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Crespo D, Fjelldal PG, Hansen TJ, Kjærner-Semb E, Skaftnesmo KO, Thorsen A, Norberg B, Edvardsen RB, Andersson E, Schulz RW, Wargelius A, Kleppe L. Loss of bmp15 function in the seasonal spawner Atlantic salmon results in ovulatory failure. FASEB J 2024; 38:e23837. [PMID: 39031536 DOI: 10.1096/fj.202400370r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2024] [Revised: 06/15/2024] [Accepted: 07/10/2024] [Indexed: 07/22/2024]
Abstract
Bone morphogenetic protein 15 (BMP15) is an oocyte-specific growth factor important for successful female reproduction in mammals. While mutations in BMP15/Bmp15 cause ovulatory deficiency and/or infertility in certain mammalian species, loss of bmp15 in zebrafish, a continuous spawner and the only bmp15 knockout model in fish to date, results in complete arrest of follicle development and later female-to-male sex reversal, preventing to examine effects on ovulation/fertilization. Here, we used Atlantic salmon, a seasonal spawner, and generated bmp15 mutants to investigate ovarian development and fertility. Histological and morphometric analyses revealed that in biallelic frameshift (bmp15 fs/fs) mutant ovaries, folliculogenesis started earlier, resulting in an advanced development compared to wild-type (WT) controls, accompanied by a weaker expression of the (early) oocyte-specific factor figla. This precocious ovarian development was followed in bmp15 fs/fs females by enhanced follicle atresia during vitellogenic stages. Although genes involved in steroid synthesis and signaling (star, cyp11b, cyp17a1 and esr1) were dramatically higher in late vitellogenic bmp15 fs/fs mutant ovaries, estradiol-17β plasma levels were lower than in WT counterparts, potentially reflecting compensatory changes at the level of ovarian gene expression. At spawning, bmp15 fs/fs females displayed lower gonado-somatic index values and reduced oocyte diameter, and the majority (71.4%), showed mature non-ovulating ovaries with a high degree of atresia. The remaining (28.6%) females spawned eggs but they either could not be fertilized or, upon fertilization, showed severe malformations and embryonic mortality. Our results show that Bmp15 is required for proper follicle recruitment and growth and later ovulatory success in Atlantic salmon, providing an alternative candidate target to induce sterility in farmed salmon. Moreover, since loss of bmp15 in salmon, in contrast to zebrafish, does not result in female-to-male sex change, this is the first mutant model in fish allowing further investigations on Bmp15-mediated functions in the ovulatory period.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diego Crespo
- Research Group Reproduction and Developmental Biology, Institute of Marine Research, Bergen, Norway
| | - Per Gunnar Fjelldal
- Research Group Reproduction and Developmental Biology, Institute of Marine Research, Matre Research Station, Matredal, Norway
| | - Tom J Hansen
- Research Group Reproduction and Developmental Biology, Institute of Marine Research, Matre Research Station, Matredal, Norway
| | - Erik Kjærner-Semb
- Research Group Reproduction and Developmental Biology, Institute of Marine Research, Bergen, Norway
| | - Kai Ove Skaftnesmo
- Research Group Reproduction and Developmental Biology, Institute of Marine Research, Bergen, Norway
| | - Anders Thorsen
- Research Group Reproduction and Developmental Biology, Institute of Marine Research, Bergen, Norway
| | - Birgitta Norberg
- Research Group Reproduction and Developmental Biology, Institute of Marine Research, Austevoll Research Station, Haukanes, Norway
| | - Rolf B Edvardsen
- Research Group Reproduction and Developmental Biology, Institute of Marine Research, Bergen, Norway
| | - Eva Andersson
- Research Group Reproduction and Developmental Biology, Institute of Marine Research, Bergen, Norway
| | - Rüdiger W Schulz
- Research Group Reproduction and Developmental Biology, Institute of Marine Research, Bergen, Norway
- Reproductive Biology Group, Division Developmental Biology, Department Biology, Science Faculty, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Anna Wargelius
