Meta-type analysis of dopaminergic effects on gene expression in the neuroendocrine brain of female goldfish

MPTP induces neurodegeneration by modulating dopaminergic activity in catfish brain

Tyrosine hydroxylase (Th) is an allosteric rate-limiting enzyme in catecholamine (CA) biosynthesis. The CAs, dopamine (DA), norepinephrine (NE), and epinephrine are important neurotransmitters wherein DA contributes a key role in the central nervous system of vertebrates. The present study evaluated DA and Th's significance in DA-ergic activity and neurodegeneration upon 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) exposure in catfish. Further, the expression of certain brain-and ovary-related genes measured through qPCR were downregulated upon MPTP treatment which is in accordance with the decreased levels of L-Dopa, DA, and NE levels estimated through HPLC-ECD. Additionally, TEM analysis depicted structural disarray of brain upon MPTP exposure and also decreased serum levels of testosterone, 11-ketotestosterone, and estradiol-17β. MPTP treatment, in vitro, using primary brain cell culture resulted in diminished cell viability and increased ROS levels leading to elevated apoptotic cells significantly. Consequently, the study highlights the MPTP-induced neurodegeneration of the Th and DA-ergic activity in corroboration with female brain-related genes downregulation, also gonadal function as evidenced by depleted sex steroids level and low expression of ovary-related genes.

Neuroendocrine Control of Reproduction in Teleost Fish: Concepts and Controversies

During the teleost radiation, extensive development of the direct innervation mode of hypothalamo-pituitary communication was accompanied by loss of the median eminence typical of mammals. Cells secreting follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone cells are directly innervated, distinct populations in the anterior pituitary. So far, ∼20 stimulatory and ∼10 inhibitory neuropeptides, 3 amines, and 3 amino acid neurotransmitters are implicated in the control of reproduction. Positive and negative sex steroid feedback loops operate in both sexes. Gene mutation models in zebrafish and medaka now challenge our general understanding of vertebrate neuropeptidergic control. New reproductive neuropeptides are emerging. These include but are not limited to nesfatin 1, neurokinin B, and the secretoneurins. A generalized model for the neuroendocrine control of reproduction is proposed. Hopefully, this will serve as a research framework on diverse species to help explain the evolution of neuroendocrine control and lead to the discovery of new hormones with novel applications. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Animal Biosciences, Volume 10 is February 2022. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.

Induced selectivity in the photochemistry of estrone derivatives in sustainable and micellar environment: preparative and mechanistic studies

In this study, we carried out preparative and mechanistic studies on the photochemical reaction of a series of 3-acylestrone derivatives in confined and sustainable micellar environment under steady-state conditions and the results were compared with those obtained in cyclohexane solution. The aim of this work is mainly focused to show whether the nature of the surfactant (cationic, neutral and anionic) leads to noticeable selectivity in the photoproduct formation. The 3-acylestrone derivatives underwent the photo-Fries rearrangement, with concomitant homolytic fragmentation of the ester group and [1;3]-acyl migration. This pathway afforded the ortho-acyl estrone derivatives, the main photoproducts together with estrone. However, epimerization of the ortho regioisomer 2-acetylestrone and estrone through Norrish Type I photoreaction occurred involving the fragmentation of the C-α at the carbonyl group (C-17) of the steroid. UV-visible and 2D-NMR (NOESY) spectroscopies have been employed to measure the binding constant K_b and the location of the steroids within the hydrophobic core of the micelle.

