Induction of female-to-male sex change in adult zebrafish by aromatase inhibitor treatment
- Authors
- Takatsu, K., Miyaoku, K., Roy, S.R., Murono, Y., Sago, T., Itagaki, H., Nakamura, M., and Tokumoto, T.
- ID
- ZDB-PUB-140123-8
- Date
- 2013
- Source
- Scientific Reports 3: 3400 (Journal)
- Registered Authors
- Keywords
- none
- MeSH Terms
-
- Animals
- Aromatase Inhibitors/pharmacology*
- Female
- Male
- Ovary/drug effects
- Sex Determination Processes/drug effects*
- Sex Differentiation/drug effects*
- Spermatozoa/drug effects
- Testis/drug effects
- Zebrafish/growth & development*
- PubMed
- 24292399 Full text @ Sci. Rep.
This study investigated whether undifferentiated germ and/or somatic stem cells remain in the differentiated ovary of a species that does not undergo sex changes under natural conditions and retain their sexual plasticity. The effect of aromatase inhibitor (AI)-treatment on sexually mature female zebrafish was examined. A 5-month AI treatment caused retraction of the ovaries after which testes-like organs appeared, and cyst structures filled with spermatozoa-like cells were observed in sections of these tissues. Electron microscopic observations revealed that these cells appeared as large sperm heads without tails. Sperm formation was re-examined after changing the diet to an AI-free food. A large number of normal sperm were obtained after eight weeks, and no formation of ovarian tissue was observed. Artificial fertilization using sperm from the sex-changed females was successful. These results demonstrated that sex plasticity remains in the mature ovaries of this species.