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Gray SL, Lam EK, Henao-Diaz LF, Jalabert C, Soma KK. Effect of a Territorial Challenge on the Steroid Profile of a Juvenile Songbird. Neuroscience 2024; 541:118-132. [PMID: 38301739 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2024.01.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2023] [Revised: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 02/03/2024]
Abstract
Aggression is a social behavior that is critical for survival and reproduction. In adults, circulating gonadal hormones, such as androgens, act on neural circuits to modulate aggressive interactions, especially in reproductive contexts. In many species, individuals also demonstrate aggression before reaching gonadal maturation. Adult male song sparrows, Melospiza melodia, breed seasonally but maintain territories year-round. Juvenile (hatch-year) males aggressively compete for territory ownership during their first winter when circulating testosterone is low. Here, we characterized the relationship between the steroid milieu and aggressive behavior in free-living juvenile male song sparrows in winter. We investigated the effect of a 10 min simulated territorial intrusion (STI) on behavior and steroid levels in blood, 10 microdissected brain regions, and four peripheral tissues (liver, pectoral muscle, adrenal glands, and testes). Using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), we quantified 12 steroids: pregnenolone, progesterone, corticosterone, 11-dehydrocorticosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone, androstenedione, testosterone, 5α-dihydrotestosterone, 17β-estradiol, 17α-estradiol, estrone, and estriol. We found that juvenile males are robustly aggressive, like adult males. An STI increases progesterone and corticosterone levels in blood and brain and increases 11-dehydrocorticosterone levels in blood only. Pregnenolone, androgens, and estrogens are generally non-detectable and are not affected by an STI. In peripheral tissues, steroid concentrations are very high in the adrenals. These data suggest that adrenal steroids, such as progesterone and corticosterone, might promote juvenile aggression and that juvenile and adult songbirds might rely on distinct neuroendocrine mechanisms to support similar aggressive behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofia L Gray
- Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada; Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
| | - Emma K Lam
- Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - L Francisco Henao-Diaz
- Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada; Biodiversity Research Centre, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Cecilia Jalabert
- Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada; Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Kiran K Soma
- Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada; Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada; Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada; Graduate Program in Neuroscience, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
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2
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Roggenbuck EC, Hall EA, Hanson IB, Roby AA, Zhang KK, Alkatib KA, Carter JA, Clewner JE, Gelfius AL, Gong S, Gordon FR, Iseler JN, Kotapati S, Li M, Maysun A, McCormick EO, Rastogi G, Sengupta S, Uzoma CU, Wolkov MA, Clowney EJ. Let's talk about sex: Mechanisms of neural sexual differentiation in Bilateria. WIREs Mech Dis 2024; 16:e1636. [PMID: 38185860 DOI: 10.1002/wsbm.1636] [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: 05/09/2023] [Revised: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/09/2024]
Abstract
In multicellular organisms, sexed gonads have evolved that facilitate release of sperm versus eggs, and bilaterian animals purposefully combine their gametes via mating behaviors. Distinct neural circuits have evolved that control these physically different mating events for animals producing eggs from ovaries versus sperm from testis. In this review, we will describe the developmental mechanisms that sexually differentiate neural circuits across three major clades of bilaterian animals-Ecdysozoa, Deuterosomia, and Lophotrochozoa. While many of the mechanisms inducing somatic and neuronal sex differentiation across these diverse organisms are clade-specific rather than evolutionarily conserved, we develop a common framework for considering the developmental logic of these events and the types of neuronal differences that produce sex-differentiated behaviors. This article is categorized under: Congenital Diseases > Stem Cells and Development Neurological Diseases > Stem Cells and Development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma C Roggenbuck
- MCDB 464 - Cellular Diversity: Sex Differentiation of the Brain, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Elijah A Hall
- MCDB 464 - Cellular Diversity: Sex Differentiation of the Brain, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Isabel B Hanson
- MCDB 464 - Cellular Diversity: Sex Differentiation of the Brain, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Alyssa A Roby
- MCDB 464 - Cellular Diversity: Sex Differentiation of the Brain, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Katherine K Zhang
- MCDB 464 - Cellular Diversity: Sex Differentiation of the Brain, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Kyle A Alkatib
- MCDB 464 - Cellular Diversity: Sex Differentiation of the Brain, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Joseph A Carter
- MCDB 464 - Cellular Diversity: Sex Differentiation of the Brain, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Jarred E Clewner
- MCDB 464 - Cellular Diversity: Sex Differentiation of the Brain, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Anna L Gelfius
- MCDB 464 - Cellular Diversity: Sex Differentiation of the Brain, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Shiyuan Gong
- MCDB 464 - Cellular Diversity: Sex Differentiation of the Brain, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Finley R Gordon
- MCDB 464 - Cellular Diversity: Sex Differentiation of the Brain, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Jolene N Iseler
- MCDB 464 - Cellular Diversity: Sex Differentiation of the Brain, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Samhita Kotapati
- MCDB 464 - Cellular Diversity: Sex Differentiation of the Brain, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Marilyn Li
- MCDB 464 - Cellular Diversity: Sex Differentiation of the Brain, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Areeba Maysun
- MCDB 464 - Cellular Diversity: Sex Differentiation of the Brain, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Elise O McCormick
