海洋生物许多类群中，有些种类的雌雄个体间会通过释放和感受性信息素来协调同步生殖行为。这一现象在一些具有特殊生殖习性的鱼类中尤为重要。中华乌塘鳢栖息于海洋潮间带滩涂，营穴居生活，性成熟雌雄鱼在洞穴内配对产卵。本课题组前期开展的研究已明确雌鱼在卵巢成熟、排卵和产卵过程中向水体释放17α-20β-双羟孕酮（DHP）和前列腺素E2（PGE2）作为性信息素吸引雄鱼交配产卵；近期的研究也明确了雄鱼通过嗅觉器官感受DHP和PGE2的分子机制。那么，性信息素通过雄鱼嗅觉器官激活了脑组织哪些区域的神经细胞？这些神经细胞表达的哪些功能基因与性信息素诱发的生殖效应有关？因此，在前期和近期研究成果的基础上，本项目拟探究受性信息素调控的神经细胞及其表达的功能基因，并进一步阐明功能基因与生殖效应之间的关联，以期全面阐明性信息素诱发雄性中华乌塘鳢生殖效应的神经内分泌机制。研究成果可丰富和完善鱼类性信息素研究的基础理论。

Many marine species, especially burrow-living fishes, employ sex pheromone to improve the synchronization of gametogenesis and spawning. Chinese black sleeper (Bostrychus sinensis) is a burrowing fish that inhabits intertidal zone. During the spawning season, a pair of brood fish mate inside a burrow. Our previous studies had shown that at the time of oocyte maturation, ovulation and spawning, mature female B. sinensis released DHP and PGE2 into external water as sex pheromones to attract male fish and synchronize spawning procedures. Thereafter, we found that the sex pheromones were sensed by male olfactory system and the molecular mechanisms were further identified. However, we still need to answer some vital questions: Which neurons in the brain are activated by sex pheromone signals? What genes are expressed in these activated neurons and how do they affect reproductive responses? Therefore, based on our previous results, thepresent project aims to study the sex pheromone-activated neurons and genes and to further understand the relationship between the functional genes and reproductive responses. The results of this study will reveal the neuroendocrine mechanisms of sexual pheromone-induced reproductive effects in male B. sinensis and enrich the basic knowledge on fish pheromones.