Abstract
We show that reproductively mature male sea lampreys release a bile acid that acts as a potent sex pheromone, inducing preference and searching behavior in ovulated female lampreys. The secreted bile acid 7alpha,12alpha,24-trihydroxy-5alpha-cholan-3-one 24-sulfate was released in much higher amounts relative to known vertebrate steroid pheromones and may be secreted through the gills. Hence, the male of this fish species signals both its reproductive status and location to females by secreting a pheromone that can act over long distances.
Publication types
-
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
-
Animals
-
Bile Acids and Salts / chemistry
-
Bile Acids and Salts / isolation & purification
-
Bile Acids and Salts / metabolism
-
Bile Acids and Salts / physiology*
-
Cholic Acids / chemistry
-
Cholic Acids / isolation & purification
-
Cholic Acids / physiology*
-
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
-
Chromatography, Thin Layer
-
Female
-
Gills / cytology
-
Gills / metabolism
-
Lampreys / physiology*
-
Male
-
Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Biomolecular
-
Ovulation
-
Selection, Genetic
-
Sex Attractants / chemistry
-
Sex Attractants / isolation & purification
-
Sex Attractants / metabolism
-
Sex Attractants / physiology*
-
Sexual Behavior, Animal*
-
Spectrometry, Mass, Fast Atom Bombardment
Substances
-
7alpha,12alpha,24-trihydroxy-5alpha-cholan-3-one 24-sulfate
-
Bile Acids and Salts
-
Cholic Acids
-
Sex Attractants