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Leptin is a peripheral adiposity signal and a key hormone in energy balance regulation in mammals, acting as a link between nutritional status and the endocrine reproductive axis. If this is also the role of leptin in fish is not fully understood. This thesis investigates how different components of the leptin system are affected by sexual maturation and seasonal changes in energy balance in male Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) parr under fully fed and feed-restricted conditions. Moreover, the role of sex steroids as being one of the possible mechanisms by which sexual maturation interacts with leptin is explored.

The salmon leptin-a genes, lepa1 and lepa2, were expressed mainly in liver and the leptin receptor (lepr) in brain and ubiquitously in peripheral tissues. Seasonal characterization of the lepa genes and lepr during the growth and reproductive season in one-year old males showed that hepatic lepa1 and lepa2 mRNA levels and plasma leptin levels were down-regulated concomitantly with an increase in weight and body fat. Feed restriction up-regulated hepatic leptin, and pituitary lepr expression as well as plasma leptin levels. Correlation between leptin levels and body lipid stores were either lacking or negative. These findings show that leptin and lepr are sensitive to changes in energy balance, but that leptin might not reflect adiposity in juvenile salmon.

Hepatic lepa1 and lepa2, and testicular lepr expression increased during mid- to late spermatogenesis in early maturing males. This up-regulation was preceded by rapid gonadal growth and elevated pituitary follicle-stimulating hormone gene expression levels, whereas peak leptin levels coincided with peak pituitary luteinizing hormone expression and the presence of running milt in the testes. The sex steroids testosterone (T), 11-ketotestosterone and 17-β estradiol stimulated lepa1 and lepa2 gene expression in Atlantic salmon hepatocytes in vitro differentially depending on developmental stage. T was also able to stimulate hepatic lepa1 and pituitary lepa1 and lepr gene expression in immature male salmon in vivo. These results suggest that leptin plays a role in male fish reproduction during later stages of the maturational process and that the elevation of leptin expression during spermatogenesis could be caused by androgen stimulation.

This thesis investigates if boldness is reflected in the function of brain histaminergic system in zebrafish (Danio rerio). Moreover, behavioural differences in AB line, spiegeldanio (spd) line and wild caught strain of zebrafish have also been explored apart from the winner-loser effect in AB and spd fish. This thesis also includes studies on the effect of progestins on reproductive behaviour in zebrafish and regulation of leptinergic system on sexual maturation in male Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.).

Boldness is reflected in higher expression of histamine receptor 1 (hrh1) in the telencephalon and diencephalon of male zebrafish and dominance by an elevated expression of hrh1 in the optic tectum. In female zebrafish boldness is also associated with lower expression of histamine receptor 3 (hrh3) in the optic tectum and dominance by lower expression of hrh3 in the telencephalon. Comparison of behavioural traits of zebrafish of AB, spd and wild type shows that wild type strain is most shy and shows no gender difference. AB is bolder than spd in the open field test while spd is bolder AB in the novel tank dive test. Similarly results for aggression are also test dependent since the spd is more aggressive than AB in the mirror test, however no difference is measured during dyadic fight test. A typical loser effect and activation of serotonergic system is observed in both AB and spd fish. Further, both levonorgestrel (LNG) and progesterone (P4) cause an early puberty in male zebrafish. However only levonorgestrel causes males biased population at environmental concentrations. In male Atlantic salmon, during early spring, both leptin paralogues, lepa1 and lepa2 in the liver and leptin receptor (lepr) in the brain are downregulated in non-maturing control group. At final maturational stage both hepatic lepa1 and lepa2 are upregulated 7.7 times and 49 times respectively in maturing control males. A significant upregulation of lepr is also measured from mid to late spermatogenesis.  

This thesis elucidates that an elevated brain histaminergic tone is associated with boldness and dominance and in both sexes changes at gene level are orchestrated by different brain region. Boldness is a contextual trait as it depends on strain, line, sex and test. The loser effect after losing a fight is present in both AB and spd line, however it has been shown for the first time in spd line here. Only androgenic progestin causes male biased population but both androgenic and anti androgenic progestin cause early puberty in zebrafish. The expression of leptinergic system is significantly affected during early sexual maturation in parr stage of salmon. Moreover, depleted fat stores are associated with low leptin levels and feed restriction is association with an elevated leptinergic tone in liver and pituitary. This thesis not only emphasizes that strain vs line difference exists and should be an important criterion before designing any experiment, but it also indicates an important role histaminergic system, progestins and leptinergic system in divergent behaviour profiles, puberty and sexual maturation, respectively of teleosts and contributes to our understanding of it.