Ana M. Pahí-Rosero , Gabriela C. López , María R. Pérez , Alejandro S. Mechaly , Takayoshi Ubuka , José A. Muñoz-Cueto , Paula G. Vissio , Gustavo M. Somoza
{"title":"Ontogeny of gonadotropin-inhibitory hormone cells and fibers in the brain and pituitary gland of the pejerrey fish, Odontesthes bonariensis","authors":"Ana M. Pahí-Rosero , Gabriela C. López , María R. Pérez , Alejandro S. Mechaly , Takayoshi Ubuka , José A. Muñoz-Cueto , Paula G. Vissio , Gustavo M. Somoza","doi":"10.1016/j.ygcen.2025.114788","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ygcen.2025.114788","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The gonadotropin-inhibitory hormone is a neuropeptide belonging to the RF-amide family of peptides, first characterized in birds. This peptide can inhibit the synthesis and release of gonadotropins in both avians and mammals. Although gonadotropin-inhibitory hormone (Gnih) variants have also been detected in different fish species, knowledge of their physiological action is still inconclusive and controversial. In addition, there is very little information on the neuronal development of Gnih cells in early stages. In this context, the objective of the present study is to characterize Gnih-containing neurons and fibers in the brain and pituitary gland of adult fish, and during early development of the pejerrey (<em>Odontesthes bonariensis</em>), and the possible relationship with the sex differentiation process.</div><div>The Gnih neurons and fibers were determined by immunohistochemistry by using different antisera in the adult pejerrey brain. Gnih-immunoreactive (Gnih-ir) neurons were observed in the olfactory bulbs, the terminal nerve ganglion, the lateral nuclei of the ventral telencephalon, the posterior periventricular nucleus, the dorsal tegmentum, and some isolated neuronal bodies were detected in the secondary gustatory nucleus. Very few Gnih-ir fibers were detected innervating the pituitary gland.</div><div>The Gnih neuronal and fiber distribution was also studied from hatching to week 10, covering the sex differentiation period until the gonadal sex was observed. Gnih-immunoreactive neuronal bodies were identified from hatching in the terminal nerve ganglion and the diencephalic posterior periventricular nucleus. Gnih-ir fibers were observed in many regions, including the retina, and a profuse innervation was observed in the pituitary. From the first week post-hatching, Gnih-ir neuronal bodies were identified in the dorsal mesencephalic tegmentum and the lateral nucleus of the ventral telencephalon. In addition, Gnih-ir cells were detected in the pituitary. These Gnih-ir cells were consistently detected from 3 to 7 weeks after hatching, coinciding with onset of gonadal differentiation. At week 10 and in the adult, only a few Gnih-ir fibers were observed in the pituitary. Although the precise function of these pituitary Gnih-ir cells is unknown, the relationship between the appearance of these cells and the process of sex differentiation suggests that Gnih may influence this process.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12582,"journal":{"name":"General and comparative endocrinology","volume":"372 ","pages":"Article 114788"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-07-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144665536","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"In vitro effects of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons on sex steroid production by Arabian sea bream Acanthopagrus arabicus ovarian cells","authors":"Fereshteh Aysham , Negin Salamat , Alireza Safahieh , Arash Larki , Asma Mohammadi","doi":"10.1016/j.ygcen.2025.114778","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ygcen.2025.114778","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), considered endocrine disruptors, affect the animals reproduction by interfering with the production of sex steroids. In the present study, the in vitro effects of selected PAHs (naphthalene, phenanthrene and BaP) on steroid production of cultivated ovarian cells from Arabian sea bream (<em>Acanthopagrus arabicus</em>) was assessed. Ovarian cells were cultured in Leibovitz L-15 (L-15) medium containing naphthalene, phenanthrene and benzo(a)pyrene with or without androstenedione (AD) as precursors and17b-estradiol (E2), progesterone (P4) and testosterone (T) were then measured. The effects of selected PAHs on the steroidogenic enzyme systems cytochrome P450 17, 20-lyase (P450-17,20l) and cytochrome P450 aromatase (P450-arom) were also compared with the ketoconazole (KCZ) action as inhibitor of cytochrome P450 steroidogenic enzymes (cytochrome P450 17, 20-lyase (P450-17,20l)) and cytochrome P450 aromatase (P450-arom). Adding exogenous androstenedione as a steroid precursor significantly increased the production of all three steroid hormones by cultured ovarian cells. On the other hand, the addition of ketoconazole significantly reduced the production of E2 and P from ovarian cells, while it had no effect on the production of T. This result showed that ketoconazole only affects the cytochrome P450 steroidogenic enzymes and has no effect on the 17-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17-βHSD) enzyme that convert androstenedione to testosterone. On the other hand, a significant decrease in the production of all three steroids (17β-estradiol, progesterone, and testosterone) from ovarian cells exposed to the studied pollutants (naphthalene, phenanthrene, and benzo(a)pyrene) even in the presence of androstenedione indicated that PAHs inhibit all three steroidogenic enzyme systems including P450-17,20l, P450-arom, and 17b-HSD. In conclusion, PAHs are potent inhibitors of the steroidogenic enzyme system including P450-17,20l, P450-arom, and 17b-HSD, and therefore, they can disturb the reproduction of fish living in contaminated areas due to impairment of steroid biosynthesis.