1
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Souza VVD, Moreira DP, Braz-Mota S, Valente W, Cotta GC, Rodrigues MDS, Nóbrega RH, Corrêa RDS, Hoyos DCDM, Sanches EA, Val AL, Lacerda SMDSN. Simulated climate change and atrazine contamination can synergistically impair zebrafish testicular function. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 946:174173. [PMID: 38925398 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.174173] [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: 10/17/2023] [Revised: 05/25/2024] [Accepted: 06/19/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
Elements that interfere with reproductive processes can have profound impacts on population and the equilibrium of ecosystems. Global warming represents the major environmental challenge of the 21st century, as it will affect all forms of life in the coming decades. Another coexisting concern is the persistent pollution by pesticides, particularly the herbicide Atrazine (ATZ), which is responsible for a significant number of contamination incidents in surface waters worldwide. While it is hypothesized that climate changes will significantly enhance the toxic effects of pesticides, the actual impact of these phenomena remain largely unexplored. Here, we conducted a climate-controlled room experiment to assess the interactive effects of the projected 2100 climate scenario and environmentally realistic ATZ exposures on the reproductive function of male zebrafish. The gonadosomatic index significantly decreased in fish kept in the extreme scenario. Cellular alterations across spermatogenesis phases led to synergic decreased sperm production and increased germ cell sloughing and death. ATZ exposure alone or combined with climate change effects, disrupted the transcription levels of key genes involved in steroidogenesis, hormone signaling and spermatogenesis regulation. An additive modulation with decreased 11-KT production and increased E2 levels was also evidenced, intensifying the effects of androgen/estrogen imbalance. Moreover, climate change and ATZ independently induced oxidative stress, upregulation of proapoptotic gene and DNA damage in post-meiotic germ cell, but the negative effects of ATZ were greater at extreme scenario. Ultimately, exposure to simulated climate changes severely impaired fertilization capacity, due to a drastic reduction in sperm motility and/or viability. These findings indicate that the future climate conditions have the potential to considerably enhance the toxicity of ATZ at low concentrations, leading to significant deleterious consequences for fish reproductive function and fertility. These may provide relevant information to supporting healthcare and environmental managers in decision-making related to climate changes and herbicide regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victor Ventura de Souza
- Laboratory of Cellular Biology, Department of Morphology, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Davidson Peruci Moreira
- Laboratory of Ichthiohistology, Department of Morphology, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Susana Braz-Mota
- Laboratory of Ecophysiology and Molecular Evolution, Brazilian National Institute for Research in the Amazon, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
| | - Wanderson Valente
- Laboratory of Cellular Biology, Department of Morphology, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Gustavo Caldeira Cotta
- Laboratory of Cellular Biology, Department of Morphology, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Maira da Silva Rodrigues
- Reproductive and Molecular Biology Group, Department of Structural and Functional Biology, Institute of Biosciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Rafael Henrique Nóbrega
- Reproductive and Molecular Biology Group, Department of Structural and Functional Biology, Institute of Biosciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Rebeca Dias Serafim Corrêa
- Laboratory of Cellular Biology, Department of Morphology, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | | | - Eduardo Antônio Sanches
- Faculty of Agricultural Sciences of Vale do Ribeira, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Brazil
| | - Adalberto Luís Val
- Laboratory of Ecophysiology and Molecular Evolution, Brazilian National Institute for Research in the Amazon, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
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2
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Papadaki M, Mylonas CC, Sarropoulou E. MicroRNAs are involved in ovarian physiology of greater amberjack (Seriola dumerili) under captivity. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2024; 357:114581. [PMID: 39002761 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2024.114581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2023] [Revised: 06/28/2024] [Accepted: 07/10/2024] [Indexed: 07/15/2024]
Abstract
Gonad maturation is critical for the reproductive success of any organism, and in fish, captivity can significantly affect their reproductive performance, leading to maturation incompetence and spawning failure. The greater amberjack (Seriola dumerili), a fish species recently introduced to aquaculture fails to undergo oocyte maturation, ovulation, and spawning when reared in aquaculture facilities. Since confinement has been shown to influence gonad maturation and completion of the reproductive cycle, investigations into epigenetic mechanisms may shed light on the reasoning behind the reproductive dysfunctions of fish under captivity. Among the known important epigenetic regulators are small non-coding RNAs (sncRNAs), and in particular microRNAs (miRNAs). In this study, immature, maturing (late vitellogenesis), and spent ovaries of captive greater amberjack were collected, and the differential expression of miRNAs in the three different ovarian development stages was examined. Expression patterns of conserved and novel miRNAs were identified, and potential targets of highly differentially expressed miRNAs were detected. Additionally, read length distribution showed two prominent peaks in the three different ovarian maturation stages, corresponding to miRNAs and putative piwi-interacting RNAs (piRNAs), another type of ncRNAs with a germ-cell specific role. Furthermore, miRNA expression patterns and their putative target mRNAs are discussed, in relevance with the different ovarian maturation stages of captive greater amberjack. Overall, this study provides insights into the role of miRNAs in the reproductive dysfunctions observed in fish under captivity and highlights the importance of epigenetic mechanisms in understanding and managing the reproductive performance of economically important fish species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Papadaki
- Hellenic Center for Marine Research, P.O. Box 2214, Heraklion, Crete 71003, Greece; Biology Department, University of Crete, P.O. Box 2208, Heraklion, Crete 70013, Greece
| | - C C Mylonas
- Hellenic Center for Marine Research, P.O. Box 2214, Heraklion, Crete 71003, Greece
| | - Elena Sarropoulou
- Hellenic Center for Marine Research, P.O. Box 2214, Heraklion, Crete 71003, Greece.
