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Peng W, Zhang Y, Song B, Yang P, Liu L. Developmental Delay and Male-Biased Sex Ratio in esr2b Knockout Zebrafish. Genes (Basel) 2024; 15:636. [PMID: 38790265 PMCID: PMC11121336 DOI: 10.3390/genes15050636] [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: 03/20/2024] [Revised: 04/27/2024] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
The estrogen receptor signaling pathway plays an important role in vertebrate embryonic development and sexual differentiation. There are four major estrogen receptors in zebrafish: esr1, esr2a, esr2b and gper. However, the specific role of different estrogen receptors in zebrafish is not clear. To investigate the role of esr2b in zebrafish development and reproduction, this study utilized TALENs technology to generate an esr2b knockout homozygous zebrafish line. The number of eggs laid by esr2b knockout female zebrafish did not differ significantly from that of wild zebrafish. The embryonic development process of wild-type and esr2b knockout zebrafish was observed, revealing a significant developmental delay in the esr2b knockout zebrafish. Additionally, mortality rates were significantly higher in esr2b knockout zebrafish than in their wild-type counterparts at 24 hpf. The reciprocal cross experiment between esr2b knockout zebrafish and wild-type zebrafish revealed that the absence of esr2b resulted in a decline in the quality of zebrafish oocytes, while having no impact on sperm cells. The knockout of esr2b also led to an abnormal sex ratio in the adult zebrafish population, with a female-to-male ratio of approximately 1:7. The quantitative PCR (qPCR) and in situ hybridization results demonstrated a significant downregulation of cyp19ab1b expression in esr2b knockout embryos compared to wild-type embryos throughout development (at 2 dpf, 3 dpf and 4 dpf). Additionally, the estrogen-mediated induction expression of cyp19ab1b was attenuated, while the estradiol-induced upregulated expression of vtg1 was disrupted. These results suggest that esr2b is involved in regulating zebrafish oocyte development and sex differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Peng
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hunan University of Arts and Science, Changde 415000, China; (Y.Z.); (B.S.); (P.Y.); (L.L.)
- State Key Laboratory of Development Biology of Freshwater Fish Sub-Center for Health Aquaculture, Changde 415000, China
| | - Yunsheng Zhang
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hunan University of Arts and Science, Changde 415000, China; (Y.Z.); (B.S.); (P.Y.); (L.L.)
- State Key Laboratory of Development Biology of Freshwater Fish Sub-Center for Health Aquaculture, Changde 415000, China
| | - Bolan Song
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hunan University of Arts and Science, Changde 415000, China; (Y.Z.); (B.S.); (P.Y.); (L.L.)
- State Key Laboratory of Development Biology of Freshwater Fish Sub-Center for Health Aquaculture, Changde 415000, China
| | - Pinhong Yang
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hunan University of Arts and Science, Changde 415000, China; (Y.Z.); (B.S.); (P.Y.); (L.L.)
- State Key Laboratory of Development Biology of Freshwater Fish Sub-Center for Health Aquaculture, Changde 415000, China
| | - Liangguo Liu
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hunan University of Arts and Science, Changde 415000, China; (Y.Z.); (B.S.); (P.Y.); (L.L.)
- State Key Laboratory of Development Biology of Freshwater Fish Sub-Center for Health Aquaculture, Changde 415000, China
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Reyes-Contreras M, de Vries B, van der Molen JC, Groothuis TGG, Taborsky B. Egg-mediated maternal effects in a cooperatively breeding cichlid fish. Sci Rep 2023; 13:9759. [PMID: 37328515 PMCID: PMC10276030 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-35550-5] [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: 10/30/2022] [Accepted: 05/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Mothers can influence offspring phenotype through egg-mediated maternal effects, which can be influenced by cues mothers obtain from their environment during offspring production. Developing embryos use these components but have mechanisms to alter maternal signals. Here we aimed to understand the role of mothers and embryos in how maternal effects might shape offspring social phenotype. In the cooperatively breeding fish Neolamprologus pulcher different social phenotypes develop in large and small social groups differing in predation risk and social complexity. We manipulated the maternal social environment of N. pulcher females during egg laying by allocating them either to a small or a large social group. We compared egg mass and clutch size and the concentration of corticosteroid metabolites between social environments, and between fertilized and unfertilized eggs to investigate how embryos deal with maternal signalling. Mothers in small groups produced larger clutches but neither laid smaller eggs nor bestowed eggs differently with corticosteroids. Fertilized eggs scored lower on a principal component representing three corticosteroid metabolites, namely 11-deoxycortisol, cortisone, and 11-deoxycorticosterone. We did not detect egg-mediated maternal effects induced by the maternal social environment. We discuss that divergent social phenotypes induced by different group sizes may be triggered by own offspring experience.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Reyes-Contreras
- Division of Behavioural Ecology, Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern, Wohlenstrasse 50A, 3032, Hinterkappelen, Switzerland
| | - Bonnie de Vries
- The Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Science, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 7, 9747 AG, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - J C van der Molen
- Laboratorium Bijzondere Chemie, Cluster Endocrinologie and Metabole Ziekten, University Medical Center Groningen, 9700 RB, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - T G G Groothuis
- The Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Science, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 7, 9747 AG, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Barbara Taborsky
- Division of Behavioural Ecology, Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern, Wohlenstrasse 50A, 3032, Hinterkappelen, Switzerland.
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Kottmann JS, Tveiten H, Miest JJ, Tomkiewicz J. Sex steroid dynamics and mRNA transcript profiles of growth- and development-related genes during embryogenesis following induced follicular maturation in European eel. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2021; 311:113854. [PMID: 34265345 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2021.113854] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2020] [Revised: 07/07/2021] [Accepted: 07/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Hormones and mRNA transcripts of maternal origin deposited in the egg may affect early embryonic development in oviparous species. These hormones include steroids, such as estradiol-17β (E2), testosterone (T), 11-ketotestosterone (11-kt), 17α,20ß-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one (DHP), and cortisol, which also play an important role in fish reproduction. In European eel, Anguilla anguilla, which does not reproduce naturally in captivity, vitellogenesis in female broodstock is commonly induced by administration of salmon or carp pituitary extract (PE) as an exogenous source of gonadotropins, while follicular maturation is stimulated by a priming dose of PE followed by provision of DHP as a maturation inducing hormone. In this regard, the main purpose of the present study was to evaluate effects of induced follicular maturation on reproductive success in European eel, focusing on maternal transfer and dynamics of steroids and mRNA transcripts of growth- and development-related genes throughout embryogenesis. The results showed that maternal blood plasma concentrations of E2, T and DHP were reflected in the unfertilized eggs. Moreover, a negative relationship between concentrations of E2 and DHP in eggs and embryos and quality parameters measured as fertilization success, cleavage abnormalities, embryonic survival, and hatch success was found. Concomitant mRNA transcript abundance analysis including genes involved in stress response (hsp70, hsp90), somatotropic axis (gh, igf1, igf2a, igf2b), lipid (cpt1a, cpt1b, pigf5) and thyroid metabolism (dio1, dio2, dio3, thrαb, thrβa, thrβb) varied among unfertilized egg batches. For the majority of genes, mRNA abundance increased during the maternal-to-zygotic transition in connection to activation of the transcription of the embryos own genome. mRNA abundance of dio1, cpt1a and cpt1b throughout embryogenesis was related to embryonic developmental competence. Notably, mRNA abundance of dio3 was positively associated with E2 concentrations, while the mRNA abundance of thrαb was negatively related to T concentrations in the unfertilized eggs, which may suggest an interaction between the thyroid and steroid hormone systems. Altogether, maternal plasma concentrations of E2 and DHP were reflected in the eggs, with high concentrations of these steroids in the eggs being negatively associated with embryonic developmental competence. Additionally, high transcript levels of two of the investigated genes (dio1, cpt1b) were positively associated with embryonic developmental competence. This study reveals maternal transfer of steroids and mRNA transcripts to the eggs, which may be significant contributors to the variability in embryonic survival observed in European eel captive reproduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johanna S Kottmann
- National Institute of Aquatic Resources, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark.
| | - Helge Tveiten
- UiT Arctic University of Norway, 9019 Tromsø, Norway
| | - Joanna J Miest
- School of Science, University of Greenwich, Chatham Maritime, Kent ME4 4TB, United Kingdom
| | - Jonna Tomkiewicz
- National Institute of Aquatic Resources, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
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Han Y, Fei Y, Wang M, Xue Y, Chen H, Liu Y. Study on the Joint Toxicity of BPZ, BPS, BPC and BPF to Zebrafish. Molecules 2021; 26:4180. [PMID: 34299453 PMCID: PMC8305483 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26144180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2021] [Revised: 07/06/2021] [Accepted: 07/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Bisphenol Z (BPZ), bisphenol S (BPS), bisphenol C (BPC), and bisphenol F (BPF) had been widely used as alternatives to bisphenol A (BPA), but the toxicity data of these bisphenol analogues were very limited. In this study, the joint toxicity of BPZ, BPS, BPC, and BPF to zebrafish (Danio rerio) was investigated. The median half lethal concentrations (LC50) of BPZ, BPS, BPC, and BPF to zebrafish for 96 h were 6.9 × 105 µM, 3.9 × 107 µM, 7.1 × 105 µM, and1.6 × 106 µM, respectively. The joint toxicity effect of BPF-BPC (7.7 × 105-3.4 × 105µM) and BPZ-BPC (3.4 × 105-3.5 × 105µM) with the same toxic ratio showed a synergistic effect, which may be attributed to enzyme inhibition or induction theory. While the toxicity effect of the other two bisphenol analogue combined groups and multi-joint pairs showed an antagonistic effect due to the competition site, other causes need to be further explored. Meanwhile, the expression levels of the estrogen receptor genes (ERα, ERβ1) and antioxidant enzyme genes (SOD, CAT, GPX) were analyzed using a quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction in zebrafish exposure to LC50 of BPZ, BPS, BPC, and BPF collected at 24, 48, 72, and 96 h. Relative expression of CAT, GPX, and ERβ1 mRNA declined significantly compared to the blank control, which might be a major cause of oxidant injury of antioxidant systems and the disruption of the endocrine systems in zebrafish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Han
- School of Environmental & Safety Engineering, Changzhou University, Changzhou 213164, China; (Y.F.); (Y.X.); (H.C.); (Y.L.)
- Jiangsu Engineering Research Center of Petrochemical Safety and Environmental Protection, Changzhou 213164, China
| | - Yumeng Fei
- School of Environmental & Safety Engineering, Changzhou University, Changzhou 213164, China; (Y.F.); (Y.X.); (H.C.); (Y.L.)