- MCDB 464 - Cellular Diversity: Sex Differentiation of the Brain, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Geetanjali Rastogi
- MCDB 464 - Cellular Diversity: Sex Differentiation of the Brain, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Srijani Sengupta
- MCDB 464 - Cellular Diversity: Sex Differentiation of the Brain, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Chantal U Uzoma
- MCDB 464 - Cellular Diversity: Sex Differentiation of the Brain, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Madison A Wolkov
- MCDB 464 - Cellular Diversity: Sex Differentiation of the Brain, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - E Josephine Clowney
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
- Michigan Neuroscience Institute Affiliate, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
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3
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Paixão RV, Silva GF, Caetano AR, Cintra LC, Varela ES, O'Sullivan FLA. Phylogenomic and expression analysis of Colossoma macropomum cyp19a1a and cyp19a1b and their non-classical role in tambaqui sex differentiation. Gene 2022; 843:146795. [PMID: 35961435 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2022.146795] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2022] [Revised: 07/15/2022] [Accepted: 08/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The genes coding for Cytochrome P450 aromatase (cyp19a1a and cyp19a1b) and estrogen (E2) receptors (esr1, esr2a and esr2b) play a conserved role in ovarian differentiation and development among teleosts. Classically, the "gonad form" of aromatase, coded by the cyp19a1a, is responsible for the ovarian differentiation in genetic females via ligation and activation of the Esr, which mediates the endocrine and exocrine signaling to allow or block the establishment of the feminine phenotype. However, in neotropical species, studies on the molecular and endocrine processes involved in gonad differentiation as well as on the effects of sex modulators are recent and scarce. In this study, we combined in silico analysis, real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) assay and quantification of E2 plasma levels of differentiating tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum) to unveil the roles of the paralogs cypa19a1a and cyp19a1b during sex differentiation. Although the synteny of each gene is very conserved among characids, the genomic environment displays striking differences in comparison to model teleost species, with many rearrangements in cyp19a1a and cyp19a1b adjacencies and transposable element traces in both regulatory regions. The high dissimilarity (DI) of SF-1 binding motifs in cyp19a1a (DI = 10.06 to 14.90 %) and cyp19a1b (DI = 8.41 to 13.50 %) regulatory region, respectively, may reflect in an alternative pathway in tambaqui. Indeed, while low transcription of cyp19a1a was detected prior to sex differentiation, the expression of cyp19a1b and esr2a presented a large variation at this phase, which could be associated with sex-specific differential expression. Histological analysis revealed that anti-estradiol treatments did not affect gonadal sex ratios, although Fadrozole (50 mg kg-1 of food) reduced E2 plasma levels (p < 0,005) as well cyp19a1a transcription; and tamoxifen (200 mg kg-1 of food) down regulated both cyp19a1a and cyp19a1b but did not influence E2 levels. Altogether, our results bring into light new insights about the evolutionary fate of cyp19a1 paralogs in neotropical fish, which may have generated uncommon roles for the gonadal and brain forms of cyp19a1 genes and the unexpected lack of effect of endocrine disruptors on tambaqui sexual differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- R V Paixão
- Universidade Federal do Amazonas (UFAM), Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciência Animal e Recursos Pesqueiros, Avenida Rodrigo Otávio, CEP: 69080-900, 6200 Manaus, AM, Brazil
| | - G F Silva
- Embrapa Amazônia Ocidental, Rodovia AM-010, Km 29, Caixa Postal 319, CEP: 69010-790, Brazil
| | - A R Caetano
- Embrapa Recursos Genéticos e Biotecnologia, Final Av. W/5 Norte, C.P. 02372, CEP 70770-917, Brasília, DF, Brazil
| | - L C Cintra
- Embrapa Agricultura Digital, Avenida André Tosselo, 209, Cidade Universitária, CEP: 13083-886, Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | - E S Varela
- Embrapa Pesca e Aquicultura, Av. NS 10, cruzamento com a Av. LO 18 Sentido Norte Loteamento - Água Fria, Palmas, TO 77008-900, Brazil
| | - F L A O'Sullivan
- Embrapa Amazônia Ocidental, Rodovia AM-010, Km 29, Caixa Postal 319, CEP: 69010-790, Brazil.
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4
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Sexual plasticity in bony fishes: Analyzing morphological to molecular changes of sex reversal. AQUACULTURE AND FISHERIES 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.aaf.2022.02.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
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5
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Sex Determination and Differentiation in Teleost: Roles of Genetics, Environment, and Brain. BIOLOGY 2021; 10:biology10100973. [PMID: 34681072 PMCID: PMC8533387 DOI: 10.3390/biology10100973] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2021] [Revised: 09/19/2021] [Accepted: 09/20/2021] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
The fish reproductive system is a complex biological system. Nonetheless, reproductive organ development is conserved, which starts with sex determination and then sex differentiation. The sex of a teleost is determined and differentiated from bipotential primordium by genetics, environmental factors, or both. These two processes are species-specific. There are several prominent genes and environmental factors involved during sex determination and differentiation. At the cellular level, most of the sex-determining genes suppress the female pathway. For environmental factors, there are temperature, density, hypoxia, pH, and social interaction. Once the sexual fate is determined, sex differentiation takes over the gonadal developmental process. Environmental factors involve activation and suppression of various male and female pathways depending on the sexual fate. Alongside these factors, the role of the brain during sex determination and differentiation remains elusive. Nonetheless, GnRH III knockout has promoted a male sex-biased population, which shows brain involvement during sex determination. During sex differentiation, LH and FSH might not affect the gonadal differentiation, but are required for regulating sex differentiation. This review discusses the role of prominent genes, environmental factors, and the brain in sex determination and differentiation across a few teleost species.
