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Takehana Y, Taniguchi R, Kanemura K, Kobayashi T. Gsdf is not indispensable for male differentiation in the medaka species Oryzias hubbsi. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2024; 724:150227. [PMID: 38870865 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2024.150227] [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: 04/03/2024] [Revised: 05/21/2024] [Accepted: 06/04/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024]
Abstract
Sex determination mechanisms differ widely among vertebrates, particularly in fish species, where diverse sex chromosomes and sex-determining genes have evolved. However, the sex-differentiation pathways activated by these sex-determining genes appear to be conserved. Gonadal soma-derived growth factor (Gsdf) is one of the genes conserved across teleost fish, especially in medaka fishes of the genus Oryzias, and is implicated in testis differentiation and germ cell proliferation. However, its role in sex differentiation remains unclear. In this study, we investigated Gsdf function in Oryzias hubbsi, a species with a ZW sex-determination system. We confirmed its male-dominant expression, as in other species. However, histological analyses revealed no male-to-female sex reversal in Gsdf-knockout fish, contrary to findings in other medaka species. Genetic sex determination remained intact without Gsdf function, indicating a Gsdf-independent sex-differentiation pathway in O. hubbsi. Instead, Gsdf loss led to germ cell overproliferation in both sexes and accelerated onset of meiosis in testes, suggesting a role in germ cell proliferation. Notably, the feminizing effect of germ cells observed in O. latipes was absent, suggesting diverse germ cell-somatic cell relationships in Oryzias gonad development. Our study highlights species-specific variations in the molecular pathways governing sex determination and differentiation, emphasizing the need for further exploration to elucidate the complexities of sexual development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yusuke Takehana
- Department of Animal Bio-Science, Faculty of Bio-Science, Nagahama Institute of Bio-Science and Technology, 1266 Tamura, Nagahama, Shiga, 526-0829, Japan; Graduate School of Biosciences, Nagahama Institute of Bio-Science and Technology, 1266 Tamura, Nagahama, Shiga, 526-0829, Japan; Genome Editing Research Institute, Nagahama Institute of Bio-Science and Technology, 1266 Tamura, Nagahama, Shiga, 526-0829, Japan.
| | - Ryuichi Taniguchi
- Department of Animal Bio-Science, Faculty of Bio-Science, Nagahama Institute of Bio-Science and Technology, 1266 Tamura, Nagahama, Shiga, 526-0829, Japan
| | - Keigo Kanemura
- Graduate School of Biosciences, Nagahama Institute of Bio-Science and Technology, 1266 Tamura, Nagahama, Shiga, 526-0829, Japan
| | - Tohru Kobayashi
- Laboratory of Molecular Reproductive Biology, Institute for Environmental Sciences, University of Shizuoka, Shizuoka, 422-8526, Japan; Department of Environmental Life Sciences, School of Food and Nutritional Sciences, University of Shizuoka, Shizuoka, 422-8526, Japan
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2
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Zhang X, Wu Y, Zhang Y, Zhang J, Chu P, Chen K, Liu H, Luo Q, Fei S, Zhao J, Ou M. Histological observations and transcriptome analyses reveal the dynamic changes in the gonads of the blotched snakehead (Channa maculata) during sex differentiation and gametogenesis. Biol Sex Differ 2024; 15:70. [PMID: 39244546 PMCID: PMC11380785 DOI: 10.1186/s13293-024-00643-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2024] [Accepted: 08/26/2024] [Indexed: 09/09/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Blotched snakehead (Channa maculata) displays significant sexual dimorphism, with males exhibiting faster growth rates and larger body sizes compared to females. The cultivation of the all-male population of snakeheads holds substantial economic and ecological value. Nonetheless, the intricate processes governing the development of bipotential gonads into either testis or ovary in C. maculata remain inadequately elucidated. Therefore, it is necessary to determine the critical time window of sex differentiation in C. maculata, providing a theoretical basis for sex control in production practices. METHODS The body length and weight of male and female C. maculata were measured at different developmental stages to reveal when sexual dimorphism in growth initially appears. Histological observations and spatiotemporal comparative transcriptome analyses were performed on ovaries and testes across various developmental stages to determine the crucial time windows for sex differentiation in each sex and the sex-related genes. Additionally, qPCR and MG2C were utilized to validate and locate sex-related genes, and levels of E2 and T were quantified to understand sex steroid synthesis. RESULTS Sexual dimorphism in growth became evident starting from 90 dpf. Histological observations revealed that morphological sex differentiation in females and males occurred between 20 and 25 dpf or earlier and 30-35 dpf or earlier, respectively, corresponding to the appearance of the ovarian cavity or efferent duct anlage. Transcriptome analyses revealed divergent gene expression patterns in testes and ovaries after 30 dpf. The periods of 40-60 dpf and 60-90 dpf marked the initiation of molecular sex differentiation in females and males, respectively. Male-biased genes (Sox11a, Dmrt1, Amh, Amhr2, Gsdf, Ar, Cyp17a2) likely play crucial roles in male sex differentiation and spermatogenesis, while female-biased genes (Foxl2, Cyp19a1a, Bmp15, Figla, Er) could be pivotal in ovarian differentiation and development. Numerous biological pathways linked to sex differentiation and gametogenesis were also identified. Additionally, E2 and T exhibited sexual dimorphism during sex differentiation and gonadal development. Based on these results, it is hypothesized that in C. maculata, the potential male sex differentiation pathway, Sox11a-Dmrt1-Sox9b, activates downstream sex-related genes (Amh, Amhr2, Gsdf, Ar, Cyp17a2) for testicular development, while the antagonistic pathway, Foxl2/Cyp19a1a, activates downstream sex-related genes (Bmp15, Figla, Er) for ovarian development. CONCLUSIONS This study provides a comprehensive overview of gonadal dynamic changes during sex differentiation and gametogenesis in C. maculata, establishing a scientific foundation for sex control in this species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaotian Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Tropical and Subtropical Fishery Resources Application and Cultivation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Pearl River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, No. 1 Xingyu Road, Xilang, Liwan District, Guangzhou, 510380, Guangdong, China
- College of Fisheries and Life Science, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, 201306, China
| | - Yuxia Wu
- Key Laboratory of Tropical and Subtropical Fishery Resources Application and Cultivation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Pearl River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, No. 1 Xingyu Road, Xilang, Liwan District, Guangzhou, 510380, Guangdong, China
- College of Fisheries and Life Science, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, 201306, China
| | - Yang Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Tropical and Subtropical Fishery Resources Application and Cultivation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Pearl River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, No. 1 Xingyu Road, Xilang, Liwan District, Guangzhou, 510380, Guangdong, China
- School of Life and Health Sciences, Hunan University of Science and Technology, Xiangtan, 411201, China
| | - Jin Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Tropical and Subtropical Fishery Resources Application and Cultivation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Pearl River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, No. 1 Xingyu Road, Xilang, Liwan District, Guangzhou, 510380, Guangdong, China
- College of Fisheries and Life Science, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, 201306, China
| | - Pengfei Chu
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225000, China
| | - Kunci Chen
- Key Laboratory of Tropical and Subtropical Fishery Resources Application and Cultivation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Pearl River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, No. 1 Xingyu Road, Xilang, Liwan District, Guangzhou, 510380, Guangdong, China
- College of Fisheries and Life Science, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, 201306, China
| | - Haiyang Liu
- Key Laboratory of Tropical and Subtropical Fishery Resources Application and Cultivation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Pearl River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, No. 1 Xingyu Road, Xilang, Liwan District, Guangzhou, 510380, Guangdong, China
| | - Qing Luo
- Key Laboratory of Tropical and Subtropical Fishery Resources Application and Cultivation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Pearl River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, No. 1 Xingyu Road, Xilang, Liwan District, Guangzhou, 510380, Guangdong, China
| | - Shuzhan Fei
- Key Laboratory of Tropical and Subtropical Fishery Resources Application and Cultivation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Pearl River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, No. 1 Xingyu Road, Xilang, Liwan District, Guangzhou, 510380, Guangdong, China
| | - Jian Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Tropical and Subtropical Fishery Resources Application and Cultivation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Pearl River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, No. 1 Xingyu Road, Xilang, Liwan District, Guangzhou, 510380, Guangdong, China.
- College of Fisheries and Life Science, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, 201306, China.
| | - Mi Ou
- Key Laboratory of Tropical and Subtropical Fishery Resources Application and Cultivation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Pearl River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, No. 1 Xingyu Road, Xilang, Liwan District, Guangzhou, 510380, Guangdong, China.
- School of Life and Health Sciences, Hunan University of Science and Technology, Xiangtan, 411201, China.
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225000, China.
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Geffroy B, Goikoetxea A, Villain-Naud N, Martinez AS. Early fasting does not impact gonadal size nor vasa gene expression in the European seabass Dicentrarchus labrax. FISH PHYSIOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY 2024:10.1007/s10695-024-01395-6. [PMID: 39196454 DOI: 10.1007/s10695-024-01395-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2024] [Accepted: 08/10/2024] [Indexed: 08/29/2024]
Abstract
Primordial germ cells (PGCs) play a crucial role in sexual development in fish, with recent studies revealing their influence on sexual fate. Notably, PGC number at specific developmental stages can determine whether an individual develops as male or female. Temperature was shown to impact PGC proliferation and the subsequent phenotypic sex in some fish species. Here, we aimed at testing the role of food deprivation on gonad development in the European seabass Dicentrarchus labrax, a species displaying a polygenic sex determination system with an environmental influence. We subjected larvae to two periods of starvation to investigate whether restricting growth affects both gonadal size and vasa gene expression. We first confirmed by immunohistochemistry that Vasa was indeed a marker of PGCs in the European seabass, as in other fish species. We also showed that vasa correlated positively with fish size, confirming that it could be used as a marker of feminization. However, starvation did not show any significant effects on vasa expression nor on gonadal size. It is hypothesized that evolutionary mechanisms likely safeguard PGCs against environmental stressors to ensure reproductive success. Further research is needed to elucidate the intricate interplay between environmental cues, PGC biology, and sexual differentiation in fish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Geffroy
- MARBEC Univ Montpellier, CNRS, Ifremer, IRD, Palavas-Les-Flots, France.
