Identification of new participants in the rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) oocyte maturation and ovulation processes using cDNA microarrays

Evolutionarily conserved ovarian fluid proteins are responsible for extending egg viability in salmonid fish

In contrast to most fishes, salmonids exhibit the unique ability to hold their eggs for several days after ovulation without significant loss of viability. During this period, eggs are held in the body cavity in a biological fluid, the coelomic fluid (CF) that is responsible for preserving egg viability. To identify CF proteins responsible for preserving egg viability, a proteomic comparison was performed using 3 salmonid species and 3 non-salmonid species to identify salmonid-specific highly abundant proteins. In parallel, rainbow trout CF fractions were purified and used in a biological test to estimate their egg viability preservation potential. The most biologically active CF fractions were then subjected to mass spectrometry analysis. We identified 50 proteins overabundant in salmonids and present in analytical fractions with high egg viability preservation potential. The identity of these proteins illuminates the biological processes participating in egg viability preservation. Among identified proteins of interest, the ovarian-specific expression and abundance in CF at ovulation of N-acetylneuraminic acid synthase a (Nansa) suggest a previously unsuspected role. We show that salmonid CF is a complex biological fluid containing a diversity of proteins related to immunity, calcium binding, lipid metabolism, proteolysis, extracellular matrix and sialic acid metabolic pathway that are collectively responsible for preserving egg viability.

Regulation of steroid production and key genes in catfish Heteropneustes fossilis using recombinant gonadotropins

The two gonadotropins, FSH and LH, stimulate growth and development of the gonads through gonadal biosynthesis of steroid hormones and growth factors. To date, cDNA sequences encoding gonadotropin subunits have been isolated and characterized from a large number of fish species. Recently, we successfully cloned and characterized gonadotropins (LHβ, FSHβ, and GPα) from the pituitary glands of the catfish, Heteropneustes fossilis. In the present study, we describe herein the production of recombinant stinging catfish, H. fossilis (hf) FSH (rhfFSH) and LH (rhfLH) using the methylotrophic yeast P. pastoris expression system. We further explored the hypothesis that the recombinant gonadotropins can modulate the hypothalamus-pituitary-ovarian (HPO) axis genes (avt, it, gnrh2, kiss2, and cyp19a1a) and regulate their transcriptional profile and steroid levels in relation to their annual developmental stage during preparatory and pre-spawning phases under in-vitro conditions. We found that the different concentrations of recombinant rhfFSH and rhfLH significantly stimulated E2 levels in the preparatory and prespawning season, and also upregulated gonadal aromatase gene expression in a dose dependent manner. Our results demonstrate that the yeast expression system produced biologically active recombinant catfish gonadotropins, enabling the study of their function in the catfish.

Cumulus Cell Transcriptome after Cumulus-Oocyte Complex Exposure to Nanomolar Cadmium in an In Vitro Animal Model of Prepubertal and Adult Age

Cadmium (Cd), a highly toxic pollutant, impairs oocyte fertilization, through oxidative damage on cumulus cells (CCs). This study analysed the transcriptomic profile of CCs of cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) from adult and prepubertal sheep, exposed to Cd nanomolar concentration during in vitro maturation. In both age-groups, CCs of matured oocytes underwent RNA-seq, data analysis and validation. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified in adult (n = 99 DEGs) and prepubertal (n = 18 DEGs) CCs upon Cd exposure. Transcriptomes of adult CCs clustered separately between Cd-exposed and control samples, whereas prepubertal ones did not as observed by Principal Component Analysis. The transcriptomic signature of Cd-induced CC toxicity was identified by gene annotation and literature search. Genes associated with previous studies on ovarian functions and/or Cd effects were confirmed and new genes were identified, thus implementing the knowledge on their involvement in such processes. Enrichment and validation analysis showed that, in adult CCs, Cd acted as endocrine disruptor on DEGs involved in hormone biosynthesis, cumulus expansion, regulation of cell signalling, growth and differentiation and oocyte maturation, whereas in prepubertal CCs, Cd affected DEGs involved in CC development and viability and CC-oocyte communications. In conclusion, these DEGs could be used as valuable non-invasive biomarkers for oocyte competence.

cAMP signaling in ovarian physiology in teleosts: A review

Ovarian function in teleosts, like in other vertebrates, is regulated by two distinct gonadotropins, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH). Gonadotropin effects are mediated by membrane-bound G protein-coupled receptors localized on the surface of follicle cells. Gonadotropin receptor activation results in increased intracellular cAMP, the most important second cellular signaling molecule. FSH stimulation induces the production of 17β-estradiol in the cells of growing follicles to promote vitellogenesis in oocytes. In contrast, in response to LH, fully grown post-vitellogenic follicles gain the ability to synthesize maturation-inducing steroids, which induce meiotic resumption and ovulation. All these events were induced downstream of cAMP. In this review, we summarize studies addressing the role of the cAMP pathway in gonadotropin-induced processes in teleost ovarian follicles. Furthermore, we discuss future problems concerning cAMP signaling in relation to teleost ovarian function and the differences and similarities in the gonadotropin-induced cAMP signaling pathways between mammals and teleosts.

Reproductive roles of the vasopressin/oxytocin neuropeptide family in teleost fishes

The vertebrate nonapeptide families arginine vasopressin (AVP) and oxytocin (OXT) are considered to have evolved from a single vasopressin-like peptide present in invertebrates and termed arginine vasotocin in early vertebrate evolution. Unprecedented genome sequence availability has more recently allowed new insight into the evolution of nonapeptides and especially their receptor families in the context of whole genome duplications. In bony fish, nonapeptide homologues of AVP termed arginine vasotocin (Avp) and an OXT family peptide (Oxt) originally termed isotocin have been characterized. While reproductive roles of both nonapeptide families have historically been studied in several vertebrates, their roles in teleost reproduction remain much less understood. Taking advantage of novel genome resources and associated technological advances such as genetic modifications in fish models, we here critically review the current state of knowledge regarding the roles of nonapeptide systems in teleost reproduction. We further discuss sources of plasticity of the conserved nonapeptide systems in the context of diverse reproductive phenotypes observed in teleost fishes. Given the dual roles of preoptic area (POA) synthesized Avp and Oxt as neuromodulators and endocrine/paracrine factors, we focus on known roles of both peptides on reproductive behaviour and the regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. Emphasis is placed on the identification of a gonadal nonapeptide system that plays critical roles in both steroidogenesis and gamete maturation. We conclude by highlighting key research gaps including a call for translational studies linking new mechanistic understanding of nonapeptide regulated physiology in the context of aquaculture, conservation biology and ecotoxicology.

Ovarian transcriptome analysis of diploid and triploid rainbow trout revealed new pathways related to gonadal development and fertility

Triploidisation represents several advantages (e.g. sterility) and therefore is routinely applied in aquaculture of several commercially important fish species, including rainbow trout. The comparative transcriptomic analysis of ovaries of triploid (3N) and diploid (2N) female rainbow trout revealed a total of 9 075 differentially expressed genes (DEGs; 4 105 genes upregulated in 2N and 4 970 genes upregulated in 3N ovaries, respectively). Identified clusters for DEGs upregulated in 3N and 2N ovaries were different, including carbohydrate and lipid metabolic process and transport, protein modification, signalling (related to folliculogenesis) and response to stimulus for DEGs upregulated in 2N, and developmental process, signalling (related to apoptosis, cellular senescence and adherence junctions) and regulation of RNA metabolic process for DEGs upregulated in 3N. The enrichment of processes involved in carbohydrate and lipid metabolism in 2N ovaries indicated high metabolism of ovarian tissue and the energy reservoir generation indispensable during the earliest stages of development. Our results highlight the importance of oocyte hydration along with oestrogen, insulin, leptin, fibroblast growth factor, and Notch signalling and pathways related to the regulation of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) levels in proper oocyte meiotic maturation prior to ovulation in 2N ovaries. Conversely, triploidisation may lead to an increase in ovarian cellular senescence and apoptosis, which in turn can result in abnormal gonadal morphology and fibrosis. The downregulation of genes responsible for the precise regulation of meiosis and proper chromosome segregation during meiosis probably affects meiotic maturation via irregular meiotic division of chromosomes. The induction of triploidy of the rainbow trout genome resulted in enhanced expression of male-specific genes, genes responsible for re-establishing the transcriptional balance after genome reorganisation and genes involved in regulatory mechanisms, including gene silencing and DNA methylation. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first genome-wide investigation providing in-depth comprehensive and comparative gene expression patterns in the ovary from 2N and 3N rainbow trout females helping in elucidating the molecular mechanisms leading to impaired gonadal development and sterility of female triploids.

