This study was designed a comprehensive non-invasive procedure towards sex identification and maturity status that might be applied for other teleost species as well. Herein, E2, T, 11-KT, VTG and Ca of mucus were tracked, clarified and then compared to plasma, and gonad analyses in goldfish.
In the present study, mucosal androgens considering for sex identification, and even contributing in males' reproductive status as an indicator. T had an acceptable trend resulted in sex identification, its accuracy was 89%, at the same time, had the lowest level (33%) of identification efficacy in maturity status. Regarding different roles of T playing in spermatogenesis (Schulz et al., 2010; Basak et al., 2016), synthesizing of 11-KT in spermiation evaluation besides males' sexual behaviour hormone (Barry et al., 1990), apparently can track in mucus in order to its further potential. Measurement of T levels in water maintaining Dentex dentex and in plasma, related to the number of females stocked in the tank (Pavlidis et al., 2004). Nevertheless, T level in females’ skin mucus has been currently lower than males. Florida gar (Lepisosteus platyrhincus), group-synchronous teleost spawned, sex steroids in plasma showed an upward trend as it comes to reproduction season (Orlando et al., 2007). Already there is a group-synchronous pattern herein, but the border of stages is apparently distinguishable across both goldfish genders. Only 11-KT of plasma, seemingly hit a peak in spring over upcoming warm. Indeed both mucosal androgens were fairly stable in pre-reproduction and reproduction seasons. Schultz et al., (2005) reported 13-fold higher for a range of mucosal 11-KT in males than females of Koi (Cyprinus carpio), which was not far from our results (mucus content was 7-ply compared with plasma). What is more, considering Barkowski and Haukenes (2014) indicating a direct relationship between 11-KT of mucus and plasma, strengthening of mucosal hormone is hands-on. Sex identification in white bass (Morone chysops) was correctly determined by 90% in the following, and a low error rate by 11-KT in mucus had been seen as a result. Similarly, the 11-KT accuracy has been observed at maturity stage detection (83%) and sex identification (89%).
Inadequate knowledge on fish skin mucus components leads to hardly find out of how much sex steroids exist within, in particular E2 and T, However, there are several studies in mammals that proved the diffusion procedure and tissues' origin of mucus (Friedl et al., 2013; Wang & Shi 2017; Lock et al., 2018). The mucosal layer might play passive and active roles during the diffusion process relied on the shape and size of skin and mucus (Dünnhaupt et al., 2015), and fish sex hormones differentiation over seasonal and sex alteration might directly affect skin structure as a consequence (Pickering & Pottinger, 1985; Pottinger, 1987).
Based on our study, E2 levels in mucus primarily were high at initial and late-vitellogenesis, even rather than plasma. In further, at vitellogenesis, protein levels of plasma were on top more than mucus. The reason why these two matrices have a significant difference. Although there is no data about fish mucosal E2, investigation of estrogens encoding a protein in mucus and epithelial cells have proved hypothesis of controlling mucus might be aligned with estrogens, a pivotal hormone in reproduction (Massart et al., 2004). In this survey, appearing of E2 in male’s mucus would not be debatable since it seems rational predicted the mucus VTG level or vtg gene expression in the skin. The ova-testis hypothesis and environmental estrogens disruptors’ effects were failed by monitoring testis histological slides. There is a potent tendency for inducing a gender reverse in cyprinids (Saoshiro et al., 2013; Hassell et al., 2016), and somales' behaviour would probably affectfemales or vice versa. Apart from androgens, E2 plays a critical role in mammals’ spermatogenesis process (Carreau & Galeraud-Denis, 2008), or even estrogen can take a burden as mediator testicular function and spermatogenesis in teleosts (Miura et al., 1999; Kobayashi et al., 2011; Laing et al., 2018). Pottinger et al., (2005) reported that plasma E2 could not be a suitable discriminator of sex in sea trout (Salmo trutta) and Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). Even though, a high level of E2 in plasma of mature females is indicated in Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) (Dahle et al., 2003), goldfish (Kagawa et al., 1983; Kobayashi et al., 1988) and Florida gar (Orlando et al., 2007).