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3
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Li X, Liu C, Zhang R, Li Y, Ye D, Wang H, He M, Sun Y. Biosynthetic deficiency of docosahexaenoic acid causes nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and ferroptosis-mediated hepatocyte injury. J Biol Chem 2024; 300:107405. [PMID: 38788853 PMCID: PMC11231757 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2024.107405] [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: 11/03/2023] [Revised: 05/07/2024] [Accepted: 05/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Exogenous omega-3 fatty acids, particularly docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), have shown to exert beneficial effects on nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), which is characterized by the excessive accumulation of lipids and chronic injury in the liver. However, the effect of endogenous DHA biosynthesis on the lipid homeostasis of liver is poorly understood. In this study, we used a DHA biosynthesis-deficient zebrafish model, elovl2 mutant, to explore the effect of endogenously biosynthesized DHA on hepatic lipid homeostasis. We found the pathways of lipogenesis and lipid uptake were strongly activated, while the pathways of lipid oxidation and lipid transport were inhibited in the liver of elovl2 mutants, leading to lipid droplet accumulation in the mutant hepatocytes and NAFLD. Furthermore, the elovl2 mutant hepatocytes exhibited disrupted mitochondrial structure and function, activated endoplasmic reticulum stress, and hepatic injury. We further unveiled that the hepatic cell death and injury was mainly mediated by ferroptosis, rather than apoptosis, in elovl2 mutants. Elevating DHA content in elovl2 mutants, either by the introduction of an omega-3 desaturase (fat1) transgene or by feeding with a DHA-rich diet, could strongly alleviate NAFLD features and ferroptosis-mediated hepatic injury. Together, our study elucidates the essential role of endogenous DHA biosynthesis in maintaining hepatic lipid homeostasis and liver health, highlighting that DHA deficiency can lead to NAFLD and ferroptosis-mediated hepatic injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuehui Li
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Key Laboratory of Breeding Biotechnology and Sustainable Aquaculture, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China; College of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Chengjie Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Key Laboratory of Breeding Biotechnology and Sustainable Aquaculture, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China; College of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Ru Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Key Laboratory of Breeding Biotechnology and Sustainable Aquaculture, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China; College of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yi Li
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Key Laboratory of Breeding Biotechnology and Sustainable Aquaculture, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China; College of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Ding Ye
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Key Laboratory of Breeding Biotechnology and Sustainable Aquaculture, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China; College of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Houpeng Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Key Laboratory of Breeding Biotechnology and Sustainable Aquaculture, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Mudan He
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Key Laboratory of Breeding Biotechnology and Sustainable Aquaculture, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China; College of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yonghua Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Key Laboratory of Breeding Biotechnology and Sustainable Aquaculture, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China; College of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China; The Innovation Academy of Seed Design, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China.
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4
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Cheng X, Jiang T, Huang Q, Ji L, Li J, Kong X, Zhu X, He X, Deng X, Wu T, Yu H, Shi Y, Liu L, Zhao X, Wang X, Chen H, Yu J. Exposure to Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles Leads to Specific Disorders of Spermatid Elongation via Multiple Metabolic Pathways in Drosophila Testes. ACS OMEGA 2024; 9:23613-23623. [PMID: 38854533 PMCID: PMC11154731 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.4c01140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2024] [Revised: 05/10/2024] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 06/11/2024]
Abstract
Titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2 NPs) have been extensively utilized in various applications. However, the regulatory mechanism behind the reproductive toxicity induced by TiO2 NP exposure remains largely elusive. In this study, we employed a Drosophila model to assess potential testicular injuries during spermatogenesis and conducted bulk RNA-Seq analysis to elucidate the underlying mechanisms. Our results reveal that while prolonged exposure to lower concentrations of TiO2 NPs (0.45 mg/mL) for 30 days did not manifest reproductive toxicity, exposure at concentrations of 0.9 and 1.8 mg/mL significantly impaired spermatid elongation in Drosophila testes. Notably, bulk RNA-seq analysis revealed that TiO2 NP exposure affected multiple metabolic pathways including carbohydrate metabolism and cytochrome P450. Importantly, the intervention of glutathione (GSH) significantly protected against reproductive toxicity induced by TiO2 NP exposure, as it restored the number of Orb-positive spermatid clusters in Drosophila testes. Our study provides novel insights into the specific detrimental effects of TiO2 NP exposure on spermatid elongation through multiple metabolic alterations in Drosophila testes and highlights the protective role of GSH in countering this toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinmeng Cheng
- Institute
of Reproductive Medicine, School of Medicine, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, China
| | - Ting Jiang
- Institute
of Reproductive Medicine, School of Medicine, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, China
| | - Qiuru Huang
- Institute
of Reproductive Medicine, School of Medicine, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, China
| | - Li Ji
- Institute
of Reproductive Medicine, School of Medicine, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, China
| | - Jiaxin Li
- Institute
of Reproductive Medicine, School of Medicine, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, China
| | - Xiuwen Kong
- Institute
of Reproductive Medicine, School of Medicine, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, China
| | - Xiaoqi Zhu
- Institute
of Reproductive Medicine, School of Medicine, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, China