| | | | | | - Anne-Sophie Martinez
- Normandie Université, Unicaen, BOREA, 14000, Caen, France
- Normandie Université, Unicaen, ToxEMAC ABTE, 14000, Caen, France
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Kameyama S, Niwa T, Kikuchi M, Tanaka M. Medaka Terb1 Mutant Displays Defects of Synaptonemal Complex Formation and Sexual Difference in Gametogenesis. Zoolog Sci 2024; 41:314-322. [PMID: 38809870 DOI: 10.2108/zs230108] [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: 11/04/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2024] [Indexed: 05/31/2024]
Abstract
Formation of the synaptonemal complex (SC) is a prerequisite for proper recombination and chromosomal segregation during meiotic prophase I. One mechanism that ensures SC formation is chromosomal movement, which is driven by the force derived from cytoskeletal motors. Here, we report the phenotype of medaka mutants lacking the telomere repeat binding bouquet formation protein 1 (TERB1), which, in combination with the SUN/KASH protein, mediates chromosomal movement by connecting telomeres and cytoskeletal motors. Mutations in the terb1 gene exhibit defects in SC formation in medaka. Although SC formation was initiated, as seen by the punctate lateral elements and fragmented transverse filaments, it was not completed in the terb1 mutant meiocytes. The mutant phenotype further revealed that the introduction of double strand breaks was independent of synapsis completion. In association with these phenotypes, meiocytes in both the ovaries and testes exhibited an aberrant arrangement of homologous chromosomes. Interestingly, although oogenesis halted at the zygotene-like stage in terb1 mutant, testes continued to produce sperm-like cells with aberrant DNA content. This indicates that the mechanism of meiotic checkpoint is sexually different in medaka, similar to the mammalian checkpoint in which oogenesis proceeds while spermatogenesis is arrested. Moreover, our results suggest that spermatogenesis is mechanistically dissociable from meiosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiyu Kameyama
- Division of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Nagoya 464-8602, Japan
| | - Taiki Niwa
- Division of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Nagoya 464-8602, Japan
| | - Mariko Kikuchi
- Division of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Nagoya 464-8602, Japan
| | - Minoru Tanaka
- Division of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Nagoya 464-8602, Japan,
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Carranza J, Yamada K, Sakae Y, Noh J, Choi MH, Tanaka M. Genetic Disruption of cyp21a2 Leads to Systemic Glucocorticoid Deficiency and Tissues Hyperplasia in the Teleost Fish Medaka ( Oryzias latipes). Zoolog Sci 2024; 41:263-274. [PMID: 38809865 DOI: 10.2108/zs230107] [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: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 12/29/2023] [Indexed: 05/31/2024]
Abstract
cytochrome P-450, 21-hydroxylase (cyp21a2), encodes an enzyme required for cortisol biosynthesis, and its mutations are the major genetic cause of congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) in humans. Here, we have generated a null allele for the medaka cyp21a2 with a nine base-pair insertion which led to a truncated protein. We have observed a delay in hatching and a low survival rate in homozygous mutants. The interrenal gland (adrenal counterpart in teleosts) exhibits hyperplasia and the number of pomca-expressing cells in the pituitary increases in the homozygous mutant. A mass spectrometry-based analysis of whole larvae confirmed a lack of cortisol biosynthesis, while its corresponding precursors were significantly increased, indicating a systemic glucocorticoid deficiency in our mutant model. Furthermore, these phenotypes at the larval stage are rescued by cortisol. In addition, females showed complete sterility with accumulated follicles in the ovary while male homozygous mutants were fully fertile in the adult mutants. These results demonstrate that the mutant medaka recapitulates several aspects of cyp21a2-deficiency observed in humans, making it a valuable model for studying steroidogenesis in CAH.
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Affiliation(s)
- José Carranza
- Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Kazuki Yamada
- Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Yuta Sakae
- Division of Cancer Cell Biology, Research Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Tokyo University of Science, Noda, Japan
| | - Jongsung Noh
- Center for Advanced Biomolecular Recognition, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Man Ho Choi
- Center for Advanced Biomolecular Recognition, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Minoru Tanaka
- Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan,
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Kikuchi M, Yoshimoto M, Ishikawa T, Kanda Y, Mori K, Nishimura T, Tanaka M. Sexually dimorphic dynamics of the microtubule network in medaka (Oryzias latipes) germ cells. Development 2024; 151:dev201840. [PMID: 38471539 PMCID: PMC10984276 DOI: 10.1242/dev.201840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2023] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024]
Abstract
Gametogenesis is the process through which germ cells differentiate into sexually dimorphic gametes, eggs and sperm. In the teleost fish medaka (Oryzias latipes), a germ cell-intrinsic sex determinant, foxl3, triggers germline feminization by activating two genetic pathways that regulate folliculogenesis and meiosis. Here, we identified a pathway involving a dome-shaped microtubule structure that may be the basis of oocyte polarity. This structure was first established in primordial germ cells in both sexes, but was maintained only during oogenesis and was destabilized in differentiating spermatogonia under the influence of Sertoli cells expressing dmrt1. Although foxl3 was dispensable for this pathway, dazl was involved in the persistence of the microtubule dome at the time of gonocyte development. In addition, disruption of the microtubule dome caused dispersal of bucky ball RNA, suggesting the structure may be prerequisite for the Balbiani body. Collectively, the present findings provide mechanistic insight into the establishment of sex-specific polarity through the formation of a microtubule structure in germ cells, as well as clarifying the genetic pathways implementing oocyte-specific characteristics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariko Kikuchi
- Division of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Aichi 464-8602, Japan
| | - Miyo Yoshimoto
- Division of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Aichi 464-8602, Japan
| | - Tokiro Ishikawa
- Department of Biophysics, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan
| | - Yuto Kanda
- Department of Biophysics, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan
| | - Kazutoshi Mori
- Department of Biophysics, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan
| | - Toshiya Nishimura
- Division of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Aichi 464-8602, Japan
| | - Minoru Tanaka
- Division of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Aichi 464-8602, Japan
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Zhang Y, Lu Y, Xu F, Zhang X, Wu Y, Zhao J, Luo Q, Liu H, Chen K, Fei S, Cui X, Sun Y, Ou M. Molecular Characterization, Expression Pattern, DNA Methylation and Gene Disruption of Figla in Blotched Snakehead ( Channa maculata). Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:491. [PMID: 38338134 PMCID: PMC10854511 DOI: 10.3390/ani14030491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2024] [Revised: 01/24/2024] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Figla is one of the earliest expressed genes in the oocyte during ovarian development. In this study, Figla was characterized in C. maculata, one of the main aquaculture species in China, and designated as CmFigla. The length of CmFigla cDNA was 1303 bp, encoding 197 amino acids that contained a conserved bHLH domain. CmFigla revealed a female-biased expression patterns in the gonads of adult fish, and CmFigla expression was far higher in ovaries than that in testes at all gonadal development stages, especially at 60~180 days post-fertilization (dpf). Furthermore, a noteworthy inverse relationship was observed between CmFigla expression and the methylation of its promoter in the adult gonads. Gonads at 90 dpf were used for in situ hybridization (ISH), and CmFigla transcripts were mainly concentrated in oogonia and the primary oocytes in ovaries, but undetectable in the testes. These results indicated that Figla would play vital roles in the ovarian development in C. maculata. Additionally, the frame-shift mutations of CmFigla were successfully constructed through the CRISPR/Cas9 system, which established a positive foundation for further investigation on the role of Figla in the ovarian development of C. maculata. Our study provides valuable clues for exploring the regulatory mechanism of Figla in the fish ovarian development and maintenance, which would be useful for the sex control and reproduction of fish in aquaculture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Zhang
- School of Life Sciences, Hunan University of Science and Technology, Xiangtan 411201, China; (Y.Z.); (Y.L.); (X.C.)
- Key Laboratory of Tropical and Subtropical Fishery Resources Application and Cultivation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Pearl River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangzhou 510380, China; (X.Z.); (Y.W.); (J.Z.); (Q.L.); (H.L.); (K.C.); (S.F.)
| | - Yuntao Lu
- School of Life Sciences, Hunan University of Science and Technology, Xiangtan 411201, China; (Y.Z.); (Y.L.); (X.C.)
- Key Laboratory of Tropical and Subtropical Fishery Resources Application and Cultivation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Pearl River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangzhou 510380, China; (X.Z.); (Y.W.); (J.Z.); (Q.L.); (H.L.); (K.C.); (S.F.)
| | - Feng Xu
- Chongqing Fisheries Technical Extension Center, Chongqing 404100, China;
| | - Xiaotian Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Tropical and Subtropical Fishery Resources Application and Cultivation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Pearl River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangzhou 510380, China; (X.Z.); (Y.W.); (J.Z.); (Q.L.); (H.L.); (K.C.); (S.F.)
| | - Yuxia Wu
- Key Laboratory of Tropical and Subtropical Fishery Resources Application and Cultivation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Pearl River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangzhou 510380, China; (X.Z.); (Y.W.); (J.Z.); (Q.L.); (H.L.); (K.C.); (S.F.)
| | - Jian Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Tropical and Subtropical Fishery Resources Application and Cultivation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Pearl River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangzhou 510380, China; (X.Z.); (Y.W.); (J.Z.); (Q.L.); (H.L.); (K.C.); (S.F.)
| | - Qing Luo
- Key Laboratory of Tropical and Subtropical Fishery Resources Application and Cultivation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Pearl River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangzhou 510380, China; (X.Z.); (Y.W.); (J.Z.); (Q.L.); (H.L.); (K.C.); (S.F.)
| | - Haiyang Liu
- Key Laboratory of Tropical and Subtropical Fishery Resources Application and Cultivation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Pearl River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangzhou 510380, China; (X.Z.); (Y.W.); (J.Z.); (Q.L.); (H.L.); (K.C.); (S.F.)
| | - Kunci Chen
- Key Laboratory of Tropical and Subtropical Fishery Resources Application and Cultivation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Pearl River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangzhou 510380, China; (X.Z.); (Y.W.); (J.Z.); (Q.L.); (H.L.); (K.C.); (S.F.)
| | - Shuzhan Fei
- Key Laboratory of Tropical and Subtropical Fishery Resources Application and Cultivation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Pearl River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangzhou 510380, China; (X.Z.); (Y.W.); (J.Z.); (Q.L.); (H.L.); (K.C.); (S.F.)
| | - Xiaojuan Cui
- School of Life Sciences, Hunan University of Science and Technology, Xiangtan 411201, China; (Y.Z.); (Y.L.); (X.C.)
| | - Yuandong Sun
- School of Life Sciences, Hunan University of Science and Technology, Xiangtan 411201, China; (Y.Z.); (Y.L.); (X.C.)
| | - Mi Ou
- School of Life Sciences, Hunan University of Science and Technology, Xiangtan 411201, China; (Y.Z.); (Y.L.); (X.C.)
- Key Laboratory of Tropical and Subtropical Fishery Resources Application and Cultivation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Pearl River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangzhou 510380, China; (X.Z.); (Y.W.); (J.Z.); (Q.L.); (H.L.); (K.C.); (S.F.)
