Sexual dimorphism in Odontobutis sinensis brain-pituitary-gonad axis and liver highlighted by histological and transcriptomic approach

•Male Odontobutis sinensis were larger than the female individuals at the same age.•igf and cyp27b were more highly detected in male liver than that in female.•The hepatic steatosis in sexually mature males was more severe than that in females.•E2 could significantly induce vtg expression in primary cultured hepatocytes.