| | - Xuxin He
- Institute
of Reproductive Medicine, School of Medicine, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, China
| | - Xiaonan Deng
- Institute
of Reproductive Medicine, School of Medicine, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, China
| | - Tong Wu
- Institute
of Reproductive Medicine, School of Medicine, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, China
| | - Hao Yu
- Institute
of Reproductive Medicine, School of Medicine, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, China
| | - Yi Shi
- Institute
of Reproductive Medicine, School of Medicine, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, China
| | - Lin Liu
- Institute
of Reproductive Medicine, School of Medicine, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, China
| | - Xinyuan Zhao
- Department
of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Toxicology, Nantong Key
Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology, School of Public Health, Nantong University, Nantong 226019, China
| | - Xiaorong Wang
- Center
for Reproductive Medicine, Affiliated Maternity
and Child Health Care Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong 226018, China
- Nantong
Institute of Genetics and Reproductive Medicine, Affiliated Maternity and Child Healthcare Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong 226018, China
- Nantong
Key Laboratory of Genetics and Reproductive Medicine, Nantong 226018, China
| | - Hao Chen
- Institute
of Reproductive Medicine, School of Medicine, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, China
| | - Jun Yu
- Institute
of Reproductive Medicine, School of Medicine, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, China
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5
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Wilson CA, Batzel P, Postlethwait JH. Direct male development in chromosomally ZZ zebrafish. Front Cell Dev Biol 2024; 12:1362228. [PMID: 38529407 PMCID: PMC10961373 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2024.1362228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 03/27/2024] Open
Abstract
The genetics of sex determination varies across taxa, sometimes even within a species. Major domesticated strains of zebrafish (Danio rerio), including AB and TU, lack a strong genetic sex determining locus, but strains more recently derived from nature, like Nadia (NA), possess a ZZ male/ZW female chromosomal sex-determination system. AB fish pass through a juvenile ovary stage, forming oocytes that survive in fish that become females but die in fish that become males. To understand mechanisms of gonad development in NA zebrafish, we studied histology and single cell transcriptomics in developing ZZ and ZW fish. ZW fish developed oocytes by 22 days post-fertilization (dpf) but ZZ fish directly formed testes, avoiding a juvenile ovary phase. Gonads of some ZW and WW fish, however, developed oocytes that died as the gonad became a testis, mimicking AB fish, suggesting that the gynogenetically derived AB strain is chromosomally WW. Single-cell RNA-seq of 19dpf gonads showed similar cell types in ZZ and ZW fish, including germ cells, precursors of gonadal support cells, steroidogenic cells, interstitial/stromal cells, and immune cells, consistent with a bipotential juvenile gonad. In contrast, scRNA-seq of 30dpf gonads revealed that cells in ZZ gonads had transcriptomes characteristic of testicular Sertoli, Leydig, and germ cells while ZW gonads had granulosa cells, theca cells, and developing oocytes. Hematopoietic and vascular cells were similar in both sex genotypes. These results show that juvenile NA zebrafish initially develop a bipotential gonad; that a factor on the NA W chromosome, or fewer than two Z chromosomes, is essential to initiate oocyte development; and without the W factor, or with two Z doses, NA gonads develop directly into testes without passing through the juvenile ovary stage. Sex determination in AB and TU strains mimics NA ZW and WW zebrafish, suggesting loss of the Z chromosome during domestication. Genetic analysis of the NA strain will facilitate our understanding of the evolution of sex determination mechanisms.
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Ruan Y, Li X, Zhai G, Lou Q, Jin X, He J, Yin Z. Estrogen Signaling Inhibits the Expression of anti-Müllerian hormone ( amh) and gonadal-soma-derived factor ( gsdf) during the Critical Time of Sexual Fate Determination in Zebrafish. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:1740. [PMID: 38339020 PMCID: PMC10855942 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25031740] [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: 12/09/2023] [Revised: 01/26/2024] [Accepted: 01/28/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
The mechanism of fish gonadal sex differentiation is complex and regulated by multiple factors. It has been widely known that proper steroidogenesis in Leydig cells and sex-related genes in Sertoli cells play important roles in gonadal sex differentiation. In teleosts, the precise interaction of these signals during the sexual fate determination remains elusive, especially their effect on the bi-potential gonad during the critical stage of sexual fate determination. Recently, all-testis phenotypes have been observed in the cyp17a1-deficient zebrafish and common carp, as well as in cyp19a1a-deficient zebrafish. By mating cyp17a1-deficient fish with transgenic zebrafish Tg(piwil1:EGFP-nanos3UTR), germ cells in the gonads were labelled with enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP). We classified the cyp17a1-deficient zebrafish and their control siblings into primordial germ cell (PGC)-rich and -less groups according to the fluorescence area of the EGFP labelling. Intriguingly, the EGFP-labelled bi-potential gonads in cyp17a1+/+ fish from the PGC-rich group were significantly larger than those of the cyp17a1-/- fish at 23 days post-fertilization (dpf). Based on the transcriptome analysis, we observed that the cyp17a1-deficient fish of the PGC-rich group displayed a significantly upregulated expression of amh and gsdf compared to that of control fish. Likewise, the upregulated expressions of amh and gsdf were observed in cyp19a1a-deficient fish as examined at 23 dpf. This upregulation of amh and gsdf could be repressed by treatment with an exogenous supplement of estradiol. Moreover, tamoxifen, an effective antagonist of both estrogen receptor α and β (ERα and Erβ), upregulates the expression of amh and gsdf in wild-type (WT) fish. Using the cyp17a1- and cyp19a1a-deficient zebrafish, we provide evidence to show that the upregulated expression of amh and gsdf due to the compromised estrogen signaling probably determines their sexual fate towards testis differentiation. Collectively, our data suggest that estrogen signaling inhibits the expression of amh and gsdf during the critical time of sexual fate determination, which may broaden the scope of sex steroid hormones in regulating gonadal sex differentiation in fish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yonglin Ruan
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China; (Y.R.); (X.L.); (Q.L.); (J.H.)
