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Kajiwara T, Miyazaki M, Yamaoka S, Yoshitake Y, Yasui Y, Nishihama R, Kohchi T. Transcription of the Antisense Long Non-Coding RNA, SUPPRESSOR OF FEMINIZATION, Represses Expression of the Female-Promoting Gene FEMALE GAMETOPHYTE MYB in the Liverwort Marchantia polymorpha. Plant Cell Physiol 2024; 65:338-349. [PMID: 38174428 PMCID: PMC11020262 DOI: 10.1093/pcp/pcad170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2023] [Revised: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
Sexual differentiation is a fundamental process in the life cycles of land plants, ensuring successful sexual reproduction and thereby contributing to species diversity and survival. In the dioicous liverwort Marchantia polymorpha, this process is governed by an autosomal sex-differentiation locus comprising FEMALE GAMETOPHYTE MYB (FGMYB), a female-promoting gene, and SUPPRESSOR OF FEMINIZATION (SUF), an antisense strand-encoded long non-coding RNA (lncRNA). SUF is specifically transcribed in male plants and suppresses the expression of FGMYB, leading to male differentiation. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying this process remain elusive. Here, we show that SUF acts through its transcription to suppress FGMYB expression. Transgene complementation analysis using CRISPR/Cas9D10A-based large-deletion mutants identified a genomic region sufficient for the sex differentiation switch function in the FGMYB-SUF locus. Inserting a transcriptional terminator sequence into the SUF-transcribed region resulted in the loss of SUF function and allowed expression of FGMYB in genetically male plants, leading to conversion of the sex phenotype from male to female. Partial deletions of SUF had no obvious impact on its function. Replacement of the FGMYB sequence with that of an unrelated gene did not affect the ability of SUF transcription to suppress sense-strand expression. Taken together, our findings suggest that the process of SUF transcription, rather than the resulting transcripts, is required for controlling sex differentiation in M. polymorpha.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomoaki Kajiwara
- Graduate School of Biostudies, Kyoto University, Kitashirakawa Oiwake-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8502 Japan
| | - Motoki Miyazaki
- Graduate School of Biostudies, Kyoto University, Kitashirakawa Oiwake-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8502 Japan
| | - Shohei Yamaoka
- Graduate School of Biostudies, Kyoto University, Kitashirakawa Oiwake-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8502 Japan
| | - Yoshihiro Yoshitake
- Graduate School of Biostudies, Kyoto University, Kitashirakawa Oiwake-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8502 Japan
| | - Yukiko Yasui
- Graduate School of Biostudies, Kyoto University, Kitashirakawa Oiwake-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8502 Japan
| | - Ryuichi Nishihama
- Graduate School of Biostudies, Kyoto University, Kitashirakawa Oiwake-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8502 Japan
- Department of Applied Biological Science, Faculty of Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Science, 2641 Yamazaki, Noda, Chiba, 278-8510 Japan
| | - Takayuki Kohchi
- Graduate School of Biostudies, Kyoto University, Kitashirakawa Oiwake-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8502 Japan
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Jiang G, Xue Y, Arifuzzaman A, Huang X. Identification and characterization of the Dmrt1B gene in the oriental river prawn, Macrobrachium nipponense. Dev Genes Evol 2024:10.1007/s00427-024-00715-3. [PMID: 38616194 DOI: 10.1007/s00427-024-00715-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2023] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 04/16/2024]
Abstract
Dmrt (doublesex and mab-3 related transcription factor) is a protein family of transcription factors implicated in sexual regulation. Dmrt proteins are widely conserved and known for their involvement in sex determination and differentiation across species, from invertebrates to humans. In this study, we identified a novel gene with a DM (doublesex/Mab-3)-domain gene in the river prawn, Macrobrachium nipponense, which we named MniDmrt1B due to its similarities and close phylogenetic relationship with Dmrt1B in Macrobrachium rosenbergii. Through amino acid alignments and structural predictions, we observed conservation and identified putative active sites within the DM domain. qRT-PCR analysis revealed that MniDmrt1B exhibited high expression levels in the testis, with consistently higher expression in males compared to females during development. Additionally, similar to other sex-regulated genes, the MniDmrt1B gene exhibited high expression levels during the sex differentiation-sensitive periods in M. nipponense. These results strongly indicated that MniDmrt1B probably plays an important role in testis development and sex differentiation in M. nipponense.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gang Jiang
- Centre for Research On Environmental Ecology and Fish Nutrition (CREEFN) of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, 201306, China
| | - Yucai Xue
- Centre for Research On Environmental Ecology and Fish Nutrition (CREEFN) of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, 201306, China
| | - Arifuzzaman Arifuzzaman
- Centre for Research On Environmental Ecology and Fish Nutrition (CREEFN) of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, 201306, China
| | - Xuxiong Huang
- Centre for Research On Environmental Ecology and Fish Nutrition (CREEFN) of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, 201306, China.
- China-ASEAN Belt and Road Joint Laboratory On Mariculture Technology (Shanghai), Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, 201306, China.
- National Demonstration Center for Experimental Fisheries Science Education, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, 201306, China.