- Research Group Reproduction and Developmental Biology, Institute of Marine Research, Bergen, Norway
| | - Lene Kleppe
- Research Group Reproduction and Developmental Biology, Institute of Marine Research, Bergen, Norway
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Skjold V, Afanasyev S, Burgerhout E, Sveen L, Rørvik KA, Mota VFCN, Dessen JE, Krasnov A. Endocrine and Transcriptome Changes Associated with Testicular Growth and Differentiation in Atlantic Salmon ( Salmo salar L.). Curr Issues Mol Biol 2024; 46:5337-5351. [PMID: 38920991 PMCID: PMC11202266 DOI: 10.3390/cimb46060319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2024] [Revised: 05/15/2024] [Accepted: 05/21/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Sexual maturation of Atlantic salmon males is marked by dramatic endocrine changes and rapid growth of the testes, resulting in an increase in the gonad somatic index (GSI). We examined the association of gonadal growth with serum sex steroids, as well as pituitary and testicular gene expression levels, which were assessed with a DNA oligonucleotide microarray. The testes transcriptome was stable in males with a GSI < 0.08% despite the large difference between the smallest and the largest gonads. Fish with a GSI ≥ 0.23% had 7-17 times higher serum levels of five male steroids and a 2-fold increase in progesterone, without a change in cortisol and related steroids. The pituitary transcriptome showed an upregulation of the hormone-coding genes that control reproduction and behavior, and structural rearrangement was indicated by the genes involved in synaptic transmission and the differentiation of neurons. The observed changes in the abundance of testicular transcripts were caused by the regulation of transcription and/or disproportional growth, with a greater increase in the germinative compartment. As these factors could not be separated, the transcriptome results are presented as higher or lower specific activities (HSA and LSA). LSA was observed in 4268 genes, including many genes involved in various immune responses and developmental processes. LSA also included genes with roles in female reproduction, germinal cell maintenance and gonad development, responses to endocrine and neural regulation, and the biosynthesis of sex steroids. Two functional groups prevailed among HSA: structure and activity of the cilia (95 genes) and meiosis (34 genes). The puberty of A. salmon testis is marked by the predominance of spermatogenesis, which displaces other processes; masculinization; and the weakening of external regulation. Results confirmed the known roles of many genes involved in reproduction and pointed to uncharacterized genes that deserve attention as possible regulators of sexual maturation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vetle Skjold
- The Norwegian Institute of Aquaculture, Nofima, 9291 Tromsø, Norway; (V.S.); (E.B.); (L.S.); (K.-A.R.); (J.-E.D.)
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and Technology Management, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, 1433 Ås, Norway;
| | - Sergey Afanasyev
- Sechenov Institute of Evolutionary Physiology and Biochemistry, 194223 Saint Petersburg, Russia;
| | - Erik Burgerhout
- The Norwegian Institute of Aquaculture, Nofima, 9291 Tromsø, Norway; (V.S.); (E.B.); (L.S.); (K.-A.R.); (J.-E.D.)
| | - Lene Sveen
- The Norwegian Institute of Aquaculture, Nofima, 9291 Tromsø, Norway; (V.S.); (E.B.); (L.S.); (K.-A.R.); (J.-E.D.)
| | - Kjell-Arne Rørvik
- The Norwegian Institute of Aquaculture, Nofima, 9291 Tromsø, Norway; (V.S.); (E.B.); (L.S.); (K.-A.R.); (J.-E.D.)
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and Technology Management, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, 1433 Ås, Norway;
| | | | - Jens-Erik Dessen
- The Norwegian Institute of Aquaculture, Nofima, 9291 Tromsø, Norway; (V.S.); (E.B.); (L.S.); (K.-A.R.); (J.-E.D.)
| | - Aleksei Krasnov
- The Norwegian Institute of Aquaculture, Nofima, 9291 Tromsø, Norway; (V.S.); (E.B.); (L.S.); (K.-A.R.); (J.-E.D.)
