Olfactory responses of several species of teleost to F-prostaglandins.

Abstract

Olfactory responses (EOG: electro-olfactogram) of 11 species of teleost (five Cypriniformes and six non-Cypriniformes) to F-prostaglandins (PGF2 alpha, 15-keto-PGF2 alpha, 13,14-dihydro-15-keto-PGF2 alpha) were examined. All the Cypriniformes showed distinct EOG responses to F-prostaglandins at 10(-7) M. By contrast, non-Cypriniformes with the exception of ayu, Pleccoglossus altivelis, showed responses to 10(-7) M F-prostaglandins of < 22% of that to 10(-5) M L-serine, and they were anosmic to 10(-8) M F-prostaglandins. These results indicate that F-prostaglandins are potent chemical stimulants in Cypriniformes, and suggest that F-prostaglandins may be commonly used as sex pheromones in Cypriniformes, whereas they seem not to have pheromonal functions in most non-Cypriniformes examined.