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Rahman MS, Thomas P. Molecular Characterization and Expression of Cytochrome P450 Aromatase in Atlantic Croaker Brain: Regulation by Antioxidant Status and Nitric Oxide Synthase During Hypoxia Stress. Front Physiol 2021; 12:720200. [PMID: 34434121 PMCID: PMC8381199 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2021.720200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2021] [Accepted: 07/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
We have previously shown that nitric oxide synthase (NOS, an enzyme) is significantly increased during hypoxic stress in Atlantic croaker brains and modulated by an antioxidant (AOX). However, the influence of NOS and AOX on cytochrome P450 aromatase (AROM, CYP19a1, an enzyme) activity on vertebrate brains during hypoxic stress is largely unknown. In this study, we characterized brain AROM (bAROM, CYP19a1b) cDNA in croaker and examined the interactive effects of hypoxia and a NOS-inhibitor or AOX on AROM activity. The amino acid sequence of croaker bAROM cDNA is highly homologous (76–80%) to other marine teleost bAROM cDNAs. Both real-time PCR and Northern blot analyses showed that bAROM transcript (size: ∼2.8 kb) is highly expressed in the preoptic-anterior hypothalamus (POAH). Hypoxia exposure (dissolved oxygen, DO: 1.7 mg/L for 4 weeks) caused significant decreases in hypothalamic AROM activity, bAROM mRNA and protein expressions. Hypothalamic AROM activity and mRNA levels were also decreased by pharmacological treatment with N-ethylmaleimide (NEM, an alkylating drug that modifies sulfhydryl groups) of fish exposed to normoxic (DO: ∼6.5 mg/L) conditions. On the other hand, treatments with Nω-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (NAME, a competitive NOS-inhibitor) or vitamin-E (Vit-E, a powerful AOX) prevented the downregulation of hypothalamic AROM activity and mRNA levels in hypoxic fish. Moreover, NAME and Vit-E treatments also restored gonadal growth in hypoxic fish. Double-labeled immunohistochemistry results showed that AROM and NOS proteins are co-expressed with NADPH oxidase (generates superoxide anion) in the POAH. Collectively, these results suggest that the hypoxia-induced downregulation of AROM activity in teleost brains is influenced by neuronal NOS activity and AOX status. The present study provides, to the best of our knowledge, the first evidence of restoration of AROM levels in vertebrate brains by a competitive NOS-inhibitor and potent AOX during hypoxic stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Md Saydur Rahman
- School of Earth, Environmental and Marine Sciences, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Brownsville, TX, United States.,Marine Science Institute, University of Texas at Austin, Port Aransas, TX, United States
| | - Peter Thomas
- Marine Science Institute, University of Texas at Austin, Port Aransas, TX, United States
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7
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Teng J, Zhao Y, Chen HJ, Xue LY, Ji XS. Global expression response of genes in sex-undifferentiated Nile tilapia gonads after exposure to trace letrozole. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2021; 217:112255. [PMID: 33915448 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2021.112255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2020] [Revised: 04/06/2021] [Accepted: 04/12/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The aromatase inhibitor letrozole can be found in rivers, effluents, and even drinking water. Studies have demonstrated that letrozole affects various metabolic pathways and may cause reproductive toxicity, especially in fish exposed during development. However, studies on the effect of a low concentration of letrozole at the whole-gonad transcriptomic level in the early stage of fish sexual development have not been investigated. The aim of our study was to explore the potential effects of a low concentration of letrozole on the gonad transcriptome of Nile tilapia at an early stage of sexual development. In this study, 9 dpf (days postfertilization) Nile tilapia were exposed to trace letrozole for 12 days. Letrozole exposure from 9 dpf to 21 dpf persistently altered phenotypic sex development and induced the male-biased sex ratio. The transcriptome results showed that 1173 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were present in the female control vs 1.5 μg/L letrozole-treated female comparison group and that 1576 DEGs were present in the 1.5 μg/L letrozole-treated female vs male control comparison group. Differentially expressed gene enrichment analysis revealed several crucial pathways, including the drug metabolism-cytochrome P450 pathway, the ErbB-PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway, and the calcium signalling pathway. Further analysis of these identified DEGs indicated that some key genes correlated with metabolism and epigenetic regulation were significantly affected by letrozole, such as UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (Ugt), glutathione S-transferase omega-1 (Gsto1), lysine-specific demethylase 6bb (Kdm6bb, original name is Kdm6a), jumonji and AT-rich interaction domain containing 2 (Jarid2b, original name is Jarid2), growth arrest and DNA damage inducible gamma (Gadd45g), and chromobox protein 7 (Cbx7). The qRT-PCR validation results for twelve DEGs showed that the Pearson's correlation of the log10fold change values between the qPCR and RNA-Seq results was 0.90, indicating the accuracy and reliability of the RNA-Seq results. Our study is the first to report the effect of letrozole on the transcriptome of gonads from fish during early-stage sexual development. These findings will be useful for understanding the toxic effects and molecular mechanisms of letrozole exposure at the early stage of gonad development on the sexual development of aquatic organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian Teng
- College of Marine Sciences, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China; College of Animal Science and Technology, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, Shandong, China
| | - Yan Zhao
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, Shandong, China
| | - Hong Ju Chen
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, Shandong, China
| | - Liang Yi Xue
- College of Marine Sciences, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China.
| | - Xiang Shan Ji
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, Shandong, China.
