is usually applied to synchronize ovulation. However, the effect of dopamine (DA) receptor antagonists, in particular those blocking the D1 DA receptors, remains unknown. Thus, the aim of the present study was to investigate and compare the effects of D1 and D2 DA receptor antagonists on the sex-steroid production and reproductive performance of the species. Two experiments were performed during which mature pikeperch females were injected with different molecules: NaCl 0.9% (negative control) or human chorionic gonadotropin 500 IU/kg (positive control) in both experiments, metoclopramide (a D2 receptor antagonist; 4 mg/kg or 20 mg/kg) or SCH23390 (a D1 receptor antagonist; 0.8 mg/kg or 4 mg/kg) alone (experiment 1) or in combination with a salmon gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogue (sGnRHa at 25 µg/kg; experiment 2). In experiment 2, fish were also injected with sGnRHa (25 µg/kg) as positive control. Samplings of oocytes and blood were performed on the day of injection and after 24 h (both experiments), after 48 h (experiment 2) and at the time of ovulation (both experiments). In non-ovulating fish, samplings were performed 7 days (experiment 1) or 14 days (experiment 2) after injection. In experiment 2, various zootechnical parameters of fertilized eggs were recorded (survival, hatching and malformation rates). The two antagonists alone were ineffective in inducing the final stages and regulating sex-steroid (testosterone, 11 ketotestosterone, 17β estradiol and 17,20β-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one) production. When administered with sGnRHa, both SCH23390 and metoclopramide induced the final stages. However, only SCH23390 stimulated testosterone (4 mg/kg) and 17β estradiol (0.8 mg/kg) production compared with sGnRHa alone. None of the treatments affected the survival, hatching or malformation rates. This is the first report suggesting that in pikeperch the D1, but not the D2, DA receptor antagonist would be involved in the testosterone and 17β estradiol production as a potentiator of the sGnRHa effect.

Monthly changes of hepatosomatic index (HSI), gonadosomatic index (GSI), and plasma testosterone (T) levels in the reproductive season of male golden rabbitfish (Siganus guttatus) in captivity were investigated by sampling the liver, testis, and blood. HSI and GSI were estimated as percentage of relative weight of liver and testis to total body weight, respectively. Plasma T levels were measured using enzyme immune assay (EIA). Fragments of the testis were embedded in paraffin, cut to 5 μm thickness, and stained with Harris' hematoxylin and eosin. The results included seasonal changes in HSI, GSI, T, and testicular stages. The plasma T levels were observed high at spermation stage and during February–March and May–June. The values of HSI were monthly fluctuations, but no significant differences between testicular stages were observed. The GSI values continuously exhibited a significant increase from December to April and maintained at high levels until June. GSI continuously increased from stage II (immature testis) to stage V (spawning testis). There was correlation between GSI and testicular stages. Histological sections showed that male golden rabbitfish are multiple spawners and spawning season starts from March to June. These results contribute to further understanding of reproductive biology in golden rabbitfish, which can be implicated for artificial propagation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Downstream‐migrating (n = 64) and non‐migrating (n = 21) female Celebes eels Anguilla celebesensis were captured from the Poso Lake–River system on Sulawesi Island, Indonesia, and their reproductive physiological characteristics were examined. A histological observation of the ovaries revealed that most non‐migrating eels were at the perinucleolus (43%) or oil‐droplet (48%) stage, whereas most migrating eels were at the early vitellogenic (36%) or midvitellogenic (61%) stage. Transcript levels of gonadotropin genes (fshb, lhb) in the pituitary gland and concentrations of sex steroids [11‐ketotestosterone (11‐KT), testosterone, 17β‐oestradiol (E2)] in blood plasma of migrating eels were significantly higher than those of non‐migrating eels. The fshb messenger (m)RNA levels were lower in perinucleolus and oil‐droplet stages and then significantly increased in the early vitellogenic stage. The lhb mRNA levels in vitellogenic‐stage eels were significantly higher than those in perinucleolus‐ and oil‐droplet‐stage eels. The 11‐KT levels of eels at the oil‐droplet and vitellogenic stages were significantly higher than those of eels at the perinucleolus stage. The E2 levels at the vitellogenic stage were significantly higher