- Jiangsu Engineering Research Center of Petrochemical Safety and Environmental Protection, Changzhou 213164, China
| | - Mingxin Wang
- School of Environmental & Safety Engineering, Changzhou University, Changzhou 213164, China; (Y.F.); (Y.X.); (H.C.); (Y.L.)
| | - Yingang Xue
- School of Environmental & Safety Engineering, Changzhou University, Changzhou 213164, China; (Y.F.); (Y.X.); (H.C.); (Y.L.)
| | - Hui Chen
- School of Environmental & Safety Engineering, Changzhou University, Changzhou 213164, China; (Y.F.); (Y.X.); (H.C.); (Y.L.)
| | - Yuxuan Liu
- School of Environmental & Safety Engineering, Changzhou University, Changzhou 213164, China; (Y.F.); (Y.X.); (H.C.); (Y.L.)
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Luo Y, Chen H, Li D, Zhan M, Hou L, Dong W, Luo Y, Xie L. The effects of norethindrone on the ontogeny of gene expression along the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal and hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axes in zebrafish (Danio rerio). THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 747:141554. [PMID: 32795812 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.141554] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2020] [Revised: 08/03/2020] [Accepted: 08/05/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Little is known about the molecular effects of progestins on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) and hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axes in fish prior to sexual differentiation. In this study, the effects of norethindrone (NET) on the ontogeny of HPG- and HPA-related genes in zebrafish embryo/early larvae prior to sexual differentiation were evaluated. Embryo/larvae were exposed to different concentrations (5, 50, 500 ng/L) of NET for 6 days. The levels of the transcripts of the genes closely related to the HPG and HPA axes were determined daily during 3 stages (embryo, embryo/larvae transition, and early larvae). The results showed that most genes were up-regulated and the ontogeny of genes in the HPA axis was earlier than that of HPG axis, especially for the upstream genes of both the HPG (gnrh2, gnrh3, fshb, lhb) and the HPA (crh, pomc, star) axes. In contrast, the transcriptional expressions of genes of the cortisol/stress pathway (cyp11b, mr) were inhibited and those of the progesterone pathway were not affected. More importantly, NET exposure induced the expressions of the genes (esr1, vtg1, hsd17b3, hsd11b2, ar) that are closely related to the steroid hormone pathways in the embryos/larvae stages, implying a precocious effects of NET in zebrafish. This study demonstrates that NET alters the expression of HPA- and HPG-axes related genes in zebrafish at early stages, pointing to the need for the same type of analysis during the zebrafish gonadal differentiation window.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yixuan Luo
- SCNU Environmental Research Institute, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Pollution and Environmental Safety & MOE Key Laboratory of Theoretical Chemistry of Environment, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510006, China; School of Environment, South China Normal University, University Town, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Hongxing Chen
- SCNU Environmental Research Institute, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Pollution and Environmental Safety & MOE Key Laboratory of Theoretical Chemistry of Environment, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510006, China; School of Environment, South China Normal University, University Town, Guangzhou 510006, China.
| | - Dan Li
- SCNU Environmental Research Institute, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Pollution and Environmental Safety & MOE Key Laboratory of Theoretical Chemistry of Environment, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510006, China; School of Environment, South China Normal University, University Town, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Manjun Zhan
- School of Life Sciences, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510655, China
| | - Liping Hou
- School of Life Sciences, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510655, China
| | - Wu Dong
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Inner Mongolia University for Nationalities/Inner Mongolia Key Laboratory of Toxicant Monitoring and toxicology, Tongliao 028043, China
| | - Yongju Luo
- Guangxi Academy of Fishery Sciences, Nanning, Guangxi 530021, China
| | - Lingtian Xie
- SCNU Environmental Research Institute, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Pollution and Environmental Safety & MOE Key Laboratory of Theoretical Chemistry of Environment, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510006, China; School of Environment, South China Normal University, University Town, Guangzhou 510006, China.
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van den Bos R, Cromwijk S, Tschigg K, Althuizen J, Zethof J, Whelan R, Flik G, Schaaf M. Early Life Glucocorticoid Exposure Modulates Immune Function in Zebrafish ( Danio rerio) Larvae. Front Immunol 2020; 11:727. [PMID: 32411141 PMCID: PMC7201046 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.00727] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2019] [Accepted: 03/31/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
In this study we have assessed the effects of increased cortisol levels during early embryonic development on immune function in zebrafish (Danio rerio) larvae. Fertilized eggs were exposed to either a cortisol-containing, a dexamethasone-containing (to stimulate the glucocorticoid receptor selectively) or a control medium for 6 h post-fertilization (0–6 hpf). First, we measured baseline expression of a number of immune-related genes (socs3a, mpeg1.1, mpeg1.2, and irg1l) 5 days post-fertilization (dpf) in larvae of the AB and TL strain to assess the effectiveness of our exposure procedure and potential strain differences. Cortisol and dexamethasone strongly up-regulated baseline expression of these genes independent of strain. The next series of experiments were therefore carried out in larvae of the AB strain only. We measured neutrophil/macrophage recruitment following tail fin amputation (performed at 3 dpf) and phenotypical changes as well as survival following LPS-induced sepsis (150 μg/ml; 4–5 dpf). Dexamethasone, but not cortisol, exposure at 0–6 hpf enhanced neutrophil recruitment 4 h post tail fin amputation. Cortisol and dexamethasone exposure at 0–6 hpf led to a milder phenotype (e.g., less tail fin damage) and enhanced survival following LPS challenge compared to control exposure. Gene-expression analysis showed accompanying differences in transcript abundance of tlr4bb, cxcr4a, myd88, il1β, and il10. These data show that early-life exposure to cortisol, which may be considered to be a model or proxy of maternal stress, induces an adaptive response to immune challenges, which seems mediated via the glucocorticoid receptor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruud van den Bos
- Department of Animal Ecology and Physiology, Institute of Water and Wetland Research, Faculty of Science, Radboud University, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Suzanne Cromwijk
- Department of Animal Ecology and Physiology, Institute of Water and Wetland Research, Faculty of Science, Radboud University, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Katharina Tschigg
- Department of Animal Ecology and Physiology, Institute of Water and Wetland Research, Faculty of Science, Radboud University, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Joep Althuizen
- Department of Animal Ecology and Physiology, Institute of Water and Wetland Research, Faculty of Science, Radboud University, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Jan Zethof
- Department of Animal Ecology and Physiology, Institute of Water and Wetland Research, Faculty of Science, Radboud University, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Robert Whelan
- Animal Sciences and Health Cluster, Institute of Biology, Leiden University, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Gert Flik
- Department of Animal Ecology and Physiology, Institute of Water and Wetland Research, Faculty of Science, Radboud University, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Marcel Schaaf
- Animal Sciences and Health Cluster, Institute of Biology, Leiden University, Leiden, Netherlands
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Early life exposure to cortisol in zebrafish (Danio rerio): similarities and differences in behaviour and physiology between larvae of the AB and TL strains. Behav Pharmacol 2020; 30:260-271. [PMID: 30724799 DOI: 10.1097/fbp.0000000000000470] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Maternal stress and early life stress affect development. Zebrafish (Danio rerio) are ideally suited to study this, as embryos develop externally into free-feeding larvae. The objective of this study was therefore to assess the effects of increased levels of cortisol, mimicking thereby maternal stress, on larval physiology and behaviour. We studied the effects in two common zebrafish strains, that is, AB and Tupfel long-fin (TL), to assess strain dependency of effects. Fertilized eggs were exposed to a cortisol-containing medium (1.1 μmol/l) or control medium from 0 to 6 h following fertilization, after which at 5-day following fertilization, larval behaviour and baseline hypothalamus-pituitary-interrenal cells axis functioning were measured. The data confirmed earlier observed differences between AB larvae and TL larvae: a lower hypothalamus-pituitary-interrenal axis activity in TL larvae than AB larvae, and slower habituation to repeated acoustic/vibrational stimuli in TL larvae than AB larvae. Following cortisol treatment, increased baseline levels of cortisol were found in AB larvae but not TL larvae. At the behavioural level, increased thigmotaxis or 'wall hugging' was found in AB larvae, but decreased thigmotaxis in TL larvae; however, both AB larvae and TL larvae showed decreased habituation to repeated acoustic/vibrational stimuli. The data emphasize that strain is a critical factor in zebrafish research. The habituation data suggest a robust effect of cortisol exposure, which is likely an adaptive response to increase the likelihood of detecting or responding to potentially threatening stimuli. This may enhance early life survival. Along with other studies, our study underlines the notion that zebrafish may be a powerful model animal to study the effects of maternal and early life stress on life history.
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The mineralocorticoid receptor is essential for stress axis regulation in zebrafish larvae. Sci Rep 2018; 8:18081. [PMID: 30591705 PMCID: PMC6308233 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-36681-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2018] [Accepted: 11/26/2018] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
The mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) in mammals mediates the effects of aldosterone in regulating fluid balance and potassium homeostasis. While MR signalling is essential for survival in mammals, there is no evidence that MR has any physiological role in ray-finned fish. Teleosts lack aldosterone and emerging evidence suggest that cortisol mediates ion and fluid regulation by activating glucocorticoid receptor (GR) signalling. Consequently, a physiological role for MR signalling, despite its conserved and ancient origin, is still lacking. We tested the hypothesis that a key physiological role for MR signalling in fish is the regulation of stress axis activation and function. Using either MR or GR knockout zebrafish, our results reveal distinct and complementary role for these receptors in stress axis function. GR-/- mutants were hypercortisolemic and failed to elicit a cortisol stress response, while MR-/- mutants showed a delayed, but sustained cortisol response post-stressor. Both these receptors are involved in stress-related behaviour, as the loss of either receptors abolished the glucocorticoid-mediated larval hyperactivity to a light stimulus. Overall, the results underscore a key physiological role for MR signalling in ray-finned fishes, and we propose that the regulation of the highly conserved stress axis as the original function of this receptor.
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Kiilerich P, Geffroy B, Valotaire C, Prunet P. Endogenous regulation of 11-deoxycorticosterone (DOC) and corticosteroid receptors (CRs) during rainbow trout early development and the effects of corticosteroids on hatching. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2018; 265:22-30. [PMID: 29886079 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2018.05.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2018] [Revised: 05/24/2018] [Accepted: 05/30/2018] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
Abstract
Clear evidence for a physiological role of the mineralocorticoid-like hormone 11-deoxycorticosterone (DOC) and the mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) in fish is still lacking. Efforts to demonstrate an osmoregulatory role for this hormone has so far not been conclusive, while a few scattered studies have indicated a role for DOC in development and reproduction. In this study, we investigate the onset of de novo DOC synthesis in parallel with endogenous corticosteroid receptor mRNA production from fertilization to the swim-up stage in rainbow trout. Whole egg DOC content decreased from fertilization until hatching followed by an increase to pre-fertilization levels just after hatching. Onset of de novo transcription of corticosteroid receptor mRNA's was observed shortly after the midblastula transition; initially glucocorticoid receptor 2 (GR2) followed by MR and then GR1. Non-invasive introduction of DOC or cortisol at fertilization resulted in altered corticosteroid receptor regulation and accelerated hatching date, suggesting a regulatory role in trout ontogenesis of both hormones through MR signaling pathway. The results presented in this study suggest a possible physiological role of the DOC-MR signaling pathway during fish ontogenesis, at fertilization and just after hatching.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pia Kiilerich
- INRA, UR 1037, Laboratoire de Physiologie et Génomique des Poissons, IFR140, Campus de Beaulieu, F-35042 Rennes Cedex, France.
| | - Benjamin Geffroy
- INRA, UR 1037, Laboratoire de Physiologie et Génomique des Poissons, IFR140, Campus de Beaulieu, F-35042 Rennes Cedex, France
| | - Claudiane Valotaire
- INRA, UR 1037, Laboratoire de Physiologie et Génomique des Poissons, IFR140, Campus de Beaulieu, F-35042 Rennes Cedex, France
| | - Patrick Prunet
- INRA, UR 1037, Laboratoire de Physiologie et Génomique des Poissons, IFR140, Campus de Beaulieu, F-35042 Rennes Cedex, France.