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8
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Maruska KP, Butler JM, Anselmo C, Tandukar G. Distribution of aromatase in the brain of the African cichlid fish
Astatotilapia burtoni
: Aromatase expression, but not estrogen receptors, varies with female reproductive‐state. J Comp Neurol 2020; 528:2499-2522. [DOI: 10.1002/cne.24908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2019] [Revised: 03/03/2020] [Accepted: 03/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Karen P. Maruska
- Department of Biological Sciences Louisiana State University Baton Rouge Louisiana USA
| | - Julie M. Butler
- Department of Biological Sciences Louisiana State University Baton Rouge Louisiana USA
| | - Chase Anselmo
- Department of Biological Sciences Louisiana State University Baton Rouge Louisiana USA
| | - Ganga Tandukar
- Department of Biological Sciences Louisiana State University Baton Rouge Louisiana USA
- Biology Program University of Louisiana at Monroe Monroe Louisiana USA
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9
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Okubo K, Miyazoe D, Nishiike Y. A conceptual framework for understanding sexual differentiation of the teleost brain. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2019; 284:113129. [PMID: 30825478 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2019.02.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2018] [Revised: 02/08/2019] [Accepted: 02/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Vertebrate brains are sexually differentiated, giving rise to differences in various physiological and behavioral phenotypes between the sexes. In developing mammals and birds, the neural substrate underlying sex-dependent physiology and behavior undergoes an irreversible process of sexual differentiation due to the effects of perinatal gonadal steroids and sex chromosome complement. The differentiated neural substrate is then activated in the adult by the sex-specific steroid milieu to facilitate the expression of sex-typical phenotypes. However, this well-established concept does not hold for teleost fish, whose sexual phenotypes (behavioral or otherwise) are highly labile throughout life and can be reversed even in adulthood. Indeed, the available evidence suggests that, in teleosts, neither gonadal steroids early in development nor the sex chromosome complement contribute much to brain sexual differentiation; instead, steroids in adulthood serve to both differentiate the neural substrate and activate it to elicit sex-typical phenotypes in a transient and reversible manner. Evidence further suggests that marked sexual dimorphisms and adult steroid-dependent lability in the neural expression of sex steroid receptors constitute the primary molecular basis for sexual differentiation and lability of the teleost brain. The consequent sexually dimorphic but reversible steroid sensitivity in response to the adult steroid milieu may enable the teleost brain to maintain lifelong sexual lability and to undergo phenotypic sex reversal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kataaki Okubo
- Department of Aquatic Bioscience, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan.
| | - Daichi Miyazoe
- Department of Aquatic Bioscience, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan
| | - Yuji Nishiike
- Department of Aquatic Bioscience, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan
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10
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Gammerdinger WJ, Conte MA, Sandkam BA, Ziegelbecker A, Koblmüller S, Kocher TD. Novel Sex Chromosomes in 3 Cichlid Fishes from Lake Tanganyika. J Hered 2019; 109:489-500. [PMID: 29444291 DOI: 10.1093/jhered/esy003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2017] [Accepted: 01/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
African cichlids are well known for their adaptive radiations, but it is now apparent that they also harbor an extraordinary diversity of sex chromosome systems. In this study, we sequenced pools of males and females from species in 3 different genera of cichlids from Lake Tanganyika. We then searched for regions that were differentiated following the patterns expected for sex chromosomes. We report 2 novel sex chromosomes systems, an XY system on LG19 in Tropheus sp. "black" and a ZW system on LG7 in Hemibates stenosoma. We also identify a ZW system on LG5 in Cyprichromis leptosoma that may be convergent with a system previously described in Lake Malawi cichlids. Our data also identify candidate single nucleotide polymorphisms for the blue/yellow tail color polymorphism observed among male C. leptosoma.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Matthew A Conte
- Department of Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
| | | | | | - Stephan Koblmüller
- Institute of Zoology, University of Graz, Universitätsplatz, Graz, Austria
| | - Thomas D Kocher
- Department of Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
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11
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Lee SLJ, Horsfield JA, Black MA, Rutherford K, Gemmell NJ. Identification of sex differences in zebrafish (Danio rerio) brains during early sexual differentiation and masculinization using 17α-methyltestoterone. Biol Reprod 2019; 99:446-460. [PMID: 29272338 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/iox175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2017] [Accepted: 12/18/2017] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Sexual behavior in teleost fish is highly plastic. It can be attributed to the relatively few sex differences found in adult brain transcriptomes. Environmental and hormonal factors can influence sex-specific behavior. Androgen treatment stimulates behavioral masculinization. Sex dimorphic gene expression in developing teleost brains and the molecular basis for androgen-induced behavioral masculinization are poorly understood. In this study, juvenile zebrafish (Danio rerio) were treated with 100 ng/L of 17 alpha-methyltestosterone (MT) during sexual development from 20 days post fertilization to 40 days and 60 days post fertilization. We compared brain gene expression patterns in MT-treated zebrafish with control males and females using RNA-Seq to shed light on the dynamic changes in brain gene expression during sexual development and how androgens affect brain gene expression leading to behavior masculinization. We found modest differences in gene expression between juvenile male and female zebrafish brains. Brain aromatase (cyp19a1b), prostaglandin 3a synthase (ptges3a), and prostaglandin reductase 1 (ptgr1) were among the genes with sexually dimorphic expression patterns. MT treatment significantly altered gene expression relative to both male and female brains. Fewer differences were found among MT-treated brains and male brains compared to female brains, particularly at 60 dpf. MT treatment upregulated the expression of hydroxysteroid 11-beta dehydrogenase 2 (hsd11b2), deiodinase, iodothyronine, type II (dio2), and gonadotrophin releasing hormones (GnRH) 2 and 3 (gnrh2 and gnrh3) suggesting local synthesis of 11-ketotestosterone, triiodothyronine, and GnRHs in zebrafish brains which are influenced by androgens. Androgen, estrogen, prostaglandin, thyroid hormone, and GnRH signaling pathways likely interact to modulate teleost sexual behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie L J Lee