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Wang F, Feng YY, Wang XG, Ou M, Zhang XC, Zhao J, Chen KC, Li KB. Production of all-male non-transgenic zebrafish by conditional primordial germ cell ablation. FISH PHYSIOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY 2023; 49:1215-1227. [PMID: 37857788 DOI: 10.1007/s10695-023-01252-y] [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: 04/11/2023] [Accepted: 10/07/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023]
Abstract
Many fish species exhibit remarkable sexual dimorphism, with males possessing numerous advantageous traits for commercial production by aquaculture such as faster growth rate, more efficient food energy utilization for muscle development, and better breeding performance. Several studies have shown that a decrease in the number of primordial germ cells (PGCs) during early development leads predominantly to male progeny. In this study, we developed a method to obtain all-male zebrafish (Danio rerio) by targeted PGC ablation using the nitroreductase/metronidazole (NTR/Mtz) system. Embryos generated by female heterozygous Tg(nanos3:nfsB-mCherry-nanos3 3'UTR) and male wild-types (WTs) were treated with vehicle or Mtz. Compared to vehicle-treated controls, 5.0 and 10.0 mM Mtz treatment for 24 h significantly reduced the number of PGCs and yielded an exclusively male phenotype in adulthood. The gonads of offspring treated with 5.0 mM Mtz exhibited relatively normal morphology and histological characteristics. Furthermore, these males were able to chase females, spawn, and produce viable offspring, while about 20.0% of males treated with 10.0 mM Mtz were unable to produce viable offspring. The 5.0 mM Mtz treatment protocol may thus be suitable for large-scale production of fertile male offspring. Moreover, about half of these males were WT as evidenced by the absence of nfsB gene expression. It may thus be possible to breed an all-male WT fish population by Mtz-mediated PGC ablation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fang Wang
- Key Laboratory of Tropical and Subtropical Fishery Resources Application and Cultivation, Ministry of Agriculture, Pearl River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, No. 1 Xingyu Road, Guangzhou, 510380, Guangdong, China
| | - Yong-Yong Feng
- College of Seed and Facility Agricultural Engineering, Weifang University, Weifang, China
| | - Xu-Guang Wang
- The Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, 524001, Guangdong, China
| | - Mi Ou
- Key Laboratory of Tropical and Subtropical Fishery Resources Application and Cultivation, Ministry of Agriculture, Pearl River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, No. 1 Xingyu Road, Guangzhou, 510380, Guangdong, China
| | - Xin-Cheng Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Tropical and Subtropical Fishery Resources Application and Cultivation, Ministry of Agriculture, Pearl River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, No. 1 Xingyu Road, Guangzhou, 510380, Guangdong, China
| | - Jian Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Tropical and Subtropical Fishery Resources Application and Cultivation, Ministry of Agriculture, Pearl River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, No. 1 Xingyu Road, Guangzhou, 510380, Guangdong, China
| | - Kun-Ci Chen
- Key Laboratory of Tropical and Subtropical Fishery Resources Application and Cultivation, Ministry of Agriculture, Pearl River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, No. 1 Xingyu Road, Guangzhou, 510380, Guangdong, China
| | - Kai-Bin Li
- Key Laboratory of Tropical and Subtropical Fishery Resources Application and Cultivation, Ministry of Agriculture, Pearl River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, No. 1 Xingyu Road, Guangzhou, 510380, Guangdong, China.
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Wu K, Zhai Y, Qin M, Zhao C, Ai N, He J, Ge W. Genetic evidence for differential functions of figla and nobox in zebrafish ovarian differentiation and folliculogenesis. Commun Biol 2023; 6:1185. [PMID: 37990081 PMCID: PMC10663522 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-05551-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2023] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 11/23/2023] Open
Abstract
FIGLA and NOBOX are important oocyte-specific transcription factors. Both figla-/- and nobox-/- mutants showed all-male phenotype in zebrafish due to increased dominance of the male-promoting pathway. The early diversion towards males in these mutants has precluded analysis of their roles in folliculogenesis. In this study, we attenuated the male-promoting pathway by deleting dmrt1, a key male-promoting gene, in figla-/- and nobox-/- fish, which allows a sufficient display of defects in folliculogenesis. Germ cells in figla-/-;dmrt1-/- double mutant remained in cysts without forming follicles. In contrast, follicles could form well but exhibited deficient growth in nobox-/-;dmrt1-/- double mutants. Follicles in nobox-/-;dmrt1-/- ovary could progress to previtellogenic (PV) stage but failed to enter vitellogenic growth. Such arrest at PV stage suggested a possible deficiency in estrogen signaling. This was supported by lines of evidence in nobox-/-;dmrt1-/-, including reduced expression of ovarian aromatase (cyp19a1a) and level of serum estradiol (E2), regressed genital papilla (female secondary sex characteristics), and more importantly the resumption of vitellogenic growth by E2 treatment. Expression analysis suggested Nobox might regulate cyp19a1a by controlling Gdf9 and/or Bmp15. Our discoveries indicate that Figla is essential for ovarian differentiation and follicle formation whereas Nobox is important for driving subsequent follicle development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kun Wu
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Centre of Reproduction, Development and Aging (CRDA), Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, 999078, Taipa, Macau, China
- School of Marine Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, 519082, Zhuhai, China
- Southern Marine Sciences and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), 519082, Zhuhai, China
| | - Yue Zhai
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Centre of Reproduction, Development and Aging (CRDA), Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, 999078, Taipa, Macau, China
| | - Mingming Qin
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Centre of Reproduction, Development and Aging (CRDA), Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, 999078, Taipa, Macau, China
| | - Cheng Zhao
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Centre of Reproduction, Development and Aging (CRDA), Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, 999078, Taipa, Macau, China
| | - Nana Ai
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Centre of Reproduction, Development and Aging (CRDA), Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, 999078, Taipa, Macau, China
| | - Jianguo He
- School of Marine Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, 519082, Zhuhai, China
- Southern Marine Sciences and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), 519082, Zhuhai, China
| | - Wei Ge
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Centre of Reproduction, Development and Aging (CRDA), Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, 999078, Taipa, Macau, China.
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10
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Tezak B, Straková B, Fullard DJ, Dupont S, McKey J, Weber C, Capel B. Higher temperatures directly increase germ cell number, promoting feminization of red-eared slider turtles. Curr Biol 2023:S0960-9822(23)00758-3. [PMID: 37354900 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2023.06.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2023] [Revised: 03/09/2023] [Accepted: 06/01/2023] [Indexed: 06/26/2023]
Abstract
In many reptile species, gonadal sex is affected by environmental temperature during a critical period of embryonic development-a process known as temperature-dependent sex determination (TSD).1 The oviparous red-eared slider turtle, Trachemys scripta, has a warm-female/cool-male TSD system and is among the best-studied members of this group.2 When incubated at low temperatures, the somatic cells of the bipotential gonad differentiate into Sertoli cells, the support cells of the testis, whereas at high temperatures, they differentiate into granulosa cells, the support cells of the ovary.3 Here, we report the unexpected finding that temperature independently affects the number of primordial germ cells (GCs) in the embryonic gonad at a time before somatic cell differentiation has initiated. Specifically, embryos incubated at higher, female-inducing temperatures have more GCs than those incubated at the male-inducing temperature. Furthermore, elimination of GCs in embryos incubating at intermediate temperatures results in a strong shift toward male-biased sex ratios. This is the first evidence that temperature affects GC number and the first evidence that GC number influences sex determination in amniotes. This observation has two important implications. First, it supports a new model in which temperature can impact sex determination in incremental ways through multiple cell types. Second, the findings have important implications for a major unresolved question in the fields of ecology and evolutionary biology-the adaptive significance of TSD. We suggest that linking high GC number with female development improves female reproductive potential and provides an adaptive advantage for TSD.
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Affiliation(s)
- B Tezak
- Department of Cell Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27701, USA
| | - B Straková
- Department of Ecology, Faculty of Science Charles University, Viničná 7, Praha 2 12844, Czech Republic
| | - D J Fullard
- Department of Cell Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27701, USA
| | - S Dupont
- Department of Cell Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27701, USA
| | - J McKey
- Department of Cell Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27701, USA
| | - C Weber
- Division of Biological Sciences, Section of Cell and Developmental Biology, UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - B Capel
- Department of Cell Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27701, USA.
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11
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Adolfi MC, Depincé A, Wen M, Pan Q, Herpin A. Development of Ovaries and Sex Change in Fish: Bringing Potential into Action. Sex Dev 2023; 17:84-98. [PMID: 36878204 DOI: 10.1159/000526008] [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: 01/03/2022] [Accepted: 07/08/2022] [Indexed: 03/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Encompassing about half of the 60,000 species of vertebrates, fish display the greatest diversity of sex determination mechanisms among metazoans. As such that phylum offers a unique playground to study the impressive variety of gonadal morphogenetic strategies, ranging from gonochorism, with either genetic or environmental sex determination, to unisexuality, with either simultaneous or consecutive hermaphroditism. SUMMARY From the two main types of gonads, the ovaries embrace the important role to produce the larger and non-motile gametes, which is the basis for the development of a future organism. The production of the egg cells is complex and involves the formation of follicular cells, which are necessary for the maturation of the oocytes and the production of feminine hormones. In this vein, our review focuses on the development of ovaries in fish with special emphasis on the germ cells, including those that transition from one sex to the other as part of their life cycle and those that are capable of transitioning to the opposite sex depending on environmental cues. KEY MESSAGES Clearly, establishing an individual as either a female or a male is not accomplished by the sole development of two types of gonads. In most cases, that dichotomy, be it final or transient, is accompanied by coordinated transformations across the entire organism, leading to changes in the physiological sex as a whole. These coordinated transformations require both molecular and neuroendocrine networks, but also anatomical and behavioural adjustments. Remarkably, fish managed to tame the ins and outs of sex reversal mechanisms to take the most advantages of changing sex as adaptive strategies in some situations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mateus Contar Adolfi
- Developmental Biochemistry, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | | | - Ming Wen
- State Key Laboratory of Developmental Biology of Freshwater Fish, College of Life Sciences, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, China
| | - Qiaowei Pan
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Amaury Herpin
- Fish Physiology and Genomics, INRAE, UR 1037, Rennes, France
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12
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Carriquiriborde P, Fernandino JI, López CG, Benito EDS, Gutierrez-Villagomez JM, Cristos D, Trudeau VL, Somoza GM. Atrazine alters early sexual development of the South American silverside, Odontesthes bonariensis. AQUATIC TOXICOLOGY (AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS) 2023; 254:106366. [PMID: 36459853 DOI: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2022.106366] [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: 09/23/2022] [Revised: 11/18/2022] [Accepted: 11/20/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Atrazine (ATZ) is a frequent contaminant in freshwater ecosystems within agricultural regions. The capacity of this herbicide to interfere with the vertebrate endocrine system is broadly recognized, but the mechanisms and responses usually differ among species. In this study, ATZ effects on hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis key genes expression and early gonadal development were evaluated in Odontesthes bonariensis larvae waterborne exposed during the gonadal differentiation period. Fish were treated to 0, 0.7, 7.0, and 70 µg ATZ/L at 25 °C from the 2nd to 6th week after hatching (wah), and a group was kept in clean water until the 12th wah. Parallelly, a group was submitted to 0.05 µg/L of ethinylestradiol (EE2) as a positive estrogenic control. From each treatment, eight larvae were sampled at 6 wah for gene expression analysis and twelve larvae at 12 wah for phenotypic sex histological determination. The expression of gnrh1, lhb, fshb, and cyp19a1b was assessed in the head, and the ones of amha, 11βhsd2, and cyp19a1a in the trunk. Fish growth was significantly higher in fish exposed to 7 and 70 µg ATZ/L in the 6 wah, but the effect vanished at the 12 wah. The expression of lhb was upregulated in both sex larvae exposed from 7 µg ATZ/L. However, a dimorphic effect was induced on cyp19a1a expression at 70 µg ATZ/L, up or downregulating mRNA transcription in males and females, respectively. Delayed ovarian development and increased number of testicular germ cells were histologically observed from 7 to 70 µg ATZ/L, respectively, and a sex inversion (genotypic male to phenotypic female) was found in one larva at 70 µg ATZ/L. The lhb expression was also upregulated by EE2, but the cyp19a1a expression was not affected, and a complete male-to-female reversal was induced. Further, EE2 upregulated gnrh1 in females and cyp19a1b in both sexes, but it did not alter any assessed gene in the trunk. In conclusion, ATZ disrupted HPG axis physiology and normal gonadal development in O. bonariensis larvae at environmentally relevant concentrations. The responses to ATZ only partially overlapped and were less active when compared to the model estrogenic compound EE2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro Carriquiriborde
- Centro de Investigaciones del Medioambiente (CIM, UNLP-CONICET), La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Juan Ignacio Fernandino
- Instituto Tecnológico de Chascomús (CONICET-UNSAM), Chascomús, Buenos Aires, Argentina; Escuela de Bio y Nanotecnologías. UNSAM. Argentina
| | - Carina G López
- Instituto Tecnológico de Chascomús (CONICET-UNSAM), Chascomús, Buenos Aires, Argentina; Escuela de Bio y Nanotecnologías. UNSAM. Argentina
| | - Eduardo de San Benito
- Centro de Investigaciones del Medioambiente (CIM, UNLP-CONICET), La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | | | - Diego Cristos
- Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria, Centro de Investigación de Agroindustria (CIA-INTA), Castelar, Buenos Aires Argentina
| | - Vance L Trudeau
- Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, K1S 6N5, Canada
| | - Gustavo M Somoza
- Instituto Tecnológico de Chascomús (CONICET-UNSAM), Chascomús, Buenos Aires, Argentina; Escuela de Bio y Nanotecnologías. UNSAM. Argentina.
