Sex reversal in wrasses. I

3H-Labelled testosterone, injected into the peritoneal cavity of T. duperrey is taken up by the central nervous system and the gonads. In the brain maximal uptake occurs within 1 to 2 h whereas maximal uptake in the gonads takes place within 1/2 to 1 h. Relatively large amounts of radioactivity were eliminated into water: the elimination reached 8% of the injected dose in 4 h. The brain and the gonads are capable of aromatizing injected androgen, forming estrone, estradiol and more polar metabolites (i.e., containing more than 2 hydroxyl groups) and water soluble derivatives (possibly either the sulfates, or glucuronides). The uptake, and metabolism, may be higher in males as compared with females. (author). 6 tabs., 24 refs