Androgen-induced changes in the response dynamics of ampullary electrosensory primary afferent neurons

Abstract

Male stingrays use their ampullary electroreceptors to locate mates, but the effect of gonadal androgens on electrosensory encoding during the reproductive season is unknown. We tested the hypothesis that gonadal androgens induce neurophysiological changes in the electrosense of male Atlantic stingrays. During the primary androgen increase in wild males, the electrosensory primary afferent neurons show an increase in discharge regularity, a downshift in best frequency (BF) and bandpass, and a greater sensitivity to low-frequency stimuli from 0.01 to 4 Hz. Experimental implants of dihydrotestosterone in male stingrays induced a similar lowered BF and bandpass and increased average neural sensitivity to low-frequency stimuli (0.5-2 Hz) by a factor of 1.5. Primary afferents from long ampullary canals (>3 cm) were more sensitive and had a lower bandpass and BF than did afferents from short canals (<2 cm). We propose that these androgen-induced changes in the frequency response properties of electrosensory afferents enhance mate detection by male stingrays and may ultimately increase the number of male reproductive encounters with females. Furthermore, differences in primary afferent sensitivity among short and long canals may facilitate detection, orientation, and localization of conspecifics during social interactions.