Sex reversal in wrasses. I. Uptake of testosterone by the gonads and the central nervous system and its aromatization in the CNS of Thalassoma duperrey (Teleostei: Labridae).

3H-Labelled testosterone, injected into the peritoneal cavity of T. duperrey is taken up by the central nervous system and the gonads. In the brain maximal uptake occurs within 1 to 2 h whereas maximal uptake in the gonads takes place within 1/2 to 1 h. Relatively large amount of radioactivity were eliminated into water: the elimination reached 8% of the injected dose in 4 h. The brain and the gonads are capable of aromatizing injected androgen, forming estrone, estradiol and more polar metabolites (i.e. containing more than 2 hydroxyl groups) and water soluble derivatives (possibly either the sulfates, or glucuronides). The uptake, and metabolism, may be higher in males as compared to females.