than those at the perinucleolus and oil‐droplet stages. These dynamics of the reproductive hormones represented the physiological background of oogenesis in A. celebesensis that has remarkably well‐developed oocytes just before downstream migration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The rat posterodorsal medial amygdala (MePD) shows cyclic structural plasticity. • Neurotrophic factors BDNF, IGF-1, PSA-NCAM and Ephrin-A4 are expressed in the adult MePD. • Proestrus females have more BDNF immunolabelled puncta in the MePD than males. • Proestrus females have more IGF-1 immunolabelled puncta in the MePD than diestrus ones. • These changes are coincident with MePD synaptic remodeling and reproductive behavior display. The posterodorsal medial amygdala (MePD) has a high concentration of receptors for gonadal hormones, is a sexually dimorphic region and dynamically controls the reproductive behavior of both males and females. Neurotrophic factors can promote dendritic spine remodeling and change synaptic input strength in a region-specific manner. Here, we analyzed the gene and protein expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-1), polysialylated neural cell adhesion molecule (PSA-NCAM) and Ephrin-A4 in the MePD of adult males and females in diestrus, proestrus and estrus using real-time qPCR and fluorescent immunohistochemistry. The first approach showed their amplification except for Igf1 and the latter revealed that BDNF, IGF-1, PSA-NCAM and Ephrin-A4 are expressed in the MePD of the adult rats. Protein expression of these neurotrophic factors showed no differences between groups. However, proestrus females displayed a higher number of labelled puncta than males for BDNF expression and diestrus females for IGF-1 expression. In conjunction, results indicate that IGF-1 might be released rather than synthetized in the MePD, and the expression of specific neurotrophic factors varies specifically during proestrus. The dynamic modulation of BDNF and IGF-1 during this cyclic phase is coincident with synaptic changes and spine density remodeling in the MePD, the disinhibition of gonadotrophin secretion for ovulation and the display of sexual behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The European sturgeon, Acipenser sturio, is a highly endangered species that almost disappeared in the last decades. Thanks to yearly restocking of the population, this species is still found in the Gironde estuary (France), where juveniles grow during several years before leaving to the ocean. The aims of this study were to evaluate the pressure exerted on these fish by known organic and inorganic contaminants during their stay at the Gironde estuary, and to get information on the fish's health in this context. Monthly captures over the year 2014 provided 87 fish from the cohorts 2012 and 2013 mainly, and from cohorts 2008, 2009, and 2011, all fish born in hatchery. We report the very first analyses of contaminant levels and of biological markers measured in the blood of these fish. Low inorganic contamination was found, composed of seven metals mainly Zn (< 5 μg mL−1), Fe (< 1.5 μg mL−1), Cu (< 0.8 μg mL−1), Se (< 0.8 μg mL−1), As (< 0.25 μg mL−1), Co (< 0.14 μg mL−1), and Mn (< 0.03 μg mL−1). Concerning persistent organic contaminants, the sum of seven PCBs varied from 1 to 10 ng g−1 plasma, that of eight OCPs from 0.1 to 1 ng g−1, and that of eight PBDEs from 10 to 100 pg g−1. Higher levels of contaminants were measured during spring as compared to summer. The sex steroid hormone plasma levels (estradiol, testosterone, and 11-ketotestosterone) were quite low, which was predictable for juveniles. The transcription of reproduction-involved genes (EstR, AR, LHR, sox9) in blood cells was demonstrated for the first time. Some of them were correlated with organic contaminant levels PCBs and OCPs. Other gene transcriptions (sodCu and bax) were correlated with PCBs and OCPs. However, the DNA damage level measured here as comet tail DNA and micronuclei ratio in red blood cells were in the very low range of the values commonly obtained in fish from pristine areas. The data presented here can serve as a reference base for future monitoring of this population of sturgeons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Nandrolone decanoate (ND) is an anabolic–androgenic steroid, and its indiscriminate use leads to subclinical alterations in the hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal axis and androgen‐dependent organs. Objectives: To evaluate the effects of ND, either alone or in combination with resistance exercise (RE), on the levels of sex hormones, converting enzymes, and steroid receptors and the morphology of the ventral prostate (VP) in adult and aged