Comparative study of sex steroid levels of Persian sturgeon, Acipenser persicus males in responding negative and positive to LHRH-A2 hormone

Abstract

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists (GnRHa or LHRHa) have been used extensively in order to stimulate the release of pituitary luteinizing hormone (LH) required to induce sexual maturation (e.g., spermiation). In this research, blood serum testosterone (T), 11-ketotestosterone (11-K) and progesterone (P4) levels were measured in Persian sturgeon, Asipenser persicus (Borodin, 1897), males during propagation season. The type and dose of hormone administration for artificial propagation were LH-RH-A2 and 5 μg kg-1, respectively. In males which responded by spermiating, serum steroids levels (T, 11-K and P4) were higher than in non spermiating males. Following hormonal stimulation, levels of all three steroids increased signifcantly in spermiting males 14h after LHRH- A2 injection. T levels increased slightly in non spermiting males and other steroids did not change during the spermiation process. The rise of T levels in both males show that this steroid as a dominant and key androgen related with maturation in Persian sturgeon. © 2013 Aramli MS, et al.