Stage Specific Transcriptomic Analysis and Database for Zebrafish Oogenesis

Oogenesis produces functional eggs and is essential for fertility, embryonic development, and reproduction. The zebrafish ovary is an excellent model to study oogenesis in vertebrates, and recent studies have identified multiple regulators in oocyte development through forward genetic screens, as well as reverse genetics by CRISPR mutagenesis. However, many developmental steps in oogenesis, in zebrafish and other species, remain poorly understood, and their underlying mechanisms are unknown. Here, we take a genomic approach to systematically uncover biological activities throughout oogenesis. We performed transcriptomic analysis on five stages of oogenesis, from the onset of oocyte differentiation through Stage III, which precedes oocyte maturation. These transcriptomes revealed thousands of differentially expressed genes across stages of oogenesis. We analyzed trends of gene expression dynamics along oogenesis, as well as their expression in pair-wise comparisons between stages. We determined their functionally enriched terms, identifying uniquely characteristic biological activities in each stage. These data identified two prominent developmental phases in oocyte differentiation and traced the accumulation of maternally deposited embryonic regulator transcripts in the developing oocyte. Our analysis provides the first molecular description for oogenesis in zebrafish, which we deposit online as a resource for the community. Further, the presence of multiple gene paralogs in zebrafish, and the exclusive curation by many bioinformatic tools of the single paralogs present in humans, challenge zebrafish genomic analyses. We offer an approach for converting zebrafish gene name nomenclature to the human nomenclature for supporting genomic analyses generally in zebrafish. Altogether, our work provides a valuable resource as a first step to uncover oogenesis mechanisms and candidate regulators and track accumulating transcripts of maternal regulators of embryonic development.

Signal pathway of LH-induced expression of nuclear progestin receptor in vertebrate ovulation

Nuclear progestin receptor (PGR), which is induced in the follicles destined to undergo ovulation, is believed to be obligatory for rupture of the follicles during ovulation in vertebrates. Studies in some mammals and teleost medaka have revealed the outline of the central signaling pathway that leads to the PGR expression in the preovulatory follicles at ovulation. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge on what signaling mediators are involved in the LH-induced follicular expression of PGR at ovulation in these animals. LH-inducibility of follicular PGR expression is conserved. In both group of animals, activation of the LH receptor on the granulosa cell surface with LH commonly results in the increase of intracellular cAMP levels, while the downstream signaling cascades activated by high level of cAMP are totally different between mice and medaka. PGR is currently presumed to be induced via PKA/CREB-mediated transactivation and ERK1/2-dependent signaling in mice, but the receptor is induced via EPAC/RAP and AKT/CREB pathways in the teleost medaka. The differences and similarities in the signaling pathways for PGR expression between them is discussed from comparative and evolutionary aspects. We also discussed questions concerning PGR expression and its regulation needed to be investigated in future.

Differential Regulation of Gonadotropins as Revealed by Transcriptomes of Distinct LH and FSH Cells of Fish Pituitary

From mammals to fish, reproduction is driven by luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) temporally secreted from the pituitary gland. Teleost fish are an excellent model for addressing the unique regulation and function of each gonadotropin cell since, unlike mammals, they synthesize and secrete LH and FSH from distinct cells. Only very distant vertebrate classes (such as fish and birds) demonstrate the mono-hormonal strategy, suggesting a potential convergent evolution. Cell-specific transcriptome analysis of double-labeled transgenic tilapia expressing GFP and RFP in LH or FSH cells, respectively, yielded genes specifically enriched in each cell type, revealing differences in hormone regulation, receptor expression, cell signaling, and electrical properties. Each cell type expresses a unique GPCR signature that reveals the direct regulation of metabolic and homeostatic hormones. Comparing these novel transcriptomes to that of rat gonadotrophs revealed conserved genes that might specifically contribute to each gonadotropin activity in mammals, suggesting conserved mechanisms controlling the differential regulation of gonadotropins in vertebrates.

Identification of tissue-specific expression of CXCL14 in black rockfish (Sebastes schlegelii)

CXCL14 is a chemokine which is orthologous in mammals and fish. CXCL14 has a functional role in different organs, with immunomodulatory functions in mammals, but its expression and function in fish is not well known. Moreover, it shows no effects related to immunity in the central nervous system or the reproductive tract in diverse species. Black rockfish (Sebastes schlegelii) is an economically important fish in Asian countries, whose CXCL14 expression pattern is yet to be understood. In this study, the homology of the CXCL14 amino acid sequence in S. schlegelii was compared with that in other species, including fish. Moreover, in situ hybridization analysis revealed that it was highly expressed in the brain and ovary of S. schlegelii. Taken together, we identified for the first time, the cell-specific expression of CXCL14 in S. schlegelii.

Dissection of the Ovulatory Process Using ex vivo Approaches

Ovulation is a unique physiological phenomenon that is essential for sexual reproduction. It refers to the entire process of ovarian follicle responses to hormonal stimulation resulting in the release of mature fertilization-competent oocytes from the follicles and ovaries. Remarkably, ovulation in different species can be reproduced out-of-body with high fidelity. Moreover, most of the molecular mechanisms and signaling pathways engaged in this process have been delineated using in vitro ovulation models. Here, we provide an overview of the major molecular and cytological events of ovulation observed in frogs, primarily in the African clawed frog Xenopus laevis, using mainly ex vivo approaches, with the focus on meiotic oocyte maturation and follicle rupture. For the purpose of comparison and generalization, we also refer extensively to ovulation in other biological species, most notoriously, in mammals.

Elevated plasma triglycerides and growth rate are early indicators of reproductive status in post-spawning female steelhead trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

Many iteroparous fishes spawn after skipping one or more yearly cycles, which impacts recruitment estimates used for fisheries management and conservation. The physiological mechanisms underlying the development of consecutive and skip spawning life histories in fishes are not well understood. In salmonids, lipid energy reserves and/or growth are thought to regulate the initiation of reproductive maturation during a critical period ~1 year prior to spawning. The fasting spawning migration of summer-run steelhead trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) results in significant depletion of energy reserves during the proposed critical period for repeat spawning. To determine whether and when lipid energy reserves and growth influence repeat spawning, measures of lipid energy reserves, growth rate and reproductive development were tracked in female steelhead trout from first to second spawning as a consecutive or skip spawner in captivity. Plasma triglyceride (TG) levels and growth rate were elevated by 10 weeks after spawning in reproductive (i.e. consecutive spawning) versus non-reproductive (i.e. skip spawning) individuals. Muscle lipid (ML) levels, condition factor and plasma estradiol levels increased at later time points. The early differences in plasma TG levels and increases in growth rate are attributable to differential rates of feeding and assimilation between the groups following spawning. A year after spawning, plasma TG levels, MLs and growth rate decreased in consecutive spawners, attributable to transfer of lipid reserves into the ovary. During the year prior to second spawning, energy reserves and plasma estradiol levels were higher in reproductive skip spawners versus consecutive spawners, reflecting the energy deficit after first spawning. These results suggest that the decision to initiate ovarian recrudescence occurs by 10 weeks after first spawning and are consistent with the differences in energy reserves acquired following spawning being a consequence of that decision. This information will increase the success of conservation projects reconditioning post-spawning summer-run steelhead trout.