- College of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Xuehui Li
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China; (Y.R.); (X.L.); (Q.L.); (J.H.)
- College of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Gang Zhai
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China; (Y.R.); (X.L.); (Q.L.); (J.H.)
- College of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Huazhong Agriculture University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Qiyong Lou
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China; (Y.R.); (X.L.); (Q.L.); (J.H.)
| | - Xia Jin
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China; (Y.R.); (X.L.); (Q.L.); (J.H.)
| | - Jiangyan He
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China; (Y.R.); (X.L.); (Q.L.); (J.H.)
| | - Zhan Yin
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China; (Y.R.); (X.L.); (Q.L.); (J.H.)
- College of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Huazhong Agriculture University, Wuhan 430070, China
- The Innovative Academy of Seed Design, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China
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7
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Wang Q, Deng J, Jiang Y, Wang Z, Xia B, Chen T. A medaka gonad-specific lncRNA may act as pri-miR-202 to regulate testicular endocrine homeostasis and spermatogenesis. Theriogenology 2024; 214:273-285. [PMID: 37948817 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2023.10.020] [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: 05/09/2023] [Revised: 10/09/2023] [Accepted: 10/15/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
A large number of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are expressed in animal gonads, but their functions are poorly understood. In this study, a gonad-specific lncRNA, termed lnc4, was identified and characterized in the model fish medaka (Oryzias latipes). The expression pattern and in vitro functional analyses indicated that lnc4 was likely to be a primary transcript of miR-202 (pri-miR-202). Results of single-molecule fluorescence in situ hybridization demonstrated that the precursor miR-202 (pre-miR-202) was highly expressed in the nuclei of testicular somatic cells, including Leydig and Sertoli cells, whereas only a small amount of lnc4 molecules could be detected co-expressed with pre-miR-202 in Sertoli cells due to its low expression level. Deletion of the lnc4 locus led to a significant reduction in testis size and a dramatic decrease in the number of male germ cells, as well as a reduction in sperm viability. Moreover, lnc4 knockout resulted in enhanced synthesis and secretion of testicular somatic cells and accelerated differentiation of immature male germ cells. Taken together, functional studies of lnc4 and its mature transcript miR-202 will contribute to the understanding of the important role of non-coding RNAs in animal or human reproductive disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian Wang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, Hubei, 434024, China; College of Fisheries, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430070, China
| | - Jiajie Deng
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Institute of Hydrobiology, Innovation Academy for Seed Design (INASEED), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei, 430072, China
| | - Yuewen Jiang
- College of Fisheries, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430070, China
| | - Zhi Wang
- College of Fisheries, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430070, China
| | - Bilin Xia
- College of Fisheries, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430070, China
| | - Tiansheng Chen
- Fisheries College of Jimei University, Key Laboratory of Healthy Mariculture for the East China Sea, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Engineering Research Center of the Modern Technology for Eel Industry, Ministry of Education, Xiamen, Fujian, 361021, China; College of Fisheries, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430070, China.
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8
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Li M, Sun L, Zhou L, Wang D. Tilapia, a good model for studying reproductive endocrinology. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2024; 345:114395. [PMID: 37879418 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2023.114395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2023] [Revised: 10/07/2023] [Accepted: 10/21/2023] [Indexed: 10/27/2023]
Abstract
The Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus), with a system of XX/XY sex determination, is a worldwide farmed fish with a shorter sexual maturation time than that of most cultured fish. Tilapia show a spawning cycle of approximately 14 days and can be artificially propagated in the laboratory all year round to obtain genetically all female (XX) and all male (XY) fry. Its genome sequence has been opened, and a perfect gene editing platform has been established. With a moderate body size, it is convenient for taking enough blood to measure hormone level. In recent years, using tilapia as animal model, we have confirmed that estrogen is crucial for female development because 1) mutation of star2, cyp17a1 or cyp19a1a (encoding aromatase, the key enzyme for estrogen synthesis) results in sex reversal (SR) due to estrogen deficiency in XX tilapia, while mutation of star1, cyp11a1, cyp17a2, cyp19a1b or cyp11c1 affects fertility due to abnormal androgen, cortisol and DHP levels in XY tilapia; 2) when the estrogen receptors (esr2a/esr2b) are mutated, the sex is reversed from female to male, while when the androgen receptors are mutated, the sex cannot be reversed; 3) the differentiated ovary can be transdifferentiated into functional testis by inhibition of estrogen synthesis, and the differentiated testis can be transdifferentiated into ovary by simultaneous addition of exogenous estrogen and androgen synthase inhibitor; 4) loss of male pathway genes amhy, dmrt1, gsdf causes SR with upregulation of cyp19a1a in XY tilapia. Disruption of estrogen synthesis rescues the male to female SR of amhy and gsdf but not dmrt1 mutants; 5) mutation of female pathway genes foxl2 and sf-1 causes SR with downregulation of cyp19a1a in XX tilapia; 6) the germ cell SR of foxl3 mutants fails to be rescued by estrogen treatment, indicating that estrogen determines female germ cell fate through foxl3. This review also summarized the effects of deficiency of other steroid hormones, such as androgen, DHP and cortisol, on fish reproduction. Overall, these studies demonstrate that tilapia is an excellent animal model for studying reproductive endocrinology of fish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minghui Li
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Fish Reproduction and Development (Ministry of Education), Key Laboratory of Aquatic Science of Chongqing, School of Life Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Lina Sun
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Fish Reproduction and Development (Ministry of Education), Key Laboratory of Aquatic Science of Chongqing, School of Life Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Linyan Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Fish Reproduction and Development (Ministry of Education), Key Laboratory of Aquatic Science of Chongqing, School of Life Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Deshou Wang
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Fish Reproduction and Development (Ministry of Education), Key Laboratory of Aquatic Science of Chongqing, School of Life Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, China.