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Wei T, Mo L, Wu Z, Zou T, Huang J. Gonadal transcriptome analysis of genes related to sex differentiation and sex development in the Pomacea canaliculata. Comp Biochem Physiol Part D Genomics Proteomics 2024; 50:101235. [PMID: 38631127 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbd.2024.101235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2024] [Revised: 03/28/2024] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024]
Abstract
As an invasive alien animal, Pomacea canaliculata poses a great danger to the ecology and human beings. Recently, there has been a gradual shift towards bio-friendly control. Based on the development of RNA interference and CRISPR technology as molecular regulatory techniques for pest control, it was determined if the knockout of genes related to sex differentiation in P. canaliculata could induce sterility, thereby helping in population control. However, the knowledge of sex differentiation- and development-related genes in P. canaliculata is currently lacking. Here, transcriptomic approaches were used to study the genes expressed in the two genders of P. canaliculata at various developmental stages. Gonad transcriptomes of immature or mature males and females were compared, revealing 12,063 genes with sex-specific expression, of which 6066 were male- and 5997 were female-specific. Among the latter, 581 and 235 genes were up-regulated in immature and mature females, respectively. The sex-specific expressed genes identified included GnRHR2 and TSSK3 in males and ZAR1 and WNT4 in females. Of the genes, six were involved in reproduction: CCNBLIP1, MND1, DMC1, DLC1, MRE11, and E(sev)2B. Compared to immature snail gonads, the expression of HSP90 and CDK1 was markedly reduced in gonadal. It was hypothesized that the two were associated with the development of females. These findings provided new insights into crucial genetic information on sex differentiation and development in P. canaliculata. Additionally, some candidate genes were explored, which can contribute to future studies on controlling P. canaliculata using molecular regulatory techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tingting Wei
- Key Laboratory of Ecology of Rare and Endangered Species and Environmental Protection, Guangxi Normal University, Ministry of Education, Guilin, Guangxi 541006, China; Guangxi Key Laboratory of Rare and Endangered Animal Ecology, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, Guangxi 541006, China; College of Life Sciences, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, Guangxi 541006, China
| | - Lili Mo
- Key Laboratory of Ecology of Rare and Endangered Species and Environmental Protection, Guangxi Normal University, Ministry of Education, Guilin, Guangxi 541006, China; Guangxi Key Laboratory of Rare and Endangered Animal Ecology, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, Guangxi 541006, China; College of Life Sciences, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, Guangxi 541006, China
| | - Zhengjun Wu
- Key Laboratory of Ecology of Rare and Endangered Species and Environmental Protection, Guangxi Normal University, Ministry of Education, Guilin, Guangxi 541006, China; Guangxi Key Laboratory of Rare and Endangered Animal Ecology, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, Guangxi 541006, China; College of Life Sciences, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, Guangxi 541006, China
| | - Tongxiang Zou
- College of Life Sciences, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, Guangxi 541006, China.
| | - Jinlong Huang
- Key Laboratory of Ecology of Rare and Endangered Species and Environmental Protection, Guangxi Normal University, Ministry of Education, Guilin, Guangxi 541006, China; Guangxi Key Laboratory of Rare and Endangered Animal Ecology, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, Guangxi 541006, China; College of Life Sciences, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, Guangxi 541006, China.
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Ding H, Wang M, Wang M, Wu S, Guo Y, Gao Y, Li L, Bao Z, Wang B, Hu J. Synchronously sexual maturity in hermaphrodite fish as revealed by transcriptome analysis in Plectropomus leopardus. Gene 2024; 901:148166. [PMID: 38242379 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2024.148166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2023] [Revised: 12/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 01/21/2024]
Abstract
Leopard coral grouper (Plectropomus leopardus) is a type of hermaphrodite fish, but the mechanisms of gonadal development and gametogenesis remain unclear. In the present study, we performed histological observation and transcriptomic analysis during the process of sexual differentiation in P. leopardus. According to the histological results, sexual differentiation was completed at 15 months old, developed synchronously in male and female individuals at 2 years old, and matured synchronously at 3 years old. Comparative transcriptomic analyses showed that the gonadal had differentiated by 15 months old, with enrichment of pathways associated with cell proliferation, transcriptional metabolism, and germline stem cell differentiation. Furthermore, cilium movement and fatty acid anabolism, which are associated with spermatogenesis and oocyte growth, were significantly enriched at 3 years old. In addition, key genes associated with male and female sex differentiation, such as amh, dmrt1, dmrt2a, zp4, sox3, gdf9, and gsdf, were identified by weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA). Finally, the localization and expression of the key genes amh and sox3 were observed in different cell types within the testes and ovaries, reflecting the development of the testes and ovaries, respectively. All the evidence indicates that P. leopardus is a hermaphrodite and synchronously sexually mature fish. Our study complements the gonadal development patterns of hermaphroditic fish by providing new insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying sexual differentiation and sex change in hermaphroditic groupers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Ding
- MOE Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding, College of Marine Life Sciences/Key Laboratory of Tropical Aquatic Germplasm of Hainan Province, Sanya Oceanographic Institution, Ocean University of China, Qingdao/Sanya, China
| | - Mengya Wang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding, College of Marine Life Sciences/Key Laboratory of Tropical Aquatic Germplasm of Hainan Province, Sanya Oceanographic Institution, Ocean University of China, Qingdao/Sanya, China
| | - Mingyi Wang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding, College of Marine Life Sciences/Key Laboratory of Tropical Aquatic Germplasm of Hainan Province, Sanya Oceanographic Institution, Ocean University of China, Qingdao/Sanya, China
| | - Shaoxuan Wu
- MOE Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding, College of Marine Life Sciences/Key Laboratory of Tropical Aquatic Germplasm of Hainan Province, Sanya Oceanographic Institution, Ocean University of China, Qingdao/Sanya, China
| | - Yilan Guo
- MOE Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding, College of Marine Life Sciences/Key Laboratory of Tropical Aquatic Germplasm of Hainan Province, Sanya Oceanographic Institution, Ocean University of China, Qingdao/Sanya, China
| | - Yurui Gao
- MOE Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding, College of Marine Life Sciences/Key Laboratory of Tropical Aquatic Germplasm of Hainan Province, Sanya Oceanographic Institution, Ocean University of China, Qingdao/Sanya, China
| | - Lin Li
- MOE Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding, College of Marine Life Sciences/Key Laboratory of Tropical Aquatic Germplasm of Hainan Province, Sanya Oceanographic Institution, Ocean University of China, Qingdao/Sanya, China
| | - Zhenmin Bao
- MOE Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding, College of Marine Life Sciences/Key Laboratory of Tropical Aquatic Germplasm of Hainan Province, Sanya Oceanographic Institution, Ocean University of China, Qingdao/Sanya, China; Hainan Seed Industry Laboratory, Sanya 572025, China; Southern Marine Science and Engineer Guangdong Laboratory, Guangzhou 511458, China
| | - Bo Wang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding, College of Marine Life Sciences/Key Laboratory of Tropical Aquatic Germplasm of Hainan Province, Sanya Oceanographic Institution, Ocean University of China, Qingdao/Sanya, China; Hainan Seed Industry Laboratory, Sanya 572025, China.