PATL2 is a key actor of oocyte maturation whose invalidation causes infertility in women and mice

The genetic causes of oocyte meiotic deficiency (OMD), a form of primary infertility characterised by the production of immature oocytes, remain largely unexplored. Using whole exome sequencing, we found that 26% of a cohort of 23 subjects with OMD harboured the same homozygous nonsense pathogenic mutation in PATL2, a gene encoding a putative RNA‐binding protein. Using Patl2 knockout mice, we confirmed that PATL2 deficiency disturbs oocyte maturation, since oocytes and zygotes exhibit morphological and developmental defects, respectively. PATL2's amphibian orthologue is involved in the regulation of oocyte mRNA as a partner of CPEB. However, Patl2's expression profile throughout oocyte development in mice, alongside colocalisation experiments with Cpeb1, Msy2 and Ddx6 (three oocyte RNA regulators) suggest an original role for Patl2 in mammals. Accordingly, transcriptomic analysis of oocytes from WT and Patl2^−/− animals demonstrated that in the absence of Patl2, expression levels of a select number of highly relevant genes involved in oocyte maturation and early embryonic development are deregulated. In conclusion, PATL2 is a novel actor of mammalian oocyte maturation whose invalidation causes OMD in humans.

Candidate gene identification of ovulation-inducing genes by RNA sequencing with an in vivo assay in zebrafish

We previously reported the microarray-based selection of three ovulation-related genes in zebrafish. We used a different selection method in this study, RNA sequencing analysis. An additional eight up-regulated candidates were found as specifically up-regulated genes in ovulation-induced samples. Changes in gene expression were confirmed by qPCR analysis. Furthermore, up-regulation prior to ovulation during natural spawning was verified in samples from natural pairing. Gene knock-out zebrafish strains of one of the candidates, the starmaker gene (stm), were established by CRISPR genome editing techniques. Unexpectedly, homozygous mutants were fertile and could spawn eggs. However, a high percentage of unfertilized eggs and abnormal embryos were produced from these homozygous females. The results suggest that the stm gene is necessary for fertilization. In this study, we selected additional ovulation-inducing candidate genes, and a novel function of the stm gene was investigated.

Fine selection of up-regulated genes during ovulation by in vivo induction of oocyte maturation and ovulation in zebrafish

BACKGROUND

Two essential processes, oocyte maturation and ovulation, are independently induced, but proceed cooperatively as the final step in oogenesis before oocytes become fertilizable. Although these two processes are induced by the same maturation-inducing steroid, 17α, 20β-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one (17, 20β-DHP), in zebrafish, it has been suggested that the receptor, and thus the signal transduction pathway is different for each process. Although much progress has been made in understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying the induction of oocyte maturation, the mechanisms for inducing ovulation remain under investigation. In the present study, in vivo induction techniques that permit the induction of oocyte maturation and ovulation in living zebrafish (in vivo assays) were used to select highly up-regulated genes (genes associated with ovulation). Using an in vivo assay, ovarian tissues that induced only oocyte maturation could be obtained. This made it possible for the first time to distinguish maturation-inducing genes from ovulation-inducing genes. Using a genome-wide microarray of zebrafish sequences, the gene expression levels were compared among an ethanol (EtOH)-treated group (non-activated group), a diethylstilbestrol (DES)- or testosterone (Tes)-treated group (maturation-induced group), and a 17, 20β-DHP-treated group (maturation- and ovulation-induced group). Ovulation-specific up-regulated genes were selected. The mRNA expression levels of the selected genes were measured by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR).

RESULTS

Among 34 genes identified, three that showed ovulation-specific increases were selected as candidates potentially associated with ovulation. The ovulation-specific up-regulation of three candidates, slc37a4a, zgc:65811 and zgc:92184 was confirmed by qPCR.

CONCLUSION

Our in vivo assay provides a new approach to precisely select genes associated with ovulation.

Characterizing Transcriptional Networks in Male Rainbow Darter (Etheostoma caeruleum) that Regulate Testis Development over a Complete Reproductive Cycle

Intersex is a condition that has been associated with exposure to sewage effluents in male rainbow darter (Etheostoma caeruleum). To better understand changes in the transcriptome that are associated with intersex, we characterized annual changes in the testis transcriptome in wild, unexposed fish. Rainbow darter males were collected from the Grand River (Ontario, Canada) in May (spawning), August (post-spawning), October (recrudescence), January (developing) and March (pre-spawning). Histology was used to determine the proportion of spermatogenic cell types that were present during each period of testicular maturation. Regression analysis determined that the proportion of spermatozoa versus spermatocytes in all stages of development (R² ≥ 0.58) were inversely related; however this was not the case when males were in the post-spawning period. Gene networks that were specific to the transition from developing to pre-spawning stages included nitric oxide biosynthesis, response to wounding, sperm cell function, and stem cell maintenance. The pre-spawning to spawning transition included gene networks related to amino acid import, glycogenesis, Sertoli cell proliferation, sperm capacitation, and sperm motility. The spawning to post-spawning transition included unique gene networks associated with chromosome condensation, ribosome biogenesis and assembly, and mitotic spindle assembly. Lastly, the transition from post-spawning to recrudescence included gene networks associated with egg activation, epithelial to mesenchymal transition, membrane fluidity, and sperm cell adhesion. Noteworthy was that there were a significant number of gene networks related to immune system function that were differentially expressed throughout reproduction, suggesting that immune network signalling has a prominent role in the male testis. Transcripts in the testis of post-spawning individuals showed patterns of expression that were most different for the majority of transcripts investigated when compared to the other stages. Interestingly, many transcripts associated with female sex differentiation (i.e. esr1, sox9, cdca8 and survivin) were significantly higher in the testis during the post-spawning season compared to other testis stages. At post-spawning, there were higher levels of estrogen and androgen receptors (esr1, esr2, ar) in the testis, while there was a decrease in the levels of sperm associated antigen 1 (spag1) and spermatogenesis associated 4 (spata4) mRNA. Cyp17a was more abundant in the testis of fish in the pre-spawning, spawning, and post-spawning seasons compared to those individuals that were recrudescent while aromatase (cyp19a) did not vary in expression over the year. This study identifies cell process related to testis development in a seasonally spawning species and improves our understanding regarding the molecular signaling events that underlie testicular growth. This is significant because, while there are a number of studies characterizing molecular pathways in the ovary, there are comparatively less describing transcriptomic patterns in the testis in wild fish.

Gene knockout of nuclear progesterone receptor provides insights into the regulation of ovulation by LH signaling in zebrafish

It is well established that the luteinizing hormone surge triggers ovulation, a dynamic process leading to the release of the mature oocyte from the ovarian follicle. But how this process controlled by LH signaling remains largely unknown in non-mammalian species. In this study, we investigated the roles of nuclear progesterone receptor (npr) in LH-induced ovulation. Our results indicate that the nuclear progesterone receptor serves as an important mediator of LH action on ovulation. This conclusion is based on the following results: (1) the expression level of npr peaks at the full-grown stage of the follicles; (2) the expression of npr is stimulated by LH signaling in vitro and in vivo; and (3) the npr null females are infertile due to ovulation defects. Moreover, we further show that LH signaling could induce ptger4b expression in an npr-dependent manner, and blockage of Ptger4b could also block hCG-induced ovulation. Collectively, our results not only demonstrate that npr serves an indispensable role in mediating the action of LH on ovulation in zebrafish, but also provide insights into the molecular mechanisms of the regulation of ovulation in fish.

Teleost Chemokines and Their Receptors

Chemokines are a superfamily of cytokines that appeared about 650 million years ago, at the emergence of vertebrates, and are responsible for regulating cell migration under both inflammatory and physiological conditions. The first teleost chemokine gene was reported in rainbow trout in 1998. Since then, numerous chemokine genes have been identified in diverse fish species evidencing the great differences that exist among fish and mammalian chemokines, and within the different fish species, as a consequence of extensive intrachromosomal gene duplications and different infectious experiences. Subsequently, it has only been possible to establish clear homologies with mammalian chemokines in the case of some chemokines with well-conserved homeostatic roles, whereas the functionality of other chemokine genes will have to be independently addressed in each species. Despite this, functional studies have only been undertaken for a few of these chemokine genes. In this review, we describe the current state of knowledge of chemokine biology in teleost fish. We have mainly focused on those species for which more research efforts have been made in this subject, specifically zebrafish (Daniorerio), rainbow trout (Oncorhynchusmykiss) and catfish (Ictaluruspunctatus), outlining which genes have been identified thus far, highlighting the most important aspects of their expression regulation and addressing any known aspects of their biological role in immunity. Finally, we summarise what is known about the chemokine receptors in teleosts and provide some analysis using recently available data to help characterise them more clearly.