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Chen Y, Tang H, Wang L, He J, Guo Y, Liu Y, Liu X, Lin H. Fertility Enhancement but Premature Ovarian Failure in esr1-Deficient Female Zebrafish. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2018; 9:567. [PMID: 30319547 PMCID: PMC6165881 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2018.00567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2018] [Accepted: 09/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
It is well established that estrogens regulate female reproduction through estrogen receptors (ERs) in the ovary. However, the precise physiological role of estrogen/ER signaling in reproduction processes remains poorly defined in zebrafish. In this study, we successfully generated an ERα (esr1) mutant line in zebrafish via transcription activator-like effectors nucleases (TALENs). It was found in the mutant females that the fertility was enhanced and the ovarian histology was normal at 90 days post-fertilization (dpf). However, the number of fertile females decreased with age. By 180 dpf, esr1 mutant females were infertile with degenerated ovaries, while the age-matched wild-type females were still fertile. Additionally, few large vitellogenic granules can be found in full grown (FG) follicles at 90 dpf and the expression of vtg genes were down-regulated at both 90 and 180 dpf in esr1 mutant zebrafish. Moreover, steroidogenesis pathway and mTOR signaling pathway were over-activated at 90 dpf, but declined prematurely in esr1 mutant zebrafish by 180 dpf. Collectively, the present study provides evidence that esr1 is fundamental for ovarian maintenance in zebrafish.
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Effects of maternal cortisol treatment on offspring size, responses to stress, and anxiety-related behavior in wild largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides). Physiol Behav 2017; 180:15-24. [PMID: 28782525 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2017.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2017] [Revised: 08/02/2017] [Accepted: 08/02/2017] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Cortisol, the main glucocorticoid stress hormone in teleost fish, is of interest as a mediator of maternal stress on offspring characteristics because it plays an organizational role during early development. The present study tested the hypothesis that maternal exposure to cortisol treatment prior to spawn affects offspring phenotype using wild largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides). Baseline and stress-induced cortisol concentrations, body size (i.e. length and mass), and behavior (i.e. anxiety, exploration, boldness, and aggression) were assessed at different offspring life-stages and compared between offspring of control and cortisol-treated females. Cortisol administration did not affect spawning success or timing, nor were whole-body cortisol concentrations different between embryos from cortisol-treated and control females. However, maternal cortisol treatment had significant effects on offspring stress responsiveness, mass, and behavior. Compared to offspring of control females, offspring of cortisol-treated females exhibited larger mass right after hatch, and young-of-the-year mounted an attenuated cortisol response to an acute stressor, and exhibited less thigmotaxic anxiety, exploratory behavior, boldness and aggression. Thus, offspring phenotype was affected by elevated maternal cortisol levels despite the absence of a significant increase in embryo cortisol concentrations, suggesting that a mechanism other than the direct deposition of cortisol into eggs mediates effects on offspring. The results of the present raise questions about the mechanisms through which maternal stress influences offspring behavior and physiology, as well as the impacts of such phenotypic changes on offspring fitness.
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12
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Liu KC, Lau SW, Ge W. Spatiotemporal expression analysis of nuclear estrogen receptors in the zebrafish ovary and their regulation in vitro by endocrine hormones and paracrine factors. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2017; 246:218-225. [PMID: 28013034 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2016.12.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2016] [Revised: 12/11/2016] [Accepted: 12/19/2016] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Estradiol (E2) stimulates luteinizing hormone receptor (lhcgr) expression via nuclear estrogen receptors (nERs) in the zebrafish ovary. We have demonstrated that endocrine hormones such as gonadotropin (hCG) and paracrine factors such as epidermal growth factor (EGF) and pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating peptide (PACAP) can modulate E2-induced lhcgr expression in vitro. These observations raised a question on whether these hormones and factors exert their effects via regulating the expression of nERs. In this study, we first characterized the spatiotemporal expression profiles of three nER subtypes in the zebrafish ovary, including esr1 (ERα), esr2a (ERβ2) and esr2b (ERβ1). All three nERs increased their expression at the pre-vitellogenic stage and peaked at mid- (esr1 and esr2a) or late vitellogenic (esr2b) stage, followed by a significant decline at the full-grown stage. RT-PCR analysis showed that esr1 and esr2b were exclusively expressed in the follicle layer while esr2a was expressed in both compartments. We then examined how E2, hCG, PACAP and EGF regulated the expression of nERs in cultured zebrafish follicle cells. E2 quickly increased esr1 but reduced esr2a and esr2b expression from 1.5 to 12h of treatment. Similarly, EGF down-regulated esr2a significantly at 1.5h and this effect was further intensified at 24h. hCG decreased the expression of all three nER subtypes with similar potency throughout the 24-h time-course. Interestingly, PACAP exerted a biphasic regulation on esr2a. Our present study suggests that nERs, especially esr2a, provide potential target points for other hormones and factors to modulate E2 activity during folliculogenesis in the zebrafish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ka-Cheuk Liu
- School of Life Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong, China
| | - Shuk-Wa Lau
- School of Life Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong, China
| | - Wei Ge
- Centre of Reproduction, Development and Aging (CRDA), Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macau, China; School of Life Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong, China.
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13
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Capelle PM, Semeniuk CAD, Sopinka NM, Heath JW, Love OP. Prenatal Stress Exposure Generates Higher Early Survival and Smaller Size without Impacting Developmental Rate in a Pacific Salmon. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2017; 325:641-650. [PMID: 28101914 DOI: 10.1002/jez.2058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2016] [Revised: 12/21/2016] [Accepted: 12/31/2016] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Prenatal exposure to elevated glucocorticoids can act as a signal of environmental stress, resulting in modifications to offspring phenotype. While "negative" phenotypic effects (i.e., smaller size, slower growth) are often reported, recent research coupling phenotype with other fitness-related traits has suggested positive impacts of prenatal stress. Using captive Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha), we treated eggs with biologically relevant cortisol levels-low (300 ng mL-1 ), high (1,000 ng mL-1 ), or control (0 ng mL-1 )-to examine the early-life impacts of maternally transferred stress hormones on offspring. Specifically, we measured early survival, rate of development, and multiple measures of morphology. Low and high cortisol dosing of eggs resulted in significantly higher survival compared to controls (37% and 24% higher, respectively). Fish reared from high dose eggs were structurally smaller compared to control fish, but despite this variation in structural size, exposure to elevated cortisol did not impact developmental rate. These results demonstrate that elevations in egg cortisol can positively influence offspring fitness through an increase in early survival while also altering phenotype at a critical life-history stage. Overall, these results suggest that exposure to prenatal stress may not always produce apparently negative impacts on offspring fitness and further proposes that complex phenotypic responses should be examined in relevant environmental conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pauline M Capelle
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Windsor, Windsor, Canada
| | - Christina A D Semeniuk
- Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research, University of Windsor, Windsor, Canada
| | - Natalie M Sopinka
- Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research, University of Windsor, Windsor, Canada
| | - John W Heath
- Yellow Island Aquaculture Ltd, Heriot Bay, BC, V0P 1H0, Canada
| | - Oliver P Love
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Windsor, Windsor, Canada.,Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research, University of Windsor, Windsor, Canada
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14
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Rosenfeld CS, Denslow ND, Orlando EF, Gutierrez-Villagomez JM, Trudeau VL. Neuroendocrine disruption of organizational and activational hormone programming in poikilothermic vertebrates. JOURNAL OF TOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH. PART B, CRITICAL REVIEWS 2017; 20:276-304. [PMID: 28895797 PMCID: PMC6174081 DOI: 10.1080/10937404.2017.1370083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
In vertebrates, sexual differentiation of the reproductive system and brain is tightly orchestrated by organizational and activational effects of endogenous hormones. In mammals and birds, the organizational period is typified by a surge of sex hormones during differentiation of specific neural circuits; whereas activational effects are dependent upon later increases in these same hormones at sexual maturation. Depending on the reproductive organ or brain region, initial programming events may be modulated by androgens or require conversion of androgens to estrogens. The prevailing notion based upon findings in mammalian models is that male brain is sculpted to undergo masculinization and defeminization. In absence of these responses, the female brain develops. While timing of organizational and activational events vary across taxa, there are shared features. Further, exposure of different animal models to environmental chemicals such as xenoestrogens such as bisphenol A-BPA and ethinylestradiol-EE2, gestagens, and thyroid hormone disruptors, broadly classified as neuroendocrine disrupting chemicals (NED), during these critical periods may result in similar alterations in brain structure, function, and consequently, behaviors. Organizational effects of neuroendocrine systems in mammals and birds appear to be permanent, whereas teleost fish neuroendocrine systems exhibit plasticity. While there are fewer NED studies in amphibians and reptiles, data suggest that NED disrupt normal organizational-activational effects of endogenous hormones, although it remains to be determined if these disturbances are reversible. The aim of this review is to examine how various environmental chemicals may interrupt normal organizational and activational events in poikilothermic vertebrates. By altering such processes, these chemicals may affect reproductive health of an animal and result in compromised populations and ecosystem-level effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheryl S. Rosenfeld
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
- Thompson Center for Autism and Neurobehavioral Disorders, Columbia, MO, USA
- Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Nancy D. Denslow
- Department of Physiological Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Center for Environmental and Human Toxicology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Edward F. Orlando
- Department of Animal and Avian Sciences, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
| | | | - Vance L. Trudeau
- Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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15
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Das D, Nath P, Pal S, Hajra S, Ghosh P, Maitra S. Expression of two insulin receptor subtypes, insra and insrb, in zebrafish (Danio rerio) ovary and involvement of insulin action in ovarian function. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2016; 239:21-31. [PMID: 26853486 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2016.02.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2015] [Revised: 02/01/2016] [Accepted: 02/03/2016] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Present study reports differential expression of the two insulin receptor (IR) subtypes in zebrafish ovary at various stages of follicular growth and potential involvement of IR in insulin-induced oocyte maturation. The results showed that mRNA expression for IR subtypes, insra and insrb, exhibited higher levels in mid-vitellogenic (MV) and full-grown (FG) rather than pre-vitellogenic (PV) oocytes. Interestingly, compared to the levels in denuded oocytes, mRNAs for both insra and insrb were expressed at much higher level in the follicle layer harvested from FG oocytes. Immunoprecipitation using IRβ antibody could detect a protein band of desired size (∼95kDa) in FG oocyte lysates. Further, IRβ immunoreactivity was detected in ovarian tissue sections, especially at the follicle layer and oocyte membrane of MV and FG, but not PV stage oocytes. While hCG (10IU/ml) stimulation was without effect, priming with insulin (5μM) could promote oocyte maturation of MV oocytes in a manner sensitive to de novo protein and steroid biosynthesis. Compared to hCG, in insulin pre-incubated MV oocytes, stimulation with maturation inducing steroid (MIS), 17α,20β-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one (DHP) elicited higher maturational response. Potential involvement of insulin-mediated action on acquisition of maturational competence and regulation of oocyte maturation was further manifested through up regulation of 20β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (20β-hsd), MIS receptor (mPRα), insulin-like growth factor 3 (igf3) and IGF1 receptor (igf1rb), but not cyp19a expression in MV oocytes. Moreover, priming with anti-IRβ attenuated insulin action on meiotic G2-M1 transition indicating the specificity of insulin action and physiological relevance of IR in zebrafish ovary.
