17α,20β-Dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one was identified as the maturation-inducing hormone of several fish species, including salmonid fishes[1]. 17α,20β-Dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one has been widely used to promote ovulation and offspring reproduction in female fish[2].
In vitro, 17α,20β-Dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one treatment (30ng/ml) for 24 hours significantly inhibited testosterone (100ng/ml; 24h) stimulated 11-ketotestosterone production in testicular fragments of the common carp (Cyprinus carpio)[3]. Treatment of Japanese eel oocytes (600-700μm in diameter) with 100ng/ml of 17α,20β-Dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one for 24 hours significantly induced germinal vesicle breakdown[4].
In vivo, exposure to 17α,20β-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one (10nM; 4h) within water induced ovulation without spawning in solitary female zebrafish and induced spawning in mixed-sex pairs of zebrafish[5]. Proliferation and differentiation of germ cells in zebrafish exposed to 100nM 17α,20β-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one and 10nM estradiol for 2 weeks, with a large number of B-type spermatogonia and primary spermatocytes[6]. Intraperitoneal injection of 17α,20β-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one at a dose of 900µg/kg every two days for 10 days significantly stimulated spermiation in protandrous black porgy[7].
References:
[1] Nagahama Y. 17α, 20β-Dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one, a maturation-inducing hormone in fish oocytes: mechanisms of synthesis and action[J]. Steroids, 1997, 62(1): 190-196.
[2] Jéhannet P, Palstra A P, Meijerhof M, et al. The induction of oocyte maturation and ovulation in the European eel (Anguilla anguilla): in vitro and in vivo comparison of progesterone with 17α, 20β-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one[J]. Frontiers in Physiology, 2023, 14: 1207542.
[3] Barry T P, Aida K, Hanyu I. Effects of 17α, 20β‐dihydroxy‐4‐pregnen‐3‐one on the in vitro production of 11‐ketotestosterone by testicular fragments of the common carp, Cyprinus carpio[J]. Journal of Experimental Zoology, 1989, 251(1): 117-120.
[4] Kagawa H, Tanaka H, Ohta H, et al. In vitro effects of 17α-hydroxyprogesterone and 17α, 20β-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one on final maturation of oocytes at various developmental stages in artificially matured Japanese eel Anguilla japonica[J]. Fisheries science, 1995, 61(6): 1012-1015.
[5] Knight O M, Van Der Kraak G. The role of eicosanoids in 17α, 20β-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one-induced ovulation and spawning in Danio rerio[J]. General and Comparative Endocrinology, 2015, 213: 50-58.
[6] Chen S X, Bogerd J, Schoonen N E, et al. A progestin (17α, 20β-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one) stimulates early stages of spermatogenesis in zebrafish[J]. General and Comparative Endocrinology, 2013, 185: 1-9.
[7] Yueh W S, Chang C F. 17α, 20β, 21-trihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one and 17α, 20β-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one stimulated spermiation in protandrous black porgy, Acanthopagrus schlegeli[J]. Fish Physiology and Biochemistry, 1997, 17(1): 187-193.
17α,20β-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one被确认为是包括鲑科鱼类在内的多种鱼类的成熟诱导激素[1]。17α,20β-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one已被广泛用于促进雌性鱼类的排卵和后代繁殖[2]。
在体外，30ng/ml浓度的17α,20β-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one处理24小时，可显著抑制100ng/ml睾酮刺激的鲤鱼（Cyprinus carpio）睾丸碎片中11-酮基睾酮的生成[3]。使用100ng/ml的17α,20β-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one处理直径600-700μm的日本鳗鲡卵母细胞24小时，能显著诱导生发泡破裂[4]。
在体内，将雌性斑马鱼暴露于10nM的17α,20β-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one水溶液中4小时，可诱导排卵但不产卵，而在雌雄混养的斑马鱼中则能诱导产卵[5]。斑马鱼暴露于100nM的17α,20β-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one和10nM雌二醇混合液中2周后，生殖细胞增殖和分化明显，出现大量B型精原细胞和初级精母细胞[6]。在雄性先熟的黄鳍棘鲷中，每隔两天腹腔注射900µg/kg剂量的17α,20β-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one，连续10天处理能显著促进排精[7]。