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Table 1 Natural pheromones facilitate sexual maturation

From: Pheromonal bile acid 3-ketopetromyzonol sulfate primes the neuroendocrine system in sea lamprey

Treatment

Animals

Days to mature (Mean ± S.E.M)

Percentage of maturation

No. of animals (Immature/Mature)

PSMW

POF

40

16.7

5/1

PSMW

PSM

ND

0

6/0

SMW

POF

21 ± 8

50

3/3

SMW

PSM

17 ± 3

50

3/3

  1. Exposure to water conditioned by mature male sea lampreys (spermiating male washings, SMW) facilitated reproductive maturation in immature males and females. On average, immature females (POF) exposed to SMW began to ovulate in 21 days, whereas POF exposed to immature male washings (PSMW) did not ovulate until day 40. For immature males (PSM), the average time to spermiate after exposure to SMW was 17 days; in contrast, when exposed to PSMW, none of the PSMs had spermiated by day 40. χ2 = 5.042, dF = 1, p < 0.05 (Combine POF and PSM). ND: Not determined.