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13
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Carver JJ, Zhu Y. Metzincin metalloproteases in PGC migration and gonadal sex conversion. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2023; 330:114137. [PMID: 36191636 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2022.114137] [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: 04/30/2022] [Revised: 08/13/2022] [Accepted: 09/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Development of a functional gonad includes migration of primordial germ cells (PGCs), differentiations of somatic and germ cells, formation of primary follicles or spermatogenic cysts with somatic gonadal cells, development and maturation of gametes, and subsequent releasing of mature germ cells. These processes require extensive cellular and tissue remodeling, as well as broad alterations of the surrounding extracellular matrix (ECM). Metalloproteases, including MMPs (matrix metalloproteases), ADAMs (a disintegrin and metalloproteinases), and ADAMTS (a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs), are suggested to have critical roles in the remodeling of the ECM during gonad development. However, few research articles and reviews are available on the functions and mechanisms of metalloproteases in remodeling gonadal ECM, gonadal development, or gonadal differentiation. Moreover, most studies focused on the roles of transcription and growth factors in early gonad development and primary sex determination, leaving a significant knowledge gap on how differentially expressed metalloproteases exert effects on the ECM, cell migration, development, and survival of germ cells during the development and differentiation of ovaries or testes. We will review gonad development with focus on the evidence of metalloprotease involvements, and with an emphasis on zebrafish as a model for studying gonadal sex differentiation and metalloprotease functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan J Carver
- Department of Biology, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858, USA
| | - Yong Zhu
- Department of Biology, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858, USA.
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14
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Li X, Li X, Li W, Zhang Y, Guo H, Wang G, Li Y, Wu X, Hu R, Wang S, Zhao X, Chen L, Guan G. Sex-specific meiosis responses to Gsdf in medaka (Oryzias latipes). FEBS J 2022; 290:2760-2779. [PMID: 36515005 DOI: 10.1111/febs.16701] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2022] [Revised: 09/01/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The meiotic entry of undifferentiated germ cells is sexually specific and strictly regulated by the testicular or ovarian environment. Germline stem cells with a set of abnormal sex chromosomes and associated autosomes undergo defective meiotic processes and are eventually eliminated by yet to be defined post-transcriptional modifications. Herein, we report the role of gsdf, a member of BMP/TGFβ family uniquely found in teleost, in the regulation of meiotic entry in medaka (Oryzias latipes) via analyses of gametogenesis in gsdf-deficient XX and XY gonads in comparison with their wild-type siblings. Several differentially expressed genes, including the FKB506-binding protein 7 (fkbp7), were significantly upregulated in pubertal gsdf-deficient gonads. The increase in alternative pre-mRNA isoforms of meiotic synaptonemal complex gene sycp3 was visualized using Integrative Genomics Viewer and confirmed by real-time qPCR. Nevertheless, immunofluorescence analysis showed that Sycp3 protein products reduced significantly in gsdf-deficient XY oocytes. Transmission electron microscope observations showed that normal synchronous cysts were replaced by asynchronous cysts in gsdf-deficient testis. Breeding experiments showed that the sex ratio deviation of gsdf-/- XY gametes in a non-Mendelian manner might be due to the non-segregation of XY chromosomes. Taken together, our results suggest that gsdf plays a role in the proper execution of cytoplasmic and nuclear events through receptor Smad phosphorylation and Sycp3 dephosphorylation to coordinate medaka gametogenesis, including sex-specific mitotic divisions and meiotic recombination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xi Li
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Aquatic Genetic Resources, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai Ocean University, China.,International Research Center for Marine Biosciences, Ministry of Science and Technology, Shanghai Ocean University, China.,Key Laboratory of Exploration and Utilization of Aquatic Genetic Resources, Ministry of Education, Shanghai Ocean University, China
| | - Xinwen Li
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Aquatic Genetic Resources, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai Ocean University, China.,International Research Center for Marine Biosciences, Ministry of Science and Technology, Shanghai Ocean University, China.,Key Laboratory of Exploration and Utilization of Aquatic Genetic Resources, Ministry of Education, Shanghai Ocean University, China
| | - Wenhao Li
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Aquatic Genetic Resources, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai Ocean University, China.,International Research Center for Marine Biosciences, Ministry of Science and Technology, Shanghai Ocean University, China.,Key Laboratory of Exploration and Utilization of Aquatic Genetic Resources, Ministry of Education, Shanghai Ocean University, China
| | - Yingqing Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Aquatic Genetic Resources, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai Ocean University, China.,International Research Center for Marine Biosciences, Ministry of Science and Technology, Shanghai Ocean University, China.,Key Laboratory of Exploration and Utilization of Aquatic Genetic Resources, Ministry of Education, Shanghai Ocean University, China
| | - Haiyan Guo
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Aquatic Genetic Resources, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai Ocean University, China.,International Research Center for Marine Biosciences, Ministry of Science and Technology, Shanghai Ocean University, China.,Key Laboratory of Exploration and Utilization of Aquatic Genetic Resources, Ministry of Education, Shanghai Ocean University, China
| | - Guangxing Wang
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Aquatic Genetic Resources, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai Ocean University, China.,International Research Center for Marine Biosciences, Ministry of Science and Technology, Shanghai Ocean University, China.,Key Laboratory of Exploration and Utilization of Aquatic Genetic Resources, Ministry of Education, Shanghai Ocean University, China
| | - Yayuan Li
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Aquatic Genetic Resources, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai Ocean University, China.,International Research Center for Marine Biosciences, Ministry of Science and Technology, Shanghai Ocean University, China.,Key Laboratory of Exploration and Utilization of Aquatic Genetic Resources, Ministry of Education, Shanghai Ocean University, China
| | - Xiaowen Wu
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Aquatic Genetic Resources, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai Ocean University, China.,International Research Center for Marine Biosciences, Ministry of Science and Technology, Shanghai Ocean University, China.,Key Laboratory of Exploration and Utilization of Aquatic Genetic Resources, Ministry of Education, Shanghai Ocean University, China
| | - Ruiqin Hu
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Aquatic Genetic Resources, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai Ocean University, China.,International Research Center for Marine Biosciences, Ministry of Science and Technology, Shanghai Ocean University, China.,Key Laboratory of Exploration and Utilization of Aquatic Genetic Resources, Ministry of Education, Shanghai Ocean University, China
| | - Siyu Wang
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Aquatic Genetic Resources, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai Ocean University, China.,International Research Center for Marine Biosciences, Ministry of Science and Technology, Shanghai Ocean University, China.,Key Laboratory of Exploration and Utilization of Aquatic Genetic Resources, Ministry of Education, Shanghai Ocean University, China
| | - Xiaomiao Zhao
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Liangbiao Chen
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Aquatic Genetic Resources, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai Ocean University, China.,International Research Center for Marine Biosciences, Ministry of Science and Technology, Shanghai Ocean University, China.,Key Laboratory of Exploration and Utilization of Aquatic Genetic Resources, Ministry of Education, Shanghai Ocean University, China
| | - Guijun Guan
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Aquatic Genetic Resources, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai Ocean University, China.,International Research Center for Marine Biosciences, Ministry of Science and Technology, Shanghai Ocean University, China.,Key Laboratory of Exploration and Utilization of Aquatic Genetic Resources, Ministry of Education, Shanghai Ocean University, China
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15
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Nicol B, Estermann MA, Yao HHC, Mellouk N. Becoming female: Ovarian differentiation from an evolutionary perspective. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:944776. [PMID: 36158204 PMCID: PMC9490121 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.944776] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2022] [Accepted: 08/16/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Differentiation of the bipotential gonadal primordium into ovaries and testes is a common process among vertebrate species. While vertebrate ovaries eventually share the same functions of producing oocytes and estrogens, ovarian differentiation relies on different morphogenetic, cellular, and molecular cues depending on species. The aim of this review is to highlight the conserved and divergent features of ovarian differentiation through an evolutionary perspective. From teleosts to mammals, each clade or species has a different story to tell. For this purpose, this review focuses on three specific aspects of ovarian differentiation: ovarian morphogenesis, the evolution of the role of estrogens on ovarian differentiation and the molecular pathways involved in granulosa cell determination and maintenance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Nicol
- Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC, United States,*Correspondence: Barbara Nicol,
| | - Martin A. Estermann
- Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC, United States
| | - Humphrey H-C Yao
- Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC, United States
| | - Namya Mellouk
- Université Paris-Saclay, UVSQ, INRAE, BREED, Jouy en Josas, France
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16
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Song H, Park HJ, Lee WY, Lee KH. Models and Molecular Markers of Spermatogonial Stem Cells in Vertebrates: To Find Models in Nonmammals. Stem Cells Int 2022; 2022:4755514. [PMID: 35685306 PMCID: PMC9174007 DOI: 10.1155/2022/4755514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2021] [Revised: 03/21/2022] [Accepted: 04/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) are the germline stem cells that are essential for the maintenance of spermatogenesis in the testis. However, it has not been sufficiently understood in amphibians, reptiles, and fish because numerous studies have been focused mainly on mammals. The aim of this review is to discuss scientific ways to elucidate SSC models of nonmammals in the context of the evolution of testicular organization since rodent SSC models. To further understand the SSC models in nonmammals, we point out common markers of an SSC pool (undifferentiated spermatogonia) in various types of testes where the kinetics of the SSC pool appears. This review includes the knowledge of (1) common molecular markers of vertebrate type A spermatogonia including putative SSC markers, (2) localization of the markers on the spermatogonia that have been reported in previous studies, (3) highlighting the most common markers in vertebrates, and (4) suggesting ways of finding SSC models in nonmammals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyuk Song
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Technology, KIT, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyun-Jung Park
- Department of Animal Biotechnology, College of Life Science and Natural Resources, Sangji University, Wonju-si 26339, Republic of Korea
| | - Won-Young Lee
- Department of Animal Science, Korea National College of Agriculture and Fisheries, Jeonju-si 54874, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyung Hoon Lee
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Technology, KIT, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea
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17
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Kikuchi M, Tanaka M. Functional Modules in Gametogenesis. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:914570. [PMID: 35693939 PMCID: PMC9178102 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.914570] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2022] [Accepted: 05/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Gametogenesis, the production of eggs and sperm, is a fundamental process in sexually reproducing animals. Following gametogenesis commitment and sexual fate decision, germ cells undergo several developmental processes to halve their genomic size and acquire sex-specific characteristics of gametes, including cellular size, motility, and cell polarity. However, it remains unclear how different gametogenesis processes are initially integrated. With the advantages of the teleost fish medaka (Oryzias latipes), in which germline stem cells continuously produce eggs and sperm in mature gonads and a sexual switch gene in germ cells is identified, we found that distinct pathways initiate gametogenesis cooperatively after commitment to gametogenesis. This evokes the concept of functional modules, in which functionally interlocked genes are grouped to yield distinct gamete characteristics. The various combinations of modules may allow us to explain the evolution of diverse reproductive systems, such as parthenogenesis and hermaphroditism.
