Androgen receptor antagonist impairs courtship but not aggressive behavior in the monogamous cichlid, Amatitlania nigrofasciata

Breukelen, Natalie April van

doi:10.1016/j.yhbeh.2013.01.008

Cited by 17 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 60 publications

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“…While the role of the AR in modulating male behavior is known, not all components of male-typical behavior, e.g. aggression, are necessarily removed when ARs are blocked (van Breukelen, 2013). Similarly, female sexual behaviors have been impaired through endocrine disruption of brain-specific prostaglandin receptors ( prostaglandin F receptor, PTGFR) in Astatotilapia burtoni (Juntti et al, 2016), where females with altered PTGFR fail to complete courtship.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Genetic editing of the androgen receptor contributes to impaired male courtship behavior in zebrafish

Yong

Thet

Zhu

2017

Journal of Experimental Biology

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Elucidating the genes that contribute to behavioral variation has become an important endeavor in behavioral studies. While advances in genomics have narrowed down the list of candidate genes, functional validation of them has lagged behind, partly because of challenges associated with rapid gene manipulations. Consequently, few studies have demonstrated causal genetic changes linked to behaviors. The 'gene editing revolution' has offered unprecedented opportunities to investigate candidate genes responsible for critical behaviors. Here, we edited the androgen receptor gene (), which is associated with male reproductive behavior in zebrafish, using TAL effector nucleases (TALENs), and tested whether modifications at the impacted courtship during mating trials. We reveal that males lacking AR courted females significantly less, showing reduced levels of stereotypic behaviors. Consistent with previous studies, disrupting androgen mechanisms can lead to behavioral changes with potential fitness consequences. Our study highlights the possibility of genetically altering a reproductive behavior, further solidifying the link between genotype and behavior.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Genetic editing of the androgen receptor contributes to impaired male courtship behavior in zebrafish

Yong

Thet

Zhu

2017

Journal of Experimental Biology

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“…It has been used for studies on small teleosts for evaluating the effects of sedative shipping additives under industrial conditions (Kilgore et al, 2009). Amatitlania nigrofasciata has also been frequently used in fish behaviour studies (Arnott et al, 2011;Dechaume-Moncharmont et al, 2011;Moscicki et al, 2011;Chee et al, 2012;van Breukelen, 2013). In one behaviour study, social stress was reported to be associated with gallbladder hypertrophy and increased bile retention (Earley et al, 2004).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Gross morphology and histology of the alimentary tract of the convict cichlid Amatitlania nigrofasciata

Hopperdietzel

Hirschberg

Hünigen

et al. 2014

Journal of Fish Biology

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The primary objectives of this study were to document the macroscopic and histological structure of the alimentary tract (AT) of the convict cichlid Amatitlania nigrofasciata, because there are no data available for this omnivorous freshwater fish of the family Cichlidae. The morphology of the AT of A. nigrofasciata resembles that of related species. While having morphological criteria of the AT typical of most omnivorous fishes, such as a blind sac stomach and medium length intestine, A. nigrofasciata also has some structural peculiarities: the oesophagus is lined by a uniform stratified squamous epithelial layer with interspersed goblet cells along its entire length. Additionally, it has well-developed layers of the tunica muscularis including muscle fibre bundles that ascend into its mucosal folds. Occasionally, taste buds are present. In the transitional area between oesophagus and stomach, a prominent torus-like closure device is present. The mucosa of the stomach cannot be divided into different regions according to mucosal and morphological properties. The simple pattern of intestinal loops of A. nigrofasciata has few variations, irrespective of sex, mass and length of the individual fish. The first segment of the intestine is characterized by the largest mucososerosal ratio and the most complex mucosal surface architecture. A distinction of midgut and hindgut was not possible in A. nigrofasciata due to lack of defining structural components as described for other fish species.

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“…Our study intentionally focused on the convict cichlid because it has become a model species that is widely used for behavioral studies and is of increasing interest to researchers that seek to connect behavior with genetics (e.g., Lee-Jenkins et al, 2011 ), neuroanatomy (e.g., O’Connell, Matthews & Hofmann, 2012 ; Nesjan et al, 2014 ), and endocrinology (e.g., O’Connell, Matthews & Hofmann, 2012 ; Oldfield & Hofmann, 2011 ; Sessa, Harris & Hofmann, 2013 ; van Breukelen, 2013 ). These freshwater cichlids occur throughout Central America in rivers, streams and lakes ( Bussing, 1998 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Additionally, in the laboratory, male convict cichlids in “social” situations (with a male competitor or with a gravid female) had levels of 11KT that were overall high than when in “nonsocial” (solitary) situations ( Sessa, Harris & Hofmann, 2013 ). Blocking 11KT (and all androgens) with flutamide (an androgen receptor blocker) inhibited courtship behavior, but not aggression in male convict cichlids, in both laboratory and field populations ( van Breukelen, 2013 ). As with the previously studied teleost species, it seems as though 11KT has a definitive role in the expression of convict cichlid behavior, specifically those related to courtship.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Male convict cichlid 11-ketotestosterone levels throughout the reproductive cycle: an exploratory profile study in laboratory and field populations

Breukelen

Snekser²,

Itzkowitz

2015

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The convict cichlid (Amatitlania nigrofasciata) has been extensively examined in relation to many behavioral topics, such as courtship, pair-bonding, bi-parental care, and territoriality. Recently, this model species has been utilized in studies on genetics, endocrinology, and neuroanatomy, with an ultimate goal of connecting behavior with its underlying mechanisms. The goal of this study was two-fold: (1) profile the circulating levels of plasma 11KT in the male convict cichlid at multiple points during the reproductive cycle and (2) generally compare the hormonal profiles of the widely used laboratory populations and those of a free-living population in the streams of Costa Rica. The results of the field experiment showed that male convict cichlids had higher levels of circulating 11KT during courtship and lower during the parental care and non-breeding phases. The profile of the laboratory population was similar to the profile of the free-living individuals, with significantly higher levels of 11KT occurring during courtship than during parental care, though the level of 11KT during non-breeding phase was elevated in the laboratory. The high levels of 11KT during courtship and low levels of 11KT during parental care found in both the field and the laboratory is similar to what has been reported in other species of teleosts, and may suggest an important function of 11KT in the expression of courtship behavior and the subsequent onset of parental behaviors in this model species.

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Androgen receptor antagonist impairs courtship but not aggressive behavior in the monogamous cichlid, Amatitlania nigrofasciata

Cited by 17 publications

References 60 publications

Genetic editing of the androgen receptor contributes to impaired male courtship behavior in zebrafish

Genetic editing of the androgen receptor contributes to impaired male courtship behavior in zebrafish

Gross morphology and histology of the alimentary tract of the convict cichlid Amatitlania nigrofasciata

Male convict cichlid 11-ketotestosterone levels throughout the reproductive cycle: an exploratory profile study in laboratory and field populations

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