Vasotocin--A new player in the control of oocyte maturation and ovulation in fish

In this article, the physiological role of ovarian vasotocin (VT) on fish final oocyte maturation (FOM) and ovulation is reviewed based on the studies mainly available in the catfish Heteropneustes fossilis. The VT system is characterized in the follicular layer of the oocytes by both immunocytochemical and in situ hybridization techniques. The distribution was confirmed in isolated follicular layer preparations by HPLC characterization and quantification. Three VT receptor subtype genes are identified: V1a1 and V1a2 subtypes are distributed in the follicular layer and V2 subtype is present along the granulosa-oocyte membrane junction. The expression of peptide, VT precursor gene and VT receptor genes shows seasonal and periovulatory changes in the ovary. VT secretion is modulated by E2 differentially in a season-specific manner, and by progestin steroids positively. VT modulates E2 in a biphasic manner in early recrudescent phase and induces a steroidogenic shift inhibiting E2 and stimulating progestin steroid (P4, 17P4 and 17,20β-DP) pathways in the late recrudescent phase. VT stimulates prostaglandin secretion, germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD), oocyte hydration and ovulation. VT acts through different receptors to stimulate these processes. It uses the V1 type receptor to stimulate GVBD and ovulation, and the V2 type to stimulate oocyte hydration. VT acts as an important link in the cascade of gonadotropin control of FOM and ovulation. More research is required in other species.

Effects of the anti-androgen cyproterone acetate (CPA) on oocyte meiotic maturation in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

In the present study, we aimed at characterizing the effect of cyproterone acetate (CPA), an anti-androgenic compound, on oocyte meiotic maturation in a freshwater teleost fish species, the rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Fully-grown post-vitellogenic ovarian follicles were incubated in vitro with CPA, luteinizing hormone (Lh) or a combination of CPA and Lh. Incubations were also performed using a combination of Lh and testosterone (T). The occurrence of oocyte maturation (i.e., resumption of the meiotic process) was assessed by monitoring germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD) after a 72h in vitro incubation. The effect of CPA on the production of 17,20β-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one (17,20βP), the natural maturation-inducing steroid (MIS), was quantified by radioimmunoassay. Our results show that CPA dramatically inhibits Lh-induced oocyte maturation and MIS synthesis. We also observed a synergistic effect of Lh and T on oocyte maturation in highly competent oocytes (i.e., able to resume meiosis after stimulation by low doses of Lh). Our results also show that a combination of CPA and Lh inhibits phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (Erk), kinases that are associated with oocyte maturation in many species. As a whole, our results indicate that CPA has a potential to alter meiotic maturation in rainbow trout. Further analyses are, however, needed to determine the mechanisms by which this anti-androgen interferes with the meiotic process. Furthermore, the present study provides a framework for better understanding of the ecological consequences of exposure to anti-androgens and resulting meiotic maturation abnormalities observed in trout.

Adaptation to Low Salinity Promotes Genomic Divergence in Atlantic Cod (Gadus morhua L.)

How genomic selection enables species to adapt to divergent environments is a fundamental question in ecology and evolution. We investigated the genomic signatures of local adaptation in Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua L.) along a natural salinity gradient, ranging from 35‰ in the North Sea to 7‰ within the Baltic Sea. By utilizing a 12 K SNPchip, we simultaneously assessed neutral and adaptive genetic divergence across the Atlantic cod genome. Combining outlier analyses with a landscape genomic approach, we identified a set of directionally selected loci that are strongly correlated with habitat differences in salinity, oxygen, and temperature. Our results show that discrete regions within the Atlantic cod genome are subject to directional selection and associated with adaptation to the local environmental conditions in the Baltic- and the North Sea, indicating divergence hitchhiking and the presence of genomic islands of divergence. We report a suite of outlier single nucleotide polymorphisms within or closely located to genes associated with osmoregulation, as well as genes known to play important roles in the hydration and development of oocytes. These genes are likely to have key functions within a general osmoregulatory framework and are important for the survival of eggs and larvae, contributing to the buildup of reproductive isolation between the low-salinity adapted Baltic cod and the adjacent cod populations. Hence, our data suggest that adaptive responses to the environmental conditions in the Baltic Sea may contribute to a strong and effective reproductive barrier, and that Baltic cod can be viewed as an example of ongoing speciation.

Molecular cloning, sequencing and tissue expression of vasotocin and isotocin precursor genes from Ostariophysian catfishes: phylogeny and evolutionary considerations in teleosts

Basic and neutral neurohypophyseal (NH) nonapeptides have evolved from vasotocin (VT) by a gene duplication at the base of the gnathostome lineage. In teleosts, VT and IT are the basic and neutral peptides, respectively. In the present study, VT and IT precursor genes of Heteropneustes fossilis and Clarias batrachus (Siluriformes, Ostariophysi) were cloned and sequenced. The channel catfish Icatalurus punctatus NH precursor sequences were obtained from EST database. The catfish NH sequences were used along with the available Acanthopterygii and other vertebrate NH precursor sequences to draw phylogenetic inference on the evolutionary history of the teleost NH peptides. Synteny analysis of the NH gene loci in various teleost species was done to complement the phylogenetic analysis. In H. fossilis, the NH transcripts were also sequenced from the ovary. The cloned genes and the deduced precursor proteins showed conserved characteristics of the NH nonapeptide precursors. The genes are expressed in brain and ovary (follicular envelope) of H. fossilis with higher transcript abundance in the brain. The addition of the catfish sequences in the phylogenetic analysis revealed that the VT and IT precursors of the species-rich superorders of teleosts have a distinct phylogenetic history with the Acanthopterygii VT and IT precursors sharing a less evolutionary distance and the Ostariophysi VT and IT having a greater evolutionary distance. The genomic location of VT and IT precursors, and synteny analysis of the NH loci lend support to the phylogenetic inference and suggest a footprint of fish- specific whole genome duplication (3R) and subsequent diploidization in the NH loci. The VT and IT precursor genes are most likely lineage-specific paralogs resulting from differential losses of the 3R NH paralogs in the two superorders. The independent yet consistent retention of VT and IT in the two superorders might be directed by a stringent ligand-receptor selectivity.

Interactive effects of dietary lipid and phenotypic feed efficiency on the expression of nuclear and mitochondrial genes involved in the mitochondrial electron transport chain in rainbow trout

A 2 × 3 factorial study was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary lipid level on the expression of mitochondrial and nuclear genes involved in electron transport chain in all-female rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss. Three practical diets with a fixed crude protein content of 40%, formulated to contain 10% (40/10), 20% (40/20) and 30% (40/30) dietary lipid, were fed to apparent satiety to triplicate groups of either low-feed efficient (F120; 217.66 ± 2.24 g initial average mass) or high-feed efficient (F136; 205.47 ± 1.27 g) full-sib families of fish, twice per day, for 90 days. At the end of the experiment, the results showed that there is an interactive effect of the dietary lipid levels and the phenotypic feed efficiency (growth rate and feed efficiency) on the expression of the mitochondrial genes nd1 (NADH dehydrogenase subunit 1), cytb (Cytochrome b), cox1 (Cytochrome c oxidase subunits 1), cox2 (Cytochrome c oxidase subunits 2) and atp6 (ATP synthase subunit 6) and nuclear genes ucp2α (uncoupling proteins 2 alpha), ucp2β (uncoupling proteins 2 beta), pparα (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha), pparβ (peroxisome proliferatoractivated receptor beta) and ppargc1α (proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1 alpha) in fish liver, intestine and muscle, except on ppargc1α in the muscle which was affected by the diet and the family separately. Also, the results revealed that the expression of mitochondrial genes is associated with that of nuclear genes involved in electron transport chain in fish liver, intestine and muscle. Furthermore, this work showed that the expression of mitochondrial genes parallels with the expression of genes encoding uncoupling proteins (UCP) in the liver and the intestine of rainbow trout. This study for the first time presents the molecular basis of the effects of dietary lipid level on mitochondrial and nuclear genes involved in mitochondrial electron transport chain in fish.