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18
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Brown MS, Evans BS, Afonso LOB. Developmental changes in gene expression and gonad morphology during sex differentiation in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). Gene 2022; 823:146393. [PMID: 35248662 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2022.146393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2021] [Revised: 02/21/2022] [Accepted: 02/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
The Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) is a globally important species for its value in fisheries and aquaculture, and as a research model. In order to characterise aspects of sex differentiation at the morphological and mRNA level in this species, the present study examined developmental changes in gonad morphology and gene expression in males and females between 0 and 79 days post hatch (dph). Morphological differentiation of the ovary (indicated by the formation of germ cell cysts) became apparent from 52 dph. By 79 dph, ovarian phenotype was evident in 100% of genotypic females. Testes remained in an undifferentiated-like state throughout the experiment, containing germ cells dispersed singularly within the gonadal region distal to the mesentery. There were no significant sex-related differences in gonad cross-section size, germ cell number or germ cell diameter during the experiment. The expression of genes involved in teleost sex differentiation (anti-müllerian hormone (amh), cytochrome P450, family 19, subfamily A, polypeptide 1a (cyp19a1a), forkhead box L2a (foxl2a), gonadal soma-derived factor (gsdf), r-spondin 1 (rspo1), sexually dimorphic on the Y chromosome (sdY)), retinoic acid-signalling (aldehyde dehydrogenase 1a2 (aldh1a2), cytochrome P450 family 26 a1 (cyp26a1), cytochrome P450 family 26 b1 (cyp26b1), t-box transcription factor 1 (tbx1a)) and neuroestrogen production (cytochrome P450, family 19, subfamily A, polypeptide 1b (cyp19a1b)) was investigated. Significant sex-related differences were observed only for the expression of amh, cyp19a1a, gsdf and sdY. In males, amh, gsdf and sdY were upregulated from 34, 59 and 44 dph respectively. In females, cyp19a1a was upregulated from 66 dph. Independent of sex, foxl2a expression was highest at 0 dph and had reduced ∼ 47-fold by the time of morphological sex differentiation at 52 dph. This study provides new insights into the timing and sequence of some physiological changes associated with sex differentiation in Atlantic salmon. These findings also reveal that some aspects of the mRNA sex differentiation pathways in Atlantic salmon are unique compared to other teleost fishes, including other salmonids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Morgan S Brown
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Centre for Integrative Ecology, Deakin University Warrnambool Campus, Warrnambool, Victoria 3280, Australia.
| | - Brad S Evans
- Tassal Operations, Hobart, Tasmania 7000, Australia.
| | - Luis O B Afonso
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Centre for Integrative Ecology, Deakin University Waurn Ponds Campus, Geelong, Victoria 3220, Australia.
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19
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Begum S, Gnanasree SM, Anusha N, Senthilkumaran B. Germ cell markers in fishes - A review. AQUACULTURE AND FISHERIES 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.aaf.2022.03.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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20
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Nishimura T, Tanaka M. Zygotic nanos3 Mutant Medaka (Oryzias latipes) Displays Gradual Loss of Germ Cells and Precocious Spermatogenesis During Gonadal Development. Zoolog Sci 2022; 39:286-292. [DOI: 10.2108/zs210123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2021] [Accepted: 02/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Toshiya Nishimura
- Division of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Aichi 464-8602, Japan
| | - Minoru Tanaka
- Division of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Aichi 464-8602, Japan
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21
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Qin M, Xie Q, Wu K, Zhou X, Ge W. Loss of Nobox prevents ovarian differentiation from juvenile ovaries in zebrafish. Biol Reprod 2022; 106:1254-1266. [PMID: 35157068 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioac036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2021] [Revised: 01/10/2022] [Accepted: 02/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
As a species without master sex-determining genes, zebrafish displays high plasticity in sex differentiation, making it an excellent model for studying the regulatory mechanisms underlying gonadal differentiation and gametogenesis. Despite being a gonochorist, zebrafish is a juvenile hermaphrodite that undergoes a special phase of juvenile ovary before further differentiation into functional testis and ovary. The mechanisms underlying juvenile ovary formation and subsequent gonadal differentiation remain largely unknown. In a recent study, we demonstrated an important role for Figla (factor in the germline alpha) in zebrafish oogenesis. In this study, we explored the role of Nobox/nobox (new born ovary homeobox protein), another oocyte-specific transcription factor in females, in early zebrafish gonadogenesis using CRISPR/Cas9 technology. As in mammals, nobox is specifically expressed in zebrafish gonads with a dimorphic pattern at juvenile stage. In contrast to the mutant of figla (another oocyte-specific transcription factor), the nobox mutants showed formation of typical perinucleolar (PN) follicles at primary growth (PG) stage in juvenile gonads, suggesting occurrence of follicle assembly from cystic oocytes (chromatin nucleolar stage, CN). These follicles, however, failed to develop further to form functional ovaries, resulting in all-male phenotype. Despite its expression in adult testis, the loss of nobox did not seem to affect testis development, spermatogenesis and male spawning. In summary, our results indicate an important role for Nobox in zebrafish ovarian differentiation and early folliculogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingming Qin
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Centre of Reproduction, Development and Aging (CRDA), Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macau, China
| | - Qingping Xie
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Centre of Reproduction, Development and Aging (CRDA), Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macau, China.,Institute of Hydrobiology, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou, China
| | - Kun Wu
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Centre of Reproduction, Development and Aging (CRDA), Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macau, China.,State Key Laboratory for Biocontrol, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Resources and Coastal Engineering, School of Marine Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xianqing Zhou
- Department of Toxicology and Hygienic Chemistry, School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Wei Ge
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Centre of Reproduction, Development and Aging (CRDA), Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macau, China
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22
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Aharon D, Marlow FL. Sexual determination in zebrafish. Cell Mol Life Sci 2021; 79:8. [PMID: 34936027 PMCID: PMC11072476 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-021-04066-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2021] [Revised: 11/12/2021] [Accepted: 11/29/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Zebrafish have emerged as a major model organism to study vertebrate reproduction due to their high fecundity and external development of eggs and embryos. The mechanisms through which zebrafish determine their sex have come under extensive investigation, as they lack a definite sex-determining chromosome and appear to have a highly complex method of sex determination. Single-gene mutagenesis has been employed to isolate the function of genes that determine zebrafish sex and regulate sex-specific differentiation, and to explore the interactions of genes that promote female or male sexual fate. In this review, we focus on recent advances in understanding of the mechanisms, including genetic and environmental factors, governing zebrafish sex development with comparisons to gene functions in other species to highlight conserved and potentially species-specific mechanisms for specifying and maintaining sexual fate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Devora Aharon
- Department of Cell, Developmental, and Regenerative Biology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy, Place Box 1020, New York, NY, 10029-6574, USA
| | - Florence L Marlow
- Department of Cell, Developmental, and Regenerative Biology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy, Place Box 1020, New York, NY, 10029-6574, USA.