| | - Jingjie Hu
- MOE Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding, College of Marine Life Sciences/Key Laboratory of Tropical Aquatic Germplasm of Hainan Province, Sanya Oceanographic Institution, Ocean University of China, Qingdao/Sanya, China; Hainan Seed Industry Laboratory, Sanya 572025, China; Southern Marine Science and Engineer Guangdong Laboratory, Guangzhou 511458, China.
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5
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Luo X, Guo J, Zhang J, Ma Z, Li H. Overview of chicken embryo genes related to sex differentiation. PeerJ 2024; 12:e17072. [PMID: 38525278 PMCID: PMC10959104 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.17072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 02/18/2024] [Indexed: 03/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Sex determination in chickens at an early embryonic stage has been a longstanding challenge in poultry production due to the unique ZZ:ZW sex chromosome system and various influencing factors. This review has summarized the genes related to the sex differentiation of chicken early embryos (mainly Dmrt1, Sox9, Amh, Cyp19a1, Foxl2, Tle4z1, Jun, Hintw, Ube2i, Spin1z, Hmgcs1, Foxd1, Tox3, Ddx4, cHemgn and Serpinb11 in this article), and has found that these contributions enhance our understanding of the genetic basis of sex determination in chickens, while identifying potential gene targets for future research. This knowledge may inform and guide the development of sex screening technologies for hatching eggs and support advancements in gene-editing approaches for chicken embryos. Moreover, these insights offer hope for enhancing animal welfare and promoting conservation efforts in poultry production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaolu Luo
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Molecular Design and Precise Breeding, School of Life Science and Engineering, Foshan University, Foshan, Guangdong, China
| | - Jiancheng Guo
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Molecular Design and Precise Breeding, School of Life Science and Engineering, Foshan University, Foshan, Guangdong, China
| | - Jiahang Zhang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Molecular Design and Precise Breeding, School of Life Science and Engineering, Foshan University, Foshan, Guangdong, China
| | - Zheng Ma
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Molecular Design and Precise Breeding, School of Life Science and Engineering, Foshan University, Foshan, Guangdong, China
| | - Hua Li
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Molecular Design and Precise Breeding, School of Life Science and Engineering, Foshan University, Foshan, Guangdong, China
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Hull JJ, Heu CC, Gross RJ, LeRoy DM, Schutze IX, Langhorst D, Fabrick JA, Brent CS. Doublesex is essential for masculinization but not feminization in Lygus hesperus. Insect Biochem Mol Biol 2024; 166:104085. [PMID: 38307215 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2024.104085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2023] [Revised: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 02/04/2024]
Abstract
In most holometabolous insects, sex differentiation occurs via a hierarchical cascade of transcription factors, with doublesex (dsx) regulating genes that control sex-specific traits. Although less is known in hemimetabolous insects, early evidence suggests that substantial differences exist from more evolutionarily advanced insects. Here, we identified and characterized dsx in Lygus hesperus (western tarnished plant bug), a hemipteran pest of many agricultural crops in western North America. The full-length transcript for L. hesperus dsx (Lhdsx) and several variants encode proteins with conserved DNA binding and oligomerization domains. Transcript profiling revealed that Lhdsx is ubiquitously expressed, likely undergoes alternative pre-mRNA splicing, and, unlike several model insects, is sex-biased rather than sex-specific. Embryonic RNA interference (RNAi) of Lhdsx only impacted sex development in adult males, which lacked both internal reproductive organs and external genitalia. No discernible impacts on adult female development or reproductivity were observed. RNAi knockdown of Lhdsx in nymphs likewise only affected adult males, which lacked the characteristic dimorphic coloration but had dramatically elevated vitellogenin transcripts. Gene knockout of Lhdsx by CRISPR/Cas9 editing yielded only females in G0 and strongly biased heterozygous G1 offspring to females with the few surviving males showing severely impaired genital development. These results indicate that L. hesperus male development requires Lhdsx, whereas female development proceeds via a basal pathway that functions independently of dsx. A fundamental understanding of sex differentiation in L. hesperus could be important for future gene-based management strategies of this important agricultural pest.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Joe Hull
- USDA ARS, U.S. Arid Land Agricultural Research Center, Maricopa, AZ, 85138, USA.