rats. Methods: Forty Sprague–Dawley adult and aged rats were divided into four groups each, sedentary and trained with and without ND. The groups received treatments over 8 weeks. Adult animals were sacrificed immediately following treatment completion, while the aged groups were left untreated until 300 days of age. Results: Adult and aged animals showed reductions in testosterone levels following the different treatments, and 17β‐estradiol levels were decreased in the ND‐treated groups. The level of 5α‐reductase type 2 (5αR2) and aromatase was increased significantly in the prostates of adult animals that performed RE. However, aromatase levels were decreased in the prostates of aged animals that performed RE and were treated with ND, while 5αR2 levels were reduced in aged animals that performed RE without ND treatment. When sex receptors levels were examined, the aged and trained animals presented low androgen receptor (AR) levels. Estrogen receptors (ERs) levels were increased in the prostates of adult animals that received ND. ERβ levels were reduced after treatments in aged animals. The heights of the prostatic epithelium were reduced in all adult treated animals, coinciding with increases in PCNA and PAR4 levels. Discussion: ND and RE alter the levels of hormone, converting enzymes, and sex steroid receptors and the morphology of the VP. These effects were observed in both adult and aged rats. Conclusion: ND, either with or without RE, during post‐puberty stage is able to interfere with the morphophysiology of the prostate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Asthma is defined as chronic inflammation of the airways and is characterized by airway remodeling, hyperresponsiveness, and acute bronchoconstriction of airway smooth muscle (ASM) cells. Clinical findings suggest a higher incidence and severity of asthma in adult women, indicating a concrete role of sex steroids in modulating the airway tone. Estrogen, a major female sex steroid mediates its role through estrogen receptors (ER) ERα and ERβ, which are shown to be expressed in human ASM, and their expression is upregulated in lung inflammation and asthma. Previous studies suggested rapid, nongenomic signaling of estrogen via ERs reduces intracellular calcium ([Ca2+]i), thereby promoting relaxation of ASM. However, long-term ER activation on [Ca2+]i regulation in human ASM during inflammation or in asthma is still not known. In Fura-2-loaded nonasthmatic and asthmatic human ASM cells, we found that prolonged (24 h) exposure to ERα agonist (PPT) increased [Ca2+]i response to histamine, whereas ERβ activation (WAY) led to decreased [Ca2+] compared with vehicle. This was further confirmed by ER overexpression and knockdown studies using various bronchoconstrictor agents. Interestingly, ERβ activation was more effective than 17β-estradiol in reducing [Ca2+]i responses in the presence of TNF-α or IL-13, while no observable changes were noticed with PPT in the presence of either cytokine. The [Ca2+]i-reducing effects of ERβ were mediated partially via L-type calcium channel inhibition and increased Ca2+ sequestration by sarcoplasmic reticulum. Overall, these data highlight the differential signaling of ERα and ERβ in ASM during inflammation. Specific ERβ activation reduces [Ca2+]i in the inflamed ASM cells and is likely to play a crucial role in regulating ASM contractility, thereby relaxing airways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Echinoderms are a phylum of invertebrate deuterostomes, which contain echinoids, asteroids, holothuroids, crinoids, and ophiuroids. Echinoderms have special evolutionary position and unique characteristics, including pentamerous radial body structure, elaborate calcareous endoskeletons, and versatile water vascular system. Echinoderms exhibit extraordinarily diverse reproductive modes: asexual reproduction, sexual reproduction, sexual reversal, etc. Endocrine regulation plays important well-known roles in sex differentiation, gonadal development and maturation, gametogenesis, and reproductive behavior in vertebrates. However, the entire picture of reproductive endocrinology in echinoderms as an evolutionary model of the closest marine invertebrate relatives to chordates has not been revealed. Here, we reviewed previous and recent research progress on reproductive endocrinology in echinoderms, mainly including two sections: Sex steroids in echinoderms and neuropeptide regulation in echinoderm reproduction. This review introduces a variety of endocrine regulatory mechanisms in reproductive biology of echinoderms. It discusses the vertebrate-like sex steroids, putative steroidogenic pathway and metabolism, and reproduction-related neuropeptides. The review will provide a