Turning primary-oocytes into mature ones through E2 affected ovary, or controlling the gene expression in different tissues like the liver (Marlatt et al., 2010) and E2 circulation in the blood all are key stimulator to VTG synthesis in the liver. Normally, VTG is synthesized and detectable only in matured females (Denslow et al., 1999; Tian et al., 2009). Yet, the hypothesis of physiological interaction in mucus, the first line of body components, and then direct interface with the peripheral aqueous medium (Fletcher et al., 1997; Sanahuja et al., 2019) leading to combination of environmental estrogens. In the present study, mucus VTG was identically at a low level compared to plasma, but it was apparently detectable and acceptable. Low expression level of the vtg in males' skin or/and even the level of E2 in males' body confirm their VTG secretion. VTG can be transmitted from plasma to mucus by a diffusion mechanism or another regulated mechanism unknown (Kishida et al., 1992), and since VTG is the yolk protein produced in the liver by estrogens activity; as a consequence, it is transferred to the ovary for oocyte as a final destination (Meucci & Arukwe 2005; Tian et al., 2009; Reading et al., 2017). High levels of vtg gene expression in the liver, therefore, would be expected inconsistent with our results. Similarly, vtg gene expression of ovaries was more than liver in white cloud mountain minnow (Tanichthys albonubes) (Wang et al., 2010) and sterlet sturgeon (Acipenser ruthenus) (Akhavan et al., 2016).
Sex identification has been more distinguished by skin mucus Ca (73%) and VTG (61%) than E2 (44%). Certainly, because blood Ca is an indirect tool for detection of VTG during maturity progress, Ca content can be assayed as a biomarker of estrogens recirculation in females at once VTG levels (Svoboda et al., 2001; Linares-Casenave et al., 2003; Stahl et al., 2009). Although the Ca level of plasma was higher than mucus, there is sustainable amount of Ca observed in the mucus particularly during vitellogenesis.
This
study
was designed
a comprehensive non-invasive procedure towards
sex
identification
and
maturity
status that
might
be applied
for other teleost species
as well
. Herein, E2, T, 11-KT, VTG and Ca of
mucus
were
tracked
, clarified and then compared to
plasma
, and gonad analyses in goldfish.
In the present
study
, mucosal androgens considering for
sex
identification
, and even contributing in
males'
reproductive status as an indicator. T had an acceptable trend resulted in
sex
identification
, its accuracy was 89%, at the same time, had the lowest
level
(33%) of
identification
efficacy in
maturity
status. Regarding
different
roles of T playing in spermatogenesis (Schulz et al., 2010; Basak et al., 2016), synthesizing of 11-KT in spermiation evaluation
besides
males'
sexual behaviour
hormone
(Barry et al., 1990),
apparently
can
track
in
mucus
in order to its
further
potential. Measurement of T
levels
in water maintaining Dentex dentex and in
plasma
, related to the number of
females
stocked in the tank (Pavlidis et al., 2004).
Nevertheless
, T
level
in
females’
skin
mucus
has been
currently
lower than males. Florida gar (Lepisosteus platyrhincus), group-synchronous teleost spawned,
sex
steroids in
plasma
showed
an upward trend as it
comes
to reproduction season (Orlando et al., 2007). Already there is a group-synchronous pattern herein,
but
the border of stages is
apparently
distinguishable across both goldfish genders.
Only
11-KT of
plasma
,
seemingly
hit a peak in spring over upcoming warm.
Indeed
both mucosal androgens were
fairly
stable in pre-reproduction and reproduction seasons. Schultz et al., (2005) reported 13-fold higher for a range of mucosal 11-KT in males than
females
of Koi (Cyprinus carpio), which was not far from our results
(mucus
content was 7-
ply
compared with
plasma)
.
What is more
, considering Barkowski and Haukenes (2014) indicating a direct relationship between 11-KT of
mucus
and
plasma
, strengthening of mucosal
hormone
is hands-on.
Sex
identification
in white bass (Morone chysops) was
correctly
determined by 90% in the following, and a low error rate by 11-KT in
mucus
had been
seen
as a result
.
Similarly
, the 11-KT accuracy has
been observed
at
maturity
stage detection (83%) and
sex
identification
(89%).
