We investigated the effect of Lactobacillus crispatus KT-11 (KT-11) on intestinal immune systems in C3H/HeN mice. The level of intestinal total immunoglobulin (Ig) A was significantly higher in mice given KT-11 than in mice not given KT-11. Gene expression relating to antibody production and innate immune response increased more than 2-fold in the former compared with the later. Moreover, the n...

To investigate the regulation of lipid uptake into the eel oocyte in more detail, effects of 11-ketotestosterone (11-KT) and lipid transporters (lipoproteins) were determined in vitro. Ovarian explants from previtellogenic Japanese eels (Anguilla japonica) were incubated for 28 days with 11-KT and/or with very low density lipoproteins (Vldl), low density lipoproteins (Ldl), or high density lipo...

The posited immunosuppressive effects of androgens are a key component of the immunocompetence handicap hypothesis (ICHH). My thesis uses bluegill sunfish (Lepomis macrochirus) to test two predictions arising from this hypothesis: (1) natural concentrations of the androgen 11-keto testosterone (11-KT) will be negatively related with immunity, and (2) an immunochallenge will lower 11-KT concentr...

The levels of testosterone (T) and 11-ketotestosterone (11-KT) of the South American pacu Piaractus mesopotamicus were determined by radioimmunoassay during two stages of the reproductive cycle, i.e., resting and maturation, and the gonadosomatic index (GSI) was calculated. The highest levels of T and 11-KT were reached during the maturation stage (T = 2400 +/- 56 pg/ml; 11-KT = 2300 +/- 60 pg/...

Prior to vitellogenesis (previtellogenesis), androgens appear to play pivotal roles in stimulating oocyte growth. In this study, suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH) with subsequent array development was used to open a possible revealing window in understanding the functional aspects of oocyte development. we constructed a targeted cod cDnA array containing 200 differentially-expressed g...

Androgen disrupting chemicals (ADCs) are widespread in the aquatic environment, where they may pose a risk to aquatic organisms during critical periods of development. In this study, static renewal 96-h toxicity tests were followed over a 3-month growth period to investigate the endocrine disrupting effects of the androgen 11-ketotestosterone (11-KT), and the antiandrogen flutamide (FLU) on 1-w...

Androgen hormones have been shown to facilitate competitive ability in courtship and territorial behavior, while suppressing paternal behavior. The rock-pool blenny, Parablennius parvicornis, provides an excellent model to study the proximate regulation of such a trade-off between territorial and parental behavior, because nest-holder males of this species display these behaviors simultaneously...

The weakly electric fish from the main channel of the Amazon river, Sternarchogiton nattereri, offers a striking case of morphological variation. Females and most males are toothless, or present only few minute teeth on the mandible, whereas some males exhibit exaggerated, spike-like teeth that project externally from the snout and chin. Androgens are known to influence the expression of sexual...