| | - Chan C Heu
- USDA ARS, U.S. Arid Land Agricultural Research Center, Maricopa, AZ, 85138, USA
| | - Roni J Gross
- USDA ARS, U.S. Arid Land Agricultural Research Center, Maricopa, AZ, 85138, USA
| | - Dannialle M LeRoy
- USDA ARS, U.S. Arid Land Agricultural Research Center, Maricopa, AZ, 85138, USA
| | - Inana X Schutze
- USDA ARS, U.S. Arid Land Agricultural Research Center, Maricopa, AZ, 85138, USA
| | - Daniel Langhorst
- USDA ARS, U.S. Arid Land Agricultural Research Center, Maricopa, AZ, 85138, USA
| | - Jeffrey A Fabrick
- USDA ARS, U.S. Arid Land Agricultural Research Center, Maricopa, AZ, 85138, USA
| | - Colin S Brent
- USDA ARS, U.S. Arid Land Agricultural Research Center, Maricopa, AZ, 85138, USA
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Xue S, Huang H, Xu Y, Liu L, Meng Q, Zhu J, Zhou M, Du H, Yao C, Jin Q, Nie C, Zhong Y. Transcriptomic analysis reveals the molecular basis of photoperiod-regulated sex differentiation in tropical pumpkins (Cucurbita moschata Duch.). BMC Plant Biol 2024; 24:90. [PMID: 38317069 PMCID: PMC10845594 DOI: 10.1186/s12870-024-04777-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 02/07/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Photoperiod, or the length of the day, has a significant impact on the flowering and sex differentiation of photoperiod-sensitive crops. The "miben" pumpkin (the main type of Cucurbita moschata Duch.) is well-known for its high yield and strong disease resistance. However, its cultivation has been limited due to its sensitivity to photoperiod. This sensitivity imposes challenges on its widespread cultivation and may result in suboptimal yields in regions with specific daylength conditions. As a consequence, efforts are being made to explore potential strategies or breeding techniques to enhance its adaptability to a broader range of photoperiods, thus unlocking its full cultivation potential and further promoting its valuable traits in agriculture. RESULTS This study aimed to identify photoperiod-insensitive germplasm exhibiting no difference in sex differentiation under different day-length conditions. The investigation involved a phenotypic analysis of photoperiod-sensitive (PPS) and photoperiod-insensitive (PPIS) pumpkin materials exposed to different day lengths, including long days (LDs) and short days (SDs). The results revealed that female flower differentiation was significantly inhibited in PPS_LD, while no differences were observed in the other three groups (PPS_SD, PPIS_LD, and PPIS_SD). Transcriptome analysis was carried out for these four groups to explore the main-effect genes of sex differentiation responsive to photoperiod. The main-effect gene subclusters were identified based on the principal component and hierarchical cluster analyses. Further, functional annotations and enrichment analysis revealed significant upregulation of photoreceptors (CmCRY1, F-box/kelch-repeat protein), circadian rhythm-related genes (CmGI, CmPRR9, etc.), and CONSTANS (CO) in PPS_LD. Conversely, a significant downregulation was observed in most Nuclear Factor Y (NF-Y) transcription factors. Regarding the gibberellic acid (GA) signal transduction pathway, positive regulators of GA signaling (CmSCL3, CmSCL13, and so forth) displayed higher expression levels, while the negative regulators of GA signaling, CmGAI, exhibited lower expression levels in PPS_LD. Notably, this effect was not observed in the synthetic pathway genes. Furthermore, genes associated with ethylene synthesis and signal transduction (CmACO3, CmACO1, CmERF118, CmERF118-like1,2, CmWIN1-like, and CmRAP2-7-like) showed significant downregulation. CONCLUSIONS This study offered a crucial theoretical and genetic basis for understanding how photoperiod influences the mechanism of female flower differentiation in pumpkins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shudan Xue
- Guangdong Key Laboratory for New Technology Research of Vegetables, Vegetable Research Institute, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangzhou, 510640, P. R. China
| | - Hexun Huang
- Guangdong Key Laboratory for New Technology Research of Vegetables, Vegetable Research Institute, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangzhou, 510640, P. R. China
| | - Yingchao Xu
- Guangdong Key Laboratory for New Technology Research of Vegetables, Vegetable Research Institute, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangzhou, 510640, P. R. China
| | - Ling Liu
- Guangdong Key Laboratory for New Technology Research of Vegetables, Vegetable Research Institute, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangzhou, 510640, P. R. China
| | - Qitao Meng
- Guangdong Key Laboratory for New Technology Research of Vegetables, Vegetable Research Institute, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangzhou, 510640, P. R. China
- Department of Horticulture, College of Food Science and Engineering, Foshan University, Foshan, 528000, P. R. China
| | - Jitong Zhu
- Guangdong Key Laboratory for New Technology Research of Vegetables, Vegetable Research Institute, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangzhou, 510640, P. R. China
| | - Meijiang Zhou
- Guangdong Key Laboratory for New Technology Research of Vegetables, Vegetable Research Institute, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangzhou, 510640, P. R. China
| | - Hu Du
- Guangdong Key Laboratory for New Technology Research of Vegetables, Vegetable Research Institute, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangzhou, 510640, P. R. China
| | - Chunpeng Yao
- Guangdong Key Laboratory for New Technology Research of Vegetables, Vegetable Research Institute, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangzhou, 510640, P. R. China
| | - Qingmin Jin
- Guangdong Key Laboratory for New Technology Research of Vegetables, Vegetable Research Institute, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangzhou, 510640, P. R. China
| | - Chengrong Nie
- Department of Horticulture, College of Food Science and Engineering, Foshan University, Foshan, 528000, P. R. China
| | - Yujuan Zhong
- Guangdong Key Laboratory for New Technology Research of Vegetables, Vegetable Research Institute, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangzhou, 510640, P. R. China.