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23
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Sumita R, Nishimura T, Tanaka M. Dynamics of Spermatogenesis and Change in Testicular Morphology under 'Mating' and 'Non-Mating' Conditions in Medaka ( Oryzias latipes). Zoolog Sci 2021; 38:436-443. [PMID: 34664918 DOI: 10.2108/zs210025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2021] [Accepted: 05/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Here, we report that the gross morphology of the testes changes under 'non-mating' or 'mating' conditions in medaka (Oryzias latipes). During these conditions, an efferent duct expands and a histological unit of spermatogenesis, the lobule, increases its number under 'non-mating' conditions. Based on BrdU labeling experiments, lower mitotic activity occurs in gonial cells under 'non-mating' conditions, which is consistent with the reduced number of germ cell cysts. Interestingly, the total number of type A spermatogonia was maintained, regardless of the mating conditions. In addition, the transition from mitosis to meiosis may have been retarded under the 'non-mating' conditions. The minimum time required for germ cells to become sperm, from the onset of commitment to spermatogenesis, was approximately 14 days in vivo. The time was not found to significantly differ between 'non-mating' and 'mating' conditions. The collective data suggest the presence of a mechanism wherein the homeostasis of spermatogenesis is altered in response to the mating conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruka Sumita
- Division of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Nagoya 464-8602, Japan
| | - Toshiya Nishimura
- Division of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Nagoya 464-8602, Japan
| | - Minoru Tanaka
- Division of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Nagoya 464-8602, Japan,
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24
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Sakae Y, Tanaka M. Metabolism and Sex Differentiation in Animals from a Starvation Perspective. Sex Dev 2021; 15:168-178. [PMID: 34284403 DOI: 10.1159/000515281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2020] [Accepted: 02/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Animals determine their sex genetically (GSD: genetic sex determination) and/or environmentally (ESD: environmental sex determination). Medaka (Oryzias latipes) employ a XX/XY GSD system, however, they display female-to-male sex reversal in response to various environmental changes such as temperature, hypoxia, and green light. Interestingly, we found that 5 days of starvation during sex differentiation caused female-to-male sex reversal. In this situation, the metabolism of pantothenate and fatty acid synthesis plays an important role in sex reversal. Metabolism is associated with other biological factors such as germ cells, HPG axis, lipids, and epigenetics, and supplys substances and acts as signal transducers. In this review, we discuss the importance of metabolism during sex differentiation and how metabolism contributes to sex differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuta Sakae
- Division of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Minoru Tanaka
- Division of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
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25
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Fujimoto T, Nishimura T. Chromosome Set Manipulation and Genome Manipulation in Aquaculture. J JPN SOC FOOD SCI 2021. [DOI: 10.3136/nskkk.68.277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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26
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Nicholls PK, Page DC. Germ cell determination and the developmental origin of germ cell tumors. Development 2021; 148:239824. [PMID: 33913479 DOI: 10.1242/dev.198150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
In each generation, the germline is tasked with producing somatic lineages that form the body, and segregating a population of cells for gametogenesis. During animal development, when do cells of the germline irreversibly commit to producing gametes? Integrating findings from diverse species, we conclude that the final commitment of the germline to gametogenesis - the process of germ cell determination - occurs after primordial germ cells (PGCs) colonize the gonads. Combining this understanding with medical findings, we present a model whereby germ cell tumors arise from cells that failed to undertake germ cell determination, regardless of their having colonized the gonads. We propose that the diversity of cell types present in these tumors reflects the broad developmental potential of migratory PGCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter K Nicholls
- Whitehead Institute, 455 Main Street, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA.,Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Bradford, Bradford BD7 1DP, UK
| | - David C Page
- Whitehead Institute, 455 Main Street, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA.,Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.,Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Whitehead Institute, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
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27
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Bertho S, Clapp M, Banisch TU, Bandemer J, Raz E, Marlow FL. Zebrafish dazl regulates cystogenesis and germline stem cell specification during the primordial germ cell to germline stem cell transition. Development 2021; 148:dev187773. [PMID: 33722898 PMCID: PMC8077517 DOI: 10.1242/dev.187773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2019] [Accepted: 03/04/2021] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Fertility and gamete reserves are maintained by asymmetric divisions of the germline stem cells to produce new stem cells or daughters that differentiate as gametes. Before entering meiosis, differentiating germ cells (GCs) of sexual animals typically undergo cystogenesis. This evolutionarily conserved process involves synchronous and incomplete mitotic divisions of a GC daughter (cystoblast) to generate sister cells connected by intercellular bridges that facilitate the exchange of materials to support rapid expansion of the gamete progenitor population. Here, we investigated cystogenesis in zebrafish and found that early GCs are connected by ring canals, and show that Deleted in azoospermia-like (Dazl), a conserved vertebrate RNA-binding protein (Rbp), is a regulator of this process. Analysis of dazl mutants revealed the essential role of Dazl in regulating incomplete cytokinesis, germline cyst formation and germline stem cell specification before the meiotic transition. Accordingly, dazl mutant GCs form defective ring canals, and ultimately remain as individual cells that fail to differentiate as meiocytes. In addition to promoting cystoblast divisions and meiotic entry, dazl is required for germline stem cell establishment and fertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sylvain Bertho
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Regenerative Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place Box 1020 New York, NY 10029-6574, USA
| | - Mara Clapp
- Department of Developmental and Molecular Biology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
| | - Torsten U. Banisch
- Institute of Cell Biology Center for Molecular Biology of Inflammation, Von-Esmarch-Str. 56, D-48149 Muenster, Germany
- New York University School of Medicine, Department of Cell Biology, New York, NY 10012, USA
| | - Jan Bandemer
- Institute of Cell Biology Center for Molecular Biology of Inflammation, Von-Esmarch-Str. 56, D-48149 Muenster, Germany
| | - Erez Raz
- Institute of Cell Biology Center for Molecular Biology of Inflammation, Von-Esmarch-Str. 56, D-48149 Muenster, Germany
| | - Florence L. Marlow
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Regenerative Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place Box 1020 New York, NY 10029-6574, USA
- Department of Developmental and Molecular Biology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
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28
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Arias Padilla LF, Castañeda-Cortés DC, Rosa IF, Moreno Acosta OD, Hattori RS, Nóbrega RH, Fernandino JI. Cystic proliferation of germline stem cells is necessary to reproductive success and normal mating behavior in medaka. eLife 2021; 10:62757. [PMID: 33646121 PMCID: PMC7946426 DOI: 10.7554/elife.62757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2020] [Accepted: 02/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The production of an adequate number of gametes is necessary for normal reproduction, for which the regulation of proliferation from early gonadal development to adulthood is key in both sexes. Cystic proliferation of germline stem cells is an especially important step prior to the beginning of meiosis; however, the molecular regulators of this proliferation remain elusive in vertebrates. Here, we report that ndrg1b is an important regulator of cystic proliferation in medaka. We generated mutants of ndrg1b that led to a disruption of cystic proliferation of germ cells. This loss of cystic proliferation was observed from embryogenic to adult stages, impacting the success of gamete production and reproductive parameters such as spawning and fertilization. Interestingly, the depletion of cystic proliferation also impacted male sexual behavior, with a decrease of mating vigor. These data illustrate why it is also necessary to consider gamete production capacity in order to analyze reproductive behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Diana C Castañeda-Cortés
- Reproductive and Molecular Biology Group, Department of Structural and Functional Biology, Institute of Biosciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu, Brazil
| | - Ivana F Rosa
- Reproductive and Molecular Biology Group, Department of Structural and Functional Biology, Institute of Biosciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu, Brazil
| | - Omar D Moreno Acosta
- Salmonid Experimental Station at Campos do Jordão, UPD-CJ, Sao Paulo Fisheries Institute (APTA/SAA), Campos do Jordao, Brazil
| | - Ricardo S Hattori
- Reproductive and Molecular Biology Group, Department of Structural and Functional Biology, Institute of Biosciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu, Brazil
| | - Rafael H Nóbrega
- Instituto Tecnológico de Chascomús, INTECH (CONICET-UNSAM), Chascomús, Argentina
| | - Juan I Fernandino
- Instituto Tecnológico de Chascomús, INTECH (CONICET-UNSAM), Chascomús, Argentina
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29
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Observation of Medaka Larval Gonads by Immunohistochemistry and Confocal Laser Microscopy. Methods Mol Biol 2021. [PMID: 33606234 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-0970-5_17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register]
Abstract
The combination of immunohistochemistry and confocal laser microscopy enables the observation of cellular structures and protein localization within cells using whole-mount tissues. However, such high-resolution imaging requires several steps, such as proper dissection before fixation and antibody staining, and the appropriate positioning of tissues on a glass slide for observation. Here, we describe the method developed by our laboratory for the immunohistochemistry of medaka embryonic and larval gonads, focusing on the dissection and mounting of tissues for confocal laser microscopy. Positioning the gonad just beneath the coverslips is essential to obtain high-resolution images at a level where cellular components of germ cells, such as germ plasm and nuclear structures, can be clearly observed using an oil immersion objective lens.
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30
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Zhang X, Chang Y, Zhai W, Qian F, Zhang Y, Xu S, Guo H, Wang S, Hu R, Zhong X, Zhao X, Chen L, Guan G. A Potential Role for the Gsdf-eEF1α Complex in Inhibiting Germ Cell Proliferation: A Protein-Interaction Analysis in Medaka (Oryzias latipes) From a Proteomics Perspective. Mol Cell Proteomics 2021; 20:100023. [PMID: 33293461 PMCID: PMC7950199 DOI: 10.1074/mcp.ra120.002306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2020] [Revised: 11/25/2020] [Accepted: 12/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Gonadal soma-derived factor (gsdf) has been demonstrated to be essential for testicular differentiation in medaka (Oryzias latipes). To understand the protein dynamics of Gsdf in spermatogenesis regulation, we used a His-tag "pull-down" assay coupled with shotgun LC-MS/MS to identify a group of potential interacting partners for Gsdf, which included cytoplasmic dynein light chain 2, eukaryotic polypeptide elongation factor 1 alpha (eEF1α), and actin filaments in the mature medaka testis. As for the interaction with transforming growth factor β-dynein being critical for spermatogonial division in Drosophila melanogaster, the physical interactions of Gsdf-dynein and Gsdf-eEF1α were identified through a yeast 2-hybrid screening of an adult testis cDNA library using Gsdf as bait, which were verified by a paired yeast 2-hybrid assay. Coimmunoprecipitation of Gsdf and eEF1α was defined in adult testes as supporting the requirement of a Gsdf and eEF1α interaction in testis development. Proteomics analysis (data are available via ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD022153) and ultrastructural observations showed that Gsdf deficiency activated eEF1α-mediated protein synthesis and ribosomal biogenesis, which in turn led to the differentiation of undifferentiated germ cells. Thus, our results provide a framework and new insight into the coordination of a Gsdf (transforming growth factor β) and eEF1α complex in the basic processes of germ cell proliferation, transcriptional and translational control of sexual RNA, which may be fundamentally conserved across the phyla during sexual differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinting Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Aquatic Genetic Resources, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China; International Research Center for Marine Biosciences, Ministry of Science and Technology, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China; Key Laboratory of Exploration and Utilization of Aquatic Genetic Resources, Ministry of Education, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yuyang Chang
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Aquatic Genetic Resources, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China; International Research Center for Marine Biosciences, Ministry of Science and Technology, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China; Key Laboratory of Exploration and Utilization of Aquatic Genetic Resources, Ministry of Education, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China
| | - Wanying Zhai
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Aquatic Genetic Resources, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China; International Research Center for Marine Biosciences, Ministry of Science and Technology, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China; Key Laboratory of Exploration and Utilization of Aquatic Genetic Resources, Ministry of Education, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China
| | - Feng Qian
- Shanghai Genomics, Inc, Shanghai, China
| | - Yingqing Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Aquatic Genetic Resources, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China; International Research Center for Marine Biosciences, Ministry of Science and Technology, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China; Key Laboratory of Exploration and Utilization of Aquatic Genetic Resources, Ministry of Education, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China
| | - Shumei Xu
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Aquatic Genetic Resources, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China; International Research Center for Marine Biosciences, Ministry of Science and Technology, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China; Key Laboratory of Exploration and Utilization of Aquatic Genetic Resources, Ministry of Education, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China
| | - Haiyan Guo
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Aquatic Genetic Resources, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China; International Research Center for Marine Biosciences, Ministry of Science and Technology, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China; Key Laboratory of Exploration and Utilization of Aquatic Genetic Resources, Ministry of Education, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China
| | - Siyu Wang
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Aquatic Genetic Resources, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China; International Research Center for Marine Biosciences, Ministry of Science and Technology, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China; Key Laboratory of Exploration and Utilization of Aquatic Genetic Resources, Ministry of Education, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ruiqin Hu
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Aquatic Genetic Resources, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China; International Research Center for Marine Biosciences, Ministry of Science and Technology, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China; Key Laboratory of Exploration and Utilization of Aquatic Genetic Resources, Ministry of Education, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaozhu Zhong
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong, China
| | - Xiaomiao Zhao
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong, China
| | - Liangbiao Chen
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Aquatic Genetic Resources, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China; International Research Center for Marine Biosciences, Ministry of Science and Technology, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China; Key Laboratory of Exploration and Utilization of Aquatic Genetic Resources, Ministry of Education, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China.
| | - Guijun Guan
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Aquatic Genetic Resources, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China; International Research Center for Marine Biosciences, Ministry of Science and Technology, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China; Key Laboratory of Exploration and Utilization of Aquatic Genetic Resources, Ministry of Education, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China.