- Department of Anatomy, University of Otago, Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand
| | - Julia A Horsfield
- Department of Pathology, Dunedin School of Medicine, University of Otago, Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand
| | - Michael A Black
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Otago, Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand
| | - Kim Rutherford
- Department of Anatomy, University of Otago, Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand
| | - Neil J Gemmell
- Department of Anatomy, University of Otago, Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand
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12
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Hiraki-Kajiyama T, Yamashita J, Yokoyama K, Kikuchi Y, Nakajo M, Miyazoe D, Nishiike Y, Ishikawa K, Hosono K, Kawabata-Sakata Y, Ansai S, Kinoshita M, Nagahama Y, Okubo K. Neuropeptide B mediates female sexual receptivity in medaka fish, acting in a female-specific but reversible manner. eLife 2019; 8:39495. [PMID: 31383257 PMCID: PMC6684226 DOI: 10.7554/elife.39495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2018] [Accepted: 07/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Male and female animals display innate sex-specific mating behaviors. In teleost fish, altering the adult sex steroid milieu can effectively reverse sex-typical mating behaviors, suggesting remarkable sexual lability of their brains as adults. In the teleost medaka, neuropeptide B (NPB) is expressed female-specifically in the brain nuclei implicated in mating behavior. Here, we demonstrate that NPB is a direct mediator of estrogen action on female mating behavior, acting in a female-specific but reversible manner. Analysis of regulatory mechanisms revealed that the female-specific expression of NPB is dependent on direct transcriptional activation by estrogen via an estrogen-responsive element and is reversed in response to changes in the adult sex steroid milieu. Behavioral studies of NPB knockouts revealed that female-specific NBP mediates female receptivity to male courtship. The female-specific NPB signaling identified herein is presumably a critical element of the neural circuitry underlying sexual dimorphism and lability of mating behaviors in teleosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Towako Hiraki-Kajiyama
- Department of Aquatic Bioscience, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.,Laboratory for Systems Molecular Ethology, RIKEN Center for Brain Science, Wako, Japan
| | - Junpei Yamashita
- Department of Aquatic Bioscience, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Keiko Yokoyama
- Department of Aquatic Bioscience, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yukiko Kikuchi
- Department of Aquatic Bioscience, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Mikoto Nakajo
- Department of Aquatic Bioscience, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.,Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Daichi Miyazoe
- Department of Aquatic Bioscience, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yuji Nishiike
- Department of Aquatic Bioscience, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kaito Ishikawa
- Department of Aquatic Bioscience, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kohei Hosono
- Department of Aquatic Bioscience, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yukika Kawabata-Sakata
- Department of Aquatic Bioscience, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.,Department of Pathophysiology, Tokyo Medical University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Satoshi Ansai
- Division of Applied Biosciences, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.,Laboratory of Bioresources, National Institute for Basic Biology, Okazaki, Japan
| | - Masato Kinoshita
- Division of Applied Biosciences, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Yoshitaka Nagahama
- Division of Reproductive Biology, National Institute for Basic Biology, Okazaki, Japan
| | - Kataaki Okubo
- Department of Aquatic Bioscience, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
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13
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Kikuchi Y, Hiraki-Kajiyama T, Nakajo M, Umatani C, Kanda S, Oka Y, Matsumoto K, Ozawa H, Okubo K. Sexually Dimorphic Neuropeptide B Neurons in Medaka Exhibit Activated Cellular Phenotypes Dependent on Estrogen. Endocrinology 2019; 160:827-839. [PMID: 30776298 DOI: 10.1210/en.2019-00030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2019] [Accepted: 02/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Brain and behavior of teleosts are highly sexually plastic throughout life, yet the underlying neural mechanisms are largely unknown. On examining brain morphology in the teleost medaka (Oryzias latipes), we identified distinctively large neurons in the magnocellular preoptic nucleus that occurred much more abundantly in females than in males. Examination of sex-reversed medaka showed that the sexually dimorphic abundance of these neurons is dependent on gonadal phenotype, but independent of sex chromosome complement. Most of these neurons in females, but none in males, produced neuropeptide B (Npb), whose expression is known to be estrogen-dependent and associated with female sexual receptivity. In phenotypic analysis, the female-specific Npb neurons had a large euchromatic nucleus with an abundant cytoplasm containing plentiful rough endoplasmic reticulum, exhibited increased overall transcriptional activity, and typically displayed a spontaneous regular firing pattern. These phenotypes, which are probably indicative of cellular activation, were attenuated by ovariectomy and restored by estrogen replacement. Furthermore, the population of Npb-expressing neurons emerged in adult males treated with estrogen, not through frequently occurring neurogenesis in the adult teleost brain, but through the activation of preexisting, quiescent male counterpart neurons. Collectively, our results demonstrate that the morphological, transcriptional, and electrophysiological phenotypes of sexually dimorphic preoptic Npb neurons are highly dependent on estrogen and can be switched between female and male patterns. These properties of the preoptic Npb neurons presumably underpin the neural mechanism for sexual differentiation and plasticity of brain and behavior in teleosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yukiko Kikuchi
