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- Title
Estrogenic signaling and sociosexual behavior in wild sex‐changing bluehead wrasses, Thalassoma bifasciatum.
- Authors
Prim, Julianna H.; Phillips, Marshall C.; Lamm, Melissa S.; Brady, Jeannie; Cabral, Itze; Durden, Shelby; Dustin, Elizabeth; Hazellief, Allison; Klapheke, Brandon; Lamb, April D.; Lukowsky, Alison; May, Dianna; Sanchez, Sidney G.; Thompson, Kelly C.; Tyler, William A.; Godwin, John
- Abstract
Estrogenic signaling is an important focus in studies of gonadal and brain sexual differentiation in fishes and vertebrates generally. This study examined variation in estrogenic signaling (1) across three sexual phenotypes (female, female‐mimic initial phase [IP] male, and terminal phase [TP] male), (2) during socially‐controlled female‐to‐male sex change, and (3) during tidally‐driven spawning cycles in the protogynous bluehead wrasse (Thalassoma bifasciatum). We analyzed relative abundances of messenger RNAs (mRNAs) for the brain form of aromatase (cyp19a1b) and the three nuclear estrogen receptors (ER) (ERα, ERβa, and ERβb) by qPCR. Consistent with previous reports, forebrain/midbrain cyp19a1b was highest in females, significantly lower in TP males, and lowest in IP males. By contrast, ERα and ERβb mRNA abundances were highest in TP males and increased during sex change. ERβa mRNA did not vary significantly. Across the tidally‐driven spawning cycle, cyp19a1b abundances were higher in females than TP males. Interestingly, cyp19a1b levels were higher in TP males close (~1 h) to the daily spawning period when sexual and aggressive behaviors rise than males far from spawning (~10–12 h). Together with earlier findings, our results suggest alterations in neural estrogen signaling are key regulators of socially‐controlled sex change and sexual phenotype differences. Additionally, these patterns suggest TP male‐typical sociosexual behaviors may depend on intermediate rather than low estrogenic signaling. We discuss these results and the possibility that an inverted‐U shaped relationship between neural estrogen and male‐typical behaviors is more common than presently appreciated. Research Highlights: 1.Bluehead wrasses exhibit sex change, alternate mating phenotypes, and tidally‐driven spawning.2.Neural estrogen receptor and aromatase messenger RNAs vary with male‐typical behavior, which may be maximized at intermediate levels of estrogen signaling.
- Subjects
GENDER transition; HUMAN sexuality; WRASSES; ESTROGEN receptors; SEX differentiation (Embryology)
- Publication
Journal of Experimental Zoology: Part A Ecological & Integrative Physiology, 2022, Vol 337, Issue 1, p24
- ISSN
2471-5638
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1002/jez.2558