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Zhang Y, Lu Y, Xu F, Zhang X, Wu Y, Zhao J, Luo Q, Liu H, Chen K, Fei S, Cui X, Sun Y, Ou M. Molecular Characterization, Expression Pattern, DNA Methylation and Gene Disruption of Figla in Blotched Snakehead ( Channa maculata). Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:491. [PMID: 38338134 PMCID: PMC10854511 DOI: 10.3390/ani14030491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2024] [Revised: 01/24/2024] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Figla is one of the earliest expressed genes in the oocyte during ovarian development. In this study, Figla was characterized in C. maculata, one of the main aquaculture species in China, and designated as CmFigla. The length of CmFigla cDNA was 1303 bp, encoding 197 amino acids that contained a conserved bHLH domain. CmFigla revealed a female-biased expression patterns in the gonads of adult fish, and CmFigla expression was far higher in ovaries than that in testes at all gonadal development stages, especially at 60~180 days post-fertilization (dpf). Furthermore, a noteworthy inverse relationship was observed between CmFigla expression and the methylation of its promoter in the adult gonads. Gonads at 90 dpf were used for in situ hybridization (ISH), and CmFigla transcripts were mainly concentrated in oogonia and the primary oocytes in ovaries, but undetectable in the testes. These results indicated that Figla would play vital roles in the ovarian development in C. maculata. Additionally, the frame-shift mutations of CmFigla were successfully constructed through the CRISPR/Cas9 system, which established a positive foundation for further investigation on the role of Figla in the ovarian development of C. maculata. Our study provides valuable clues for exploring the regulatory mechanism of Figla in the fish ovarian development and maintenance, which would be useful for the sex control and reproduction of fish in aquaculture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Zhang
- School of Life Sciences, Hunan University of Science and Technology, Xiangtan 411201, China; (Y.Z.); (Y.L.); (X.C.)
- Key Laboratory of Tropical and Subtropical Fishery Resources Application and Cultivation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Pearl River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangzhou 510380, China; (X.Z.); (Y.W.); (J.Z.); (Q.L.); (H.L.); (K.C.); (S.F.)
| | - Yuntao Lu
- School of Life Sciences, Hunan University of Science and Technology, Xiangtan 411201, China; (Y.Z.); (Y.L.); (X.C.)
- Key Laboratory of Tropical and Subtropical Fishery Resources Application and Cultivation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Pearl River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangzhou 510380, China; (X.Z.); (Y.W.); (J.Z.); (Q.L.); (H.L.); (K.C.); (S.F.)
| | - Feng Xu
- Chongqing Fisheries Technical Extension Center, Chongqing 404100, China;
| | - Xiaotian Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Tropical and Subtropical Fishery Resources Application and Cultivation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Pearl River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangzhou 510380, China; (X.Z.); (Y.W.); (J.Z.); (Q.L.); (H.L.); (K.C.); (S.F.)
| | - Yuxia Wu
- Key Laboratory of Tropical and Subtropical Fishery Resources Application and Cultivation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Pearl River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangzhou 510380, China; (X.Z.); (Y.W.); (J.Z.); (Q.L.); (H.L.); (K.C.); (S.F.)
| | - Jian Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Tropical and Subtropical Fishery Resources Application and Cultivation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Pearl River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangzhou 510380, China; (X.Z.); (Y.W.); (J.Z.); (Q.L.); (H.L.); (K.C.); (S.F.)
| | - Qing Luo
- Key Laboratory of Tropical and Subtropical Fishery Resources Application and Cultivation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Pearl River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangzhou 510380, China; (X.Z.); (Y.W.); (J.Z.); (Q.L.); (H.L.); (K.C.); (S.F.)
| | - Haiyang Liu
- Key Laboratory of Tropical and Subtropical Fishery Resources Application and Cultivation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Pearl River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangzhou 510380, China; (X.Z.); (Y.W.); (J.Z.); (Q.L.); (H.L.); (K.C.); (S.F.)
| | - Kunci Chen
- Key Laboratory of Tropical and Subtropical Fishery Resources Application and Cultivation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Pearl River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangzhou 510380, China; (X.Z.); (Y.W.); (J.Z.); (Q.L.); (H.L.); (K.C.); (S.F.)
| | - Shuzhan Fei
- Key Laboratory of Tropical and Subtropical Fishery Resources Application and Cultivation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Pearl River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangzhou 510380, China; (X.Z.); (Y.W.); (J.Z.); (Q.L.); (H.L.); (K.C.); (S.F.)
| | - Xiaojuan Cui
- School of Life Sciences, Hunan University of Science and Technology, Xiangtan 411201, China; (Y.Z.); (Y.L.); (X.C.)
| | - Yuandong Sun
- School of Life Sciences, Hunan University of Science and Technology, Xiangtan 411201, China; (Y.Z.); (Y.L.); (X.C.)
| | - Mi Ou
- School of Life Sciences, Hunan University of Science and Technology, Xiangtan 411201, China; (Y.Z.); (Y.L.); (X.C.)