MicroRNA expression profiles from eggs of different qualities associated with post-ovulatory ageing in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

BACKGROUND

Egg quality is an important aspect in rainbow trout farming. Post-ovulatory aging is one of the most important factors affecting egg quality. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are the major regulators in various biological processes and their expression profiles could serve as reliable biomarkers for various pathological and physiological conditions. The objective of this study was to identify miRNAs that are associated with egg qualities in rainbow trout using post-ovulatory aged eggs.

RESULTS

Egg samples from females on day 1, day 7, and day 14 post-ovulation (D1PO, D7PO and D14PO), which had the fertilization rates of 91.8%, 73.4% and less than 50%, respectively, were collected and small RNAs isolated from these samples were subjected to deep sequencing using the Illumina platform. The massive sequencing produced 27,342,477, 26,910,438 and 29,185,371 reads from the libraries of D1PO, D7PO and D14PO eggs, respectively. A three-way comparison of the miRNAs indicated that the egg samples shared 392 known and 236 novel miRNAs, and a total of 414, 481, and 470 known and 243, 298, and 296 novel miRNAs were identified from D1PO, D7PO and D14PO eggs, respectively. Four known miRNAs (omy-miR-193b-3p, omy-miR-203c-3p, omy-miR-499-5p and omy-miR-7550-3p) and two novel miRNAs (omy-miR-nov-95-5p and omy-miR-nov-112-5p) showed significantly higher expression in D1PO eggs relative to D14PO eggs as revealed by both deep sequencing and real time quantitative PCR analysis. GO analysis of the predicted target genes of these differentially expressed miRNAs revealed significantly enriched GO terms that are related to stress response, cell death, DNA damage, ATP generation, signal transduction and transcription regulation.

CONCLUSIONS

Results indicate that post-ovulatory ageing affects miRNA expression profiles in rainbow trout eggs, which can in turn impact egg quality. Further characterization of the differentially expressed miRNAs and their target genes may provide valuable information on the role of these miRNAs in controlling egg quality, and ultimately lead to the development of biomarkers for prediction of egg quality in rainbow trout.

The role of eicosanoids in 17α, 20β-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one-induced ovulation and spawning in Danio rerio

This study employed a hormone bioassay to characterize the eicosanoids involved in zebrafish ovulation and spawning, in particular the prostaglandin (PG) products of cyclooxygenase (COX) metabolism and the leukotriene (LT) products of lipoxygenase (LOX) metabolism. Exposure to the teleost progestogen 17α, 20β-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one (17,20βP) induced ovulation, but not spawning, in solitary females and both ovulation and spawning in male-female pairs. Transcription of the eicosanoid-synthesizing enzymes cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA(2)) and COX-2 increased and LTC(4) synthase decreased in peri-ovulatory ovaries of 17,20βP-exposed fish. Ovarian PGF(2α) levels increased post-spawning in 17,20βP-exposed fish, but there was no difference in LTB(4) or LTC(4). Pre-exposure to cPLA(2) or LOX inhibitors reduced 17,20βP-induced ovulation rates, while a COX inhibitor had no effect on ovulation or spawning. Collectively, these findings suggest that eicosanoids, in particular LOX metabolites, mediate 17,20βP-induced ovulation in zebrafish. COX metabolites also appear to be involved in ovulation and spawning but their role remains undefined.

Monthly variations in the profile of sex steroids and ovarian development of brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis Mitchill) during the annual reproductive cycle in Tasmania

Control of maturation in all-female salmonid stock can be achieved by manipulating photoperiod. This initially requires an assessment of the annual reproductive cycle under ambient photoperiod. This study therefore describes the seasonal variations in ovarian development and plasma profiles of oestradiol-17β and testosterone during the second year of a population of female brook trout. It was found that fish recruited for maturation following the summer solstice in December. Shortening of photoperiod likely stimulated the brain–pituitary–gonadal axis for vigorous progress of ovarian development, as indicated by increasing levels of oestradiol-17β and gonadosomatic index values. The highest gonadosomatic index value (18.26 ± 1.1%) was observed in June. During July, eggs were released from mature females by manual stripping. Total fecundity was observed as 4266 ± 341 oocytes per mature fish. Profiles of sex steroids observed here were found to be finely entrained within the succession of seasonal photoperiod. This finding indicates that maturation suppression by photoperiod manipulation should be instigated before initiation of oocyte recruitment that commenced during December.

Characterization of the rainbow trout spleen transcriptome and identification of immune-related genes

Resistance against diseases affects profitability of rainbow trout. Limited information is available about functions and mechanisms of teleost immune pathways. Immunogenomics provides powerful tools to determine disease resistance genes/gene pathways and develop genetic markers for genomic selection. RNA-Seq sequencing of the rainbow trout spleen yielded 93,532,200 reads (100 bp). High quality reads were assembled into 43,047 contigs. 26,333 (61.17%) of the contigs had hits to the NR protein database and 7024 (16.32%) had hits to the KEGG database. Gene ontology showed significant percentages of transcripts assigned to binding (51%), signaling (7%), response to stimuli (9%) and receptor activity (4%) suggesting existence of many immune-related genes. KEGG annotation revealed 2825 sequences belonging to "organismal systems" with the highest number of sequences, 842 (29.81%), assigned to immune system. A number of sequences were identified for the first time in rainbow trout belonging to Toll-like receptor signaling (35), B cell receptor signaling pathway (44), T cell receptor signaling pathway (56), chemokine signaling pathway (73), Fc gamma R-mediated phagocytosis (52), leukocyte transendothelial migration (60) and NK cell mediated cytotoxicity (42). In addition, 51 transcripts were identified as spleen-specific genes. The list includes 277 full-length cDNAs. The presence of a large number of immune-related genes and pathways similar to other vertebrates suggests that innate and adaptive immunity in fish are conserved. This study provides deep-sequence data of rainbow trout spleen transcriptome and identifies many new immune-related genes and full-length cDNAs. This data will help identify allelic variations suitable for genomic selection and genetic manipulation in aquaculture.

Effects of dietary lipid levels on mitochondrial gene expression in low and high-feed efficient families of rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss

A 2 × 3 factorial study was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary lipid level on mitochondrial gene expression in mixed sex rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss. Practical diets with a fixed crude protein content of 42%, formulated to contain 10% (42/10), 20% (42/20) and 30% (42/30) dietary lipid, were fed to triplicate groups of either low-feed efficient (F129; mean ± s.d. = 105.67 ± 3.04 g initial average mass) or high-feed efficient (F134; mean ± s.d. = 97.86 ± 4.02 g) families of fish, to apparent satiety, twice per day, for 108 days. At the end of the experiment, diets 42/20 and 42/30 led to similar fish condition factors, which were higher than that observed with diet 42/10 (P < 0.05). F134 fish fed diet 42/10 showed the highest hepato-somatic index, while there was no significant difference among all the other treatments (P < 0.05). When the group of F134 fish fed diet 42/10 was used as the calibrator for gene expression analysis, the five genes selected for their involvement in lipid metabolism (complex I-nd1, complex III-cytb, complex IV-cox1, complex IV-cox2 and complex V-atp6) were up-regulated in the muscle and down-regulated in both the liver and the intestine. There was a significant family × diet interaction regarding nd1, cox2 and atp6 in the liver; nd1, cytb, cox1, cox2 and atp6 in the intestine, and nd1, cytb, cox1, cox2 and atp6 in the muscle (P < 0.05). The overall results of this study constitute basic information for the understanding of molecular mechanisms of lipid metabolism at the mitochondrial level in fishes.

