University of Tasmania
Browse

File(s) not publicly available

A possible alternative to 17 beta-estradiol in a viviparous lizard, Tiliqua nigrolutea

journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-16, 13:40 authored by Ashley EdwardsAshley Edwards, Susan JonesSusan Jones, Noel DaviesNoel Davies
We have detected an unusual polar steroid as a major end product of gonadal steroid biosynthesis in male and female blotched blue-tongued lizards, Tiliqua nigrolutea. In an investigation of the steroidogenic pathways in blue-tongued lizards, we incubated gonads of both male and female lizards with tritiated pregnenolone and identified the products of steroid biosynthesis using thin layer chromatography and high performance liquid chromatography with radiometric detection: gonads from both reproductively active and quiescent lizards were examined. The proportion of total radioactive substrate converted to the unknown polar steroid was greater in individuals with hypertrophied gonads (males (N=4) 28.1%; females (N=4) 45.3%) than in those with regressed gonads (males (N=4) 5.9%; females (N=4) 33.3%). Properties of the unknown steroid were identical across all incubations. Incubation time-course information, thin layer and high performance liquid chromatography properties of the polar steroid are presented. The steroid is more polar than 17β-estradiol, which was not detected, but less polar than all tri-hydroxylated estrogens to which it was compared. The possibility of an alternative estrogen to 17β-estradiol in some reptiles is discussed.

History

Publication title

General and Comparative Endocrinology

Volume

129

Pagination

114-121

ISSN

0016-6480

Department/School

School of Natural Sciences

Publisher

Academic Press Inc Elsevier Science

Place of publication

USA

Repository Status

  • Restricted

Socio-economic Objectives

Expanding knowledge in the environmental sciences

Usage metrics

    University Of Tasmania

    Exports

    RefWorks
    BibTeX
    Ref. manager
    Endnote
    DataCite
    NLM
    DC