- Key Laboratory of Tropical and Subtropical Fishery Resources Application and Cultivation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Pearl River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangzhou 510380, China; (X.Z.); (Y.W.); (J.Z.); (Q.L.); (H.L.); (K.C.); (S.F.)
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Ghorbaninejad Z, Eghbali A, Ghorbaninejad M, Ayyari M, Zuchowski J, Kowalczyk M, Baharvand H, Shahverdi A, Eftekhari-Yazdi P, Esfandiari F. Carob extract induces spermatogenesis in an infertile mouse model via upregulation of Prm1, Plzf, Bcl-6b, Dazl, Ngn3, Stra8, and Smc1b. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2023; 301:115760. [PMID: 36209951 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2022.115760] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2021] [Revised: 09/20/2022] [Accepted: 09/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Ethnopharmacological studies for drug discovery from natural compounds play an important role for developing current therapeutical platforms. Plants are a group of natural sources which have been served as the basis in the treatment of many diseases for centuries. In this regard, Ceratonia siliqua (carob) is one of the herbal medicine which is traditionally used for male infertility treatments. But so far the main mechanisms for effects of carob are unknown. Here, we intend to investigate the ability of carob extract to induce spermatogenesis in an azoospermia mouse model and determine the mechanisms that underlie its function. AIM OF THE STUDY This is a pre-clinical animal model study to evaluate the effect of carob extract in spermatogenesis recovery. METHODS We established an infertile mouse model with the intent to examine the ability of carob extract as a potential herbal medicine for restoration of male fertility. Sperm parameters, as well as gene expression dynamics and levels of spermatogenesis hormones, were evaluated 35 days after carob administration. RESULTS Significant enhanced sperm parameters (P < 0.05) showed that the carob extract could induce spermatogenesis in the infertile mouse model. Our data suggested an anti-apototic and inducer role in the expressions of cell cycle regulating genes. Carob extract improved the spermatogenesis niche by considerable affecting Sertoli and Leydig cells (P < 0.05). The carob-treated mice were fertile and contributed to healthy offspring that matured. Our data confirmed that this extract triggered the hormonal system, the spermatogenesis-related gene expression network, and signaling pathways to induce and promote sperm production with notable level (P < 0.05). We found that the aqueous extract consisted of a polar and mainly well water-soluble substance. Carob extract might upregulate spermatogenesis hormones via its amino acid components, which were detected in the extract by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). CONCLUSION Our results strongly suggest that carob extract might be a promising future treatment option for male infertility. This finding could pave the way for clinical trials in infertile men. This is the first study that has provided reliable, strong pre-clinical evidence for carob extract as an effective candidate for fertility recovery in cancer-related azoospermia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zeynab Ghorbaninejad
- Department of Stem Cells and Developmental Biology, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Tehran, Iran; Department of Developmental Biology, University of Science and Culture, Tehran, Iran; Department of Embryology, Reproductive Biomedicine Research Center, Royan Institute for Reproductive Biomedicine, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
| | - Atiyeh Eghbali
- Department of Stem Cells and Developmental Biology, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Tehran, Iran; Department of Developmental Biology, University of Science and Culture, Tehran, Iran; Department of Embryology, Reproductive Biomedicine Research Center, Royan Institute for Reproductive Biomedicine, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mahsa Ghorbaninejad
- Department of Stem Cells and Developmental Biology, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Tehran, Iran; Department of Genetics, Reproductive Biomedicine Research Center, Royan Institute for Reproductive Biomedicine, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mahdi Ayyari
- Department of Horticultural Science, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Jerzy Zuchowski
- Department of Biochemistry and Crop Quality, Institute of Soil Science and Plant Cultivation, State Research Institute, Puławy, Poland
| | - Mariusz Kowalczyk
- Department of Biochemistry and Crop Quality, Institute of Soil Science and Plant Cultivation, State Research Institute, Puławy, Poland
| | - Hossein Baharvand
- Department of Stem Cells and Developmental Biology, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Tehran, Iran; Department of Developmental Biology, University of Science and Culture, Tehran, Iran
| | - Abdolhossein Shahverdi
- Department of Embryology, Reproductive Biomedicine Research Center, Royan Institute for Reproductive Biomedicine, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
| | - Poopak Eftekhari-Yazdi
- Department of Embryology, Reproductive Biomedicine Research Center, Royan Institute for Reproductive Biomedicine, ACECR, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Fereshteh Esfandiari
- Department of Stem Cells and Developmental Biology, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Tehran, Iran.
