Annual variations in hypothalamic serotonin and monoamine oxidase in the catfish Heteropneustes fossilis with a note on brain regional differences of day-night variations in gonadal preparatory phase.

In Heteropneustes fossilis, significant annual variations in serotonin (5-HT) and monoamine oxidase (MAO) were found in the hypothalamus both at 12 and 24 hr with high values of content and turnover index (TI) during gonadal recrudescence, and low values during gonadal quiescence. The 5-HT content reached high levels during April-July (late preparatory, prespawning, and spawning phases). The TI of 5-HT showed two peaks in its midday value; a major peak occurred in March (midpreparatory phase) and a minor one in June (prespawning phase). High MAO activity was seen in June (prespawning phase) and low values during February, March, and April (preparatory phase). Significant day-night variations in 5-HT content and TI, and MAO activity were observed in the hypothalamus and telencephalon in February and March (early and midpreparatory phase), but not at other times of the year. In the whole brain and separate regions such as the thalamus, midbrain, and hindbrain no day-night patterns were seen. A comparison of the data shows that the increase in 5-HT content and TI from February to March was significantly higher in the hypothalamus than in telencephalon and the opposite is true for MAO. The results suggest that the high hypothalamic activities of 5-HT and MAO during recrudescence is related to breeding activity; the day-night variations during the early and midpreparatory phase in these variables may be related to initiation of breeding in this species.