- Department of Aquatic Bioscience, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Towako Hiraki-Kajiyama
- Department of Aquatic Bioscience, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Laboratory for Systems Molecular Ethology, RIKEN Center for Brain Science, Wako, Saitama, Japan
| | - Mikoto Nakajo
- Department of Aquatic Bioscience, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Chie Umatani
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shinji Kanda
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yoshitaka Oka
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Keisuke Matsumoto
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Graduate School of Medicine, Nippon Medical School, Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hitoshi Ozawa
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Graduate School of Medicine, Nippon Medical School, Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kataaki Okubo
- Department of Aquatic Bioscience, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan
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14
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Li X, Wang J, Yu M, Zhang X, Wang W, Tian H, Ru S. 2,2'-Dithiobis-pyridine induced reproductive toxicity in male guppy (Poecilia reticulata). ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2019; 169:778-785. [PMID: 30597776 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2018.11.076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2018] [Revised: 10/10/2018] [Accepted: 11/19/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Metal pyrithiones (MePTs) are frequently used antifouling biocides in marine coatings. Their main degradation product, 2,2'-dithiobis-pyridine ((PS)2), has been widely detected in seawater and may pose potential ecological risks. In the present study, sexually mature guppies (Poecilia reticulata) were exposed to (PS)2 at concentrations of 0, 20, 200, and 2000 ng/L for 28 days to investigate its reproductive toxicity. The results showed that (PS)2 significantly reduced testosterone (T) levels, spermatogenic cyst number and sperm motility, impeded spermatogenic cell differentiation in male guppies and delayed embryo development in females. These results indicated that (PS)2 could cause reproductive toxicity in guppies. We also examined mRNA expression of indices involved in the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis and reproductive behaviors. We found that 200 and 2000 ng/L (PS)2 decreased T synthesis by downregulating 17βHSD and CYP17 mRNA levels, and upregulating the mRNA level of CYP19a1a, which converted T to 17β-estradiol. (PS)2 also upregulated GnRH1, FSHβ, LHβ, and LHR mRNA levels, a positive feedback regulation due to the decrease of T levels in male guppies. Furthermore, (PS)2 significantly decreased CYP19a1b mRNA levels in all three exposure groups and thus reduced the display frequency of male guppies. This study was the first to report that (PS)2 could induce reproductive toxicity, which would provide a basis for future assessment of its ecological risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuefu Li
- Colleges of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, 5 Yushan Road, Qingdao 266003, Shandong Province, China
| | - Jun Wang
- Colleges of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, 5 Yushan Road, Qingdao 266003, Shandong Province, China
| | - Miao Yu
- Colleges of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, 5 Yushan Road, Qingdao 266003, Shandong Province, China
| | - Xiaona Zhang
- Colleges of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, 5 Yushan Road, Qingdao 266003, Shandong Province, China
| | - Wei Wang
- Colleges of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, 5 Yushan Road, Qingdao 266003, Shandong Province, China
| | - Hua Tian
- Colleges of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, 5 Yushan Road, Qingdao 266003, Shandong Province, China.
| | - Shaoguo Ru
- Colleges of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, 5 Yushan Road, Qingdao 266003, Shandong Province, China.
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15
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El Taher A, Lichilín N, Salzburger W, Böhne A. Time matters! Developmental shift in gene expression between the head and the trunk region of the cichlid fish Astatotilapia burtoni. BMC Genomics 2019; 20:39. [PMID: 30642242 PMCID: PMC6332847 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-018-5321-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2018] [Accepted: 11/28/2018] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Differential gene expression can be translated into differing phenotypic traits. Especially during embryogenesis, specific gene expression networks regulate the development of different body structures. Cichlid fishes, with their impressive phenotypic diversity and propensity to radiate, are an emerging model system in the genomics era. Here we set out to investigate gene expression throughout development in the well-studied cichlid fish Astatotilapia burtoni, native to Lake Tanganyika and its affluent rivers. RESULTS Combining RNA-sequencing from different developmental time points as well as integrating adult gene expression data, we constructed a new genome annotation for A. burtoni comprising 103,253 transcripts (stemming from 52,584 genomic loci) as well as a new reference transcriptome set. We compared our transcriptome to the available reference genome, redefining transcripts and adding new annotations. We show that about half of these transcripts have coding potential. We also characterize transcripts that are not present in the genome assembly. Next, using our newly constructed comprehensive reference transcriptome, we characterized differential gene expression through time and showed that gene expression is shifted between different body parts. We constructed a gene expression network that identified connected genes responsible for particular phenotypes and made use of it to focus on genes under potential positive selection in A. burtoni, which were implicated in fin development and vision. CONCLUSIONS We provide new genomic resources for the cichlid fish Astatotilapia burtoni, which will contribute to its further establishment as a model system. Tracing gene expression through time, we identified gene networks underlying particular functions, which will help to understand the genetic basis of phenotypic diversity in cichlids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Athimed El Taher
- Zoological Institute, University of Basel, Vesalgasse 1, 4051, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Nicolás Lichilín
- Zoological Institute, University of Basel, Vesalgasse 1, 4051, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Walter Salzburger
- Zoological Institute, University of Basel, Vesalgasse 1, 4051, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Astrid Böhne
- Zoological Institute, University of Basel, Vesalgasse 1, 4051, Basel, Switzerland.