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Yang S, Tang X, Yan F, Yang H, Xu L, Jian Z, Deng H, He Q, Zhu G, Wang Q. A time-course transcriptome analysis revealing the potential molecular mechanism of early gonadal differentiation in the Chinese giant salamander. Comp Biochem Physiol Part D Genomics Proteomics 2024; 50:101200. [PMID: 38320446 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbd.2024.101200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2023] [Revised: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 01/27/2024] [Indexed: 02/08/2024]
Abstract
The Chinese giant salamander (CGS) Andrias davidianus is the largest extant amphibian and has recently become an important species for aquaculture with high economic value. Meanwhile, its wild populations and diversity are in urgent need of protection. Exploring the mechanism of its early gonadal differentiation will contribute to the development of CGS aquaculture and the recovery of its wild population. In this study, transcriptomic and phenotypic research was conducted on the critical time points of early gonadal differentiation of CGS. The results indicate that around 210 days post-hatching (dph) is the critical window for female CGS's gonadal differentiation, while 270 dph is that of male CGS. Besides, the TRPM1 gene may be the crucial gene among many candidates determining the sex of CGS. More importantly, in our study, key genes involved in CGS's gonadal differentiation and development are identified and their potential pathways and regulatory models at early stage are outlined. This is an initial exploration of the molecular mechanisms of CGS's early gonadal differentiation at multiple time points, providing essential theoretical foundations for its captive breeding and offering unique insights into the conservation of genetic diversity in wild populations from the perspective of sex development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shijun Yang
- College of Life Science, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an 625014, China
| | - Xiong Tang
- College of Life Science, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an 625014, China
| | - Fan Yan
- College of Life Science, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an 625014, China
| | - Han Yang
- College of Life Science, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an 625014, China
| | - Lishan Xu
- College of Life Science, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an 625014, China
| | - Zhijie Jian
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
| | - Huidan Deng
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
| | - Qu He
- School of Foreign Languages, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, China
| | - Guangxiang Zhu
- College of Life Science, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an 625014, China.
| | - Qin Wang
- College of Life Science, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an 625014, China.
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Li C, Li Y, Qin C, Yu C, Hu J, Guo C, Wang Y. Determination of the timing of early gonadal differentiation in silver pomfret, Pampus argenteus. Anim Reprod Sci 2024; 261:107373. [PMID: 38211439 DOI: 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2023.107373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2023] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 01/13/2024]
Abstract
Silver pomfret is a species of global significance due to its high nutritional in fisheries sector. To accurately ascertain the timing of sex differentiation mechanism and mRNA level in this species, this study examined gonad morphology and patterns of gene expression related to sex differentiation in males and females from 51 to 180 days post hatch (dph), the temperature of water was maintained at 26 ± 1 ℃. Distinct morphological differentiation of the silver pomfret ovaries, marked by the emergence of primary oocytes, became apparent from 68 dph. By 108 dph, the testes began to differentiate, as evidenced by the appearance of the efferent duct. Early oocytes exhibited a diameter ranged from 0.077 mm to 0.682 mm, with an average diameter of 0.343 ± 0.051 mm. The proportions of various types of germ cells within the testes were subjected to analysis. The localization of Vasa during the early stages of sexual differentiation was a subject to analysis as well. Vasa was predominantly localized within the cytoplasm of gonocyte, peri-nucleolus stage oocytes, primary oocytes and type A spermatogonocytes, indicating that Vasa is involved in the early gonadal differentiation of silver pomfret. The study investigated the expression patterns of dmrt1, gsdf, amh, foxl2, cyp19a1a, cyp11a, sox3 and vasa, all of which are involved in the sex differentiation of teleosts. Among these genes, amh, gsdf, sox3, foxl2, vasa were indentified as crucial contributors to the early gonadal development of silver pomfret. Significant sex-related differences were observed in the expression patterns of amh, dmrt1, gsdf, cyp11a, sox3, cyp19a1a, vasa. This study provides novel insights into the timing of physiological changes associated with the sexual differentiation of silver pomfret. Collectively, the present data indicates that the differentiation of ovaries and testes take place approximately at 68 dph in females and 108 dph in males.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chang Li
- Key Laboratory of Applied Marine Biotechnology, Ningbo University, Ministry of Education, Ningbo, China; Key Laboratory of Marine Biotechnology of Zhejiang Province, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China; College of marine Sciences, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China
| | - Yaya Li
- Key Laboratory of Applied Marine Biotechnology, Ningbo University, Ministry of Education, Ningbo, China; Key Laboratory of Marine Biotechnology of Zhejiang Province, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China; College of marine Sciences, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China
| | - Chunlai Qin
- Key Laboratory of Applied Marine Biotechnology, Ningbo University, Ministry of Education, Ningbo, China; Key Laboratory of Marine Biotechnology of Zhejiang Province, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China; College of marine Sciences, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China
| | - Changhang Yu
- Key Laboratory of Applied Marine Biotechnology, Ningbo University, Ministry of Education, Ningbo, China; Key Laboratory of Marine Biotechnology of Zhejiang Province, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China; College of marine Sciences, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China
| | - Jiabao Hu
- Key Laboratory of Applied Marine Biotechnology, Ningbo University, Ministry of Education, Ningbo, China; Key Laboratory of Marine Biotechnology of Zhejiang Province, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China; College of marine Sciences, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China
| | - Chunyang Guo
- Key Laboratory of Applied Marine Biotechnology, Ningbo University, Ministry of Education, Ningbo, China; Key Laboratory of Marine Biotechnology of Zhejiang Province, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China; College of marine Sciences, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China.
| | - Yajun Wang
- Key Laboratory of Applied Marine Biotechnology, Ningbo University, Ministry of Education, Ningbo, China; Key Laboratory of Marine Biotechnology of Zhejiang Province, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China; College of marine Sciences, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China.
