Review
Neural and hormonal mechanisms of reproductive-related arousal in fishes

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Abstract

The major classes of chemicals and brain pathways involved in sexual arousal in mammals are well studied and are thought to be of an ancient, evolutionarily conserved origin. Here we discuss what is known of these neurochemicals and brain circuits in fishes, the oldest and most species-rich group of vertebrates from which tetrapods arose over 350 million years ago. Highlighted are case studies in vocal species where well-delineated sensory and motor pathways underlying reproductive-related behaviors illustrate the diversity and evolution of brain mechanisms driving sexual motivation between (and within) sexes. Also discussed are evolutionary insights from the neurobiology and reproductive behavior of elasmobranch fishes, the most ancient lineage of jawed vertebrates, which are remarkably similar in their reproductive biology to terrestrial mammals.

Research Highlights

► Teleosts and elasmobranchs are powerful models to investigate mechanisms of brain arousal. ► The output of the core–paracore brain region is integrated with sensory and motor systems. ► Neurochemicals and neural circuits which underlie arousal are evolutionarily conserved.

Section snippets

Introduction: Evolutionarily conserved neurochemicals and pathways of sexual arousal

Mong et al. (2003) comment that “high arousal is reflected by high sensory responsiveness, high motor activity, and high emotional reactivity.” Ultimately, changes in levels of arousal of any one sensory or motor system depend on some form of modulatory input originating from what Nieuwenhuys et al. (1988) define as the neurochemically rich “core” and “paracore” that together form a neuroendocrine “axis” in the brain. Core regions, like the preoptic area (POA), lie adjacent to the brain's

Connectivity, neurochemistry and function of the POA/anterior hypothalamus

The POA and anterior hypothalamus, neurochemical “core” areas essential for the control of reproductive physiology and hence behavior in all vertebrates, show a highly conserved pattern of anatomical organization (Butler and Hodos, 2005, Meek and Nieuwenhuys, 1998). The POA and anterior hypothalamus can be viewed as one functional unit, the POA, because of their shared developmental origin (Puelles, 2001) and obvious homologies between neuropeptide-containing cell groups in the POA of teleosts

Brain arousal and reproductive behavior in vocal fishes

Vocal teleost fish species have a long history as models for studying the neural basis of behavior due to their simple, stereotyped, and easily quantified behaviors that are controlled by a discrete population of neurons whose anatomical and physiological properties are well defined (Bass and Zakon, 2005). These fish have also provided excellent models to study how steroids and neuropeptides rapidly modulate plasticity in neural circuits controlling behavior (Bass and Remage-Healey, 2008,

Neural substrates for sexual arousal and reproductive behavior in elasmobranch fishes

Elasmobranch fishes are an important group for comparative and evolutionary studies, as they belong to the oldest lineage of extant jawed vertebrates (Chondrichthyes, see Fig. 1), and serve as an outgroup to bony vertebrates (actinopterygians and tetrapods) and may therefore provide further insights into the ancestral vertebrate condition in brain and behavior. In many respects, their reproductive physiology (Maruska and Gelsleichter, 2010) and, in some cases, chemical neuroanatomy (below) is

Concluding comments

Interdisciplinary approaches combining behavioral endocrinology with molecular neuroanatomy (location and abundance of steroid synthesizing enzymes and receptors, peptidergic pathways) and neurophysiology have established both teleosts and elasmobranch fishes as powerful model systems to investigate cellular mechanisms of brain arousal, especially in the context of reproduction. The output of a highly conserved core–paracore region, inclusive of the POA-anterior hypothalamus and brainstem cell

Acknowledgments

Support during the preparation of this manuscript was provided by Brooklyn College and the CUNY Research Foundation to PMF and NIH (DC00092) and NSF (IOB0516748) grants to AHB.

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