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Hau HTA, Ogundele O, Hibbert AH, Monfries CAL, Exelby K, Wood NJ, Nevarez-Mejia J, Carbajal MA, Fleck RA, Dermit M, Mardakheh FK, Williams-Ward VC, Pipalia TG, Conte MR, Hughes SM. Maternal Larp6 controls oocyte development, chorion formation and elevation. Development 2020; 147:dev187385. [PMID: 32054660 PMCID: PMC7055395 DOI: 10.1242/dev.187385] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2019] [Accepted: 01/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
La-related protein 6 (Larp6) is a conserved RNA-binding protein found across eukaryotes that has been suggested to regulate collagen biogenesis, muscle development, ciliogenesis, and various aspects of cell proliferation and migration. Zebrafish have two Larp6 family genes: larp6a and larp6b Viable and fertile single and double homozygous larp6a and larp6b zygotic mutants revealed no defects in muscle structure, and were indistinguishable from heterozygous or wild-type siblings. However, larp6a mutant females produced eggs with chorions that failed to elevate fully and were fragile. Eggs from larp6b single mutant females showed minor chorion defects, but chorions from eggs laid by larp6a;larp6b double mutant females were more defective than those from larp6a single mutants. Electron microscopy revealed defective chorionogenesis during oocyte development. Despite this, maternal zygotic single and double mutants were viable and fertile. Mass spectrometry analysis provided a description of chorion protein composition and revealed significant reductions in a subset of zona pellucida and lectin-type proteins between wild-type and mutant chorions that paralleled the severity of the phenotype. We conclude that Larp6 proteins are required for normal oocyte development, chorion formation and egg activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hoi Ting A Hau
- Randall Centre for Cell and Molecular Biophysics, New Hunt's House, Guy's Campus, King's College London, London SE1 1UL, UK
| | - Oluwaseun Ogundele
- Randall Centre for Cell and Molecular Biophysics, New Hunt's House, Guy's Campus, King's College London, London SE1 1UL, UK
| | - Andrew H Hibbert
- Randall Centre for Cell and Molecular Biophysics, New Hunt's House, Guy's Campus, King's College London, London SE1 1UL, UK
| | - Clinton A L Monfries
- Randall Centre for Cell and Molecular Biophysics, New Hunt's House, Guy's Campus, King's College London, London SE1 1UL, UK
| | - Katherine Exelby
- Randall Centre for Cell and Molecular Biophysics, New Hunt's House, Guy's Campus, King's College London, London SE1 1UL, UK
| | - Natalie J Wood
- Randall Centre for Cell and Molecular Biophysics, New Hunt's House, Guy's Campus, King's College London, London SE1 1UL, UK
| | - Jessica Nevarez-Mejia
- Randall Centre for Cell and Molecular Biophysics, New Hunt's House, Guy's Campus, King's College London, London SE1 1UL, UK
| | | | - Roland A Fleck
- Centre for Ultrastructural Imaging, King's College London, London SE1 1UL, UK
| | - Maria Dermit
- Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, John Vane Science Centre, Charterhouse Square, London EC1M 6BQ, UK
| | - Faraz K Mardakheh
- Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, John Vane Science Centre, Charterhouse Square, London EC1M 6BQ, UK
| | - Victoria C Williams-Ward
- Randall Centre for Cell and Molecular Biophysics, New Hunt's House, Guy's Campus, King's College London, London SE1 1UL, UK
| | - Tapan G Pipalia
- Randall Centre for Cell and Molecular Biophysics, New Hunt's House, Guy's Campus, King's College London, London SE1 1UL, UK
| | - Maria R Conte
- Randall Centre for Cell and Molecular Biophysics, New Hunt's House, Guy's Campus, King's College London, London SE1 1UL, UK
| | - Simon M Hughes
- Randall Centre for Cell and Molecular Biophysics, New Hunt's House, Guy's Campus, King's College London, London SE1 1UL, UK
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Kleppe L, Edvardsen RB, Furmanek T, Andersson E, Skaftnesmo KO, Thyri Segafredo F, Wargelius A. Transcriptomic analysis of dead end knockout testis reveals germ cell and gonadal somatic factors in Atlantic salmon. BMC Genomics 2020; 21:99. [PMID: 32000659 PMCID: PMC6993523 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-020-6513-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2019] [Accepted: 01/20/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Sustainability challenges are currently hampering an increase in salmon production. Using sterile salmon can solve problems with precocious puberty and genetic introgression from farmed escapees to wild populations. Recently