GDNF family receptor α-1 in the catfish: Possible implication to brain dopaminergic activity

Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF)is a potent trophic factor that preferentially binds to GDNF family receptor α-1 (GFRα-1)by regulating dopaminergic (DA-ergic) neuronsin brain. Present study aimed to evaluate the significance of GFRα-1 expression during early brain development in catfish. Initially, the full-length cDNA of GFRα-1 was cloned from adult brain which showed high homology with other vertebrate counterparts. Quantitative PCR analysis of tissue distribution revealed ubiquitous expression of GFRα-1 in the tissues analyzed with high levels in female brain and ovary. Significant high expression was evident in brain at 75 and 100 days post hatch females than the respective age-match males. Expression of GFRα-1 was high in brain during the spawning phase when compared to other reproductive phases. Localization of GFRα-1 revealed its presence in preoptic area-hypothalamus which correlated well with the expression profile in discrete areas of brain in adult catfish. Transient silencing of GFRα-1through siRNA lowered expression levels of GFRα-1, which further down regulated the expression of certain brain-specific genes. Expression of GFRα-1 in brain declined significantly upon treatment with the 1-methyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridinecausing neurodegeneration which further correlated with catecholamines (CA), L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine, DA and norepinephrine levels. Taken together, GFRα-1 plausibly entrains gonadotropin-releasing hormone and gonadotropin axiseither directly or indirectly, at least by partially targeting CA-ergic activity.

Why goldfish? Merits and challenges in employing goldfish as a model organism in comparative endocrinology research

Goldfish has been used as an unconventional model organism to study a number of biological processes. For example, goldfish is a well-characterized and widely used model in comparative endocrinology, especially in neuroendocrinology. Several decades of research has established and validated an array of tools to study hormones in goldfish. The detailed brain atlas of goldfish, together with the stereotaxic apparatus, are invaluable tools for the neuroanatomic localization and central administration of endocrine factors. In vitro techniques, such as organ and primary cell cultures, have been developed using goldfish. In vivo approaches using goldfish were used to measure endogenous hormonal milieu, feeding, behaviour and stress. While there are many benefits in using goldfish as a model organism in research, there are also challenges associated with it. One example is its tetraploid genome that results in the existence of multiple isoforms of endocrine factors. The presence of extra endogenous forms of peptides and its receptors adds further complexity to the already redundant multifactorial endocrine milieu. This review will attempt to discuss the importance of goldfish as a model organism in comparative endocrinology. It will highlight some of the merits and challenges in employing goldfish as an animal model for hormone research in the post-genomic era.

Role of aromatase and radial glial cells in neurotoxin-induced dopamine neuron degeneration and regeneration

Radial glial cells (RGCs) in teleost brain are progenitor cells that express aromatase B and produce estrogens. Controversial data suggest that estrogens are critical for brain repair and neurogenesis in teleosts. Using a goldfish model for neurotoxin-induced Parkinson-like syndrome, we investigated the possible roles of RGCs, especially estrogen synthetic function, in the processes underlying dopamine neuron regeneration. The data indicate that dopamine neuron degeneration and aromatase activity inhibition could be respectively achieved in vivo with treatments with the neurotoxin 1-methyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) and fadrozole in female goldfish. The expression of genes in the telencephalon and hypothalamus related to RGC functions including gfap, gdnf and bdnf as well as genes related to mature dopamine neuron functions including th, slc6a3 and pitx3 are under modulation of estrogens. Together these results revealed that the activation of radial glial cells and dopamine neuron recovery after MPTP insult is aromatase-dependent. Findings in this study provide support for the hypothesis that endogenous estrogens are neuroprotective in goldfish. Future studies focus on the molecular pathways for enhancing protective functions of estrogens and understanding global effects of estrogens in the central nervous system.

Dopamine disruption increases negotiation for cooperative interactions in a fish

Humans and other animals use previous experiences to make behavioural decisions, balancing the probabilities of receiving rewards or punishments with alternative actions. The dopaminergic system plays a key role in this assessment: for instance, a decrease in dopamine transmission, which is signalled by the failure of an expected reward, may elicit a distinct behavioural response. Here, we tested the effect of exogenously administered dopaminergic compounds on a cooperative vertebrate's decision-making process, in a natural setting. We show, in the Indo-Pacific bluestreak cleaner wrasse Labroides dimidiatus, that blocking dopamine receptors in the wild induces cleaners to initiate more interactions with and to provide greater amounts of physical contact to their client fish partners. This costly form of tactile stimulation using their fins is typically used to prolong interactions and to reconcile with clients after cheating. Interestingly, client jolt rate, a correlate of cheating by cleaners, remained unaffected. Thus, in low effective dopaminergic transmission conditions cleaners may renegotiate the occurrence and duration of the interaction with a costly offer. Our results provide first evidence for a prominent role of the dopaminergic system in decision-making in the context of cooperation in fish.