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31
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Song X, Wang X, Bhandari RK. Developmental abnormalities and epigenetic alterations in medaka (Oryzias latipes) embryos induced by triclosan exposure. CHEMOSPHERE 2020; 261:127613. [PMID: 32738708 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.127613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2020] [Revised: 07/02/2020] [Accepted: 07/03/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Triclosan (TCS), an antibacterial and antifungal agent present in some consumer products, has been detected in the environment at varying concentrations. TCS exposure has been found to cause developmental abnormalities and endocrine disruption in various species of fish. It is not clearly understood whether TCS exposure causes epigenetic alterations in developing embryos and their germ cells. In the present study, we examined the effects of TCS exposure (0, 50, 100 and, 200 μg/L) on embryonic development and primordial germ cells (PGCs), which are precursors of sperm and eggs, in medaka (Oyzias latipes). Developmental TCS exposure from 8 h post-fertilization through 15 days post-fertilization (dpf) resulted in several developmental abnormalities, including enlarged yolk sac, decreased head trunk angle (HTA), and severe edema in the pericardial region. The male ratio increased in the 100 μg/L TCS exposure group, which was negatively correlated with the expression of cyp19ala (a gene encoding aromatase) and arα (androgen receptor alpha). Developmental 50 μg/L TCS exposure resulted in global hypomethylation in the whole body but not in the isolated PGCs. Expression of the gene encoding DNA methyltransferases (dnmt1 and dnmt3aa) was decreased by 50 μg/L TCS exposure both in the whole body and PGCs. TCS altered the expression of genes encoding enzymes involved in DNA methylation and demethylation in PGCs, suggesting epigenetic effects on germ cells. The present results demonstrate that the embryos exposed to the tested concentrations of TCS develop deformities during the early life stages and that the TCS within this range possesses endocrine disrupting properties potential enough to alter sex ratios of developing embryos.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaohong Song
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina Greensboro, Greensboro, NC, 27412, USA; College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guilin University of Technology, Guilin, 541004, China
| | - Xuegeng Wang
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina Greensboro, Greensboro, NC, 27412, USA
| | - Ramji K Bhandari
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina Greensboro, Greensboro, NC, 27412, USA.
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32
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Nagahama Y, Chakraborty T, Paul-Prasanth B, Ohta K, Nakamura M. Sex determination, gonadal sex differentiation, and plasticity in vertebrate species. Physiol Rev 2020; 101:1237-1308. [PMID: 33180655 DOI: 10.1152/physrev.00044.2019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 93] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
A diverse array of sex determination (SD) mechanisms, encompassing environmental to genetic, have been found to exist among vertebrates, covering a spectrum from fixed SD mechanisms (mammals) to functional sex change in fishes (sequential hermaphroditic fishes). A major landmark in vertebrate SD was the discovery of the SRY gene in 1990. Since that time, many attempts to clone an SRY ortholog from nonmammalian vertebrates remained unsuccessful, until 2002, when DMY/dmrt1by was discovered as the SD gene of a small fish, medaka. Surprisingly, however, DMY/dmrt1by was found in only 2 species among more than 20 species of medaka, suggesting a large diversity of SD genes among vertebrates. Considerable progress has been made over the last 3 decades, such that it is now possible to formulate reasonable paradigms of how SD and gonadal sex differentiation may work in some model vertebrate species. This review outlines our current understanding of vertebrate SD and gonadal sex differentiation, with a focus on the molecular and cellular mechanisms involved. An impressive number of genes and factors have been discovered that play important roles in testicular and ovarian differentiation. An antagonism between the male and female pathway genes exists in gonads during both sex differentiation and, surprisingly, even as adults, suggesting that, in addition to sex-changing fishes, gonochoristic vertebrates including mice maintain some degree of gonadal sexual plasticity into adulthood. Importantly, a review of various SD mechanisms among vertebrates suggests that this is the ideal biological event that can make us understand the evolutionary conundrums underlying speciation and species diversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoshitaka Nagahama
- Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, National Institute for Basic Biology, Okazaki, Japan.,South Ehime Fisheries Research Center, Ehime University, Ainan, Japan.,Faculty of Biological Science and Technology, Kanazawa University, Ishikawa, Japan
| | - Tapas Chakraborty
- Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, National Institute for Basic Biology, Okazaki, Japan.,South Ehime Fisheries Research Center, Ehime University, Ainan, Japan.,Laboratory of Marine Biology, Faculty of Agriculture, Kyushu University, Fukouka, Japan.,Karatsu Satellite of Aqua-Bioresource Innovation Center, Kyushu University, Karatsu, Japan
| | - Bindhu Paul-Prasanth
- Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, National Institute for Basic Biology, Okazaki, Japan.,Centre for Nanosciences and Molecular Medicine, Amrita Vishwa Vidapeetham, Kochi, Kerala, India
| | - Kohei Ohta
- Laboratory of Marine Biology, Faculty of Agriculture, Kyushu University, Fukouka, Japan
| | - Masaru Nakamura
- Sesoko Station, Tropical Biosphere Research Center, University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa, Japan.,Research Center, Okinawa Churashima Foundation, Okinawa, Japan
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33
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Li S, Lin G, Fang W, Huang P, Gao D, Huang J, Xie J, Lu J. Gonadal Transcriptome Analysis of Sex-Related Genes in the Protandrous Yellowfin Seabream ( Acanthopagrus latus). Front Genet 2020; 11:709. [PMID: 32765585 PMCID: PMC7378800 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2020.00709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2020] [Accepted: 06/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Yellowfin seabream (Acanthopagrus latus), a protandrous hermaphroditic fish, is a good model for studying the mechanism of sex reversal. However, limited knowledge is known about the genetic information related to reproduction and sex differentiation in this species. Here, we performed de novo transcriptome sequencing analysis of the testis, ovotestis, and ovary to identify sex-related genes in yellowfin seabream. The results assembled 71,765 unigenes in which 16,126 and 17,560 unigenes were differentially expressed in the ovotestis and ovary compared to the testis, respectively. The most differentially expressed gene (DEG)-enriched Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes and GO pathways were closely associated with the synthesis of sex steroid hormones. Functional analyses identified 55 important sex-related DEGs, including 32 testis-biased DEGs (dmrt1, amh, and sox9, etc.), 20 ovary-biased DEGs (cyp19a, foxl2, and wnt4, etc.), and 3 ovotestis-biased DEGs (lhb, dmrt2, and foxh1). Furthermore, the testis-specific expression of dmrt1 and the brain-pituitary-ovary axis expression of foxl2 were characterized, suggesting that they might play important roles in sex differentiation in yellowfin seabream. Our present work provided an important molecular basis for elucidating the mechanisms underlying sexual transition and reproductional regulation in yellowfin seabream.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shizhu Li
- School of Marine Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, China
| | - Genmei Lin
- School of Marine Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, China
| | - Wenyu Fang
- School of Marine Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, China
| | - Peilin Huang
- School of Marine Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, China
| | - Dong Gao
- School of Marine Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, China
| | - Jing Huang
- School of Marine Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, China
| | - Jingui Xie
- School of Marine Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, China
| | - Jianguo Lu
- School of Marine Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, China
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory, Zhuhai, China
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foxl3, a sexual switch in germ cells, initiates two independent molecular pathways for commitment to oogenesis in medaka. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2020; 117:12174-12181. [PMID: 32409601 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1918556117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Germ cells have the ability to differentiate into eggs and sperm and must determine their sexual fate. In vertebrates, the mechanism of commitment to oogenesis following the sexual fate decision in germ cells remains unknown. Forkhead-box protein L3 (foxl3) is a switch gene involved in the germline sexual fate decision in the teleost fish medaka (Oryzias latipes). Here, we show that foxl3 organizes two independent pathways of oogenesis regulated by REC8 meiotic recombination protein a (rec8a), a cohesin component, and F-box protein (FBP) 47 (fbxo47), a subunit of E3 ubiquitin ligase. In mutants of either gene, germ cells failed to undergo oogenesis but developed normally into sperm in testes. Disruption of rec8a resulted in arrest at a meiotic pachytenelike stage specifically in females, revealing a sexual difference in meiotic progression. Analyses of fbxo47 mutants showed that this gene regulates transcription factors that facilitate folliculogenesis: LIM homeobox 8 (lhx8b), factor in the germline α (figla), and newborn ovary homeobox (nobox). Interestingly, we found that the fbxo47 pathway ensures that germ cells do not deviate from an oogenic pathway until they reach diplotene stage. The mutant phenotypes together with the timing of their expression imply that germline feminization is established during early meiotic prophase I.