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Affiliation(s)
- Debabrata Das
- Department of Zoology, Visva-Bharati University, Santiniketan 731235, India
| | - Poulomi Nath
- Department of Zoology, Visva-Bharati University, Santiniketan 731235, India
| | - Soumojit Pal
- Department of Zoology, Visva-Bharati University, Santiniketan 731235, India
| | - Sudip Hajra
- Department of Zoology, Visva-Bharati University, Santiniketan 731235, India
| | - Pritha Ghosh
- Department of Zoology, Visva-Bharati University, Santiniketan 731235, India
| | - Sudipta Maitra
- Department of Zoology, Visva-Bharati University, Santiniketan 731235, India.
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16
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Sharma P, Tang S, Mayer GD, Patiño R. Effects of thyroid endocrine manipulation on sex-related gene expression and population sex ratios in Zebrafish. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2016; 235:38-47. [PMID: 27255368 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2016.05.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2016] [Revised: 05/25/2016] [Accepted: 05/29/2016] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Thyroid hormone reportedly induces masculinization of genetic females and goitrogen treatment delays testicular differentiation (ovary-to-testis transformation) in genetic males of Zebrafish. This study explored potential molecular mechanisms of these phenomena. Zebrafish were treated with thyroxine (T4, 2nM), goitrogen [methimazole (MZ), 0.15mM], MZ (0.15mM) and T4 (2nM) (rescue treatment), or reconstituted water (control) from 3 to 33days postfertilization (dpf) and maintained in control water until 45dpf. Whole fish were collected during early (25dpf) and late (45dpf) testicular differentiation for transcript abundance analysis of selected male (dmrt1, amh, ar) and female (cyp19a1a, esr1, esr2a, esr2b) sex-related genes by quantitative RT-PCR, and fold-changes relative to control values were determined. Additional fish were sampled at 45dpf for histological assessment of gonadal sex. The T4 and rescue treatments caused male-biased populations, and T4 alone induced precocious puberty in ∼50% of males. Male-biased sex ratios were accompanied by increased expression of amh and ar and reduced expression of cyp19a1a, esr1, esr2a, and esr2b at 25 and 45dpf and, unexpectedly, reduced expression of dmrt1 at 45dpf. Goitrogen exposure increased the proportion of individuals with ovaries (per previous studies interpreted as delay in testicular differentiation of genetic males), and at 25 and 45dpf reduced the expression of amh and ar and increased the expression of esr1 (only at 25dpf), esr2a, and esr2b. Notably, cyp19a1a transcript was reduced but via non-thyroidal pathways (not restored by rescue treatment). In conclusion, the masculinizing activity of T4 at the population level may be due to its ability to inhibit female and stimulate male sex-related genes in larvae, while the inability of MZ to induce cyp19a1a, which is necessary for ovarian differentiation, may explain why its "feminizing" activity on gonadal sex is not permanent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prakash Sharma
- Department of Biological Sciences and Texas Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409-2120, USA
| | - Song Tang
- Department of Environmental Toxicology, The Institute of Environmental and Human Health, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409-1163, USA
| | - Gregory D Mayer
- Department of Environmental Toxicology, The Institute of Environmental and Human Health, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409-1163, USA
| | - Reynaldo Patiño
- U.S. Geological Survey, Texas Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, and Departments of Natural Resources Management and Biological Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409-2120, USA.
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17
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Wilson KS, Tucker CS, Al-Dujaili EAS, Holmes MC, Hadoke PWF, Kenyon CJ, Denvir MA. Early-life glucocorticoids programme behaviour and metabolism in adulthood in zebrafish. J Endocrinol 2016; 230:125-42. [PMID: 27390302 PMCID: PMC5064771 DOI: 10.1530/joe-15-0376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2016] [Accepted: 05/04/2016] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Glucocorticoids (GCs) in utero influence embryonic development with consequent programmed effects on adult physiology and pathophysiology and altered susceptibility to cardiovascular disease. However, in viviparous species, studies of these processes are compromised by secondary maternal influences. The zebrafish, being fertilised externally, avoids this problem and has been used here to investigate the effects of transient alterations in GC activity during early development. Embryonic fish were treated either with dexamethasone (a synthetic GC), an antisense GC receptor (GR) morpholino (GR Mo), or hypoxia for the first 120h post fertilisation (hpf); responses were measured during embryonic treatment or later, post treatment, in adults. All treatments reduced cortisol levels in embryonic fish to similar levels. However, morpholino- and hypoxia-treated embryos showed delayed physical development (slower hatching and straightening of head-trunk angle, shorter body length), less locomotor activity, reduced tactile responses and anxiogenic activity. In contrast, dexamethasone-treated embryos showed advanced development and thigmotaxis but no change in locomotor activity or tactile responses. Gene expression changes were consistent with increased (dexamethasone) and decreased (hypoxia, GR Mo) GC activity. In adults, stressed cortisol values were increased with dexamethasone and decreased by GR Mo and hypoxia pre-treatments. Other responses were similarly differentially affected. In three separate tests of behaviour, dexamethasone-programmed fish appeared 'bolder' than matched controls, whereas Mo and hypoxia pre-treated fish were unaffected or more reserved. Similarly, the dexamethasone group but not the Mo or hypoxia groups were heavier, longer and had a greater girth than controls. Hyperglycaemia and expression of GC responsive gene (pepck) were also increased in the dexamethasone group. We conclude that GC activity controls many aspects of early-life growth and development in the zebrafish and that, like other species, manipulating GC status pharmacologically, physiologically or genetically in early life leads to programmable metabolic and behavioural traits in adulthood.
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Affiliation(s)
- K S Wilson
- The University/BHF Centre for Cardiovascular ScienceUniversity of Edinburgh, The Queen's Medical Research Institute, Edinburgh, UK
| | - C S Tucker
- The University/BHF Centre for Cardiovascular ScienceUniversity of Edinburgh, The Queen's Medical Research Institute, Edinburgh, UK
| | - E A S Al-Dujaili
- The University/BHF Centre for Cardiovascular ScienceUniversity of Edinburgh, The Queen's Medical Research Institute, Edinburgh, UK
| | - M C Holmes
- The University/BHF Centre for Cardiovascular ScienceUniversity of Edinburgh, The Queen's Medical Research Institute, Edinburgh, UK
| | - P W F Hadoke
- The University/BHF Centre for Cardiovascular ScienceUniversity of Edinburgh, The Queen's Medical Research Institute, Edinburgh, UK
| | - C J Kenyon
- The University/BHF Centre for Cardiovascular ScienceUniversity of Edinburgh, The Queen's Medical Research Institute, Edinburgh, UK
| | - M A Denvir
- The University/BHF Centre for Cardiovascular ScienceUniversity of Edinburgh, The Queen's Medical Research Institute, Edinburgh, UK
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18
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Lončar J, Popović M, Krznar P, Zaja R, Smital T. The first characterization of multidrug and toxin extrusion (MATE/SLC47) proteins in zebrafish (Danio rerio). Sci Rep 2016; 6:28937. [PMID: 27357367 PMCID: PMC4928094 DOI: 10.1038/srep28937] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2016] [Accepted: 06/13/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Multidrug and toxin extrusion (MATE) proteins are involved in the extrusion of endogenous compounds and xenobiotics across the plasma membrane. They are conserved from bacteria to mammals, with different numbers of genes within groups. Here, we present the first data on identification and functional characterization of Mate proteins in zebrafish (Danio rerio). Phylogenetic analysis revealed six Mates in teleost fish, annotated as Mate3-8, which form a distinct cluster separated from the tetrapod MATEs/Mates. Synteny analysis showed that zebrafish mate genes are orthologous to human MATEs. Gene expression analysis revealed that all the mate transcripts were constitutively and differentially expressed during embryonic development, followed by pronounced and tissue-specific expression in adults. Functional analyses were performed using transport activity assays with model substrates after heterologous overexpression of five zebrafish Mates in HEK293T cells. The results showed that zebrafish Mates interact with both physiological and xenobiotic substances but also substantially differ with respect to the interacting compounds and interaction strength in comparison to mammalian MATEs/Mates. Taken together, our data clearly indicate a potentially important role for zebrafish Mate transporters in zebrafish embryos and adults and provide a basis for detailed functional characterizations of single zebrafish Mate transporters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jovica Lončar
- Laboratory for Molecular Ecotoxicology, Division for Marine and Environmental Research, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Marta Popović
- Laboratory for Molecular Ecotoxicology, Division for Marine and Environmental Research, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Zagreb, Croatia.,Oxford Institute for Radiation Oncology, University of Oxford, Oxford, England, United Kingdom
| | - Petra Krznar
- Institute of Molecular Systems Biology, ETH Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Roko Zaja
- Laboratory for Molecular Ecotoxicology, Division for Marine and Environmental Research, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Zagreb, Croatia.,Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford, England, United Kingdom
| | - Tvrtko Smital
- Laboratory for Molecular Ecotoxicology, Division for Marine and Environmental Research, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Zagreb, Croatia
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19
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Pellegrini E, Diotel N, Vaillant-Capitaine C, Pérez Maria R, Gueguen MM, Nasri A, Cano Nicolau J, Kah O. Steroid modulation of neurogenesis: Focus on radial glial cells in zebrafish. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol 2016; 160:27-36. [PMID: 26151741 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsbmb.2015.06.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2015] [Revised: 06/01/2015] [Accepted: 06/16/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Estrogens are known as steroid hormones affecting the brain in many different ways and a wealth of data now document effects on neurogenesis. Estrogens are provided by the periphery but can also be locally produced within the brain itself due to local aromatization of circulating androgens. Adult neurogenesis is described in all vertebrate species examined so far, but comparative investigations have brought to light differences between vertebrate groups. In teleost fishes, the neurogenic activity is spectacular and adult stem cells maintain their mitogenic activity in many proliferative areas within the brain. Fish are also quite unique because brain aromatase expression is limited to radial glia cells, the progenitor cells of adult fish brain. The zebrafish has emerged as an interesting vertebrate model to elucidate the cellular and molecular mechanisms of adult neurogenesis, and notably its modulation by steroids. The main objective of this review is to summarize data related to the functional link between estrogens production in the brain and neurogenesis in fish. First, we will demonstrate that the brain of zebrafish is an endogenous source of steroids and is directly targeted by local and/or peripheral steroids. Then, we will present data demonstrating the progenitor nature of radial glial cells in the brain of adult fish. Next, we will emphasize the role of estrogens in constitutive neurogenesis and its potential contribution to the regenerative neurogenesis. Finally, the negative impacts on neurogenesis of synthetic hormones used in contraceptive pills production and released in the aquatic environment will be discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabeth Pellegrini
- Inserm U1085, Université de Rennes 1, Research Institute in Health, Environment and Occupation, 35000 Rennes, France.