sterile salmon was produced by knocking out the germ cell-specific dead end (dnd). Several approaches may be applied to inhibit Dnd function, including gene knockout, knockdown or immunization. Since it is challenging to develop a successful treatment against a gene product already existing in the body, alternative targets are being explored. Germ cells are surrounded by, and dependent on, gonadal somatic cells. Targeting genes essential for the survival of gonadal somatic cells may be good alternative targets for sterility treatments. Our aim was to identify and characterize novel germ cell and gonadal somatic factors in Atlantic salmon. Results We have for the first time analysed RNA-sequencing data from germ cell-free (GCF)/dnd knockout and wild type (WT) salmon testis and searched for genes preferentially expressed in either germ cells or gonadal somatic cells. To exclude genes with extra-gonadal expression, our dataset was merged with available multi-tissue transcriptome data. We identified 389 gonad specific genes, of which 194 were preferentially expressed within germ cells, and 11 were confined to gonadal somatic cells. Interestingly, 5 of the 11 gonadal somatic transcripts represented genes encoding secreted TGF-β factors; gsdf, inha, nodal and two bmp6-like genes, all representative vaccine targets. Of these, gsdf and inha had the highest transcript levels. Expression of gsdf and inha was further confirmed to be gonad specific, and their spatial expression was restricted to granulosa and Sertoli cells of the ovary and testis, respectively. Finally, we show that inha expression increases with puberty in both ovary and testis tissue, while gsdf expression does not change or decreases during puberty in ovary and testis tissue, respectively. Conclusions This study contributes with transcriptome data on salmon testis tissue with and without germ cells. We provide a list of novel and known germ cell- and gonad somatic specific transcripts, and show that the expression of two highly active gonadal somatic secreted TGF-β factors, gsdf and inha, are located within granulosa and Sertoli cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lene Kleppe
- Institute of Marine Research, P.O. Box 1870, Nordnes, NO-5817, Bergen, Norway.
| | | | - Tomasz Furmanek
- Institute of Marine Research, P.O. Box 1870, Nordnes, NO-5817, Bergen, Norway
| | - Eva Andersson
- Institute of Marine Research, P.O. Box 1870, Nordnes, NO-5817, Bergen, Norway
| | - Kai Ove Skaftnesmo
- Institute of Marine Research, P.O. Box 1870, Nordnes, NO-5817, Bergen, Norway
| | | | - Anna Wargelius
- Institute of Marine Research, P.O. Box 1870, Nordnes, NO-5817, Bergen, Norway
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Identification and characterization of germ cell genes vasa and dazl in a protogynous hermaphrodite fish, orange-spotted grouper (Epinephelus coioides). Gene Expr Patterns 2020; 35:119095. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gep.2020.119095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2019] [Revised: 01/18/2020] [Accepted: 01/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
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Qin M, Zhang Z, Song W, Wong QWL, Chen W, Shirgaonkar N, Ge W. Roles of Figla/figla in Juvenile Ovary Development and Follicle Formation During Zebrafish Gonadogenesis. Endocrinology 2018; 159:3699-3722. [PMID: 30184072 DOI: 10.1210/en.2018-00648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2018] [Accepted: 08/27/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Sex determination and differentiation are complex processes. As a juvenile hermaphrodite or undifferentiated gonochorist, zebrafish undergo a special juvenile ovarian phase during sex differentiation, making it an excellent model for studying early oogenesis and folliculogenesis. We provide lines of evidence at morphological, molecular, and genetic levels for roles of factor in the germline α (Figla), an oocyte-specific transcription factor, in early zebrafish gonadogenesis. As in mammals, Figla/figla was also expressed in the gonads and its expression in the ovary was also restricted to early oocytes. Disruption of figla gene by CRISPR/Cas9 led to an all-male phenotype in the mutant. Detailed analysis of early gonadal development showed that the germ cells in the mutant were clustered in cysts and underwent meiosis, forming oocytes at prefollicular chromatin nucleolar (CN) stage (stage IA). However, the subsequent transition from cystic CN oocytes to individual follicular perinucleolar oocytes (stage IB) was blocked, resulting in an all-male phenotype in the mutant. The phenotype of figla mutant could not be rescued by estrogen treatment, in contrast to cyp19a1a mutant, and introduction of tp53 mutation also had no effect, unlike in fancd1 and fancl mutants. Transcriptome analysis revealed that many biological processes and pathways related to germ cell development, especially oogenesis, were upregulated in the presence of Figla and that the regulation of figla expression may involve heat shock proteins. Our results strongly suggest important roles for Figla in juvenile ovary development, especially the formation of individual follicles from cystic oocytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingming Qin
