Food deprivation explains effects of mouthbrooding on ovaries and steroid hormones, but not brain neuropeptide and receptor mRNAs, in an African cichlid fish

► Mouthbrooding and food deprivation both decrease ovary size and levels of androgens and estrogens. ► Effects of mouthbrooding and food deprivation differ for GnRH and NPY receptors. ► Hypocretin and cholecystokinin mRNAs are highly abundant in the brains of food-deprived females. ► Many, but not all, physiological changes of mouthbrooding may be consequences of food deprivation.