| | - Nicolas Diotel
- Inserm U1085, Université de Rennes 1, Research Institute in Health, Environment and Occupation, 35000 Rennes, France; Inserm UMR 1188, Diabète athérothrombose Thérapies Réunion Océan Indien (DéTROI), plateforme CYROI, Sainte-Clotilde F-97490, France; Université de La Réunion, UMR 1188, Sainte-Clotilde F-97490, France
| | - Colette Vaillant-Capitaine
- Inserm U1085, Université de Rennes 1, Research Institute in Health, Environment and Occupation, 35000 Rennes, France
| | - Rita Pérez Maria
- Inserm U1085, Université de Rennes 1, Research Institute in Health, Environment and Occupation, 35000 Rennes, France; Laboratorio de Ictiología, Instituto Nacional de Limnología (INALI. CONICET-UNL), Paraje El Pozo, Ciudad Universitaria UNL, 3000 Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Marie-Madeleine Gueguen
- Inserm U1085, Université de Rennes 1, Research Institute in Health, Environment and Occupation, 35000 Rennes, France
| | - Ahmed Nasri
- Inserm U1085, Université de Rennes 1, Research Institute in Health, Environment and Occupation, 35000 Rennes, France; Laboratoire de Biosurveillance de l'Environnement, Unité d'Ecologie côtière et d'Ecotoxicologie, Faculté des Sciences de Bizerte, Zarzouna 7021, Tunisia
| | - Joel Cano Nicolau
- Inserm U1085, Université de Rennes 1, Research Institute in Health, Environment and Occupation, 35000 Rennes, France
| | - Olivier Kah
- Inserm U1085, Université de Rennes 1, Research Institute in Health, Environment and Occupation, 35000 Rennes, France
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20
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Kinch CD, Kurrasch DM, Habibi HR. Adverse morphological development in embryonic zebrafish exposed to environmental concentrations of contaminants individually and in mixture. AQUATIC TOXICOLOGY (AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS) 2016; 175:286-98. [PMID: 27107150 DOI: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2016.03.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2015] [Revised: 03/23/2016] [Accepted: 03/28/2016] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
Exposure to environmental contaminants has been linked to developmental and reproductive abnormalities leading to infertility, spontaneous abortion, reduced number of offspring, and metabolic disorders. In addition, there is evidence linking environmental contaminants and endocrine disruption to abnormal developmental rate, defects in heart and eye morphology, and alterations in behavior. Notably, these effects could not be explained by interaction with a single hormone receptor. Here, using a whole-organism approach, we investigated morphological changes to developing zebrafish caused by exposure to a number of environmental contaminants, including bisphenol A (BPA), di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP), nonylphenol, and fucosterol at concentrations measured in a local water body (Oldman River, AB), individually and in mixture. Exposure to nanomolar contaminant concentrations resulted in abnormal morphological development, including changes to body length, pericardia (heart), and the head. We also characterize the spatiotemporal expression profiles of estrogen, androgen, and thyroid hormone receptors to demonstrate that localization of these receptors might be mediating contaminant effects on development. Finally, we examined the effects of contaminants singly and in mixture. Combined, our results support the hypothesis that adverse effects of contaminants are not mediated by single hormone receptor signaling, and adversity of contaminants in mixture could not be predicted by simple additive effect of contaminants. The findings provide a framework for better understanding of developmental toxicity of environmental contaminants in zebrafish and other vertebrate species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cassandra D Kinch
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, 2500 University Dr. NW, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 1N4, Canada; Department of Medical Genetics, Cummings School of Medicine, University of Calgary, 3330 Hospital Dr. NW, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 4N1, Canada; Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, Heritage Medical Research Building, 3330 Hospital Dr. NW, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 4N1, Canada.
| | - Deborah M Kurrasch
- Department of Medical Genetics, Cummings School of Medicine, University of Calgary, 3330 Hospital Dr. NW, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 4N1, Canada; Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, Heritage Medical Research Building, 3330 Hospital Dr. NW, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 4N1, Canada.
| | - Hamid R Habibi
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, 2500 University Dr. NW, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 1N4, Canada.
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21
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Xia L, Zheng L, Zhou JL. Transcriptional and morphological effects of tamoxifen on the early development of zebrafish (Danio rerio). J Appl Toxicol 2015; 36:853-62. [PMID: 26584595 DOI: 10.1002/jat.3257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2015] [Revised: 09/26/2015] [Accepted: 09/29/2015] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Tamoxifen is a widely used anticancer drug with both an estrogen agonist and antagonist effect. This study focused on its endocrine disrupting effect, and overall environmental significance. Zebrafish embryos were exposed to different concentrations (0.5, 5, 50 and 500 µg l(-1) ) of tamoxifen for 96 h. The results showed a complex effect of tamoxifen on zebrafish embryo development. For the 500 µg l(-1) exposure group, the heart rate was decreased by 20% and mild defects in caudal fin and skin were observed. Expressions of a series of genes related to endocrine and morphological changes were subsequently tested through quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Bisphenol A as a known estrogen was also tested as an endocrine-related comparison. Among the expression of endocrine-related genes, esr1, ar, cyp19a1b, hsd3b1 and ugt1a1 were all increased by tamoxifen exposure, similar to bisphenol A. The cyp19a1b is a key gene that controls estrogen synthesis. Exposure to 0.5, 5, 50 and 500 µg l(-1) of tamoxifen caused upregulation of cyp19a1b expression to 152%, 568%, 953% and 2024% compared to controls, higher than the effects from the same concentrations of bisphenol A treatment, yet vtg1 was suppressed by 24% from exposure to 500 µg l(-1) tamoxifen. The expression of metabolic-related genes such as cyp1a, cyp1c2, cyp3a65, gpx1a, gstp1, gsr and genes related to observed morphological changes such as krt17 were also found to be upregulated by high concentrations of tamoxifen. These findings indicated the potential environmental effect of tamoxifen on teleost early development. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liang Xia
- State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, 3663 Zhongshan North Road, Shanghai, 200062, China
| | - Liang Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, 3663 Zhongshan North Road, Shanghai, 200062, China
| | - Jun Liang Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, 3663 Zhongshan North Road, Shanghai, 200062, China
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22
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Tokarz J, Möller G, Hrabě de Angelis M, Adamski J. Steroids in teleost fishes: A functional point of view. Steroids 2015; 103:123-44. [PMID: 26102270 DOI: 10.1016/j.steroids.2015.06.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 127] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2015] [Revised: 06/11/2015] [Accepted: 06/15/2015] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Steroid hormones are involved in the regulation of a variety of processes like embryonic development, sex differentiation, metabolism, immune responses, circadian rhythms, stress response, and reproduction in vertebrates. Teleost fishes and humans show a remarkable conservation in many developmental and physiological aspects, including the endocrine system in general and the steroid hormone related processes in particular. This review provides an overview of the current knowledge about steroid hormone biosynthesis and the steroid hormone receptors in teleost fishes and compares the findings to the human system. The impact of the duplicated genome in teleost fishes on steroid hormone biosynthesis and perception is addressed. Additionally, important processes in fish physiology regulated by steroid hormones, which are most dissimilar to humans, are described. We also give a short overview on the influence of anthropogenic endocrine disrupting compounds on steroid hormone signaling and the resulting adverse physiological effects for teleost fishes. By this approach, we show that the steroidogenesis, hormone receptors, and function of the steroid hormones are reasonably well understood when summarizing the available data of all teleost species analyzed to date. However, on the level of a single species or a certain fish-specific aspect of physiology, further research is needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janina Tokarz
- Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Institute of Experimental Genetics, Genome Analysis Center, Ingolstaedter Landstrasse 1, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Gabriele Möller
- Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Institute of Experimental Genetics, Genome Analysis Center, Ingolstaedter Landstrasse 1, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Martin Hrabě de Angelis
- Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Institute of Experimental Genetics, Genome Analysis Center, Ingolstaedter Landstrasse 1, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany; Lehrstuhl für Experimentelle Genetik, Technische Universität München, 85350 Freising-Weihenstephan, Germany; Member of German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), Ingolstaedter Landstrasse 1, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Jerzy Adamski
- Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Institute of Experimental Genetics, Genome Analysis Center, Ingolstaedter Landstrasse 1, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany; Lehrstuhl für Experimentelle Genetik, Technische Universität München, 85350 Freising-Weihenstephan, Germany; Member of German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), Ingolstaedter Landstrasse 1, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany.
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Fent K. Progestins as endocrine disrupters in aquatic ecosystems: Concentrations, effects and risk assessment. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2015; 84:115-30. [PMID: 26276056 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2015.06.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 144] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2015] [Revised: 06/09/2015] [Accepted: 06/25/2015] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
In aquatic ecosystems, progesterone (P4) and synthetic progestins (gestagens) originate from excretion by humans and livestock. Synthetic progestins are used for contraception and as P4 for medical treatments as well. Despite significant use, their ecotoxicological implications are poorly understood. Only about 50% of the progestins in use have been analyzed for their environmental occurrence and effects in aquatic organisms. Here we critically summarize concentrations and effects of progestins in aquatic systems. P4 and progestins were mostly detected when analyzed for, and they occurred in the low ng/L range in wastewater and surface water. In animal farm waste and runoff, they reached up to several μg/L. P4 and synthetic progestins act through progesterone receptors but they also interact with other steroid hormone receptors. They act on the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonad axis, lead to oocyte maturation in female and sperm motility in male fish. Additionally, other pathways are affected as well, including the circadian rhythm. Effects of P4, mifepristone and eleven synthetic progestins have been studied in fish and a few compounds in frogs and mussels. Environmental risks may be associated with P4, dydrogesterone and medroxyprogesterone acetate, where transcriptional effects were found at highest environmental levels. Reproductive effects occurred at higher levels. However, norethindrone, levonorgestrel and norgestrel compromised reproduction at environmental (ng/L) concentrations. Thus, some of the progestins are very active endocrine disrupters. This review summarizes the current state of the art and highlights risks for fish. Further research is needed into environmental concentrations and effects of non-investigated progestins, unexplored modes of action, and the activity of mixtures of progestins and other steroids to fully assess their environmental risks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karl Fent
- University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland, School of Life Sciences, Gründenstrasse 40, CH-4132 Muttenz, Switzerland; Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH Zürich), Institute of Biogeochemistry and Pollution Dynamics, Department of Environmental Systems Science, CH-8092 Zürich, Switzerland.
