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Ryu T, Okamoto K, Ansai S, Nakao M, Kumar A, Iguchi T, Ogino Y. Gene Duplication of Androgen Receptor As An Evolutionary Driving Force Underlying the Diversity of Sexual Characteristics in Teleost Fishes. Zoolog Sci 2024; 41:68-76. [PMID: 38587519 DOI: 10.2108/zs230098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/09/2024]
Abstract
Sexual dimorphism allows species to meet their fitness optima based on the physiological availability of each sex. Although intralocus sexual conflict appears to be a genetic constraint for the evolution of sex-specific traits, sex-linked genes and the regulation of sex steroid hormones contribute to resolving this conflict by allowing sex-specific developments. Androgens and their receptor, androgen receptor (Ar), regulate male-biased phenotypes. In teleost fish, ar ohnologs have emerged as a result of teleost-specific whole genome duplication (TSGD). Recent studies have highlighted the evolutionary differentiation of ar ohnologs responsible for the development of sexual characteristics, which sheds light on the need for comparative studies on androgen regulation among different species. In this review, we discuss the importance of ar signaling as a regulator of male-specific traits in teleost species because teleost species are suitable experimental models for comparative studies owing to their great diversity in male-biased morphological and physiological traits. To date, both in vivo and in vitro studies on teleost ar ohnologs have shown a substantial influence of ars as a regulator of male-specific reproductive traits such as fin elongation, courtship behavior, and nuptial coloration. In addition to these sexual characteristics, ar substantially influences immunity, inducing a sex-biased immune response. This review aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the current state of teleost ar studies and emphasizes the potential of teleost fishes, given their availability, to find molecular evidence about what gives rise to the spectacular diversity among fish species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tsukasa Ryu
- Laboratory of Marine Biochemistry, Graduate School of Bioresource and Bioenvironmental Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan
| | - Keigo Okamoto
- Laboratory of Aquatic Molecular Developmental Biology, Graduate School of Bioresource and Bioenvironmental Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan
| | - Satoshi Ansai
- Laboratory of Genome Editing Breeding, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan
| | - Miki Nakao
- Laboratory of Marine Biochemistry, Graduate School of Bioresource and Bioenvironmental Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan
- Center for Promotion of International Education and Research, Faculty of Agriculture, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan
| | - Anu Kumar
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, CSIRO Environment, PMB2, Glen Osmond, 5064 South Australia, Australia
| | - Taisen Iguchi
- Graduate School of Nanobioscience, Yokohama City University, Yokohama, Kanagawa 236-0027, Japan
- Noto Marine Laboratory, Institute of Nature and Environmental Technology, Kanazawa University, Ishikawa 927-0553, Japan
| | - Yukiko Ogino
- Laboratory of Aquatic Molecular Developmental Biology, Graduate School of Bioresource and Bioenvironmental Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan,
- Center for Promotion of International Education and Research, Faculty of Agriculture, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan
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Cunha AAP, Garner SR, Ingoldsby E, Dixon B, MacDougall-Shackleton SA, Knapp R, Neff BD. Androgen and prolactin manipulation do not induce changes in immunocompetence measures in a fish with male parental care. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL ZOOLOGY. PART A, ECOLOGICAL AND INTEGRATIVE PHYSIOLOGY 2023; 339:284-289. [PMID: 36564859 DOI: 10.1002/jez.2677] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2022] [Revised: 11/28/2022] [Accepted: 12/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Prolactin and 11-ketotestosterone (11-KT) are important reproductive hormones in fishes, which may also influence immunocompetence. The immunocompetence handicap hypothesis states that higher androgen concentrations that support secondary sex traits are traded off against a decrease in immune system function. To test the relationships between these hormones and immunocompetence, we experimentally manipulated 11-ketotestosterone and prolactin in the freshwater fish, bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus) during parental care using implants that contained either 11-KT, prolactin, or an inert control. We vaccinated individuals to stimulate the acquired immune response, then measured immunocompetence as the number of granulocytes, lymphocytes and monocytes, and the expression of interleukin 8 in each sample. We did not observe any significant differences in the immune measures among the hormone treatments. Our results indicate that in bluegill, there is no trade-off between androgens or prolactin and immunocompetence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adriano A P Cunha
