Underground water affects sexual behavior and gene expression of hormones related to reproduction in blue gourami males

Abstract

This study examined the effect of underground water on reproduction- and growth-related hormones in blue gourami males under non-reproductive and reproductive conditions. An increase in the percentage of males building nests under the highest percentage of underground water were compared to fish that maintained a lower percentage of underground water in the first two days. The % Gonado-somatic index (GSI) of males building nests was higher than non- reproductively active males in water containing the lowest concentration of underground water. In non- reproductively active males, brain gonadotropin releasing hormone 1 (GnRH1) and pituitary β subunit of gonadotropins (GtHs) and prolactin (PRL) mRNA levels were significantly higher in males maintained in underground water. In reproductively active males, mRNA levels of brain GnRH1, gonadotropin releasing hormone 3 (GnRH3) and pituitary PRL mRNA levels were significantly higher than males maintained in underground water. Thus, it is suggested that underground water with high salinity and conductivity levels affects the gene expression of repro- duction-related hormones; in reproductively active males, it shortened the duration of nest-building by blue gourami males.