Endocrine sex reversal in fishes: masculinization evokes greater stress and mortality

Abstract

In fishes the hormonal induction of masculinization is a more stressful process (as evidenced by higher mortality) than that of feminization. THis is further evidenced from observations reported for all-male and all-female triploids. The presence of sex-determining chromosome Y in pair appears to render the induction of endocrine sex reversal a more stressful process. The reproductive performance of neofemales especially those subjected to sex reversal by synthetic estrogens in Beta splendens is not equal to that of genetic females.