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9
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Wilson CA, Batzel P, Postlethwait JH. Direct Male Development in Chromosomally ZZ Zebrafish. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.12.27.573483. [PMID: 38234788 PMCID: PMC10793451 DOI: 10.1101/2023.12.27.573483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2024]
Abstract
The genetics of sex determination varies across taxa, sometimes even within a species. Major domesticated strains of zebrafish ( Danio rerio ), including AB and TU, lack a strong genetic sex determining locus, but strains more recently derived from nature, like Nadia (NA), possess a ZZ male/ZW female chromosomal sex-determination system. AB strain fish pass through a juvenile ovary stage, forming oocytes that survive in fish that become females but die in fish that become males. To understand mechanisms of gonad development in NA zebrafish, we studied histology and single cell transcriptomics in developing ZZ and ZW fish. ZW fish developed oocytes by 22 days post-fertilization (dpf) but ZZ fish directly formed testes, avoiding a juvenile ovary phase. Gonads of some ZW and WW fish, however, developed oocytes that died as the gonad became a testis, mimicking AB fish, suggesting that the gynogenetically derived AB strain is chromosomally WW. Single-cell RNA-seq of 19dpf gonads showed similar cell types in ZZ and ZW fish, including germ cells, precursors of gonadal support cells, steroidogenic cells, interstitial/stromal cells, and immune cells, consistent with a bipotential juvenile gonad. In contrast, scRNA-seq of 30dpf gonads revealed that cells in ZZ gonads had transcriptomes characteristic of testicular Sertoli, Leydig, and germ cells while ZW gonads had granulosa cells, theca cells, and developing oocytes. Hematopoietic and vascular cells were similar in both sex genotypes. These results show that juvenile NA zebrafish initially develop a bipotential gonad; that a factor on the NA W chromosome or fewer than two Z chromosomes is essential to initiate oocyte development; and without the W factor or with two Z doses, NA gonads develop directly into testes without passing through the juvenile ovary stage. Sex determination in AB and TU strains mimics NA ZW and WW zebrafish, suggesting loss of the Z chromosome during domestication. Genetic analysis of the NA strain will facilitate our understanding of the evolution of sex determination mechanisms.
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Xu SS, Li Y, Wang HP, Chen WB, Wang YQ, Song ZW, Liu H, Zhong S, Sun YH, Zhong S, Sun YH. Depletion of stearoyl-CoA desaturase ( scd) leads to fatty liver disease and defective mating behavior in zebrafish. Zool Res 2023; 44:63-77. [PMID: 36317480 PMCID: PMC9841191 DOI: 10.24272/j.issn.2095-8137.2022.167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Stearyl coenzyme A desaturase (SCD), also known as delta-9 desaturase, catalyzes the rate-limiting step in the formation of monounsaturated fatty acids. In mammals, depletion or inhibition of SCD activity generally leads to a decrease in triglycerides and cholesteryl esters. However, the endogenous role of scd in teleost fish remains unknown. Here, we generated a zebrafish scd mutant (scd-/-) to elucidate the role of scd in lipid metabolism and sexual development. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) showed that the scd-/- mutants had increased levels of saturated fatty acids C16:0 and C18:0, and decreased levels of monounsaturated fatty acids C16:1 and C18:1. The mutant fish displayed a short stature and an enlarged abdomen during development. Unlike Scd-/- mammals, the scd-/- zebrafish showed significantly increased fat accumulation in the whole body, especially in the liver, leading to hepatic mitochondrial dysfunction and severe cell apoptosis. Mechanistically, srebf1, a gene encoding a transcriptional activator related to adipogenesis, acc1 and acaca, genes involved in fatty acid synthesis, and dgat2, a key gene involved in triglyceride synthesis, were significantly upregulated in mutant livers to activate fatty acid biosynthesis and adipogenesis. The scd-/- males exhibited defective natural mating behavior due to defective genital papillae but possessed functional mature sperm. All defects in the scd-/- mutants could be rescued by ubiquitous transgenic overexpression of scd. In conclusion, our study demonstrates that scd is indispensable for maintaining lipid homeostasis and development of secondary sexual characteristics in zebrafish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shan-Shan Xu
- Department of Genetics, Wuhan University School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei 430071, China,State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Institute of Hydrobiology, Innovation Academy for Seed Design (INASEED), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei 430072, China
| | - Yi Li
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Institute of Hydrobiology, Innovation Academy for Seed Design (INASEED), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei 430072, China
| | - Hou-Peng Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Institute of Hydrobiology, Innovation Academy for Seed Design (INASEED), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei 430072, China
| | - Wen-Bo Chen
- Department of Genetics, Wuhan University School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei 430071, China
| | - Ya-Qing Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Institute of Hydrobiology, Innovation Academy for Seed Design (INASEED), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei 430072, China
| | - Zi-Wei Song
- Department of Genetics, Wuhan University School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei 430071, China
| | - Hui Liu
- Department of Genetics, Wuhan University School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei 430071, China
| | - Shan Zhong
- Department of Genetics, Wuhan University School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei 430071, China,Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Allergy and Immunology, Wuhan, Hubei 430071, China,E-mail:
| | - Yong-Hua Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Institute of Hydrobiology, Innovation Academy for Seed Design (INASEED), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei 430072, China,College of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China,
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11
