Influence of sex steroids on the catecholamine biosynthesis in chromaffin tissue from rainbow trout, Salmo gairdneri.

The in vitro activities of dopamine-beta-hydroxylase (DBH) and phenylethanolamine-N-methyl transferase (PNMT) were determined in the chromaffin tissue (head kidney) of sex steroid-treated rainbow trout, Salmo gairdneri. In addition, the DBH and PNMT activities were measured in fish at different sexual states. Steroid treatment increased the wet weight of the head kidney, while both DBH and PNMT activities decreased. Although no sex difference in the enzyme activities was detected, a possible correlation between DBH and PNMT activities and increased GSI values was indicated. The presented data suggest that changes in sex steroids during development may affect the catecholamine synthesis in the chromaffin tissue in S. gairdneri.