Global transcriptome analysis identifies regulated transcripts and pathways activated during oogenesis and early embryogenesis in Atlantic cod

The molecular mechanisms underlying oogenesis and maternally controlled embryogenesis in fish are not fully understood, especially in marine species. Our aim was to study the egg and embryo transcriptome during oogenesis and early embryogenesis in Atlantic cod. Follicles from oogenesis stages (pre-, early-, and late-vitellogenic), ovulated eggs, and two embryonic stages (blastula, gastrula) were collected from broodstock fish and fertilized eggs. Gene expression profiles were measured in a 44 K oligo microarray consisting of 23,000 cod genes. Hundreds of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified in the follicle stages investigated, implicating a continuous accumulation and degradation of polyadenylated transcripts throughout oogenesis. Very few DEGs were identified from ovulated egg to blastula, showing a more stable maternal RNA pool in early embryonic stages. The highest induction of expression was observed between blastula and gastrula, signifying the onset of zygotic transcription. During early vitellogenesis, several of the most upregulated genes are linked to nervous system signaling, suggesting increasing requirements for ovarian synaptic signaling to stimulate the rapid growth of oocytes. Highly upregulated genes during late vitellogenesis are linked to protein processing, fat metabolism, osmoregulation, and arrested meiosis. One of the genes with the highest upregulation in the ovulated egg is involved in oxidative phosphorylation, reflecting increased energy requirements during fertilization and the first rapid cell divisions of early embryogenesis. In conclusion, this study provides a large-scale presentation of the Atlantic cod's maternally controlled transcriptome in ovarian follicles through oogenesis, ovulated eggs, and early embryos. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 81: 619–635, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Ovarian expression and localization of a vitellogenin receptor with eight ligand binding repeats in the cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarki)

A cDNA encoding a vitellogenin receptor with 8 ligand binding repeats (vtgr) was cloned from ovaries of the cutthroat trout, Oncorhynchus clarki. In situ hybridization and quantitative PCR analyses revealed that the main site of vtgr mRNA expression was the oocytes. Expression was strongly detected in perinucleous stage oocytes, gradually decreased as oocytes grew, and became hardly detectable in vitellogenic oocytes. A rabbit antibody (a-Vtgr) was raised against a recombinant Vtgr protein in order to immunologically detect and localize Vtgr within the ovarian follicles. Western blotting using a-Vtgr detected a bold band with an apparent mass of ~95-105kDa in an ovarian preparation that also bound Sakhalin taimen, Hucho perryi, vitellogenin in ligand blots. Immunohistochemistry using a-Vtgr revealed that the Vtgr was uniformly distributed throughout the ooplasm of perinucleolus stage oocytes, subsequently translocated to the periphery of lipid droplet stage oocytes, and became localized to the oolemma during vitellogenesis. We provide the first characterization of Vtgr at both the transcriptional and the translational levels in the cutthroat trout, and our results suggest that this receptor is involved in uptake of Vtg by oocytes of this species.

Luteinizing hormone stimulation of in vitro ovulation in brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) involves follicle contraction and activation of proteolytic genes

Luteinizing hormone (LH) is an essential hormone for the stimulation of the ovulatory process in vertebrates. However, little is known in fish regarding the different mechanisms induced by LH during ovulation that facilitate the rupture of the follicle wall and the subsequent expulsion of the mature oocyte. In this study, the effects of salmon LH (sLH) on in vitro ovulation were investigated in brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) isolated follicles. sLH significantly stimulated in vitro ovulation and contraction of brook trout preovulatory follicles. In order to investigate the possible involvement of proteolytic events in the ovulatory action of LH, the expression of genes known to have a crucial role in the degradation of follicle wall structure was examined. Our results show that sLH clearly stimulated the mRNA expression levels of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs; including mmp2 and mmp19) and other enzymes with proteolytic action during ovulation, such as a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin-like motifs 1 (adamts1) and plasminogen (plg), in brook trout preovulatory follicles. In addition, the expression of mmp2, adamts1 and plg increased in brook trout follicles during the progression of LH-induced ovulation. Interestingly, the expression of tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase 2 (timp2), a known regulator of MMP2 activity, paralleled that of mmp2, suggesting the existence of a controlled mechanism of MMP2 action. Therefore, the known increase in proteolytic activity during ovulation in fish could be the result of the stimulation of the expression of proteolytic enzymes by LH in preovulatory follicles. We propose that LH may stimulate ovulation in brook trout follicles by stimulating proteolysis of the follicle wall and by stimulating follicle contraction.

Gene expression networks underlying ovarian development in wild largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides)

Background

Oocyte maturation in fish involves numerous cell signaling cascades that are activated or inhibited during specific stages of oocyte development. The objectives of this study were to characterize molecular pathways and temporal gene expression patterns throughout a complete breeding cycle in wild female largemouth bass to improve understanding of the molecular sequence of events underlying oocyte maturation.

Methods

Transcriptomic analysis was performed on eight morphologically diverse stages of the ovary, including primary and secondary stages of oocyte growth, ovulation, and atresia. Ovary histology, plasma vitellogenin, 17β-estradiol, and testosterone were also measured to correlate with gene networks.

Results

Global expression patterns revealed dramatic differences across ovarian development, with 552 and 2070 genes being differentially expressed during both ovulation and atresia respectively. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) revealed that early primary stages of oocyte growth involved increases in expression of genes involved in pathways of B-cell and T-cell receptor-mediated signaling cascades and fibronectin regulation. These pathways as well as pathways that included adrenergic receptor signaling, sphingolipid metabolism and natural killer cell activation were down-regulated at ovulation. At atresia, down-regulated pathways included gap junction and actin cytoskeleton regulation, gonadotrope and mast cell activation, and vasopressin receptor signaling and up-regulated pathways included oxidative phosphorylation and reactive oxygen species metabolism. Expression targets for luteinizing hormone signaling were low during vitellogenesis but increased 150% at ovulation. Other networks found to play a significant role in oocyte maturation included those with genes regulated by members of the TGF-beta superfamily (activins, inhibins, bone morphogenic protein 7 and growth differentiation factor 9), neuregulin 1, retinoid X receptor, and nerve growth factor family.

Conclusions

This study offers novel insight into the gene networks underlying vitellogenesis, ovulation and atresia and generates new hypotheses about the cellular pathways regulating oocyte maturation.

Water homeostasis in the fish oocyte: new insights into the role and molecular regulation of a teleost-specific aquaporin

The discovery of the role of a teleost-specific aquaporin (Aqp1ab) during the process of oocyte hydration in marine fish producing pelagic (floating) eggs, recently confirmed by molecular approaches, has revealed that this mechanism is more sophisticated than initially thought. Recent phylogenetic and genomic studies suggest that Aqp1ab likely evolved by tandem duplication from a common ancestor and further neofunctionalized in oocytes for water transport. Investigations into the regulation of Aqp1ab during oogenesis indicate that the mRNA and protein product are highly accumulated during early oocyte growth, possibly through the transcriptional activation of the aqp1ab promoter by the classical nuclear progesterone receptor and perhaps by Sry-related high mobility group [HMG]-box (Sox) transcription factors. During oocyte growth and maturation, Aqp1ab intracellular trafficking may be regulated by phosphorylation and/or dephosphorylation of specific C-terminal residues in Aqp1ab, as well as by signal-mediated sorting processes. These mechanisms possibly regulate the temporal insertion of Aqp1ab into the oocyte plasma membrane during oocyte hydration, although the intracellular signaling pathways involved are yet unknown. Interestingly, in some freshwater species that spawn partially hydrated eggs, high accumulation of transcripts encoding functional Aqp1ab channels have also been found in the ovary. These findings suggest that the Aqp1ab-mediated mechanism for oocyte hydration is likely conserved in teleosts. The tight regulation of Aqp1ab during oogenesis, at both the transcriptional and posttranslational levels, highlights the essential physiological role of this water channel and opens new research avenues for understanding the molecular basis of egg formation in fish.