- Department of Biology, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Shawn R Garner
- Department of Biology, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Erin Ingoldsby
- Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Brian Dixon
- Department of Biology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Rosemary Knapp
- Department of Biology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Bryan D Neff
- Department of Biology, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
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Loggie JW, Garner SR, Partridge CG, Dixon B, Knapp R, Neff BD. A test of the effects of androgens on immunity: No relationship between 11-ketotestosterone and immune performance in bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus). Gen Comp Endocrinol 2018; 261:1-8. [PMID: 29355535 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2018.01.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2017] [Revised: 01/13/2018] [Accepted: 01/13/2018] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
The immunosuppressive effects of androgens are a key component of the immunocompetence handicap hypothesis (ICHH). Here, we use bluegill sunfish (Lepomis macrochirus) to test two predictions arising from this hypothesis: (1) natural circulating concentrations of the androgen 11-ketotestosterone (11-KT) will be negatively related with measures of immunity, and (2) immune stimulation will lower circulating 11-KT concentration. We found no evidence for a relationship between natural circulating 11-KT concentration and measures of immunity (lymphocyte and granulocyte counts, respiratory burst, cytokine mRNA levels), and an immune stimulation with Vibrio vaccine did not affect circulating 11-KT concentration. We also performed a meta-analysis of immune stimulation studies to help interpret our results, and report evidence suggesting that immune stimulation has weaker effects on androgen levels in fishes compared to other vertebrates. These results suggest that the ICHH may not apply to all vertebrates, although it remains premature to state what factors account for the weaker evidence in fishes that androgens are immunosuppressive.
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Affiliation(s)
- John W Loggie
- Department of Biology, The University of Western Ontario, 1151 Richmond St., London, ON N6A 5B7, Canada
| | - Shawn R Garner
- Department of Biology, The University of Western Ontario, 1151 Richmond St., London, ON N6A 5B7, Canada
| | - Charlyn G Partridge
- Annis Water Resources Institute, Grand Valley State University, 740 W. Shoreline Dr., Muskegon, MI 49441, USA
| | - Brian Dixon
- Department of Biology, University of Waterloo, 200 University Ave. W., Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - Rosemary Knapp
- Department of Biology, University of Oklahoma, 730 Van Vleet Oval, Norman, OK 73019, USA
| | - Bryan D Neff
- Department of Biology, The University of Western Ontario, 1151 Richmond St., London, ON N6A 5B7, Canada.
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Brain Transcriptional Profiles of Male Alternative Reproductive Tactics and Females in Bluegill Sunfish. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0167509. [PMID: 27907106 PMCID: PMC5132329 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0167509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2016] [Accepted: 11/15/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Bluegill sunfish (Lepomis macrochirus) are one of the classic systems for studying male alternative reproductive tactics (ARTs) in teleost fishes. In this species, there are two distinct life histories: parental and cuckolder, encompassing three reproductive tactics, parental, satellite, and sneaker. The parental life history is fixed, whereas individuals who enter the cuckolder life history transition from sneaker to satellite tactic as they grow. For this study, we used RNAseq to characterize the brain transcriptome of the three male tactics and females during spawning to identify gene ontology (GO) categories and potential candidate genes associated with each tactic. We found that sneaker males had higher levels of gene expression differentiation compared to the other two male tactics. Sneaker males also had higher expression in ionotropic glutamate receptor genes, specifically AMPA receptors, compared to other males, which may be important for increased spatial working memory while attempting to cuckold parental males at their nests. Larger differences in gene expression also occurred among male tactics than between males and females. We found significant expression differences in several candidate genes that were previously identified in other species with ARTs and suggest a previously undescribed role for cAMP-responsive element modulator (crem) in influencing parental male behaviors during spawning.
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