Inadequate knowledge on fish
skin
mucus
components leads to hardly find out of how much
sex
steroids exist within,
in particular
E2 and T,
However
, there are several
studies
in mammals that proved the diffusion procedure and tissues' origin of
mucus
(Friedl et al., 2013; Wang & Shi 2017; Lock et al., 2018). The mucosal layer
might
play passive and active roles during the diffusion process relied on the shape and size of
skin
and
mucus
(Dünnhaupt et al., 2015), and fish
sex
hormones
differentiation over seasonal and
sex
alteration
might
directly
affect
skin
structure as a consequence (Pickering & Pottinger, 1985; Pottinger, 1987).
Based on our
study
, E2
levels
in
mucus
primarily
were high at initial and late-vitellogenesis, even
rather
than
plasma
. In
further
, at vitellogenesis, protein
levels
of
plasma
were on top more than
mucus
. The reason why these two matrices have a significant difference. Although there is no data about fish mucosal E2, investigation of estrogens encoding a protein in
mucus
and epithelial cells have proved hypothesis of controlling
mucus
might
be aligned
with estrogens, a pivotal
hormone
in reproduction (Massart et al., 2004). In this survey, appearing of E2 in male’s
mucus
would not be debatable since it seems rational predicted the
mucus
VTG
level
or vtg gene
expression
in the
skin
. The ova-testis hypothesis and environmental estrogens disruptors’ effects
were failed
by monitoring testis histological slides. There is a potent tendency for inducing a gender reverse in cyprinids (Saoshiro et al., 2013; Hassell et al., 2016), and somales' behaviour would
probably
affectfemales or vice versa. Apart from androgens, E2 plays a critical role in mammals’ spermatogenesis process (Carreau & Galeraud-Denis, 2008), or even estrogen can take a burden as mediator testicular function and spermatogenesis in teleosts (Miura et al., 1999; Kobayashi et al., 2011; Laing et al., 2018). Pottinger et al., (2005) reported that
plasma
E2 could not be a suitable discriminator of
sex
in sea trout (Salmo trutta) and Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar).
Even though
, a high
level
of E2 in
plasma
of mature
females
is indicated
in Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) (Dahle et al., 2003), goldfish (Kagawa et al., 1983; Kobayashi et al., 1988) and Florida gar (Orlando et al., 2007).
Turning primary-oocytes into mature ones through E2
affected
ovary, or controlling the gene
expression
in
different
tissues like the
liver
(Marlatt et al., 2010) and E2 circulation in the blood all are key stimulator to VTG synthesis in the
liver
.
Normally
, VTG
is synthesized
and detectable
only
in matured
females
(Denslow et al., 1999; Tian et al., 2009).
Yet
, the hypothesis of physiological interaction in
mucus
, the
first
line of body components, and then direct interface with the peripheral aqueous medium (Fletcher et al., 1997; Sanahuja et al., 2019) leading to combination of environmental estrogens. In the present
study
,
mucus
VTG was
identically
at a low
level
compared to
plasma
,
but
it was
apparently
detectable and acceptable. Low
expression
level
of the vtg in
males'
skin
or/and even the
level
of E2 in
males'
body confirm their VTG secretion. VTG can
be transmitted
from
plasma
to
mucus
by a diffusion mechanism or another regulated mechanism unknown (Kishida et al., 1992), and since VTG is the yolk protein produced in the
liver
by estrogens activity; as a consequence, it
is transferred
to the ovary for oocyte as a final destination (Meucci & Arukwe 2005; Tian et al., 2009; Reading et al., 2017). High
levels
of vtg gene
expression
in the
liver
,
therefore
, would be
expected
inconsistent with our results.
Similarly
, vtg gene
expression
of ovaries was more than
liver
in white cloud mountain minnow (Tanichthys albonubes) (Wang et al., 2010) and sterlet sturgeon (Acipenser ruthenus) (Akhavan et al.,
2016).
Sex
identification
has been more distinguished by
skin
mucus
Ca (73%) and VTG (61%) than E2 (44%).
Certainly
,
because
blood Ca is an indirect tool for detection of VTG during
maturity
progress, Ca content can
be assayed
as a biomarker of estrogens recirculation in
females
at once VTG
levels
(Svoboda et al., 2001; Linares-Casenave et al., 2003; Stahl et al., 2009). Although the Ca
level
of
plasma
was higher than
mucus
, there is sustainable amount of Ca observed in the
mucus
particularly
during vitellogenesis.