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Ye D, Liu T, Li Y, Wang Y, Hu W, Zhu Z, Sun Y. Identification of fish spermatogenic cells through high-throughput immunofluorescence against testis with an antibody set. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2023; 14:1044318. [PMID: 37077350 PMCID: PMC10106697 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1044318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2022] [Accepted: 03/23/2023] [Indexed: 04/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Image-based identification and quantification of different types of spermatogenic cells is of great importance, not only for reproductive studies but also for genetic breeding. Here, we have developed antibodies against spermatogenesis-related proteins in zebrafish (Danio rerio), including Ddx4, Piwil1, Sycp3, and Pcna, and a high-throughput method for immunofluorescence analysis of zebrafish testicular sections. By immunofluorescence analysis of zebrafish testes, our results demonstrate that the expression of Ddx4 decreases progressively during spermatogenesis, Piwil1 is strongly expressed in type A spermatogonia and moderately expressed in type B spermatogonia, and Sycp3 has distinct expression patterns in different subtypes of spermatocytes. Additionally, we observed polar expression of Sycp3 and Pcna in primary spermatocytes at the leptotene stage. By a triple staining of Ddx4, Sycp3, and Pcna, different types/subtypes of spermatogenic cells were easily characterized. We further demonstrated the practicality of our antibodies in other fish species, including Chinese rare minnow (Gobiocypris rarus), common carp (Cyprinus carpio), blunt snout bream (Megalobrama amblycephala), rice field eel (Monopterus albus) and grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella). Finally, we proposed an integrated criterion for identifying different types/subtypes of spermatogenic cells in zebrafish and other fishes using this high-throughput immunofluorescence approach based on these antibodies. Therefore, our study provides a simple, practical, and efficient tool for the study of spermatogenesis in fish species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ding Ye
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Institute of Hydrobiology, Innovation Academy for Seed Design, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Tao Liu
- College of Fisheries and Life Science, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian, China
| | - Yongming Li
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Institute of Hydrobiology, Innovation Academy for Seed Design, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Yaping Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Institute of Hydrobiology, Innovation Academy for Seed Design, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Wei Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Institute of Hydrobiology, Innovation Academy for Seed Design, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Zuoyan Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Institute of Hydrobiology, Innovation Academy for Seed Design, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Yonghua Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Institute of Hydrobiology, Innovation Academy for Seed Design, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
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12
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Zhang R, Tu Y, Ye D, Gu Z, Chen Z, Sun Y. A Germline-Specific Regulator of Mitochondrial Fusion is Required for Maintenance and Differentiation of Germline Stem and Progenitor Cells. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2022; 9:e2203631. [PMID: 36257818 PMCID: PMC9798980 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202203631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2022] [Revised: 08/28/2022] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Maintenance and differentiation of germline stem and progenitor cells (GSPCs) is important for sexual reproduction. Here, the authors identify zebrafish pld6 as a novel germline-specific gene by cross-analyzing different RNA sequencing results, and find that pld6 knockout mutants develop exclusively into infertile males. In pld6 mutants, GSPCs fail to differentiate and undergo apoptosis, leading to masculinization and infertility. Mitochondrial fusion in pld6-depleted GSPCs is severely impaired, and the mutants exhibit defects in piRNA biogenesis and transposon suppression. Overall, this work uncovers zebrafish Pld6 as a novel germline-specific regulator of mitochondrial fusion, and highlights its essential role in the maintenance and differentiation of GSPCs as well as gonadal development and gametogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ru Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and BiotechnologyInstitute of HydrobiologyInnovation Academy for Seed DesignChinese Academy of SciencesWuhan430072China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Agricultural BioinformaticsCollege of Life Science and TechnologyCollege of Biomedicine and HealthInterdisciplinary Sciences InstituteHuazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhan430070China
- Hubei Hongshan LaboratoryWuhan430070China
| | - Yi‐Xuan Tu
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Agricultural BioinformaticsCollege of Life Science and TechnologyCollege of Biomedicine and HealthInterdisciplinary Sciences InstituteHuazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhan430070China
- Hubei Hongshan LaboratoryWuhan430070China
| | - Ding Ye
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and BiotechnologyInstitute of HydrobiologyInnovation Academy for Seed DesignChinese Academy of SciencesWuhan430072China
| | - Zhenglong Gu
- Division of Nutritional SciencesCornell UniversityIthacaNY14853USA
- Center for Mitochondrial Genetics and HealthGreater Bay Area Institute of Precision Medicine (Guangzhou)Fudan UniversityNansha DistrictGuangzhou511400China
| | - Zhen‐Xia Chen
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Agricultural BioinformaticsCollege of Life Science and TechnologyCollege of Biomedicine and HealthInterdisciplinary Sciences InstituteHuazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhan430070China
- Hubei Hongshan LaboratoryWuhan430070China
- Shenzhen Institute of Nutrition and HealthHuazhong Agricultural UniversityShenzhen518000China
- Shenzhen BranchGuangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern AgricultureGenome Analysis Laboratory of the Ministry of AgricultureAgricultural Genomics Institute at ShenzhenChinese Academy of Agricultural SciencesShenzhen518000China
| | - Yonghua Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and BiotechnologyInstitute of HydrobiologyInnovation Academy for Seed DesignChinese Academy of SciencesWuhan430072China
- Hubei Hongshan LaboratoryWuhan430070China
