Inthisstudy,threecDNAsequencescorrespondingtocytochromeP450C17(CYP17I),3β-hydroxysteroiddehydrogenase(3β-HSD)andandrogenreceptor(AR)wereisolatedfromspottedseabass(Lateolabraxmaculatus).ThemRNAabundancesofCYP17Iand3β-HSDincreasedfromstageⅡtostageⅤwithasignificantincreaseatstageⅤ,andthehighestabundanceofARmRNAwasdetectedatstageⅢintesticulardevelopmentcycle.CYP17I,3β-HSDandARtranscriptswereobviouslyabundantinsteroidogenesistissuessuchastestis,brain,headkidneyamongothers.StrongandpositivesignalswereobservedmainlyininterstitialcellregionsofL.maculatustestisasweremeasuredwithinsituhybridizationmethod.SignificantincreasesofCYP17Iand3β-HSDtranscriptsweredetectedafter12–48hhCG(humanchorionicgonadotropin)andGnRHa(gonadotropin-releasinghormoneanalogue)treatments.However,anoppositerelationshipwasfoundforARintestisatthesametime.Inaddition,decreasingtrendsofCYP17Iand3β-HSDmRNAwereobservedintestisofL.maculatusinfreshwatergroup(FW)fromday2today6,andmRNAabundanceofARincreasedinbrackishwater(BW)groupfromday4today8.Thesefindingsrevealedthatthesethreesteroidsynthesisgenesareimportfortesticulardevelopment,hormoneandsalinitytreatment,andprovidedalsoaninsightintothemechanismofreproductiveendocrineofL.maculatus.