- Center of Reproduction, Development and Aging (CRDA), Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macau, China
| | - Zhiwei Zhang
- Center of Reproduction, Development and Aging (CRDA), Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macau, China
| | - Weiyi Song
- Center of Reproduction, Development and Aging (CRDA), Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macau, China
| | - Queenie Wing-Lei Wong
- Center of Reproduction, Development and Aging (CRDA), Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macau, China
| | - Weiting Chen
- Center of Reproduction, Development and Aging (CRDA), Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macau, China
| | - Niranjan Shirgaonkar
- Genomics and Bioinformatics Core, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macau, China
| | - Wei Ge
- Center of Reproduction, Development and Aging (CRDA), Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macau, China
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Kleppe L, Andersson E, Skaftnesmo KO, Edvardsen RB, Fjelldal PG, Norberg B, Bogerd J, Schulz RW, Wargelius A. Sex steroid production associated with puberty is absent in germ cell-free salmon. Sci Rep 2017; 7:12584. [PMID: 28974703 PMCID: PMC5626747 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-12936-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2017] [Accepted: 09/20/2017] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
In all vertebrates studied so far, germ cells are not required for pubertal maturation of the gonadal steroidogenic system, subsequent development of secondary sex characteristics and reproductive behavior. To explore if the absence of germ cells affects puberty or growth in Atlantic salmon, germ cell-free (GCF), dnd knockout and wild type (WT) postsmolts were stimulated to enter puberty. No GCF fish entered puberty, whereas 66.7% (males) and 30% (females) WT fish completed or entered puberty, respectively. Expression of genes related to steroidogenesis (star, cyp17a1, cyp11β, cyp19a1a), gonadal somatic cells (insl3, amh, igf3), oocytes (bmp15), gonadotropin receptors (fshr, lhcgr), and pituitary gonadotropic cells (fshb, lhb, gnrhr4) showed an immature status and failure to up-regulate gonadal sex steroid production in male and female GCF fish was also reflected in low or undetectable plasma sex steroids (11-ketotestosterone, estradiol-17β and testosterone). A gender difference (high in females, low in males) was found in the expression of star and cyp17a1 in GCF fish. No clear difference in growth was detected between GCF and immature WT fish, while growth was compromised in maturing WT males. We demonstrate for the first time in a vertebrate that germ cells are required for pubertal activation of the somatic steroidogenic cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lene Kleppe
- Institute of Marine Research, P.O. Box 1870, Nordnes, NO-5817, Bergen, Norway.
| | - Eva Andersson
- Institute of Marine Research, P.O. Box 1870, Nordnes, NO-5817, Bergen, Norway
| | - Kai Ove Skaftnesmo
- Institute of Marine Research, P.O. Box 1870, Nordnes, NO-5817, Bergen, Norway
| | - Rolf B Edvardsen
- Institute of Marine Research, P.O. Box 1870, Nordnes, NO-5817, Bergen, Norway
| | - Per Gunnar Fjelldal
- Institute of Marine Research, Matre Aquaculture Research Station, 5984, Matredal, Norway
| | - Birgitta Norberg
- Institute of Marine Research, Austevoll Research Station, 5392, Storebø, Norway
| | - Jan Bogerd
- Utrecht University, Faculty of Science, Department of Biology, Padualaan 8, 3584 CH, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Rüdiger W Schulz
- Institute of Marine Research, P.O. Box 1870, Nordnes, NO-5817, Bergen, Norway.,Utrecht University, Faculty of Science, Department of Biology, Padualaan 8, 3584 CH, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Anna Wargelius
- Institute of Marine Research, P.O. Box 1870, Nordnes, NO-5817, Bergen, Norway
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