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Zhang P, Wang M, Chen X, Jing K, Li Y, Liu X, Ran H, Qin J, Zhong J, Cai X. Dysregulated genes in undifferentiated spermatogonia and Sertoli cells are associated with the spermatogenic arrest in cattleyak. Mol Reprod Dev 2022; 89:632-645. [PMID: 36409004 DOI: 10.1002/mrd.23653] [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: 06/17/2022] [Revised: 11/04/2022] [Accepted: 11/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Hybrid male sterility (HMS) is a reproductive isolation mechanism limiting the formation of fertile offspring through interspecific fertilization. Cattleyak is the interspecific hybrid presenting significant heterosis in several economic traits, but HMS restricted its wide reproduction in cettleyak breeding. In this study, we detected the specifically expressed genes of a variety of cells (undifferentiated spermatogonia, primary spermatocytes, secondary spermatocytes, haploid spermatids, sperm, Sertoli cells, Leydig cells, and macrophages) in the testis of yak and cattleyak, and found that the spermatogenesis of cattleyak might be blocked at meiosis I, and the expression of niche factors (NR5A1, GATA4, STAR, CYP11A1, CD68, TNF, and CX3CR1) in undifferentiated spermatogonia niche was abnormal. Then we isolated the undifferentiated spermatogonia and Sertoli cells from yak and cattleyak by enzyme digestion, and detected the specific genes in the two bovid testicular cells as well as the proliferation capacity of the undifferentiated spermatogonia. These results indicated that weak proliferation ability and scarce number of undifferentiated spermatogonia and abnormal gene expressions in Sertoli cells may contribute to male sterility of cattleyak.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau Animal Genetic Resource Reservation and Utilization of Sichuan Province and Ministry of Education, Institute of Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, Southwest Minzu University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Mingxiu Wang
- Key Laboratory of Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau Animal Genetic Resource Reservation and Utilization of Sichuan Province and Ministry of Education, Institute of Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, Southwest Minzu University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Xuemei Chen
- Key Laboratory of Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau Animal Genetic Resource Reservation and Utilization of Sichuan Province and Ministry of Education, Institute of Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, Southwest Minzu University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Kemin Jing
- Key Laboratory of Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau Animal Genetic Resource Reservation and Utilization of Sichuan Province and Ministry of Education, Institute of Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, Southwest Minzu University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Yuqian Li
- Key Laboratory of Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau Animal Genetic Resource Reservation and Utilization of Sichuan Province and Ministry of Education, Institute of Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, Southwest Minzu University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Xinrui Liu
- Key Laboratory of Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau Animal Genetic Resource Reservation and Utilization of Sichuan Province and Ministry of Education, Institute of Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, Southwest Minzu University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Hongbiao Ran
- Key Laboratory of Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau Animal Genetic Resource Reservation and Utilization of Sichuan Province and Ministry of Education, Institute of Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, Southwest Minzu University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Jie Qin
- Key Laboratory of Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau Animal Genetic Resource Reservation and Utilization of Sichuan Province and Ministry of Education, Institute of Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, Southwest Minzu University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Jincheng Zhong
- Key Laboratory of Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau Animal Genetic Resource Reservation and Utilization of Sichuan Province and Ministry of Education, Institute of Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, Southwest Minzu University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Xin Cai
- Key Laboratory of Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau Animal Genetic Resource Reservation and Utilization of Sichuan Province and Ministry of Education, Institute of Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, Southwest Minzu University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
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14
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Pan YJ, Tong SK, Hsu CW, Weng JH, Chung BC. Zebrafish Establish Female Germ Cell Identity by Advancing Cell Proliferation and Meiosis. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:866267. [PMID: 35445010 PMCID: PMC9013747 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.866267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2022] [Accepted: 03/08/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Zebrafish is a popular research model; but its mechanism of sex determination is unclear and the sex of juvenile fish cannot be distinguished. To obtain fish with defined sex, we crossed domesticated zebrafish with the Nadia strain that has a female-dominant W segment. These fish were placed on a ziwi:GFP background to facilitate sorting of fluorescent germ cells for transcriptomic analysis. We analyzed the transcriptomes of germ cells at 10–14 days postfertilization (dpf), when sex dimorphic changes started to appear. Gene ontology showed that genes upregulated in the 10-dpf presumptive females are involved in cell cycles. This correlates with our detection of increased germ cell numbers and proliferation. We also detected upregulation of meiotic genes in the presumptive females at 14 dpf. Disruption of a meiotic gene, sycp3, resulted in sex reversal to infertile males. The germ cells of sycp3 mutants could not reach diplotene and underwent apoptosis. Preventing apoptosis by disrupting tp53 restored female characteristics in sycp3 mutants, demonstrating that adequate germ cells are required for female development. Thus, our transcriptome and gene mutation demonstrate that initial germ cell proliferation followed by meiosis is the hallmark of female differentiation in zebrafish.