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12582,"journal":{"name":"General and comparative endocrinology","volume":"371 ","pages":"Article 114778"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-07-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144579745","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Kenji Toyota , Asami Kajimoto , Yushi Ando , Ken Takeuchi , Tsuyoshi Ohira
{"title":"Characterization of a crustacean hyperglycemic hormone of the horsehair crab Erimacrus isenbeckii","authors":"Kenji Toyota , Asami Kajimoto , Yushi Ando , Ken Takeuchi , Tsuyoshi Ohira","doi":"10.1016/j.ygcen.2025.114777","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ygcen.2025.114777","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The horsehair crab <em>Erimacrus isenbeckii</em> is widely distributed from Alaska and the Bering Sea through Southern Sakhalin, and in Japan from the coastal areas of Hokkaido to the Sea of Japan. In the Hokkaido area, although strict resource management has been promoted by setting an allowable catch limit, the catch amount has remained at a low level. While knowledge on larval rearing methods is accumulating in relation to seedling production techniques, information on adult growth and molting is limited, due to a deep-sea species that requires a long period for growth. In decapod crustaceans, the sinus-gland/X-organ complex in the eyestalk ganglion synthesizes and secrets various neuropeptides such as crustacean hyperglycemic hormone (CHH) to regulate the homeostasis of haemolymph glucose levels. In this study, combined isolation of sinus gland peptides by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) and amino acid sequencing, and transcriptome analyses using male and female eyestalk ganglion has been successfully identified EiCHHa. In adult male <em>E</em>. <em>isenbeckii</em>, no decrease in haemolymph glucose levels was observed following bilateral eyestalk ablation, indicating that this treatment does not affect glucose homeostasis in this species. Therefore, the <em>in vivo</em> assays of EiCHHa using the blue swimming crab <em>Portunus pelagicus</em> revealed EiCHHa has a hyperglycemic effect, as well as CHHs in other decapod crustaceans. On the other hand, EiCHHa-injected red swamp crayfish <em>Procambarus clarkii</em> with bilateral eyestalk ablation showed no significant increase in hemolymph glucose levels. Additionally, we successfully demonstrated the sexual differences in the transcriptomic profiles between males and females. Especially, two sinus gland-derived neuropeptides (EiCHHb and a crustacean female sex hormone (EiCFSH)) were isolated as female-biased transcripts, suggesting that both hormones may have female-specific roles such as the development of female characteristics and reproduction.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12582,"journal":{"name":"General and comparative endocrinology","volume":"371 ","pages":"Article 114777"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-07-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144571801","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Rodrigo Zuloaga , Alfredo Molina , Juan Antonio Valdés
{"title":"In vitro effects of 11-deoxycorticosterone on hepatocytes and gill epithelial cells of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)","authors":"Rodrigo Zuloaga , Alfredo Molina , Juan Antonio Valdés","doi":"10.1016/j.ygcen.2025.114776","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ygcen.2025.114776","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The 11-deoxycorticosterone (DOC) corticosteroid has been recently described as having a potential role in fish, complementing cortisol action through distinct physiological effects. Although systemic effects of 11-deoxycorticosterone (DOC) have been reported, the specific mechanisms mediated through glucocorticoid (GR) and mineralocorticoid (MR) receptors remain poorly understood. Therefore, we evaluated the DOC effects through both receptors in rainbow trout hepatoma-derived (RTH-149) and gill epithelial (RTgill-W1) cell lines. Cultures were pretreated with GR (Mifepristone) or MR (Eplerenone) antagonists for 1 h (50 nM) and then with DOC (10 nM) or vehicle (DMSO-PBS1X) as control for 3 h (n = 3). First, to determine a DOC-induced response via GR or MR, we detected a decrease in transcriptional levels of <em>mr</em> and these results were recovered to basal levels by MR antagonist in both cell lines. Then, we evaluated different metabolites and solutes associated with carbohydrate metabolism in RTH-149 and osmoregulation in RTgill-W1, detecting that DOC through both GR and MR differentially modulates lactate, glycogen, calcium, and chloride levels. We also identified that DOC mainly by MR differentially regulates gene expression of glucose/glycogen metabolism in RTH-149, ionic cotransporters, and tight junction proteins in RTgill-W1. Subsequently, we determined that DOC significantly decreases glucose uptake in RTH-149 and apparent permeability in RTgill-W1, reversed by MR antagonist. However, DOC does not affect transepithelial resistance in RTgill-W1. This study provides the first evidence that DOC, primarily via MR, plays a role in regulating carbohydrate metabolism in fish hepatocytes and osmoregulation in gill epithelial cells.