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Sakae Y, Oikawa A, Sugiura Y, Mita M, Nakamura S, Nishimura T, Suematsu M, Tanaka M. Starvation causes female-to-male sex reversal through lipid metabolism in the teleost fish, medaka ( Olyzias latipes). Biol Open 2020; 9:9/4/bio050054. [PMID: 32265199 PMCID: PMC7132775 DOI: 10.1242/bio.050054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The teleost fish, medaka (Oryzias latipes), employs the XX/XY genetic sex determination system. We show here that the phenotypic sex of medaka is affected by changes in lipid metabolism. Medaka larvae subjected to 5 days of starvation underwent female-to-male sex reversal. Metabolomic and RT-qPCR analyses indicated that pantothenate metabolism was suppressed by starvation. Consistently, inhibiting the pantothenate metabolic pathway caused sex reversal. The final metabolite in this pathway is coenzyme A, an essential factor for lipogenesis. Inhibiting fatty acid synthesis, the first step of lipogenesis, also caused sex reversal. The expression of dmrt1, a critical gene for male development, was suppressed by starvation, and a dmrt1 (Δ13) mutant did not show sex reversal under starvation. Collectively, these results indicate that fatty acid synthesis is involved in female-to-male sex reversal through ectopic expression of male gene dmrt1 under starvation. Summary: We investigated the effects of starvation on sex differentiation in medaka. Starvation caused female-to-male sex reversal through pantothenate metabolism, fatty acid synthesis and dmrt1 expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuta Sakae
- Division of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Nagoya 464-8602, Japan.,Laboratory of Molecular Genetics for Reproduction, National Institute for Basic Biology, Okazaki 444-8787, Japan.,SOKENDAI (The Graduate University for Advanced Studies), Department of Basic Biology, Faculty of Life Science, Okazaki 444-8787, Japan
| | - Akira Oikawa
- RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, Metabolomics Research Group, Yokohama 230-0045, Japan.,Faculty of Agriculture, Yamagata University, Tsuruoka 997-8555, Japan
| | - Yuki Sugiura
- Department of Biochemistry, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
| | - Masatoshi Mita
- Department of Biochemistry, Showa University School of Medicine, Tokyo 142-8555, Japan
| | - Shuhei Nakamura
- Institute for Advanced Co-Creation Studies, Osaka University, Osaka 565-0871, Japan.,Department of Intracellular Membrane Dynamics, Graduate School of Frontier Biosciences, Osaka University, Osaka 565-0871, Japan.,Department of Genetics, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Toshiya Nishimura
- Division of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Nagoya 464-8602, Japan
| | - Makoto Suematsu
- Department of Biochemistry, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
| | - Minoru Tanaka
- Division of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Nagoya 464-8602, Japan .,Laboratory of Molecular Genetics for Reproduction, National Institute for Basic Biology, Okazaki 444-8787, Japan.,SOKENDAI (The Graduate University for Advanced Studies), Department of Basic Biology, Faculty of Life Science, Okazaki 444-8787, Japan
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Ngamniyom A, Sriyapai T, Sriyapai P. Molecular analysis of population and De Novo transcriptome sequencing of Thai medaka, Oryzias minutillus (Teleostei: Adrianichthyidae). Heliyon 2020; 6:e03079. [PMID: 31909257 PMCID: PMC6938829 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2019.e03079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2019] [Revised: 07/13/2019] [Accepted: 12/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Thai medaka (Oryzias minutillus) are alternatively known as Thai rice-fish or dwarf medaka, and they widely inhabit natural freshwater environments in all regions of Thailand. In this study, we aimed to investigate the molecular genetics of the Thai medaka population in Thailand inferred from the mitochondrial control region (D-loop) and the cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (coxI) sequences. Furthermore, we examined RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) of adult males and females was performed with next-generation sequencing. Together, the combination of the D-loop and coxI sequences clearly distinguished the Thai medaka populations into 2 groups, such as group 1, which generally included samples from the central, northern, western, and eastern regions of the northeastern region. In this group, the fish populations seem to be a little monophyly in which the first subpopulation comprised the main samples from the northern and central regions. The second subpopulation commonly contained fish from the eastern region and specimens from the southern part of the central region near the Gulf of Thailand. Although these subgroups related to geographical distribution, bootstrap values were low in branch considered significant for both subgroups. Group 2 consisted of almost all samples from the southern population and those from the central and southern part of the northeastern region. Group 2 was found that it was made of samples from the northeastern region and samples from the southern population. A total of 73551 unigenes were identified after gene annotation. Signal transduction was the predominant protein classification among the Thai medaka orthologous groups. A differentially expressed gene (DEG) analysis identified 6 subclusters between both sexes that were composed of 257, 131, 364, 386, 114 and 108 genes. Phototransduction was the most enriched pathway and was highly expressed in males, while viral carcinogenesis, oocyte genesis, and the complement and coagulation cascades were highly expressed in females. Further details of these DEGs are discussed below. These results suggest that Thai medaka may genetically exhibit independent populations in the geographic habitats of Thailand. Moreover, these fish also reveal the genes that are conserved in other organisms and those that may be specific to this species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arin Ngamniyom
- Major in Environment, Faculty of Environmental Culture and Eco-tourism, Srinakharinwirot University, Bangkok, 10110, Thailand
| | - Thayat Sriyapai
- Major in Environment, Faculty of Environmental Culture and Eco-tourism, Srinakharinwirot University, Bangkok, 10110, Thailand
| | - Pichapack Sriyapai
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Sciences, Srinakharinwirot University, Bangkok, 10110, Thailand
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Wu X, Zhang Y, Xu S, Chang Y, Ye Y, Guo A, Kang Y, Guo H, Xu H, Chen L, Zhao X, Guan G. Loss of Gsdf leads to a dysregulation of Igf2bp3-mediated oocyte development in medaka. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2019; 277:122-129. [PMID: 30951723 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2019.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2019] [Revised: 03/20/2019] [Accepted: 04/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Gonadal soma-derived factor (Gsdf) is a unique TGF-β factor essential for both ovarian and testicular development in Hd-rR medaka (Oryzias latipes). However, the downstream genes regulated by Gsdf signaling remain unknown. Using a high-throughput proteomic approach, we identified a significant increase in the expression of the RNA-binding protein Igf2bp3 in gsdf-deficient ovaries. We verified this difference in transcription and protein expression against normal gonads using real-time PCR quantification and Western blotting. The genomic structure of igf2bp3 and the syntenic flanking segments are highly conserved across fish and mammals. igf2bp3 expression was correlated with oocyte development, which is consistent with the expression of the igf2bp3 ortholog Vg1-RBP/Vera in Xenopus. In contrast to the normal ovary, cysts of H3K27me3- and Igf2bp3-positive germ cells were dramatically increased in the one-month-old gsdf-deficient ovary, indicating that the gsdf depletion led to a dysregulation of Igf2bp3-mediated oocyte development. Our results provide novel insights into the Gsdf-Igf2bp3 signaling mechanisms that underlie the fundamental process of gametogenesis; these mechanisms may be well conserved across phyla.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaowen Wu
- Key Laboratory of Exploration and Utilization of Aquatic Genetic Resources, Ministry of Education, Shanghai 201306, China; Shanghai Collaborative Innovation for Aquatic Animal Genetics and Breeding, College of Fisheries and Life Sciences, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China
| | - Yingqing Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Exploration and Utilization of Aquatic Genetic Resources, Ministry of Education, Shanghai 201306, China; Shanghai Collaborative Innovation for Aquatic Animal Genetics and Breeding, College of Fisheries and Life Sciences, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China
| | - Shumei Xu
- Key Laboratory of Exploration and Utilization of Aquatic Genetic Resources, Ministry of Education, Shanghai 201306, China; Shanghai Collaborative Innovation for Aquatic Animal Genetics and Breeding, College of Fisheries and Life Sciences, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China
| | - Yuyang Chang
- Key Laboratory of Exploration and Utilization of Aquatic Genetic Resources, Ministry of Education, Shanghai 201306, China; Shanghai Collaborative Innovation for Aquatic Animal Genetics and Breeding, College of Fisheries and Life Sciences, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China
| | - Yang Ye
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University Yanjiang Road 107, Guangdong 510120, China
| | - Anning Guo
- Key Laboratory of Exploration and Utilization of Aquatic Genetic Resources, Ministry of Education, Shanghai 201306, China; Shanghai Collaborative Innovation for Aquatic Animal Genetics and Breeding, College of Fisheries and Life Sciences, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China
| | - Yi Kang
- Key Laboratory of Exploration and Utilization of Aquatic Genetic Resources, Ministry of Education, Shanghai 201306, China; Shanghai Collaborative Innovation for Aquatic Animal Genetics and Breeding, College of Fisheries and Life Sciences, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China
| | - Haiyan Guo
- Key Laboratory of Exploration and Utilization of Aquatic Genetic Resources, Ministry of Education, Shanghai 201306, China; Shanghai Collaborative Innovation for Aquatic Animal Genetics and Breeding, College of Fisheries and Life Sciences, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China
| | - Hongyan Xu
- Key Laboratory of Tropical and Subtropical Fishery Resource Application and Cultivation of Ministry of Agriculture, Pearl River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangzhou 51-380, China
| | - Liangbiao Chen
- Key Laboratory of Exploration and Utilization of Aquatic Genetic Resources, Ministry of Education, Shanghai 201306, China; Shanghai Collaborative Innovation for Aquatic Animal Genetics and Breeding, College of Fisheries and Life Sciences, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China
| | - Xiaomiao Zhao
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University Yanjiang Road 107, Guangdong 510120, China.
| | - Guijun Guan
- Key Laboratory of Exploration and Utilization of Aquatic Genetic Resources, Ministry of Education, Shanghai 201306, China; Shanghai Collaborative Innovation for Aquatic Animal Genetics and Breeding, College of Fisheries and Life Sciences, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China.
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Adolfi MC, Fischer P, Herpin A, Regensburger M, Kikuchi M, Tanaka M, Schartl M. Increase of cortisol levels after temperature stress activates dmrt1a causing female-to-male sex reversal and reduced germ cell number in medaka. Mol Reprod Dev 2019; 86:1405-1417. [PMID: 31140678 DOI: 10.1002/mrd.23177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2018] [Revised: 04/30/2019] [Accepted: 05/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
In vertebrates, there is accumulating evidence that environmental factors as triggers for sex determination and genetic sex determination are not two opposing alternatives but that a continuum of mechanisms bridge those extremes. One prominent example is the model fish species Oryzias latipes which has a stable XX/XY genetic sex determination system, but still responds to environmental cues, where high temperatures lead to female-to-male sex reversal. However, the mechanisms behind are still unknown. We show that high temperatures increase primordial germ cells (PGC) numbers before they reach the genital ridge, which, in turn, regulates the germ cell proliferation. Complete ablation of PGCs led to XX males with germ cell less testis, whereas experimentally increased PGC numbers did not reverse XY genotypes to female. For the underlying molecular mechanism, we provide support for the explanation that activation of the dmrt1a gene by cortisol during early development of XX embryos enables this autosomal gene to take over the role of the male determining Y-chromosomal dmrt1bY.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Peter Fischer
- Physiological Chemistry, Biocenter, University of Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Amaury Herpin
- INRA, UR1037 Fish Physiology and Genomics, Rennes, France
| | | | - Mariko Kikuchi
- Division of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
| | - Minoru Tanaka
- Division of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
| | - Manfred Schartl
- Physiological Chemistry, Biocenter, University of Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany.,Germany and Hagler Institute for Advanced Study and Department of Biology, Comprehensive Cancer Center Mainfranken, University Clinic Würzburg, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas
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39
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Abstract
Germline stem cells are sexually indifferent or flexible even in the mature ovary and testis. Acquiring sex identity consistent with the sex of the body is a critical issue in germline stem cells for producing eggs or sperm. However, the molecular mechanism of the sexual fate decision in germ cells is unclear. Medaka is the first vertebrate in which germline stem cells were found in the mature ovary (Nakamura, Kobayashi, Nishimura, Higashijima, & Tanaka, 2010), and a germ cell autonomous switch gene involved in the sexual fate decision, foxl3, was identified (Nishimura et al., 2015) in vertebrates. Here, the mechanism underlying the sex identity of germ cells is described based on the current understanding of germ cell behavior during the sexual fate decision. The control of foxl3 expression in germ cells and components acting downstream of foxl3 are also described.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minoru Tanaka
- Division of Biological Science, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan.
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40
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Novel components of germline sex determination acting downstream of foxl3 in medaka. Dev Biol 2019; 445:80-89. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2018.10.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2018] [Revised: 10/08/2018] [Accepted: 10/23/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
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41
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Viana IKS, Gonçalves LAB, Ferreira MAP, Mendes YA, Rocha RM. Oocyte growth, follicular complex formation and extracellular-matrix remodeling in ovarian maturation of the imperial zebra pleco fish Hypancistrus zebra. Sci Rep 2018; 8:13760. [PMID: 30213994 PMCID: PMC6137070 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-32117-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2018] [Accepted: 08/16/2018] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
This contribution describes the growth of oocytes, addressing the formation of structures that compose the follicular complex, as well as the remodeling of the extracellular matrix, specifically laminin, fibronectin and type IV collagen during gonadal maturation. Thirty-seven females of the Acari zebra fish, Hypancistrus zebra were captured and the ovaries were submitted to histological processing for light and electron microscopy and immunohistochemistry techniques. Oogonia and four stages (I – IV) of oocytes were distinguished, and structures such as the postovulatory follicle and atretic oocytes (initial and advanced atresia) were observed. The follicular complex consists of the mature oocyte, zona radiata (Zr1, Zr2 and Zr3), follicular cells, basement membrane and theca. During oocyte growth, proteins of the extracellular matrix showed different intensities of staining. Based on these observations, a model of oocyte growth is proposed to define specific characteristics of the oocyte and the remodeling of the extracellular matrix in the ovary of H. zebra. This model of oocyte growth can be extended to other species of ornamental fishes. This study contributes data for induced fertilization and eventual conservation of this species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivana Kerly S Viana
- Institute of Biological Sciences, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, Pará, Brazil.
| | | | | | - Yanne A Mendes
- Institute of Biological Sciences, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, Pará, Brazil
| | - Rossineide M Rocha
- Institute of Biological Sciences, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, Pará, Brazil
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