Sperm maturation in teleosts: Role of androgens and progestins in our present understanding to emerging new concepts

Abstract

Reproductive success is vital for the sustainability of a species and it is tightlyregulated by sex steroids which exert variable effects based on the sex and stage ofgonadal development in addition to gametogenesis to time reproduction. Teleosts aregood model for understanding spermatogenesis as it is synchronous and this process isconserved among many vertebrate species and is strongly regulated by gonadotropins andsex steroids. The role of sex steroids in the regulation of spermatogenesis and spermmaturation has been hypothesized and proved in many instances. In teleosts, 11-ketotestosterone is a potent androgen, which along with progestin, 17,20β-dihydroxypregn-4-en-3-one, mediates the progression of meiosis during spermatogenesisvis-à-vis sperm maturation. In this chapter, we comprehend the role of androgens andprogestins in teleostean sperm maturation by emphasizing the hormone production,action and how gonadotropins or other related factors regulate this process. In addition,we also discussed about the regulation of hypothalamo-hypophyseal-gonadal axis andclarified how modulation of any of these processes assists sperm maturation andspermiation, which are critical for better seed production in pisciculture. © 2013 Nova Science Publishers, Inc.