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12582,"journal":{"name":"General and comparative endocrinology","volume":"371 ","pages":"Article 114776"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-06-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144524004","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
J. Sivan , A.A. Degen , S.J.A. Horesh , I. Tesler , S. Hadad , H. Boni , M. Kam
{"title":"Testosterone concentration coincides with distance travelled in the free-ranging male Saharan sand-viper, Cerastes vipera","authors":"J. Sivan , A.A. Degen , S.J.A. Horesh , I. Tesler , S. Hadad , H. Boni , M. Kam","doi":"10.1016/j.ygcen.2025.114775","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ygcen.2025.114775","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Testosterone levels have been linked to reproduction and locomotor activities in vertebrates and even to some invertebrates. However, the relationship between testosterone concentration and daily distance travelled (DDT) in a free-ranging reptile has not been tested. The aim of this study was to fill this gap. Seasonal plasma testosterone concentration in the free-ranging male Saharan sand viper, <em>Cerastes vipera</em>, was reported to be bimodal: a large peak in spring during spermatogenesis and mating, and a small peak in autumn, during spermatogenesis but without mating prior to hibernation. We hypothesized that DDT would be bimodal as well, the pattern coinciding with testosterone concentration. To test this hypothesis, we measured monthly DDT in free-ranging <em>C. vipera</em> of the same population at the same site, and compared the pattern with that of plasma testosterone concentrations reported earlier. A bimodal pattern in DDT was observed that coincided with testosterone concentration, and, therefore, our hypothesis was supported. This is the first study demonstrating a link between plasma testosterone concentration and DDT in a free-ranging animal; however, the link is correlational as there was no manipulation and cannot be attributed to a casual effect. Further studies are warranted to clarify the relationship between testosterone level and DDT.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12582,"journal":{"name":"General and comparative endocrinology","volume":"371 ","pages":"Article 114775"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-06-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144517919","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Mauro Chivite-Alcalde , Brett M. Culbert , Shayla Larson-Hossack , Jesús M. Míguez , Nicholas J. Bernier
{"title":"Regulation of the neuroendocrine stress axis in response to ammonia exposure in rainbow trout: Pharmacological and transcriptional evidence implicating serotonin and multiple hypophysiotropic peptides","authors":"Mauro Chivite-Alcalde , Brett M. Culbert , Shayla Larson-Hossack , Jesús M. Míguez , Nicholas J. Bernier","doi":"10.1016/j.ygcen.2025.114773","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ygcen.2025.114773","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Ammonia is neurotoxic and exposure to high environmental ammonia (HEA) activates the hypothalamic-pituitary-interrenal (HPI) axis in teleosts. To gain insight into the neural factors that regulate the HPI axis in response to this environmental stressor, as well as elucidate potential interactions between these factors, we exposed rainbow trout to one of three ammonia levels (0, 650, 1000 μM NH<sub>4</sub>Cl) for 24 or 96 h and assessed the gene expression and circulating levels of key determinants of HPI axis activity. In parallel with circulating ammonia concentrations, plasma cortisol levels increased dose-dependently after 24 h of HEA exposure and partially recovered after 96 h. HEA exposure also elicited dose-, time-, and brain region-specific changes in components of the central serotonergic (5-HTergic; <em>tph2, htr1aa, htr1b, htr2c</em>), corticotropin-releasing factor (<em>crfb</em>), arginine vasotocin (<em>avt, avtr1a, avtr2</em>), and isotocin (<em>it, itr</em>) signaling systems. Moreover, while intraperitoneal injections of 5-HT<sub>1B</sub> and 5-HT<sub>2C</sub> receptor antagonists reduced basal cortisol levels, treatment with 5-HT<sub>1A</sub> and 5-HT<sub>2C</sub> receptor antagonists blocked the increase in plasma cortisol elicited by HEA. Finally, treatment with specific 5-HT receptor antagonists blunted the HEA-induced increases in brain preoptic area <em>crfb</em>, <em>avt</em>, and <em>it</em> expression. These findings implicate 5-HT and multiple peptidergic systems in the hypophysiotropic regulation of the HPI axis in response to HEA exposure and provide novel insight into the multifactorial neural circuitry mediating the neuroendocrine stress response in fishes.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12582,"journal":{"name":"General and comparative endocrinology","volume":"371 ","pages":"Article 114773"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-06-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144514398","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Lisa L. Surber-Cunningham , Lucas S. Jimenez , Lauren W. Mobo , Sarah E. Westrick , Eva K. Fischer