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Ye J, Zeng J, Zheng H, Zhang C, Zhang H, Zheng H. Genome-wide identification of STATs and analysis of their role in sex determination in Pacific oysters (Crassostrea gigas). Comp Biochem Physiol B Biochem Mol Biol 2024; 270:110933. [PMID: 38110171 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpb.2023.110933] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2023] [Revised: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 12/20/2023]
Abstract
STAT (signal transducer and activator of the transcription) proteins, are a group of highly conserved transcription factors and fundamental components of the JAK-STAT signaling pathway. They play crucial roles in a variety of biological processes, such as immunity, proliferation, differentiation, and growth. However, little information is known regarding their role in gonad development and sex determination in mollusks. In this study, we identified 3 STAT genes in Pacific Oyster Crassostrea gigas. Phylogenetic analysis showed that STATs from mollusks were highly conserved, and most of them had four identical motif regions, except for the STAT1 and STAT3 predicted sequences from Crassostrea hongkongensis. Tissue expression analysis indicated CgSTAT1 had a high expression level in most tissues, while CgSTAT3 had a low expression level in most tissues. Expression analysis of early developmental stages showed CgSTAT1 had a higher expression level from egg to D shaped larva and a lower expression level in subsequent stages. In contrast CgSTAT1, CgSTAT2 had a reverse expression pattern. Expression analysis of different developmental stages of diploid gonads indicated that CgSTAT1 had a higher expression level at the S1 and S3 stages relative to the S2 stage in females, while in males the S3 stage had a higher expression than than the S2 stage. The expression level of CgSTAT1 between diploids and triploids in females differed significantly, but there were no significant differences in males. Expression of CgSTAT2 differed significantly between diploid and triploid males. These data suggest an important role for STATs in sex differentiation in diploid and triploid oysters. Our study is the first to explore the role of STATs in sex differentiation and gonadal development in oysters, and will help us better understand the molecular mechanisms of sex differentiation in shellfish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianming Ye
- Key Laboratory of Marine Biotechnology of Guangdong Province, Marine Sciences Institute, Shantou University, Shantou 515063, China; Research Center of Engineering Technology for Subtropical Mariculture of Guangdong Province, Shantou 515063, China
| | - Junxi Zeng
- Key Laboratory of Marine Biotechnology of Guangdong Province, Marine Sciences Institute, Shantou University, Shantou 515063, China; Research Center of Engineering Technology for Subtropical Mariculture of Guangdong Province, Shantou 515063, China
| | - Haiqian Zheng
- Key Laboratory of Marine Biotechnology of Guangdong Province, Marine Sciences Institute, Shantou University, Shantou 515063, China; Research Center of Engineering Technology for Subtropical Mariculture of Guangdong Province, Shantou 515063, China
| | - Chuanxu Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Marine Biotechnology of Guangdong Province, Marine Sciences Institute, Shantou University, Shantou 515063, China; Research Center of Engineering Technology for Subtropical Mariculture of Guangdong Province, Shantou 515063, China
| | - Hongkuan Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Marine Biotechnology of Guangdong Province, Marine Sciences Institute, Shantou University, Shantou 515063, China; Research Center of Engineering Technology for Subtropical Mariculture of Guangdong Province, Shantou 515063, China.
| | - Huaiping Zheng
- Key Laboratory of Marine Biotechnology of Guangdong Province, Marine Sciences Institute, Shantou University, Shantou 515063, China; Research Center of Engineering Technology for Subtropical Mariculture of Guangdong Province, Shantou 515063, China.
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Zhao H, Xiao Y, Xiao Z, Wu Y, Ma Y, Li J. Genome-wide investigation of the DMRT gene family sheds new insight into the regulation of sex differentiation in spotted knifejaw (Oplegnathus punctatus) with fusion chromosomes (Y). Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 257:128638. [PMID: 38070801 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.128638] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2023] [Revised: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 12/03/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2024]
Abstract
The role of the DMRT family in male sex determination and differentiation is significant, but its regulatory role in spotted knifejaw with Y fusion chromosomes remains unclear. Through genome-wide scanning, transcriptome analysis, qPCR, FISH, and RNA interference (RNAi), we investigated the DMRT family and the dmrt1-based sex regulation network. Seven DMRTs were identified (DMRT1/2 (2a,2b)/6, DMRT4/5, DMRT3), and dmrt gene dispersion among chromosomes is possibly driven by three whole-genome duplications. Transcriptome analysis enriched genes were associated with sex regulation and constructed a network associated with dmrt1. qPCR and FISH results showed the expression dimorphism of sex-related genes in dmrt-related regulatory networks. RNAi experiments indicated a distinct sex regulation mode in spotted knifejaw. Dmrt1 knockdown upregulated male-related genes (sox9a, sox9b, dmrt1, amh, amhr2) and hsd11b2 expression, which is critical for androgen synthesis. Amhr2 is located on the heterozygous chromosome (Y) and is specifically localized in primary spermatocytes, and is extremely upregulated after dmrt1 knockdown which suggested besides the important role of dmrt1 in male differentiation, the amhr2 along with amhr2/amh system, also play important regulatory roles in maintaining high expression of the hsd11b2 and male differentiation. This study aims to further investigate sex regulatory mechanisms in species with fusion chromosomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haixia Zhao
- CAS and Shandong Province Key Laboratory of Experimental Marine Biology, Center for Ocean Mega-Science, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, China; Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, China; Key Laboratory of Breeding Biotechnology and Sustainable Aquaculture, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yongshuang Xiao
- CAS and Shandong Province Key Laboratory of Experimental Marine Biology, Center for Ocean Mega-Science, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, China; Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, China; Key Laboratory of Breeding Biotechnology and Sustainable Aquaculture, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, China.
| | - Zhizhong Xiao
- CAS and Shandong Province Key Laboratory of Experimental Marine Biology, Center for Ocean Mega-Science, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, China; Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, China; Key Laboratory of Breeding Biotechnology and Sustainable Aquaculture, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, China
| | - Yanduo Wu
- CAS and Shandong Province Key Laboratory of Experimental Marine Biology, Center for Ocean Mega-Science, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, China; Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, China; Key Laboratory of Breeding Biotechnology and Sustainable Aquaculture, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yuting Ma
- CAS and Shandong Province Key Laboratory of Experimental Marine Biology, Center for Ocean Mega-Science, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, China; Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, China; Key Laboratory of Breeding Biotechnology and Sustainable Aquaculture, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, China
| | - Jun Li
- CAS and Shandong Province Key Laboratory of Experimental Marine Biology, Center for Ocean Mega-Science, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, China; Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, China; Key Laboratory of Breeding Biotechnology and Sustainable Aquaculture, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, China.