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16
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Venkatasubramanian H, Selvaraj V, Ramasamy M, Santhakumar K. Effect of Fadrozole Exposure on Socioreproductive Behaviors and Neurochemical Parameters in Betta splendens. Zebrafish 2018; 16:139-151. [PMID: 30523744 DOI: 10.1089/zeb.2018.1595] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Induction of all-male population in Siamese fighting fish, Betta splendens, has potential application in ornamental fish trade. In addition, the sexually dimorphic nature of aggressive behavior exhibited by this species has made it into an emerging model for behavioral studies. Fadrozole, an aromatase inhibitor, which has been used widely in masculinization, has captivated us to use it in this study. Twenty one days postfertilization (dpf), B. splendens fry were subjected to discrete immersion treatment with various concentrations of fadrozole, and eventually, analyses of various socioreproductive behaviors and analyses of stress markers such as dopamine in brain samples, sex hormones, cortisol, and glucose in plasma samples were performed. We observed that 91% of 50 μg/L fadrozole treated fish developed as males. Interestingly, reproductive analyses of these males gave rise to two subgroups (A and B). Subsequent sociobehavioral analyses demonstrated a timid and subdued behavior in subgroup B males. Furthermore, estimation of stress markers such as dopamine levels in the brain tissue, cortisol, and glucose levels in blood plasma and sex hormone levels in blood plasma exhibited an endocrine disruption-mediated stress leading to altered behavior in these males. These findings will help in understanding the fadrozole-mediated masculinization and behavioral alterations following endocrine disruption.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hemagowri Venkatasubramanian
- 1 Zebrafish Genetics Laboratory, Department of Genetic Engineering, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai, India
| | - Velanganni Selvaraj
- 1 Zebrafish Genetics Laboratory, Department of Genetic Engineering, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai, India
| | - Mohankumar Ramasamy
- 2 Interdisciplinary Institute of Indian System of Medicine, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai, India
| | - Kirankumar Santhakumar
- 1 Zebrafish Genetics Laboratory, Department of Genetic Engineering, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai, India
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17
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Renn SCP, O'Rourke CF, Aubin-Horth N, Fraser EJ, Hofmann HA. Dissecting the Transcriptional Patterns of Social Dominance across Teleosts. Integr Comp Biol 2018; 56:1250-1265. [PMID: 27940616 DOI: 10.1093/icb/icw118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
In many species, under varying ecological conditions, social interactions among individuals result in the formation of dominance hierarchies. Despite general similarities, there are robust differences among dominance hierarchies across species, populations, environments, life stages, sexes, and individuals. Understanding the proximate mechanisms underlying the variation is an important step toward understanding the evolution of social behavior. However, physiological changes associated with dominance, such as gonadal maturation and somatic growth, often complicate efforts to identify the specific underlying mechanisms. Traditional gene expression analyses are useful for generating candidate gene lists, but are biased by choice of significance cut-offs and difficult to use for between-study comparisons. In contrast, complementary analysis tools allow one to both test a priori hypotheses and generate new hypotheses. Here we employ a meta-analysis of high-throughput expression profiling experiments to investigate the gene expression patterns that underlie mechanisms and evolution of behavioral social phenotypes. Specifically, we use a collection of datasets on social dominance in fish across social contexts, sex, and species. Using experimental manipulation to produce female dominance hierarchies in the cichlid Astatotilapia burtoni, heralded as a genomic model of social dominance, we generate gene lists, and assess molecular gene modules. In the dominant female gene expression profile, we demonstrate a strong pattern of up-regulation of genes previously identified as having male-biased expression and furthermore, compare expression biases between male and female dominance phenotypes. Using a threshold-free approach to identify correlation throughout ranked gene lists, we query previously published datasets associated with maternal behavior, alternative reproductive tactics, cooperative breeding, and sex-role reversal to describe correlations among these various neural gene expression profiles associated with different instances of social dominance. These complementary approaches capitalize on the high-throughput gene expression profiling from similar behavioral phenotypes in order to address the mechanisms associated with social dominance behavioral phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suzy C P Renn
- *Department of Biology, Reed College, 3203 SE Woodstock blvd, Portland, OR 97202, USA
| | - Cynthia F O'Rourke
- *Department of Biology, Reed College, 3203 SE Woodstock blvd, Portland, OR 97202, USA
| | - Nadia Aubin-Horth
- Département de Biologie & Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes (IBIS), Université Laval, 1030 Avenue de la Médecine - Local 1242 Québec G1V 0A6, QC Canada
| | - Eleanor J Fraser
- UCSF School of Medicine, 513 Parnassus Ave, Med Sci, San Francisco, CA 94122, USA
| | - Hans A Hofmann
- Department of Integrative Biology, Center for Computational Biology and Bioinformatics, The University of Texas at Austin, 2415 Speedway - C0990, Austin, TX 78705, USA
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18
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Wang Z, Qiu X, Kong D, Zhou X, Guo Z, Gao C, Ma S, Hao W, Jiang Z, Liu S, Zhang T, Meng X, Wang X. Comparative RNA-Seq analysis of differentially expressed genes in the testis and ovary of Takifugu rubripes. COMPARATIVE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY D-GENOMICS & PROTEOMICS 2017; 22:50-57. [PMID: 28189874 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbd.2017.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2016] [Revised: 01/25/2017] [Accepted: 02/02/2017] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Takifugu rubripes is a classical model organism for studying the role of gonad organogenesis in such physiological processes as fertilization, sex determination, and sexual development. To explicitly investigate the mechanism associated with gonad organogenesis in T. rubripes, we obtained 44.3 million and 55.2 million raw reads from the testis and ovary, respectively, by RNA-seq and from these, 18,523 genes were identified. A total of 680 differentially expressed genes were obtained from comparison transcriptome analysis between the testis and ovary, and of these, 556 genes were up-regulated in the testis, whereas only 124 genes were upregulated in the ovary. Gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis indicated that many of these genes encode proteins involved in signal transduction and gonad development. We mainly focused on the differentially expressed genes that have the potential to develop into the gonad. The generation of large scale transcriptomic data presented in this work would enrich the genetic resources of T. rubripes, which should be valuable to the comparative and evolutionary studies of teleosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhicheng Wang
- College of Fisheries and Life Science, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian 116023, China
| | - Xuemei Qiu
- College of Fisheries and Life Science, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian 116023, China.
| | - Derong Kong
- College of Fisheries and Life Science, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian 116023, China
| | - Xiaoxu Zhou
- College of Fisheries and Life Science, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian 116023, China
| | - Zhongbao Guo
- Guangxi Academy of Fishery Sciences, Nanning 530021, China
| | - Changfu Gao
- College of Fisheries and Life Science, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian 116023, China
| | - Shuai Ma
- College of Fisheries and Life Science, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian 116023, China
| | - Weiwei Hao
- College of Fisheries and Life Science, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian 116023, China
| | - Zhiqiang Jiang
- College of Fisheries and Life Science, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian 116023, China
| | - Shengcong Liu
- Dalian Tianzheng Industrial Corporation Limited, Dalian 116011, China
| | - Tao Zhang
- Dalian Tianzheng Industrial Corporation Limited, Dalian 116011, China
| | - Xuesong Meng
- Dalian Tianzheng Industrial Corporation Limited, Dalian 116011, China
| | - Xiuli Wang
- College of Fisheries and Life Science, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian 116023, China.