deeper understanding about endocrine regulatory mechanisms of gonadal development in lower deuterostomes and the application of endocrine control in economic echinoderm species in aquaculture. • Echinoderms have particular evolutionary classification and diverse endocrine regulation approaches in reproduction process. • Sex steroid metabolism and neuropeptide signaling remain unraveling their evolutionary function in echinoderms. • This review will set directions for future studies on reproductive biology in echinoderms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Male and female animals display innate sex-specific mating behaviors. In teleost fish, altering the adult sex steroid milieu can effectively reverse sex-typical mating behaviors, suggesting remarkable sexual lability of their brains as adults. In the teleost medaka, neuropeptide B (NPB) is expressed female-specifically in the brain nuclei implicated in mating behavior. Here, we demonstrate that NPB is a direct mediator of estrogen action on female mating behavior, acting in a female-specific but reversible manner. Analysis of regulatory mechanisms revealed that the female-specific expression of NPB is dependent on direct transcriptional activation by estrogen via an estrogen-responsive element and is reversed in response to changes in the adult sex steroid milieu. Behavioral studies of NPB knockouts revealed that female-specific NBP mediates female receptivity to male courtship. The female-specific NPB signaling identified herein is presumably a critical element of the neural circuitry underlying sexual dimorphism and lability of mating behaviors in teleosts.

The seasonal changes in hepatosomatic index (HSI), gonadosomatic index (GSI) and plasma estradiol‐17β (E2) level in female rabbit fish (Siganus guttatus) were investigated. The relationship between plasma E2 levels with these indices and ovarian growth was also evaluated. Each month, at least 10 female broodfish were sacrificed to collect liver, ovary and blood for HSI, GSI and plasma E2, respectively. GSI and HSI were calculated as percentage (%) of relative weight of gonad and liver to total body weight, respectively. Plasma E2 level was measured using enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay method (ELISA). Ovaries were cut and stained for histological observation. The results included seasonal changes in plasma E2 levels, stages of ovarian development, GSI and HSI. The highest level of E2 was observed in June (1,445.62 pg/ml) and during vitellogenesis (2,305 pg/ml). GSI and HSI values significant fluctuated monthly. The highest HSI and GSI were 1.72% in May and 3.58% in June, respectively. The pattern of plasma E2 levels showed a relationship with GSI and different stages of ovarian development. HSI was associated with ovarian stages. During vitellogenesis, the highest value (1.9%) of HSI was observed. Histological sections showed that rabbit fish is a multiple spawner. These results contribute to further understanding of female rabbit fish reproductive biology in captivity. Important reproductive parameters such as HSI, GSI and E2 can be used to indicate maturation status of this fish species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aims: With the prevalence of asthma being greater in women, detrimental effects of female sex steroids have been explored, but potential protective effects of androgens are not established. Airway smooth muscle (ASM) is a key cell type in contractility and remodelling of asthma. There are no data on expression and functionality of androgen receptor (AR) in human ASM cells. Methods: We used primary human ASM cells from non-asthmatics vs. asthmatics to determine AR expression at baseline and with inflammation measured using Western blotting/qRT-PCR, and the role of AR in regulating intracellular Ca2+ ([Ca2+] i ) measured using Fluo-3 loaded real time [Ca2+] i imaging. Results: We found that compared to females, baseline AR is greater in male ASM and increases with inflammation/asthma. Androgens, via AR, blunted TNFα or IL-13-induced enhancement of ASM [Ca2+] i in both males and females, with retained efficacy in asthmatics. AR effects involve reduced Ca2+ influx via L-type channels and store-operated Ca2+ entry, the latter by downregulating STIM1 and Orai1 and increasing TMEM66. Conclusion: Our data show AR expression is increased in female ASM with asthma, but has retained functionality that could be used to reduce [Ca2+] i towards alleviating airway hyperresponsiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Foxl3 duplication is found in eels (Anguilla sp.). • Foxl3a and Foxl3b are exclusively expressed in undifferentiated gonads and differentiated testes. • Foxl3a and Foxl3b are expressed in