Characterization of luteinizing hormone and luteinizing hormone receptor and their indispensable role in the ovulatory process of the medaka

The molecular properties and roles of luteinizing hormone (Lh) and its receptor (Lhcgrbb) have not been studied for the medaka (Oryzias latipes), which is an excellent animal model for ovulation studies. Here, we characterized the medaka Lh/Lhcgrbb system, with attention to its involvement in the ovulatory process of this teleost fish. In the medaka ovary, follicle-stimulating hormone receptor mRNA was expressed in small and medium-sized follicles, while lhcgrbb mRNA was expressed in the follicle layers of all growing follicles. Experiments using HEK 293T cells expressing medaka Lhcgrbb in vitro revealed that gonadotropin from pregnant mare's serum and medaka recombinant Lh (rLh) bound to the fish Lhcgrbb. The fish gonadotropin subunits Gtha, Fshb, and Lhb were essentially expressed at fairly constant levels in the pituitary of the fish during a 24-h spawning cycle. Using medaka rLh, we developed a follicle culture system that allowed us to follow the whole process of oocyte maturation and ovulation in vitro. This follicle culture method enabled us to determine that the Lh surge for the preovulatory follicle occurred in vivo between 19 and 15 h before ovulation. The present study also showed that oocyte maturation and ovulation were delayed several hours in vitro compared with in vivo. Treatment of large follicles with medaka rLh in vitro significantly increased the expression of Mmp15, which was previously demonstrated to be crucial for ovulation in the fish. These findings demonstrate that Lh/Lhcgrbb is critically involved in the induction of oocyte maturation and ovulation.

Identification of ovarian gene expression patterns during vitellogenesis in Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua)

Follicular maturational competence and ovulatory competence in teleost fish refer to the ability of the ovarian follicle to undergo final oocyte maturation and ovulation, respectively, in response to gonadotropin stimulation and other external cues. Some gene products related to competence acquisition are likely synthesized during vitellogenic growth, as these follicles gain in vivo responsiveness to exogenous gonadotropin stimulation and can be induced to undergo maturation and ovulation. In Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua), gonadotropin responsiveness has been shown to be oocyte size-dependent, and only ovaries containing late-stage vitellogenic follicles can be induced to ovulate. The purpose of the present study was to compare gene expression patterns between mid (unresponsive) and late (responsive) vitellogenic ovaries to identify genes involved in gonadotropin responsiveness and the acquisition of maturational and ovulatory competencies. Representational difference analysis was conducted in two reciprocal comparisons using intact ovarian fragments and follicle wall-enriched tissues, and genes of interest were used in real time quantitative PCR to confirm differential expression. Few differences were detected in intact ovarian fragments, but type IV ice-structuring protein and gephyrin were upregulated later in development and may be involved in lipid and sulfur metabolism, respectively. Candidate gene assays for luteinizing hormone receptor and aromatase also exhibited significant upregulation during vitellogenesis. Many genes were differentially expressed in follicle wall-enriched tissues, including endocrine maturational regulators and smooth muscle genes. Overall, maturational and ovulatory competencies during vitellogenesis in Atlantic cod are associated with up- and downregulation of many genes involved in lipid metabolism, endocrine regulation, and ovulatory preparation.

Oocyte-somatic cells interactions, lessons from evolution

Background

Despite the known importance of somatic cells for oocyte developmental competence acquisition, the overall mechanisms underlying the acquisition of full developmental competence are far from being understood, especially in non-mammalian species. The present work aimed at identifying key molecular signals from somatic origin that would be shared by vertebrates.

Results

Using a parallel transcriptomic analysis in 4 vertebrate species - a teleost fish, an amphibian, and two mammals - at similar key steps of developmental competence acquisition, we identified a large number of species-specific differentially expressed genes and a surprisingly high number of orthologous genes exhibiting similar expression profiles in the 3 tetrapods and in the 4 vertebrates. Among the evolutionary conserved players participating in developmental competence acquisition are genes involved in key processes such as cellular energy metabolism, cell-to-cell communications, and meiosis control. In addition, we report many novel molecular actors from somatic origin that have never been studied in the vertebrate ovary. Interestingly, a significant number of these new players actively participate in Drosophila oogenesis.

Conclusions

Our study provides a comprehensive overview of evolutionary-conserved mechanisms from somatic origin participating in oocyte developmental competence acquisition in 4 vertebrates. Together our results indicate that despite major differences in ovarian follicular structure, some of the key players from somatic origin involved in oocyte developmental competence acquisition would be shared, not only by vertebrates, but also by metazoans. The conservation of these mechanisms during vertebrate evolution further emphasizes the important contribution of the somatic compartment to oocyte quality and paves the way for future investigations aiming at better understanding what makes a good egg.

Dynamic expression profiles of virus-responsive and putative antimicrobial peptide-encoding transcripts during Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) embryonic and early larval development

Early life stage mortality is one of the problems faced by Atlantic cod aquaculture. However, our understanding of immunity in early life stage fish is still incomplete, and the information available is restricted to a few species. In the present work we investigated the expression of immune-relevant transcripts in Atlantic cod during early development. The transcripts subjected to QPCR analysis in the present study were previously identified as putative anti-viral or anti-bacterial genes in Atlantic cod using suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH) libraries, QPCR, and/or microarrays. Of the 11 genes involved in this study, only atf3, cxc chemokine and gaduscidin-1 were not detected at the transcript level in all developmental stages investigated from unfertilized egg to early larval stage. Adam22, hamp, il8, irf1, irf7, lgp2, sacsin, and stat1 transcripts were detected in unfertilized egg and 7h post-fertilization (~2-cell stage) embryos, showing maternal contribution of these immune-relevant transcripts to the early embryonic transcriptome. The Atlantic cod genes included in this study presented diverse transcript expression profiles throughout embryonic and early larval development. For example, adam22 and sacsin transcripts rose abruptly during blastula/gastrula stage and were then expressed at relatively high levels through subsequent embryonic and early larval developmental stages. A peak in irf1 and irf7 transcript expression during early segmentation suggests that these interferon pathway genes play developmental stage-specific roles during cod embryogenesis. Stat1 had increasing transcript expression throughout blastula/gastrula, segmentation, and early larval developmental stages. Atf3, cxc chemokine, gaduscidin-1, and il8 transcripts rose approximately 2-3 fold during hatching, supporting the hypothesis that there is preparation at the immune-relevant transcript expression level to deal with environmental pathogens that may be encountered during early larval development. The specific roles that interferon pathway and other immune-relevant genes play in early life stage cod, and the potential impact of their dynamic transcript expression on immune competence of Atlantic cod embryos and larvae, remain unclear and warrant further study.

Characterization of the rainbow trout egg microRNA transcriptome

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of endogenous small non-coding RNA molecules that regulate post-transcriptional expression of target genes and play important roles in animal development. The objectives of this study were to characterize the egg miRNA transcriptome and identify novel egg-predominant miRNAs in rainbow trout. Small RNAs isolated from mature unfertilized rainbow trout eggs were subjected to deep sequencing using an Illumina Genome Analyzer. The massive sequencing produced 24,621,741 quality reads, among which, 266 known miRNAs were identified and 230 putatively novel miRNAs were predicted. The most abundantly known miRNAs are let-7 and miR-21, accounting for 24.06% and 18.71% of the known miRNAs, respectively. Other known miRNAs which are abundantly present in eggs include miR-24, miR-202, miR-148, miR-30, miR-10, miR-146, miR-25, and miR-143. Real time PCR analysis using cDNAs derived from 10 tissues validated 87 out of 90 selected putative miRNAs and identified three novel miRNAs predominantly expressed in rainbow trout eggs. Each of these novel egg-predominant miRNAs is predicted to target a significant number of genes, most of which are significantly down-regulated in naturally ovulated rainbow trout eggs based on analysis of publicly available microarray data sets. Quantitative real time PCR analysis also demonstrated low expression of a selected number of target genes in eggs relative to liver and muscle tissues. This study represents the first complete survey of miRNAs in fish eggs and provides a starting point for future studies aimed at understanding the roles of miRNAs in controlling egg quality and early embryogenesis in rainbow trout.