{"title":"Early development of the glucocorticoid stress response in dyeing poison frog tadpoles","authors":"Lisa L. Surber-Cunningham , Lucas S. Jimenez , Lauren W. Mobo , Sarah E. Westrick , Eva K. Fischer","doi":"10.1016/j.ygcen.2025.114774","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ygcen.2025.114774","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In vertebrates, the glucocorticoid “stress” response (corticosterone or cortisol) through the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis influences many essential functions, including behavior, metabolism, immunity, and ontogenetic transitions. During development, stress responses can be adaptive if they facilitate antipredator behavior and modulate developmental speed to adjust to environmental conditions; however, these same responses can be maladaptive when energetic costs become too high and developmental speed trades-off with size and health at maturity. Thus, the timing of HPA-axis development may be aligned with specific developmental challenges and opportunities presented by a species’ life history strategy. In anurans (frogs and toads), corticosterone plays critical roles in development and behavior, and concentrations can fluctuate in response to environmental stressors. Given the role of corticosterone in ontogenetic changes and behaviors, we studied the development of the glucocorticoid stress response in tadpoles of the dyeing poison frog (<em>Dendrobates tinctorius</em>), a species with a unique life history that includes transport to water after hatching on land and aggressive and cannibalistic behavior. We measured the excretion rate and whole-body concentration of corticosterone and the corticosterone response to adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) in free-swimming tadpoles after transport and throughout metamorphosis. We found no significant differences across development in excretion rates or whole-body concentration of corticosterone, nor corticosterone response to ACTH, indicating that that the glucocorticoid response develops early in ontogeny. This pattern differs from those in other species, suggesting the unique ecological pressures faced by <em>D. tinctorius</em> have shaped the development of the glucocorticoid stress response in this species. More broadly, this study illustrates how life history strategies and tradeoffs impact the timing of the development of stress responsivity.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12582,"journal":{"name":"General and comparative endocrinology","volume":"371 ","pages":"Article 114774"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-06-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144517918","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Multifaceted role and regulation of neuropeptide Y in the ovary of wall lizard, Hemidactylus flaviviridis","authors":"Vishesh Chauhan , Umesh Rai , Mamta Tripathy , Sunil Kumar","doi":"10.1016/j.ygcen.2025.114772","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ygcen.2025.114772","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The role of neuropeptide Y (NPY) in regulating ovarian functions has primarily been studied in mammals, while it remains meagrely explored in non-mammalian vertebrates. Our study is the first to report ovarian expression of <em>npy</em> and its receptor, <em>npyr,</em> in a reptile, <em>Hemidactylus flaviviridis</em>. Quantitative real-time PCR analysis demonstrated high expression of <em>npy/npyr</em> during early and late recrudescence, while significantly low levels were noted during regression. The study also examined role of NPY in modulating lizard ovarian functions, wherein <em>in vitro</em> treatment of recrudescent ovaries with NPY increased the mRNA expression of anti-apoptotic gene B-cell lymphoma 2 (<em>bcl 2</em>), and suppressed pro-apoptotic gene cysteine-aspartic acid protease-3 (<em>caspase 3</em>). NPY also stimulated cell proliferation/differentiation markers; stem cell factor (<em>scf</em>)<em>,</em> receptor tyrosine kinase (<em>c-kit</em>), proliferating cell nuclear antigen (<em>pcna</em>), growth differentiation factor-9 (<em>gdf-9</em>)<em>,</em> bone morphogenetic protein-15 (<em>bmp-15</em>), as well as gonadotropin and sex steroid receptors, follicle stimulating hormone receptor (<em>fshr</em>)<em>,</em> estrogen receptor α, β (<em>er-α, er-β</em>), and progesterone receptor (<em>pr</em>). Also, NPY influenced ovarian steroidogenesis by upregulating steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (<em>star</em>) and cytochrome P450a family 19 (<em>cyp19</em>) mRNA expression. However, steroid estimation by ELISA indicates NPY-mediated differential modulation of steroidogenesis as progesterone production was elevated, while estradiol production was inhibited. Further, ovarian <em>npy/npyr</em> was differentially regulated by gonadotropin, sex steroids, neuropeptides, and adipokines. Expression of ligand and receptor was stimulated by 5α-dihydrotestosterone (DHT), 17β-estradiol (E<sub>2</sub>), kisspeptin, leptin, and nesfatin-1 but inhibited by follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and substance P. Taken together, present study provides a comprehensive picture of ovarian <em>npy/npyr</em> in wall lizard.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12582,"journal":{"name":"General and comparative endocrinology","volume":"371 ","pages":"Article 114772"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-06-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144340004","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Shalinie Navaratne, Venice Chan, Amanda Poh, Prabhath Meegamage, Laura A Brannelly