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Guirandy N, Simon O, Geffroy B, Daffe G, Daramy F, Houdelet C, Gonzalez P, Pierron F. Gamma irradiation-induced offspring masculinization is associated with epigenetic changes in female zebrafish. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 2024; 269:115790. [PMID: 38086259 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2023.115790] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2023] [Revised: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024]
Abstract
Sex ratio variation is a key topic in ecology, because of its direct effects on population dynamics and thus, on animal conservation strategies. Among factors affecting sex ratio, types of sex determination systems have a central role, since some species could have a sex determined by genetic factors, environmental factors or a mix of those two. Yet, most studies on the factors affecting sex determination have focused on temperature or endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), and much less is known regarding other factors. Exposure to gamma irradiation was found to trigger offspring masculinization in zebrafish. Here we aimed at deciphering the potential mechanisms involved, by focusing on stress (i.e. cortisol) and epigenetic regulation of key genes involved in sex differentiation in fish. Cortisol levels in exposed and control (F0) zebrafish females' gonads were similar. However, irradiation increased the DNA methylation level of foxl2a and cyp19a1a in females of the F0 and F1 generation, respectively, while no effects were detected in testis. Overall, our results suggest that parental exposure could alter offspring sex ratio, at least in part by inducing methylation changes in ovaries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noëmie Guirandy
- IRSN/PSE-ENV/SRTE/LECO, Centre de Cadarache-B.P. 3 - Bat 183, 13115 St Paul Lez Durance, France.
| | - Olivier Simon
- IRSN/PSE-ENV/SRTE/LECO, Centre de Cadarache-B.P. 3 - Bat 183, 13115 St Paul Lez Durance, France
| | - Benjamin Geffroy
- MARBEC, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, Ifremer, IRD, Montpellier, France
| | - Guillemine Daffe
- Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, Bordeaux INP, EPOC, UMR 5805, F-33600 Pessac, France
| | - Flore Daramy
- Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, Bordeaux INP, EPOC, UMR 5805, F-33600 Pessac, France
| | - Camille Houdelet
- MARBEC, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, Ifremer, IRD, Montpellier, France
| | - Patrice Gonzalez
- Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, Bordeaux INP, EPOC, UMR 5805, F-33600 Pessac, France
| | - Fabien Pierron
- Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, Bordeaux INP, EPOC, UMR 5805, F-33600 Pessac, France
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Blücher RO, Lim RS, Jarred EG, Ritchie ME, Western PS. FGF-independent MEK1/2 signalling in the developing foetal testis is essential for male germline differentiation in mice. BMC Biol 2023; 21:281. [PMID: 38053127 PMCID: PMC10696798 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-023-01777-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 12/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Disrupted germline differentiation or compromised testis development can lead to subfertility or infertility and are strongly associated with testis cancer in humans. In mice, SRY and SOX9 induce expression of Fgf9, which promotes Sertoli cell differentiation and testis development. FGF9 is also thought to promote male germline differentiation but the mechanism is unknown. FGFs typically signal through mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) to phosphorylate ERK1/2 (pERK1/2). We explored whether FGF9 regulates male germline development through MAPK by inhibiting either FGF or MEK1/2 signalling in the foetal testis immediately after gonadal sex determination and testis cord formation, but prior to male germline commitment. RESULTS pERK1/2 was detected in Sertoli cells and inhibition of MEK1/2 reduced Sertoli cell proliferation and organisation and resulted in some germ cells localised outside of the testis cords. While pERK1/2 was not detected in germ cells, inhibition of MEK1/2 after somatic sex determination profoundly disrupted germ cell mitotic arrest, dysregulated a broad range of male germline development genes and prevented the upregulation of key male germline markers, DPPA4 and DNMT3L. In contrast, while FGF inhibition reduced Sertoli cell proliferation, expression of male germline markers was unaffected and germ cells entered mitotic arrest normally. While male germline differentiation was not disrupted by FGF inhibition, a range of stem cell and cancer-associated genes were commonly altered after 24 h of FGF or MEK1/2 inhibition, including genes involved in the maintenance of germline stem cells, Nodal signalling, proliferation, and germline cancer. CONCLUSIONS Together, these data demonstrate a novel role for MEK1/2 signalling during testis development that is essential for male germline differentiation, but indicate a more limited role for FGF signalling. Our data indicate that additional ligands are likely to act through MEK1/2 to promote male germline differentiation and highlight a need for further mechanistic understanding of male germline development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rheannon O Blücher
- Centre for Reproductive Health, Hudson Institute of Medical Research and Department of Molecular and Translational Science, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, 3168, Australia
| | - Rachel S Lim
- Epigenetics and Development Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia
| | - Ellen G Jarred
- Centre for Reproductive Health, Hudson Institute of Medical Research and Department of Molecular and Translational Science, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, 3168, Australia
| | - Matthew E Ritchie
- Epigenetics and Development Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia
| | - Patrick S Western
- Centre for Reproductive Health, Hudson Institute of Medical Research and Department of Molecular and Translational Science, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, 3168, Australia.
