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PERCEPTION OF THE MOLTING HORMONE 20-HYDROXECDYSONE BY HOMARUS AMERICANUS: LOCALIZATION OF STEROID RECEPTORS AND EFFECT ON BEHAVIOR
Citation:
Coglianese, D. L., D B. Horowitz, AND G. KassSimon. PERCEPTION OF THE MOLTING HORMONE 20-HYDROXECDYSONE BY HOMARUS AMERICANUS: LOCALIZATION OF STEROID RECEPTORS AND EFFECT ON BEHAVIOR. Presented at Southern New England Chapter of the American Fisheries Society, Old Lyme, CT, January 21, 2004.
Description:
There is growing evidence that hormones, when released from an animal into the environment, act as chemical signals to other organisms. There is also evidence to suggest that hormones are released by lobsters during sexual and agonistic encounters to signal conspecifics. The goal of this research is to begin to define the role of biological molecules, which are released through the urine of lobsters, in modulating behaviors during aggressive encounters. Behavioral and immunohistochemical studies are underway to determine whether the molting hormone, 20-Hydroxyecdysone (20-HE), acts to orchestrate agonistic behavior in lobsters. Preliminary results indicate quantifiable differences in behavior of lobsters exposed to 20-HE during agonistic encounters as compared to lobsters exposed to the inactive form of the hormone or controls. We are using histochemical and immunohistochemical staining to characterize and localize 20-HE and alpha-ecdysone (the precursor to 20-HE) receptor sites in the main olfactory sensors of the lobster. Results from these studies suggest steroids alter not only the internal state of an animal, but are also used by invertebrates as signaling tools with which to orchestrate agonistic strategies.