{"title":"Repeated exogenous hormone administration decreases sperm quantity and quality in threatened frog species (Litoria aurea)","authors":"Shalinie Navaratne, Venice Chan, Amanda Poh, Prabhath Meegamage, Laura A Brannelly","doi":"10.1016/j.ygcen.2025.114771","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ygcen.2025.114771","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Assisted reproductive technologies are important for protecting threatened amphibian species globally. These technologies can overcome amphibian breeding failure and improve threatened species management and research quality in the fields of reproductive biology and ecology. One assisted reproductive technology is inducing spermiation using exogenous hormone injections. However, the impacts of repeatedly administering exogenous hormones on sperm quality and quantity remain poorly understood. In this study we repeatedly administered an exogenous hormone — human chorionic gonadotropin — in the threatened Australian frog species, <em>Litoria aurea</em>. We analysed sperm quantity and quality over 3–4 hormonal administrations at biweekly, weekly, and fortnightly frequencies (n = 6 for each group). Sperm quality and quantity were assessed at three timepoints over a 6-hour period following each hormonal administration (hours 2, 4, and 6 post-injection). We found that repeated administrations significantly reduced sperm quantity and quality via reduced concentration, volume, total sperm counts, and viability. With repeated administrations, the timing of sperm release varied: after only one administration, sperm was released equivalently in hours 2, 4 and 6 post-injection, whereas after several administrations, sperm release was delayed such that 6 hr post-injection produced higher quantity and quality sperm. Overall, our results demonstrate that repeated hormonal administration of male <em>L. aurea</em> reduces sperm quantity and quality, and individuals will need substantial time to regenerate sperm between administrations.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12582,"journal":{"name":"General and comparative endocrinology","volume":"370 ","pages":"Article 114771"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-06-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144336453","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Emilee N. Hart , Susan Margulis , Rafaela S.C. Takeshita
{"title":"Age-related changes in fecal adrenal androgen levels in hylobatids","authors":"Emilee N. Hart , Susan Margulis , Rafaela S.C. Takeshita","doi":"10.1016/j.ygcen.2025.114766","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ygcen.2025.114766","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Adrenarche, or the postnatal activation of the adrenal gland, is a phenomenon exclusive to some primates that is evidenced by high levels of the hormones dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and its sulfated form (DHEAS), independent of the onset of puberty. Within primates, two patterns of adrenal secretions occur: a prepubertal increase in DHEAS levels (adrenarche) that has been reported in humans and great apes, and a continuous postnatal decline on DHEAS levels with age, observed in cercopithecines (e.g., macaques and baboons). Our research seeks to determine the pattern of DHEAS secretion during hylobatid development. DHEAS was measured by enzyme immunoassay in cross-sectional fecal samples from 35 female and 29 male zoo-housed hylobatids (<em>Hylobates, Nomascus, Symphalangus</em>) ranging from age 1 to 54 years. Additionally, we measured longitudinal fecal samples from 7 female hylobatids under human care (6 <em>Nomascus,</em> 1 <em>Hoolock</em>). Our study tested the effects of age, sex, and genus on fecal DHEAS levels using generalized linear mixed-effects models. The models were separated by genus and showed that age was positively correlated with a prepubertal increase in fecal DHEAS across all genera, indicating that the hylobatids exhibit delayed adrenarche. A significant effect of sex was only identified in the <em>Symphalangus</em> model. Results from adult and old hylobatids did not exhibit decreasing DHEAS associated with adrenal senescence, which is characteristic of humans and other primates. The evidence of a delayed DHEAS increase observed across all hylobatid genera suggests a shared developmental characteristic among all ape species.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12582,"journal":{"name":"General and comparative endocrinology","volume":"370 ","pages":"Article 114766"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-06-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144291650","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}