Endocrinology: advances through omics and related technologies

The rapid development of new omics technologies to measure changes at genetic, transcriptomic, proteomic, and metabolomics levels together with the evolution of methods to analyze and integrate the data at a systems level are revolutionizing the study of biological processes. Here we discuss how new approaches using omics technologies have expanded our knowledge especially in nontraditional models. Our increasing knowledge of these interactions and evolutionary pathway conservation facilitates the use of nontraditional species, both invertebrate and vertebrate, as new model species for biological and endocrinology research. The increasing availability of technology to create organisms overexpressing key genes in endocrine function allows manipulation of complex regulatory networks such as growth hormone (GH) in transgenic fish where disregulation of GH production to produce larger fish has also permitted exploration of the role that GH plays in testis development, suggesting that it does so through interactions with insulin-like growth factors. The availability of omics tools to monitor changes at nearly any level in any organism, manipulate gene expression and behavior, and integrate data across biological levels, provides novel opportunities to explore endocrine function across many species and understand the complex roles that key genes play in different aspects of the endocrine function.

Current concepts in neuroendocrine disruption

In the last few years, it has become clear that a wide variety of environmental contaminants have specific effects on neuroendocrine systems in fish, amphibians, birds and mammals. While it is beyond the scope of this review to provide a comprehensive examination of all of these neuroendocrine disruptors, we will focus on select representative examples. Organochlorine pesticides bioaccumulate in neuroendocrine areas of the brain that directly regulate GnRH neurons, thereby altering the expression of genes downstream of GnRH signaling. Organochlorine pesticides can also agonize or antagonize hormone receptors, adversely affecting crosstalk between neurotransmitter systems. The impacts of polychlorinated biphenyls are varied and in many cases subtle. This is particularly true for neuroedocrine and behavioral effects of exposure. These effects impact sexual differentiation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis, and other neuroendocrine systems regulating the thyroid, metabolic, and stress axes and their physiological responses. Weakly estrogenic and anti-androgenic pollutants such as bisphenol A, phthalates, phytochemicals, and the fungicide vinclozolin can lead to severe and widespread neuroendocrine disruptions in discrete brain regions, including the hippocampus, amygdala, and hypothalamus, resulting in behavioral changes in a wide range of species. Behavioral features that have been shown to be affected by one or more these chemicals include cognitive deficits, heightened anxiety or anxiety-like, sociosexual, locomotor, and appetitive behaviors. Neuroactive pharmaceuticals are now widely detected in aquatic environments and water supplies through the release of wastewater treatment plant effluents. The antidepressant fluoxetine is one such pharmaceutical neuroendocrine disruptor. Fluoxetine is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor that can affect multiple neuroendocrine pathways and behavioral circuits, including disruptive effects on reproduction and feeding in fish. There is growing evidence for the association between environmental contaminant exposures and diseases with strong neuroendocrine components, for example decreased fecundity, neurodegeneration, and cardiac disease. It is critical to consider the timing of exposures of neuroendocrine disruptors because embryonic stages of central nervous system development are exquisitely sensitive to adverse effects. There is also evidence for epigenetic and transgenerational neuroendocrine disrupting effects of some pollutants. We must now consider the impacts of neuroendocrine disruptors on reproduction, development, growth and behaviors, and the population consequences for evolutionary change in an increasingly contaminated world. This review examines the evidence to date that various so-called neuroendocrine disruptors can induce such effects often at environmentally-relevant concentrations.