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López-Muñoz A, Liarte S, Gómez-González NE, Cabas I, Meseguer J, García-Ayala A, Mulero V. Estrogen receptor 2b deficiency impairs the antiviral response of zebrafish. DEVELOPMENTAL AND COMPARATIVE IMMUNOLOGY 2015; 53:55-62. [PMID: 26133072 DOI: 10.1016/j.dci.2015.06.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2015] [Revised: 05/14/2015] [Accepted: 06/11/2015] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
Although several studies have demonstrated the ability of some endocrine disruptive chemicals (EDCs) to alter the physiology of zebrafish, the immune-reproductive interaction has received little attention in this species. In this study, we used a homozygous line carrying an insertion of 8 amino acids in the ligand-binding domain of the estrogen receptor 2b gene (esr2b) to further understand the role of estrogen signaling on innate immunity. Adult mutant fish showed distorted sexual ratios related with alterations in testicular morphology and supraphysiological testosterone and 17β-estradiol (E2) levels. Immunity-wise, although esr2b mutant fish showed unaltered antibacterial responses, they were unable to mount an effective antiviral response upon viral challenge. RT-qPCR analysis demonstrated that mutant fish were able to induce the genes encoding major antiviral molecules, including Ifnphi1, Ifnphi2, Infphi3, Mxb and Mxc, and the negative feedback regulator of cytokine signaling Socs1. Notably, although esr2b mutant larvae showed a similar resistance to SVCV infection to their wild type siblings, waterborne E2 increased their viral susceptibility. Similarly, the exposure of adult wild type zebrafish to E2 also resulted in increased susceptibility to SVCV infection. Finally, the administration of recombinant Ifnphi1 hardly reversed the higher viral susceptibility of esr2b mutant zebrafish, suggesting that elevated socs1 levels impair Ifn signaling. All together, these results uncover an important role for E2 and Esr signaling in the fine-tuning of sexual hormone balance and the antiviral response of vertebrates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Azucena López-Muñoz
- Departamento de Biología Celular e Histología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Murcia, IMIB-Arrixaca, Murcia, Spain
| | - Sergio Liarte
- Departamento de Biología Celular e Histología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Murcia, IMIB-Arrixaca, Murcia, Spain
| | - Nuria E Gómez-González
- Departamento de Biología Celular e Histología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Murcia, IMIB-Arrixaca, Murcia, Spain
| | - Isabel Cabas
- Departamento de Biología Celular e Histología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Murcia, IMIB-Arrixaca, Murcia, Spain
| | - José Meseguer
- Departamento de Biología Celular e Histología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Murcia, IMIB-Arrixaca, Murcia, Spain
| | - Alfonsa García-Ayala
- Departamento de Biología Celular e Histología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Murcia, IMIB-Arrixaca, Murcia, Spain
| | - Victoriano Mulero
- Departamento de Biología Celular e Histología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Murcia, IMIB-Arrixaca, Murcia, Spain.
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25
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Das D, Pal S, Maitra S. Releasing prophase arrest in zebrafish oocyte: synergism between maturational steroid and Igf1. Reproduction 2015; 151:59-72. [PMID: 26500283 DOI: 10.1530/rep-15-0389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2015] [Accepted: 10/22/2015] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Binding of 17β-estradiol (E2) to novel G-protein coupled receptor, Gper1, promotes intra-oocyte adenylyl cyclase activity and transactivates epidermal growth factor receptor to ensure prophase-I arrest. Although involvement of either membrane progestin receptor (mPR) or Igf system has been implicated in regulation of meiosis resumption, possibility of concurrent activation and potential synergism between 17α,20β-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one (DHP)- and Igf-mediated signalling cascades in alleviating E2 inhibition of oocyte maturation (OM) has not been investigated. Here using zebrafish (Danio rerio) defolliculated oocytes, we examined the effect of DHP and Igf1, either alone or in combination, in presence or absence of E2, on OM in vitro. While priming of denuded oocytes with E2 blocked spontaneous maturation, co-treatment with DHP (3 nM) and Igf1 (10 nM), but not alone, reversed E2 inhibition and promoted a robust increase in germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD). Although stimulation with either Igf1 or DHP promoted Akt phosphorylation, pharmacological inhibition of PI3K/Akt signalling prevented Igf1-induced GVBD but delayed DHP action till 4-5 h of incubation. Moreover, high intra-oocyte cAMP attenuates both DHP and Igf1-mediated OM and co-stimulation with DHP and Igf1 could effectively reverse E2 action on PKA phosphorylation. Interestingly, data from in vivo studies reveal that heightened expression of igf1, igf3 transcripts in intact follicles corresponded well with elevated phosphorylation of Igf1r and Akt, mPRa immunoreactivity, PKA inhibition and accelerated GVBD response just prior to ovulation. This indicates potential synergism between maturational steroid and Igf1 which might have physiological relevance in overcoming E2 inhibition of meiosis resumption in zebrafish oocytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Debabrata Das
- Department of ZoologyVisva-Bharati University, Santiniketan 731235, India
| | - Soumojit Pal
- Department of ZoologyVisva-Bharati University, Santiniketan 731235, India
| | - Sudipta Maitra
- Department of ZoologyVisva-Bharati University, Santiniketan 731235, India
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26
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Santos D, Matos M, Coimbra AM. Developmental toxicity of endocrine disruptors in early life stages of zebrafish, a genetic and embryogenesis study. Neurotoxicol Teratol 2014; 46:18-25. [PMID: 25172296 DOI: 10.1016/j.ntt.2014.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2014] [Revised: 08/01/2014] [Accepted: 08/19/2014] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) are capable of interfering with the endocrine system and are increasingly widespread in the aquatic environments. In the present study, zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos and larvae were used to assess how EDCs may interfere with embryogenesis. Therefore, zebrafish embryos were exposed to 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE2: 0.4, 2, 4 and 20 ng/L), genistein (Gen: 2, 20, 200 and 2000 ng/L) and fadrozole (Fad: 2, 10, 50 and 250 μg/L), between 2 and 144 h post-fertilization (hpf). Somite development, heartbeat, malformations, mortality and hatching rates were evaluated. In parallel, the expression patterns of hormone receptors (esr1, esr2a, esr2b and ar) and apoptotic pathways related genes (p53 and c-jun) were determined using quantitative real-time PCR. Results showed that EE2, Gen and Fad caused a higher mortality and also malformations in larvae compared with control. A significant toxic effect was observed in the heartbeat rate, at 144 hpf, in larvae exposed to EE2 and Fad. QPCR revealed alterations in the expression levels of all the evaluated genes, at different time points. esr1 and c-jun genes were upregulated by EE2 and Gen exposure while the expression of esr2a, esr2b and ar genes was downregulated. Fad exposure decreased esr1, p53 and c-jun expression levels. This study shows a toxic effect of EE2, Gen and Fad to vertebrate embryogenesis and a relation between hormones action and apoptosis pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dércia Santos
- Life Sciences and Environment School, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), Quinta de Prados 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal.
| | - Manuela Matos
- Life Sciences and Environment School, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), Quinta de Prados 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal; Institute of Biotechnology and Bioengineering/Centre of Genomics and Biotechnology (IBB/CGB), University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), Quinta de Prados 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal.
| | - Ana M Coimbra
- Life Sciences and Environment School, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), Quinta de Prados 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal; Centre for the Research and Technology of Agro-Environmental and Biological Sciences (CITAB), University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), Quinta de Prados 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal.
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27
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Benato F, Colletti E, Skobo T, Moro E, Colombo L, Argenton F, Dalla Valle L. A living biosensor model to dynamically trace glucocorticoid transcriptional activity during development and adult life in zebrafish. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2014; 392:60-72. [PMID: 24796658 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2014.04.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2013] [Revised: 04/24/2014] [Accepted: 04/24/2014] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Glucocorticoids (GCs) modulate many cellular processes through the binding of the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) to specific responsive elements located upstream of the transcription starting site or within an intron of GC target genes. Here we describe a transgenic fish line harboring a construct with nine GC-responsive elements (GREs) upstream of a reporter (EGFP) coding sequence. Transgenic fish exhibit strong fluorescence in many known GC-responsive organs. Moreover, its enhanced sensitivity allowed the discovery of novel GC-responsive tissue compartments, such as fin, eyes, and otic vesicles. Long-term persistence of transgene expression is seen during adult stages in several organs. Pharmacological and genetic analysis demonstrates that the transgenic line is highly responsive to drug administration and molecular manipulation. Moreover, reporter expression is sensitively and dynamically modulated by the photoperiod, thus proving that these fish are an in vivo valuable platform to explore GC responsiveness to both endogenous and exogenous stimuli.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Benato
- Department of Biology, University of Padua, via U. Bassi 58/B, 35131 Padua, Italy
| | - Elisa Colletti
- Department of Biology, University of Padua, via U. Bassi 58/B, 35131 Padua, Italy
| | - Tatjana Skobo
- Department of Biology, University of Padua, via U. Bassi 58/B, 35131 Padua, Italy
| | - Enrico Moro
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padua, via U. Bassi 58/B, 35131 Padua, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Colombo
- Department of Biology, University of Padua, via U. Bassi 58/B, 35131 Padua, Italy
| | - Francesco Argenton
- Department of Biology, University of Padua, via U. Bassi 58/B, 35131 Padua, Italy.
| | - Luisa Dalla Valle
- Department of Biology, University of Padua, via U. Bassi 58/B, 35131 Padua, Italy.
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28
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Unal G, Marquez EC, Feld M, Stavropoulos P, Callard IP. Isolation of estrogen receptor subtypes and vitellogenin genes: Expression in female Chalcalburnus tarichi. Comp Biochem Physiol B Biochem Mol Biol 2014; 172-173:67-73. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpb.2014.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2013] [Revised: 03/17/2014] [Accepted: 04/08/2014] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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29
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Wilson KS, Matrone G, Livingstone DEW, Al-Dujaili EAS, Mullins JJ, Tucker CS, Hadoke PWF, Kenyon CJ, Denvir MA. Physiological roles of glucocorticoids during early embryonic development of the zebrafish (Danio rerio). J Physiol 2013; 591:6209-20. [PMID: 24167225 PMCID: PMC3892472 DOI: 10.1113/jphysiol.2013.256826] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2013] [Accepted: 10/23/2013] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
While glucocorticoids (GCs) are known to be present in the zebrafish embryo, little is known about their physiological roles at this stage. We hypothesised that GCs play key roles in stress response, hatching and swim activity during early development. To test this, whole embryo cortisol (WEC) and corticosteroid-related genes were measured in embryos from 6 to 120 h post fertilisation (hpf) by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Stress response was assessed by change in WEC following stirring, hypoxia or brief electrical impulses applied to the bathing water. The impact of pharmacological and molecular GC manipulation on the stress response, spontaneous hatching and swim activity at different stages of development was also assessed. WEC levels demonstrated a biphasic pattern during development with a decrease from 0 to 36 hpf followed by a progressive increase towards 120 hpf. This was accompanied by a significant and sustained increase in the expression of genes encoding cyp11b1 (GC biosynthesis), hsd11b2 (GC metabolism) and gr (GC receptor) from 48 to 120 hpf. Metyrapone (Met), an inhibitor of 11β-hydroxylase (encoded by cyp11b1), and cyp11b1 morpholino (Mo) knockdown significantly reduced basal and stress-induced WEC levels at 72 and 120 hpf but not at 24 hpf. Spontaneous hatching and swim activity were significantly affected by manipulation of GC action from approximately 48 hpf onwards. We have identified a number of key roles of GCs in zebrafish embryos contributing to adaptive physiological responses under adverse conditions. The ability to alter GC action in the zebrafish embryo also highlights its potential value for GC research.
