We investigated the changes in plasma sex steroid hormones, testosterone (T), estradiol- (), 17,-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one (), 11-ketotestosterone (11KT) and cortisol levels from ribbed gunnel, Dictyosoma burgeri in associated with annual reproductive cycle. The gonadosomatic index (GSI) of females increased from November, peaked in February and decreased rapidly from March. The GSI of males also increased from November, peaked in January and then decreased gradually. In females, levels increased and remained high from December to February. The levels of T showed a similar tendency and correlated (=0.898, p<0.01) with levels. The levels of increased rapidly in February () and peaked in July (). Cortisol level was peaked in March and correlated with levels (=0.696, p<0.01). In males, the levels of T was peaked in January and then decreased rapidly. The levels of 11KT were remained high from October to January. On the other hand, the levels of fluctuated during reproductive cycle. These results suggest that plasma sex steroids in ribbed gunnels have annual periodicity, and that cortisol may involve in maturation of females.
We investigated the changes in plasma sex steroid hormones, testosterone (T), estradiol-17β (E2), 17,20 β-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one (17α20βOHP), 11-ketotestosterone (11KT) and cortisol levels from ribbed gunnel, Dictyosoma burgeri in associated with annual reproductive cycle. The fish were collected at the coastal waters of Dadaepo, Busan, Korea from August 2002 to March 2003. Body weight, liver weight and gonad weight were measured for calculation of hepatosomatic index (HSI) and gonadosomatic index (GSI). Plasma steroid and cortisol levels were measured by radioimmunoassay and data were analyzed using the Kruskal-Wallis test and the Spearman rank correlation. The GSI of females increased from November, peaked in February (13.21±2.27) and decreased rapidly from March (1.05±0.23). The GSI of males also increased from November, peaked in December (0.36±0.12) and remained high to February. In females, E2 levels increased and remained high from December to February (19.81±7.46~22.85±6.18 ng/ ㎖). The levels of T showed a similar tendency and correlated (rs=0.813, p=0.0001) significantly with E2 levels. The levels of 17α20βOHP increased rapidly in February (4.78±1.01 ng/㎖) and peaked in July (5.08±0.65 ng/㎖). Cortisol level was peaked in March (2081.07±1140.02 ng/㎖) and correlated significantly with 17α20βOHP levels (rs=0.790, p=0.0001). In males, the levels of T was peaked in January (2.43±0.17 ng/㎖) and then decreased rapidly. The levels of 11KT were remained high from October to January (3.27±1.55~4.28±1.53 ng/㎖) and correlated significantly with T levels (rs=0.513, p=0.002). On the other hand, the levels of 17α20βOHP fluctuated during reproductive cycle and the variation pattern of cortisol levels were similar to females. These results suggest that plasma sex steroids in ribbed gunnels have annual periodicity, and that cortisol may involve in maturation of females.