An ovary transcriptome for all maturational stages of the striped bass (Morone saxatilis), a highly advanced perciform fish

Background

The striped bass and its relatives (genus Morone) are important fisheries and aquaculture species native to estuaries and rivers of the Atlantic coast and Gulf of Mexico in North America. To open avenues of gene expression research on reproduction and breeding of striped bass, we generated a collection of expressed sequence tags (ESTs) from a complementary DNA (cDNA) library representative of their ovarian transcriptome.

Results

Sequences of a total of 230,151 ESTs (51,259,448 bp) were acquired by Roche 454 pyrosequencing of cDNA pooled from ovarian tissues obtained at all stages of oocyte growth, at ovulation (eggs), and during preovulatory atresia. Quality filtering of ESTs allowed assembly of 11,208 high-quality contigs ≥ 100 bp, including 2,984 contigs 500 bp or longer (average length 895 bp). Blastx comparisons revealed 5,482 gene orthologues (E-value < 10^-3), of which 4,120 (36.7% of total contigs) were annotated with Gene Ontology terms (E-value < 10^-6). There were 5,726 remaining unknown unique sequences (51.1% of total contigs). All of the high-quality EST sequences are available in the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) Short Read Archive (GenBank: SRX007394). Informative contigs were considered to be abundant if they were assembled from groups of ESTs comprising ≥ 0.15% of the total short read sequences (≥ 345 reads/contig). Approximately 52.5% of these abundant contigs were predicted to have predominant ovary expression through digital differential display in silico comparisons to zebrafish (Danio rerio) UniGene orthologues. Over 1,300 Gene Ontology terms from Biological Process classes of Reproduction, Reproductive process, and Developmental process were assigned to this collection of annotated contigs.

Conclusions

This first large reference sequence database available for the ecologically and economically important temperate basses (genus Morone) provides a foundation for gene expression studies in these species. The predicted predominance of ovary gene expression and assignment of directly relevant Gene Ontology classes suggests a powerful utility of this dataset for analysis of ovarian gene expression related to fundamental questions of oogenesis. Additionally, a high definition Agilent 60-mer oligo ovary 'UniClone' microarray with 8 × 15,000 probe format has been designed based on this striped bass transcriptome (eArray Group: Striper Group, Design ID: 029004).

Chemokines in teleost fish species

Chemokines are chemoattractant cytokines defined by the presence of four conserved cysteine residues which in mammals can be divided into four subfamilies depending on the arrangement of the first two conserved cysteines in their sequence: CXC (α), CC (β), C and CX(3)C classes. Evolutionarily, fish can be considered as an intermediate step between species which possess only innate immunity (invertebrates) and species with a fully developed acquired immune network such as mammals. Therefore, the functionality of their different immune cell types and molecules is sometimes also intermediate between innate and acquired responses. The first chemokine gene identified in a teleost was a rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) chemokine designated as CK1 in 1998. Since then, many different chemokine genes have been identified in several fish species, but their role in homeostasis and immune response remains largely unknown. Extensive genomic duplication events and the fact that chemokines evolve more quickly than other immune genes, make it very difficult to establish true orthologues between fish and mammalian chemokines that would help us with the ascription of immune roles. In this review, we describe the current state of knowledge of chemokine biology in teleost fish, focusing mainly on which genes have been identified so far and highlighting the most important aspects of their expression regulation, due to the great lack of functional information available for them. As the number of chemokine genes begins to close down for some teleost species, there is an important need for functional assays that may elucidate the role of each of these molecules within the fish immune response.

Vasotocin induces final oocyte maturation and ovulation through the production of a maturation-inducing steroid in the catfish Heteropneustes fossilis

The study reports for the first time vasotocin (VT) induction of final oocyte maturation and ovulation through the production of the maturation-inducing steroid 17, 20β-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one (MIS, 17, 20β-DP). Post-vitellogenic follicles of the catfish Heteropneustes fossilis were incubated with different concentrations of VT (1, 10, 100 and 1000 nM) for different time periods. Germinal vesicle breakdown [GVBD, as a marker of final oocyte maturation (FOM)] and ovulation were scored. In another series of experiments, the follicles were incubated with VT alone or in combination with VT receptor (V(1) and V(2)) antagonists, and GVBD and ovulation were increased with progesterone, 17-hydroxy-4-pregnene-3, 20-dione (17-P) and 17, 20β-DP levels. VT stimulated both GVBD and ovulation in a concentration and time-dependent manner, and the responses were inhibited to varying degrees in groups incubated with the VT receptor antagonists. The V(1) antagonist inhibited the responses by 2- to 3-fold and more than the V(2) antagonist, and the combination was more potent than the separate incubation. Progestins increased time-dependently in the VT groups and the fold increase was greater for the MIS. The VT-induced steroid stimulation was significantly inhibited to near the control levels in co-incubations with both V(1) and V(2) receptor antagonists, in the order 17, 20β-DP > 17-P > P(4). The inhibition by the V(1) receptor antagonist was greater than that with the V(2) blocker, and followed the same order of inhibition described above. The results suggest that VT induces FOM and ovulation mainly through the V(1) receptors.

Aromatase expression in Xenopus oocytes: a three cell-type model for the ovarian estradiol synthesis

In contrast to the classical model describing the synthesis of androgens and estrogens as restricted to somatic cells, a previous study demonstrated that Xenopus laevis oocytes participate in androgen synthesis. The objective of our study was to determine whether Xenopus oocytes are also involved in estrogen synthesis. More precisely, we analyzed aromatase expression by in situ hybridization and RT-QPCR and measured aromatase activity. Aromatase, the enzyme responsible for estrogen synthesis, appears to be expressed and active not only in the follicular cells but also in the vitellogenic oocytes. During late oogenesis, aromatase oocyte expression and activity decreased concomitantly with the trend observed in surrounding follicular layers. In order to investigate the role of estradiol-17β (E(2)), we studied its effect on oocyte meiotic resumption. It appears that, as in Rana pipiens, E(2) inhibited the follicle-enclosed maturation of Xenopus oocytes, likely through inhibition of LH-induced maturation-inducing steroid synthesis. In addition, E(2) exerted a slight enhancing action on denuded oocyte maturation whose biological significance remains unclear. Together, our results demonstrate that Xenopus oocyte significantly participates in ovarian E(2) synthesis and this may be a common feature of vitellogenic vertebrates.

In vivo induction of oocyte maturation and ovulation in zebrafish

The maturation of fish oocytes is a well-characterized system induced by progestins via non-genomic actions. In a previous study, we demonstrated that diethylstilbestrol (DES), a non-steroidal estrogen, induces fish oocyte maturation via the membrane progestin receptor (mPR). Here, we attempted to evaluate the effect of DES as an environmental endocrine disrupting chemical (EDC) upon fish oocyte maturation using live zebrafish. DES triggered oocyte maturation within several hours in vivo when administrated directly into the surrounding water. The natural teleost maturation-inducing hormone, 17alpha, 20beta-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one (17,20beta-DHP) also induced oocyte maturation in vivo. Steroids such as testosterone, progesterone or 17alpha-hydroxyprogesterone were also effective in vivo. Further studies indicated that externally applied 17,20beta-DHP even induced ovulation. In contrast to 17,20beta -DHP, DES induced maturation but not ovulation. Theoretically this assay system provides a means to distinguish pathways involved in the induction of ovulation, which are known to be induced by genomic actions from the pathway normally involved in the induction of oocyte maturation, a typical non-genomic action-dependent pathway. In summary, we have demonstrated the effect of EDCs on fish oocyte maturation in vivo. To address the effects, we have explored a conceptually new approach to distinguish between the genomic and non-genomic actions induced by steroids. The assay can be applied to screens of progestin-like effects upon oocyte maturation and ovulation for small molecules of pharmacological agents or EDCs.