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Affiliation(s)
- You-Jiun Pan
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
- Institue of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Sok-Keng Tong
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chen-wei Hsu
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Jui-Hsia Weng
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
- Institute of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Bon-chu Chung
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
- *Correspondence: Bon-chu Chung,
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Zhai G, Shu T, Yu G, Tang H, Shi C, Jia J, Lou Q, Dai X, Jin X, He J, Xiao W, Liu X, Yin Z. Augmentation of progestin signaling rescues testis organization and spermatogenesis in zebrafish with the depletion of androgen signaling. eLife 2022; 11:e66118. [PMID: 35225789 PMCID: PMC8912926 DOI: 10.7554/elife.66118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2020] [Accepted: 02/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Disruption of androgen signaling is known to cause testicular malformation and defective spermatogenesis in zebrafish. However, knockout of cyp17a1, a key enzyme responsible for the androgen synthesis, in ar-/- male zebrafish paradoxically causes testicular hypertrophy and enhanced spermatogenesis. Because Cyp17a1 plays key roles in hydroxylation of pregnenolone and progesterone (P4), and converts 17α-hydroxypregnenolone to dehydroepiandrosterone and 17α-hydroxyprogesterone to androstenedione, we hypothesize that the unexpected phenotype in cyp17a1-/-;androgen receptor (ar)-/- zebrafish may be mediated through an augmentation of progestin/nuclear progestin receptor (nPgr) signaling. In support of this hypothesis, we show that knockout of cyp17a1 leads to accumulation of 17α,20β-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one (DHP) and P4. Further, administration of progestin, a synthetic DHP mimetic, is sufficient to rescue testicular development and spermatogenesis in ar-/- zebrafish, whereas knockout of npgr abolishes the rescue effect of cyp17a1-/- in the cyp17a1-/-;ar-/- double mutant. Analyses of the transcriptomes among the mutants with defective testicular organization and spermatogenesis (ar-/-, ar-/-;npgr-/- and cyp17a-/-;ar-/-;npgr-/-), those with normal phenotype (control and cyp17a1-/-), and rescued phenotype (cyp17a1-/-;ar-/-) reveal a common link between a downregulated expression of insl3 and its related downstream genes in cyp17a-/-;ar-/-;npgr-/- zebrafish. Taken together, our data suggest that genetic or pharmacological augmentation of the progestin/nPgr pathway is sufficient to restore testis organization and spermatogenesis in zebrafish with the depletion of androgen signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gang Zhai
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of SciencesWuhanChina
- College of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Tingting Shu
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of SciencesWuhanChina
- College of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
- Chinese Sturgeon Research Institute, China Three Gorges CorporationHubeiChina
| | - Guangqing Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of SciencesWuhanChina
- College of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Haipei Tang
- 5State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Institute of Aquatic Economic Animals and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Improved Variety Reproduction in Aquatic Economic Animals, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen UniversityGuangzhouChina
| | - Chuang Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of SciencesWuhanChina
- College of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Jingyi Jia
- College of Fisheries, Huazhong Agriculture UniversityWuhanChina
| | - Qiyong Lou
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of SciencesWuhanChina
| | - Xiangyan Dai
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Fish Reproduction and Development and Key Laboratory of Aquatic Science of Chongqing, School of Life Science, Southwest UniversityChongqingChina
| | - Xia Jin
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of SciencesWuhanChina
| | - Jiangyan He
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of SciencesWuhanChina
| | - Wuhan Xiao
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of SciencesWuhanChina
- College of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
- The Innovative Academy of Seed Design, Chinese Academy of SciencesWuhanChina
| | - Xiaochun Liu
- 5State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Institute of Aquatic Economic Animals and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Improved Variety Reproduction in Aquatic Economic Animals, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen UniversityGuangzhouChina
| | - Zhan Yin
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of SciencesWuhanChina
- College of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
- The Innovative Academy of Seed Design, Chinese Academy of SciencesWuhanChina
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Shi S, Shu T, Li X, Lou Q, Jin X, He J, Yin Z, Zhai G. Characterization of the Interrenal Gland and Sexual Traits Development in cyp17a2-Deficient Zebrafish. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2022; 13:910639. [PMID: 35733778 PMCID: PMC9207535 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2022.910639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2022] [Accepted: 05/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Unlike the Cytochrome P450, family 17, subfamily A, member 1 (Cyp17a1), which possesses both 17α-hydroxylase and 17,20-lyase activities involved in the steroidogenic pathway that produces androgens and estrogens, Cytochrome P450, family 17, subfamily A, polypeptide 2 (Cyp17a2) possesses only 17α-hydroxylase activity and is known essential for the synthesis of cortisol. Besides with expressed in testes and ovaries, where the cyp17a1 is mainly expressed, cyp17a2 is also expressed in the interrenal gland in fish. Until now, the roles of cyp17a2 in fish, especially in sexual traits development and hypothalamic-pituitary-interrenal (HPI) axis, are poorly studied. To investigate the roles of Cyp17a2 in teleosts, the cyp17a2-null zebrafish was generated and analyzed by us. The significantly decreased cortisol concentration was observed both in the cyp17a2-deficient males and females at adult stage. The interrenal gland enlargement, increased pituitary proopiomelanocortin a (pomca) expression, decreased locomotion activity and response to light-stimulated stress were observed in cyp17a2-deficient fish. Intriguingly, the cyp17a2-deficient males were fertile and with normal breeding tubercles on the pectoral fin, but females were infertile, deficient in genital papilla and with decreased gonadosomatic index (GSI). The increased progesterone (P4), 17α,20β-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one (DHP) and 11-ketotestosterone (11-KT) in the cyp17a2-deficient males and females were observed. The increased concentration of testosterone (T) and estradiol (E2) was observed in cyp17a2-/- females and cyp17a2-/- males, respectively. By examining the ovaries development of cyp17a2-deficient fish at 3 months postfertilization (mpf), we observed that the oocytes were over-activated. Taken together, our findings demonstrate that Cyp17a2 is indispensable for production and physiology of cortisol, and cyp17a2-deficiency resulted in diminished cortisol but accumulated P4 and DHP, which may result in the over-activated oocytes in cyp17a2-deficient females.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shengchi Shi
- State key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
- College of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Tingting Shu
- State key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
- College of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Chinese Sturgeon Research Institute, China Three Gorges Corporation, Yichang, China
| | - Xi Li
- Center of Clinical Research, The Affiliated Kangning Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Qiyong Lou
- State key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Xia Jin
- State key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Jiangyan He
- State key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Zhan Yin
- State key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
- College of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- The Innovative Academy of Seed Design, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Gang Zhai
- State key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
- College of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- *Correspondence: Gang Zhai,
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