germline cells in the testes. • Testicular expression of Foxl3a and Foxl3b is not directly influenced by sex steroids. Unlike its paralog Foxl2 , which is well known for its role in ovarian development in vertebrates, the function of Foxl3 is still unclear. Foxl3 is an ancient duplicated copy of Foxl2. It is present as a single copy in ray-finned fish. But, due to repeated losses, it is absent in most tetrapods. Our transcriptomic data, however, show that two Foxl3 s (Foxl3a and its paralog Foxl3b) are present in Japanese eel. Foxl3a is predominantly expressed in the pituitary, and Foxl3b is predominantly expressed in the gills. Both Foxl3 s show a sex-dimorphic expression, being higher expression in testes than in ovaries. Moreover, Foxl3a and Foxl3b were exclusively expressed during gonadal differentiation in control eels (100% male). Conversely, Foxl3a and Foxl3b significantly decreased after gonadal differentiation in E2-treated eels (100% female). Furthermore, in accordance the difference in adhesive ability between somatic cells and germline cells in testes, Foxl3 s showed a high expression in suspension cells (putative germline cells) and low expression in adhesive cells (putative somatic cells). In situ hybridization further showed that Foxl3a and Foxl3b were expressed in the testicular germline cells. In addition, Foxl3 s expression was not changed by sex steroids in in vitro testes culture. Taken together, our results suggest that the teleost-specific Foxl3 paralog was repeatedly lost in most fish after the third round of whole genome duplication. The two germline-expressed Foxl3 s had higher expression levels in males than in females during gonadal differentiation in Japanese eel. These results demonstrated that Foxl3 s might play an important role in germline sexual fate determination from ancient fish to modern fish. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In pikeperch, Sander lucioperca , aquaculture hormonal treatment is usually applied to synchronize ovulation. However, the effect of dopamine (DA) receptor antagonists, in particular those blocking the D1 DA receptors, remains unknown. Thus, the aim of the present study was to investigate and compare the effects of D1 and D2 DA receptor antagonists on the sex-steroid production and reproductive performance of the species. Two experiments were performed during which mature pikeperch females were injected with different molecules: NaCl 0.9% (negative control) or human chorionic gonadotropin 500 IU/kg (positive control) in both experiments, metoclopramide (a D2 receptor antagonist; 4 mg/kg or 20 mg/kg) or SCH23390 (a D1 receptor antagonist; 0.8 mg/kg or 4 mg/kg) alone (experiment 1) or in combination with a salmon gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogue (sGnRHa at 25 µg/kg; experiment 2). In experiment 2, fish were also injected with sGnRHa (25 µg/kg) as positive control. Samplings of oocytes and blood were performed on the day of injection and after 24 h (both experiments), after 48 h (experiment 2) and at the time of ovulation (both experiments). In non-ovulating fish, samplings were performed 7 days (experiment 1) or 14 days (experiment 2) after injection. In experiment 2, various zootechnical parameters of fertilized eggs were recorded (survival, hatching and malformation rates). The two antagonists alone were ineffective in inducing the final stages and regulating sex-steroid (testosterone, 11 ketotestosterone, 17 β estradiol and 17,20 β -dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one) production. When administered with sGnRHa, both SCH23390 and metoclopramide induced the final stages. However, only SCH23390 stimulated testosterone (4 mg/kg) and 17 β estradiol (0.8 mg/kg) production compared with sGnRHa alone. None of the treatments affected the survival, hatching or malformation rates. This is the first report suggesting that in pikeperch the D1, but not the D2, DA receptor antagonist would be involved in the testosterone and 17 β estradiol production as a potentiator of the sGnRHa effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The term ‘Precocious puberty’ refers to the appearance of pubertal signs at an earlier age than established standard. Precocious puberty may be central or peripheral. Central precocious puberty is caused by early maturation of hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. Peripheral precocious puberty is due to inappropriate secretion of sex steroid hormones from adrenal gland or gonad or from exogenous source and does not involve hypothalamo-pituitary-gonadal axis. We report a rare case where inspite of clinical and hormonal evidence of central precocious puberty ultimately an adrenal pathology was established in a six-year-old boy.