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Affiliation(s)
- K S Wilson
- M. A. Denvir: The University/BHF Centre for Cardiovascular Science, University of Edinburgh, The Queen's Medical Research Institute, Edinburgh EH16 4TJ, UK.
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30
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Griffin LB, January KE, Ho KW, Cotter KA, Callard GV. Morpholino-mediated knockdown of ERα, ERβa, and ERβb mRNAs in zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos reveals differential regulation of estrogen-inducible genes. Endocrinology 2013; 154:4158-69. [PMID: 23928376 PMCID: PMC3800766 DOI: 10.1210/en.2013-1446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Genetically distinct estrogen receptor (ER) subtypes (ERα and ERβ) play a major role in mediating estrogen actions in vertebrates, but their unique and overlapping functions are not entirely clear. Although mammals have 1 gene of each subtype (ESR1 and ESR2), teleost fish have a single esr1 (ERα) and 2 esr2 (ERβa and ERβb) genes. To determine the in vivo role of different ER isoforms in regulating estrogen-inducible transcription targets, zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos were microinjected with esr-specific morpholino (MO) oligonucleotides to disrupt splicing of the exon III/intron III junction in the DNA-binding domain. Each MO knocked down its respective normal transcript and increased production of variants with a retained intron III (esr1 MO) or a deleted or mis-spliced exon III (esr2a and esr2b MOs). Both esr1 and esr2b MOs blocked estradiol induction of vitellogenin and ERα mRNAs, predominant hepatic genes, but esr2b was the only MO that blocked induction of cytochrome P450 aromatase B mRNA, a predominant brain gene. Knockdown of ERβa with the esr2a MO had no effect on estrogen induction of the 3 mRNAs but, when coinjected with esr1 MO, attenuated the effect of ERα knockdown. Results indicate that ERα and ERβb, acting separately or cooperatively on specific gene targets, are positive transcriptional regulators of estrogen action, but the role of ERβa, if any, is unclear. We conclude that MO technology in zebrafish embryos is an advantageous approach for investigating the interplay of ER subtypes in a true physiological context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucinda B Griffin
- Department of Biology, Boston University, 5 Cummington Mall, Boston, Massachusetts 02215.
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Tokarz J, Möller G, de Angelis MH, Adamski J. Zebrafish and steroids: what do we know and what do we need to know? J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol 2013; 137:165-73. [PMID: 23376612 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsbmb.2013.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 94] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2012] [Revised: 12/26/2012] [Accepted: 01/01/2013] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Zebrafish, Danio rerio, has long been used as a model organism in developmental biology. Nowadays, due to their advantages compared to other model animals, the fish gain popularity and are also increasingly used in endocrinology. This review focuses on an important aspect of endocrinology in zebrafish by summarizing the progress in steroid hormone related research. We present the state of the art of research on steroidogenesis, the action of steroid hormones, and steroid catabolism and cover the incremental usage of zebrafish as a test animal in endocrine disruption research. By this approach, we demonstrate that some aspects of steroid hormone research are well characterized (e.g., expression patterns of the genes involved), while other aspects such as functional analyses of enzymes, steroid hormone elimination, or the impact of steroid hormones on embryonic development or sex differentiation have not been extensively studied and are poorly understood. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled 'CSR 2013'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janina Tokarz
- Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Institute of Experimental Genetics, Genome Analysis Center, Ingolstaedter Landstrasse 1, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany
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32
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Nesan D, Vijayan MM. Role of glucocorticoid in developmental programming: evidence from zebrafish. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2013; 181:35-44. [PMID: 23103788 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2012.10.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 87] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2012] [Accepted: 10/13/2012] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
The vertebrate corticosteroid stress response is highly conserved and a key function is to restore homeostasis by mobilizing and reallocating energy stores. This process is primarily initiated by activation of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis, leading to the release of corticosteroids into the circulation. In teleosts, cortisol is the primary corticosteroid that is released into the circulation in response to stress. This steroid activates corticosteroid receptors that are ligand-bound transcription factors, modulating downstream gene expression in target tissues. Recent research in zebrafish (Danio rerio) has identified novel roles for cortisol in early developmental processes, including organogenesis and mesoderm formation. As cortisol biosynthesis commences only around the time of hatch in teleosts, the early developmental events are orchestrated by cortisol that is maternally deposited prior to fertilization. This review will highlight the molecular events leading to the development of the corticosteroid stress axis, and the possible role of cortisol in the developmental programming of stress axis function. Use of zebrafish as a model may lead to significant insights into the conserved role of glucocorticoids during early development with potential implications in biomedical research, including fetal stress syndromes in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dinushan Nesan
- Department of Biology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada N2L 3G1
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33
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Schiller V, Wichmann A, Kriehuber R, Muth-Köhne E, Giesy JP, Hecker M, Fenske M. Studying the effects of genistein on gene expression of fish embryos as an alternative testing approach for endocrine disruption. Comp Biochem Physiol C Toxicol Pharmacol 2013; 157:41-53. [PMID: 23017276 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpc.2012.09.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2012] [Revised: 09/17/2012] [Accepted: 09/18/2012] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Assessment of endocrine disruption currently relies on testing strategies involving adult vertebrates. In order to minimize the use of animal tests according to the 3Rs principle of replacement, reduction and refinement, we propose a transcriptomics and fish embryo based approach as an alternative to identify and analyze an estrogenic activity of environmental chemicals. For this purpose, the suitability of 48 h and 7 days post-fertilization zebrafish and medaka embryos to test for estrogenic disruption was evaluated. The embryos were exposed to the phytoestrogen genistein and subsequently analyzed by microarrays and quantitative real-time PCR. The functional analysis showed that the genes affected related to multiple metabolic and signaling pathways in the early fish embryo, which reflect the known components of genistein's mode of actions, like apoptosis, estrogenic response, hox gene expression and steroid hormone synthesis. Moreover, the transcriptomic data also suggested a thyroidal mode of action and disruption of the nervous system development. The parallel testing of two fish species provided complementary data on the effects of genistein at gene expression level and facilitated the separation of common from species-dependent effects. Overall, the study demonstrated that combining fish embryo testing with transcriptomics can deliver abundant information about the mechanistic effects of endocrine disrupting chemicals, rendering this strategy a promising alternative approach to test for endocrine disruption in a whole organism in-vitro scale system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viktoria Schiller
- Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology, Aachen, Germany.
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34
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Lanes C, Fernandes J, Kiron V, Babiak I. Profiling of key apoptotic, stress, and immune-related transcripts during embryonic and postembryonic development of Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua L.). Theriogenology 2012; 78:1583-1596.e2. [DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2012.07.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2012] [Revised: 07/05/2012] [Accepted: 07/05/2012] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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35
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Zucchi S, Castiglioni S, Fent K. Progestins and antiprogestins affect gene expression in early development in zebrafish (Danio rerio) at environmental concentrations. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2012; 46:5183-5192. [PMID: 22475373 DOI: 10.1021/es300231y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Progesterone (P4) and synthetic progestins (gestagens) from contraceptives and hormone therapy occur in treated wastewater and surface water, and they may have adverse effects on aquatic organisms. Little is known about the molecular and reproductive effects of P4 and synthetic progestins in fish, and effects of the antiprogestin mifepristone (RU486, an abortive) are unknown. We aimed at elucidating effects on the hormone system by quantitative determination of transcriptional changes of target genes induced by 2, 20, and 200 ng/L P4, RU486, norethindrone (NET), and levonorgestrel (LNG). We exposed zebrafish embryos for 144 h post fertilization (hpf) to these compounds and analyzed expressional changes of ar, esr1, vtg1, hsd17ß3, and progesterone (pgr), mineralo- (mr), and glucocorticoid (gr) receptors, each at 48, 96, and 144 hpf. Concentrations of NET and LNG were constant during exposure, while P4 and RU486 decreased. P4 and RU486 were the most potent steroids. Significant up to 4-fold induction of pgr, ar, mr, and hsd17b3 occurred at 2 ng/L P4 and higher, while RU484 inhibited pgr expression. NET and LNG modulated some transcripts mainly above 2 ng/L. The expressional chances occurring at environmental levels may translate to negative interference with differentiation of brain and gonads, and consequently reproduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Zucchi
- University of Applied Sciences Northwestern Switzerland, School of Life Sciences, Gründenstrasse 40, CH-4132 Muttenz, Switzerland
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36
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Pri-Tal BM, Blue S, Pau FKY, Podrabsky JE. Hormonal components of altered developmental pathways in the annual killifish, Austrofundulus limnaeus. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2011; 174:166-74. [PMID: 21906598 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2011.08.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2011] [Revised: 08/18/2011] [Accepted: 08/21/2011] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
The annual killifish, Austrofundulus limnaeus, typically enters embryonic diapause at two distinct points of development, termed diapause II and III. This study explores the role of maternal and embryonic steroid hormones, including 17-β-estradiol (E2), androstenedione (A4) and testosterone (T), in regulating the developmental decision to enter or escape diapause II. Steroid hormone levels were measured in tissues isolated from adult female killifish during the normal lifespan of this species and in individuals of the same age that were producing either high or low proportions of escape embryos. Levels of steroid hormones were also measured during early development and in fertilized eggs that were predicted to be on either an escape or diapausing developmental trajectory. Decreases in maternal E2 levels associated with age are correlated with decreasing escape embryo production. Maternal production of escape embryos is correlated with increased ratios of E2 to T in adult ovary tissue. Interestingly, neither hormone is significantly different in fish producing embryos on different developmental pathways when examined independently. Levels of steroid hormones in fertilized eggs are not correlated with entry or escape from diapause II, though levels of A4 tend to be higher in escape embryos. Escape embryos exhibit faster hormone metabolism and earlier hormone synthesis than embryos that will enter diapause II. Incubation of embryos in exogenous E2 is associated with a 7-fold increase in escape embryo production, and significantly elevated A4 levels. These data suggest that steroid hormones may be critical factors involved in determining developmental pathways in embryos of A. limnaeus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin M Pri-Tal
- Department of Biology, Portland State University, P.O. Box 751, Portland, OR 97207-0751, USA
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37
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Rüegg J, Cai W, Karimi M, Kiss NB, Swedenborg E, Larsson C, Ekström TJ, Pongratz I. Epigenetic regulation of glucose transporter 4 by estrogen receptor β. Mol Endocrinol 2011; 25:2017-28. [PMID: 22016564 DOI: 10.1210/me.2011-1054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Glucose transporter 4 (Glut4) is an important regulator of cellular glucose uptake in adipose tissue and skeletal muscle. The estrogen receptors α and β (ERα and ERβ) have been shown to regulate Glut4. However, the regulatory mechanisms are unclear, and there are conflicting results about the effects of the two ER isoforms on Glut4 activity. In this study we investigated how the lack of either ER isoform affects Glut4 expression in differentiated mouse embryonic fibroblasts. Our results demonstrate that Glut4 transcription is markedly reduced in cells lacking ERβ, both basally and upon induction by liver X receptor. These changes in Glut4 expression could not be explained by the lack of ERβ as ligand-activated transcription factor. They were rather brought about by hypermethylation of one single CpG in the Glut4 promoter in the ERβ-deficient cells. This CpG is part of an Sp1-binding site, and Sp1 binding was reduced by its methylation. Treatment with Sp1 inhibitor diminished Glut4 expression in wild-type, but not in ERβ-deficient cells, suggesting that reduced recruitment of Sp1 to the Glut4 promoter is responsible for the differences in Glut4 expression. Reintroduction of ERβ into ERβ-deficient cells partly restored Glut4 transcription and stabilized low DNA methylation after treatment with the DNA demethylating agent 5-Aza-2'-deoxycytidine. Our findings demonstrate the involvement of DNA methylation in Glut4 regulation and imply a novel function for ERβ in mediating epigenetic events and thereby regulating gene expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joëlle Rüegg
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, 141 57 Sweden.