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19
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Baroiller JF, D'Cotta H. The Reversible Sex of Gonochoristic Fish: Insights and Consequences. Sex Dev 2016; 10:242-266. [PMID: 27907925 DOI: 10.1159/000452362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/29/2016] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Fish sex reversal is a means to understand sex determination and differentiation, but it is also used to control sex in aquaculture. This review discusses sex reversal in gonochoristic fish, with the coexistence of genetic and environmental influences. The different periods of fish sensitivity to sex reversal treatments are presented with the mechanisms implicated. The old players of sex differentiation are revisited with transcriptome data and loss of function studies following hormone- or temperature-induced sex reversal. We also discuss whether cortisol is the universal mediator of sex reversal in fish due to its implication in ovarian meiosis and 11KT increase. The large plasticity in fish for sex reversal is also evident in the brain, with a reversibility existing even in adulthood. Studies on epigenetics are presented, since it links the environment, gene expression, and sex reversal, notably the association of DNA methylation in sex reversal. Manipulations with exogenous factors reverse the primary sex in many fish species under controlled conditions, but several questions arise on whether this can occur under wild conditions and what is the ecological significance. Cases of sex reversal in wild fish populations are shown and their fitness and future perspectives are discussed.
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20
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Böhne A, Wilson CA, Postlethwait JH, Salzburger W. Variations on a theme: Genomics of sex determination in the cichlid fish Astatotilapia burtoni. BMC Genomics 2016; 17:883. [PMID: 27821061 PMCID: PMC5100337 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-016-3178-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2016] [Accepted: 10/18/2016] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Sex chromosomes change more frequently in fish than in mammals or birds. However, certain chromosomes or genes are repeatedly used as sex determinants in different members of the teleostean lineage. East African cichlids are an enigmatic model system in evolutionary biology representing some of the most diverse extant vertebrate adaptive radiations. How sex is determined and if different sex-determining mechanisms contribute to speciation is unknown for almost all of the over 1,500 cichlid species of the Great Lakes. Here, we investigated the genetic basis of sex determination in a cichlid from Lake Tanganyika, Astatotilapia burtoni, a member of the most species-rich cichlid lineage, the haplochromines. Results We used RAD-sequencing of crosses for two populations of A. burtoni, a lab strain and fish caught at the south of Lake Tanganyika. Using association mapping and comparative genomics, we confirmed male heterogamety in A. burtoni and identified different sex chromosomes (LG5 and LG18) in the two populations of the same species. LG5, the sex chromosome of the lab strain, is a fusion chromosome in A. burtoni. Wnt4 is located on this chromosome, representing the best candidate identified so far for the master sex-determining gene in our lab strain of A. burtoni. Conclusions Cichlids exemplify the high turnover rate of sex chromosomes in fish with two different chromosomes, LG5 and LG18, containing major sex-determining loci in the two populations of A. burtoni examined here. However, they also illustrate that particular chromosomes are more likely to be used as sex chromosomes. Chromosome 5 is such a chromosome, which has evolved several times as a sex chromosome, both in haplochromine cichlids from all Great Lakes and also in other teleost fishes. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12864-016-3178-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Astrid Böhne
- Zoological Institute, University of Basel, Vesalgasse 1, 4051, Basel, Switzerland.
| | | | | | - Walter Salzburger
- Zoological Institute, University of Basel, Vesalgasse 1, 4051, Basel, Switzerland
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21
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Machado MP, Matos I, Grosso AR, Schartl M, Coelho MM. Non-canonical expression patterns and evolutionary rates of sex-biased genes in a seasonal fish. Mol Reprod Dev 2016; 83:1102-1115. [PMID: 27770608 DOI: 10.1002/mrd.22752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2016] [Accepted: 10/10/2016] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Sex determination is a highly variable process that utilizes many different mechanisms to initiate the cascade of differentiation processes. The molecular pathways controlling sexual development are less conserved than previously assumed, and appear to require active maintenance in some species; indeed, the developmental decision of gonad phenotype in gonochoristic species is not fixed at an early developmental stage. Much of the knowledge about sex determination mechanisms was derived from research on gonochoristic, non-seasonal breeders. In this study, the transcriptome of resting adult gonads of a seasonal breeder, the endangered Iberian cyprinid fish Squalius pyrenaicus, was analyzed to assess the expression patterns and evolutionary rates of sex-biased genes that could be involved in maintenance of gonad identity as well as in sex determination. Remarkably, some crucial female genes-such as aromatase cyp19a1a, estrogen receptor esr1a, and foxl2-were expressed more abundantly in S. pyrenaicus testis than in ovaries. Moreover, contrary to the higher evolutionary rate changes observed in male-biased genes, higher dN /dS ratios were observed for female-biased genes than for male-biased genes in S. pyrenaicus. These results help unravel the impact of seasonality in sex determination mechanisms and the evolution of genes, and highlight the need to study fish at different gonadal maturation states to understand the function of sex-biased genes. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 83: 1102-1115, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel P Machado
- Centre for Ecology Evolution and Environmental Changes, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Edifício C2, Lisboa, Portugal.,Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Edifício Egas Moniz, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Isa Matos
- Centre for Ecology Evolution and Environmental Changes, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Edifício C2, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Ana R Grosso
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Edifício Egas Moniz, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Manfred Schartl
- Department of Physiological Chemistry, University of Würzburg, Biozentrum, Würzburg, Germany.,Comprehensive Cancer Center, University Clinic Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany.,Department of Biology, Texas Institute for Advanced Study, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas
| | - Maria M Coelho
- Centre for Ecology Evolution and Environmental Changes, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Edifício C2, Lisboa, Portugal
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