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38
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Hamlin HJ, Guillette LJ. Embryos as targets of endocrine disrupting contaminants in wildlife. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2011; 93:19-33. [PMID: 21425439 DOI: 10.1002/bdrc.20202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Environmental contaminants are now a ubiquitous part of the ecological landscape, and a growing literature describes the ability of many of these chemicals to alter the developmental trajectory of the embryo. Because many environmental pollutants readily bioaccumulate in lipid rich tissues, wildlife can attain considerable body burdens. Embryos are often exposed to these pollutants through maternal transfer, and a growing number of studies report long-term or permanent developmental consequences. Many biological mechanisms are reportedly affected by environmental contaminants in the developing embryo and fetus, including neurodevelopment, steroidogenesis, gonadal differentiation, and liver function. Embryos are not exposed to one chemical at a time, but are chronically exposed to many chemicals simultaneously. Mixture studies show that for some developmental disorders, mixtures of chemicals cause a more deleterious response than would be predicted from their individual toxicities. Synergistic responses to low dose mixtures make it difficult to estimate developmental outcomes, and as such, traditional toxicity testing often results in an underestimate of exposure risks. In addition, the knowledge that biological systems do not necessarily respond in a dose-dependent fashion, and that very low doses of a chemical can prove more harmful than higher doses, has created a paradigm shift in studies of environmental contaminant-induced dysfunction. Although laboratory studies are critical for providing dose-response relationships and determining specific mechanisms involved in disease etiology, wildlife sentinels more accurately reflect the genetic diversity of real world exposure conditions, and continue to alert scientists and health professionals alike of the consequences of developmental exposures to environmental pollutants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heather J Hamlin
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, USA.
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39
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Schwend T, Loucks EJ, Snyder D, Ahlgren SC. Requirement of Npc1 and availability of cholesterol for early embryonic cell movements in zebrafish. J Lipid Res 2011; 52:1328-44. [PMID: 21576600 DOI: 10.1194/jlr.m012377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Niemann-Pick disease, type C (NP-C), often associated with Niemann-Pick disease, type C1 (NPC1) mutations, is a cholesterol-storage disorder characterized by cellular lipid accumulation, neurodegeneration, and reduced steroid production. To study NPC1 function in vivo, we cloned zebrafish npc1 and analyzed its gene expression and activity by reducing Npc1 protein with morpholino (MO)-oligonucleotides. Filipin staining in npc1-morphant cells was punctate, suggesting abnormal accumulation of cholesterol. Developmentally, reducing Npc1 did not disrupt early cell fate or survival; however, early morphogenetic movements were delayed, and the actin cytoskeleton network was abnormal. MO-induced defects were rescued with ectopic expression of mouse NPC1, demonstrating functional gene conservation, and by treatments with steroids pregnenolone or dexamethasone, suggesting that reduced steroidogenesis contributed to abnormal cell movements. Cell death was found in anterior tissues of npc1 morphants at later stages, consistent with findings in mammals. Collectively, these studies show that npc1 is required early for proper cell movement and cholesterol localization and later for cell survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tyler Schwend
- Department of Pediatrics, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago , IL, USA
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40
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Celeghin A, Benato F, Pikulkaew S, Rabbane MG, Colombo L, Dalla Valle L. The knockdown of the maternal estrogen receptor 2a (esr2a) mRNA affects embryo transcript contents and larval development in zebrafish. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2011; 172:120-9. [PMID: 21199655 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2010.12.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2010] [Revised: 12/21/2010] [Accepted: 12/22/2010] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
In zebrafish, ovulated oocytes are loaded with maternal estrogen receptor 2a (esr2a) mRNA which is spread as granular and filamentous structures throughout the central ooplasm and is promptly relocated inside the blastodisc area at the 1-cell stage (0.2h post-fertilization, hpf), as shown by in situ hybridization. This transcript is available for translation until its sharp decline from 4 to 8 hpf, being replaced by low levels of zygotic esr2a mRNA mainly localized in the head region and around the yolk sac from 24 hpf until hatching at 48 hpf. To test the functional role of the maternal esr2a mRNA, 1- or 2-cell embryos were injected with 10.3 ng each of morpholino (MO) to knockdown translation (MO2-esr2a) of both maternal and zygotic esr2a transcripts, with a missplicing MO (MO3-esr2a) to effectively block post-transcriptionally the zygotic transcript alone, and with a non-specific MO-control. Treatment with MO2-esr2a increased apoptosis in embryos, especially in the brain, and caused severe malformations in 63% of 1-5 dpf larvae, as compared to 10-11% in those treated with MO3-esr2a and MO-control. Defects included body growth delay with curved shape, persistent yolk sac with reduced sub-intestinal veins and swollen yolk extension, abnormal brain and splanchnocranium development, smaller eyes and otic vesicles, pericardial oedema, uninflated swim bladder and rudimentary caudal fin with aberrant circular swimming. Affected larvae could survive for only 12-14 days. The MO2-esr2a phenotype was rescued with co-injection of 30 pg/embryo of mutated zebrafish esr2a mRNA encoding the full length of Esr2a, but containing eight silent mutations in the region recognised by MO2-esr2a. A lower dosage (15 pg) failed to recover mortality and abnormality. Raising the dosage to 60 and 90 pg increased abnormality, but not mortality, whereas with 120 pg both mortality and abnormality worsened, indicating a strict quantitative requirement of Esr2a. Co-injection of an anti-p53 MO failed to rescue the MO2-esr2a phenotype, eliminating the possibility of off-target effects. Pangenomic microarray analysis revealed that 240 and 219 significantly expressed transcripts were up- and down-regulated, respectively, by maternal Esr2a protein deficiency in 8-hpf MO2-esr2a embryos. Also at 48 hpf, 162 and 120 presumably zygotic transcripts were up- and down-regulated, respectively, but only 18 were in common with each of the 8-hpf sets. In total, the transcripts from 705 genes were affected by Esr2a knockdown. These findings suggest the involvement of maternal esr2a mRNA, presumably transactivated by maternal 17β-estradiol stored in the oocyte from enveloping granulosa cells, in the epigenetic programming of zebrafish development.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Animals, Genetically Modified
- Cartilage/embryology
- Cartilage/growth & development
- Cartilage/metabolism
- Embryo, Nonmammalian/chemistry
- Embryo, Nonmammalian/metabolism
- Epigenesis, Genetic/physiology
- Estrogen Receptor beta
- Gene Expression Profiling
- Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
- Gene Knockdown Techniques
- Larva/genetics
- Larva/growth & development
- Larva/metabolism
- Microarray Analysis
- Phenotype
- RNA, Messenger/analysis
- RNA, Messenger/genetics
- RNA, Messenger/metabolism
- RNA, Messenger, Stored/antagonists & inhibitors
- RNA, Messenger, Stored/genetics
- Receptors, Estrogen/antagonists & inhibitors
- Receptors, Estrogen/genetics
- Receptors, Estrogen/metabolism
- Validation Studies as Topic
- Zebrafish/embryology
- Zebrafish/genetics
- Zebrafish/growth & development
- Zebrafish/metabolism
- Zebrafish Proteins/antagonists & inhibitors
- Zebrafish Proteins/genetics
- Zebrafish Proteins/metabolism
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Celeghin
- Comparative Endocrinology Laboratory, Department of Biology, University of Padova, Via U. Bassi 58/B, 35131 Padova, Italy
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41
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Löhr H, Hammerschmidt M. Zebrafish in Endocrine Systems: Recent Advances and Implications for Human Disease. Annu Rev Physiol 2011; 73:183-211. [DOI: 10.1146/annurev-physiol-012110-142320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 137] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Heiko Löhr
- Institute for Developmental Biology, University of Cologne, D-50923 Cologne, Germany
| | - Matthias Hammerschmidt
- Institute for Developmental Biology, University of Cologne, D-50923 Cologne, Germany
- Cologne Excellence Cluster on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases (CEDAD), University of Cologne, D-50923 Cologne, Germany
- Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), University of Cologne, D-50923 Cologne, Germany;
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42
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Pikulkaew S, Benato F, Celeghin A, Zucal C, Skobo T, Colombo L, Dalla Valle L. The knockdown of maternal glucocorticoid receptor mRNA alters embryo development in zebrafish. Dev Dyn 2011; 240:874-89. [PMID: 21360790 DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.22586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/18/2011] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
In zebrafish, ovulated oocytes contain both maternal cortisol and the mRNA for the glucocorticoid receptor (gr), which is spread as granular structures throughout the ooplasm. At 0.2 hpf, this transcript is relocated in the blastodisc area and partitioned among blastomeres. At 6-8 hpf, it is replaced by zygotic transcript. We used morpholinos to block translation of both maternal and zygotic gr transcripts, and a missplicing morpholino to block post-transcriptionally the zygotic transcript alone. Only knockdown of translation produced an increase of apoptosis and subsequent craniofacial and caudal deformities with severe malformations of neural, vascular, and visceral organs in embryos and 5-dpf larvae. Such defects were rescued with trout gr2 mRNA. Microarray analysis revealed that 114 and 37 highly expressed transcripts were up- and down-regulated, respectively, by maternal Gr protein deficiency in 5-hpf embryos. These results indicate that the maternal gr transcript and protein participate in the maternal programming of zebrafish development.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Pikulkaew
- Comparative Endocrinology Laboratory, Department of Biology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
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