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Cheng JL, Wei XP, Chen Y, Qi YD, Zhang BG, Liu HT. Comparative transcriptome analysis reveals candidate genes related to the sex differentiation of Schisandra chinensis. Funct Integr Genomics 2023; 23:344. [PMID: 37991590 DOI: 10.1007/s10142-023-01264-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2023] [Revised: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 11/02/2023] [Indexed: 11/23/2023]
Abstract
Schisandra chinensis is a monoecious plant with unisex flowers. The fruit of S. chinensis is of high medical with economic value. The yield of S. chinensis fruit is related to the ratio of its female and male flowers. However, there is little research on its floral development and sex differentiation. To elucidate the possible mechanism for the sex differentiation of S. chinensis, we collected 18 samples of female and male flowers from three developmental stages and performed a comparative RNA-seq analysis aimed at identifying differentially expressed genes (DEGs) that may be related to sex differentiation. The results showed 936, 7179, and 6890 differentially expressed genes between female and male flowers at three developmental stages, respectively, and 466 candidate genes may play roles in sex differentiation. KEGG analysis showed genes involved in the flavonoid biosynthesis pathway and DNA replication pathway were essential for the development of female flowers. 51 MADS-box genes and 10 YABBY genes were identified in S. chinensis. The DEGs analysis indicated that MADS-box and YABBY genes were strongly related to the sex determination of S. chinensis. RT-qPCR confirmed the RNA-seq results of 20 differentially expressed genes, including three male-biased genes and 17 female-biased genes. A possible regulatory model of sex differentiation in S. chinensis was proposed according to our results. This study helps reveal the sex-differentiation mechanism of S. chinensis and lays the foundation for regulating the male-female ratio of S. chinensis in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ji-Long Cheng
- Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substances and Resources Utilization of Chinese Herbal Medicine, Ministry of Education, Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Xue-Ping Wei
- Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substances and Resources Utilization of Chinese Herbal Medicine, Ministry of Education, Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
- Engineering Research Center of Tradition Chinese Medicine Resource, Ministry of Education, Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
| | - Yu Chen
- Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substances and Resources Utilization of Chinese Herbal Medicine, Ministry of Education, Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Yao-Dong Qi
- Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substances and Resources Utilization of Chinese Herbal Medicine, Ministry of Education, Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
- Engineering Research Center of Tradition Chinese Medicine Resource, Ministry of Education, Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Ben-Gang Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substances and Resources Utilization of Chinese Herbal Medicine, Ministry of Education, Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
- Engineering Research Center of Tradition Chinese Medicine Resource, Ministry of Education, Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Hai-Tao Liu
- Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substances and Resources Utilization of Chinese Herbal Medicine, Ministry of Education, Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
- Engineering Research Center of Tradition Chinese Medicine Resource, Ministry of Education, Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
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Yu Y, Chen M, Shen ZG. Molecular biological, physiological, cytological, and epigenetic mechanisms of environmental sex differentiation in teleosts: A systematic review. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 2023; 267:115654. [PMID: 37918334 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2023.115654] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2023] [Revised: 10/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/29/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023]
Abstract
Human activities have been exerting widespread stress and environmental risks in aquatic ecosystems. Environmental stress, including temperature rise, acidification, hypoxia, light pollution, and crowding, had a considerable negative impact on the life histology of aquatic animals, especially on sex differentiation (SDi) and the resulting sex ratios. Understanding how the sex of fish responds to stressful environments is of great importance for understanding the origin and maintenance of sex, the dynamics of the natural population in the changing world, and the precise application of sex control in aquaculture. This review conducted an exhaustive search of the available literature on the influence of environmental stress (ES) on SDi. Evidence has shown that all types of ES can affect SDi and universally result in an increase in males or masculinization, which has been reported in 100 fish species and 121 cases. Then, this comprehensive review aimed to summarize the molecular biology, physiology, cytology, and epigenetic mechanisms through which ES contributes to male development or masculinization. The relationship between ES and fish SDi from multiple aspects was analyzed, and it was found that environmental sex differentiation (ESDi) is the result of the combined effects of genetic and epigenetic factors, self-physiological regulation, and response to environmental signals, which involves a sophisticated network of various hormones and numerous genes at multiple levels and multiple gradations in bipotential gonads. In both normal male differentiation and ES-induced masculinization, the stress pathway and epigenetic regulation play important roles; however, how they co-regulate SDi is unclear. Evidence suggests that the universal emergence or increase in males in aquatic animals is an adaptation to moderate ES. ES-induced sex reversal should be fully investigated in more fish species and extensively in the wild. The potential aquaculture applications and difficulties associated with ESDi have also been addressed. Finally, the knowledge gaps in the ESDi are presented, which will guide the priorities of future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Yu
- College of Fisheries, Engineering Research Center of Green development for Conventional Aquatic Biological Industry in the Yangtze River Economic Belt, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Freshwater Animal Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture, Hubei Provincial Engineering Laboratory for Pond Aquaculture, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, PR China
| | - Min Chen
- College of Fisheries, Engineering Research Center of Green development for Conventional Aquatic Biological Industry in the Yangtze River Economic Belt, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Freshwater Animal Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture, Hubei Provincial Engineering Laboratory for Pond Aquaculture, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, PR China
| | - Zhi-Gang Shen
- College of Fisheries, Engineering Research Center of Green development for Conventional Aquatic Biological Industry in the Yangtze River Economic Belt, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Freshwater Animal Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture, Hubei Provincial Engineering Laboratory for Pond Aquaculture, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, PR China.
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16
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Shen X, Yan H, Li W, Zhou H, Wang J, Zhang Q, Zhang L, Liu Q, Liu Y. Estrodiol-17β and aromatase inhibitor treatment induced alternations of genome-wide DNA methylation pattern in Takifugu rubripes gonads. Gene 2023; 882:147641. [PMID: 37460000 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2023.147641] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2023] [Revised: 05/12/2023] [Accepted: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/28/2023]
Abstract
Estradiol-17β (E2) and aromatase inhibitor (AI) exposure can change the phenotypic sex of fish gonads. To investigated whether alterations in DNA methylation is involved in this process, the level of genome-wide DNA methylation in Takifugu rubripes gonads was quantitatively analyzed during the E2-induced feminization and AI-induced masculinization processes in this study. The methylation levels of the total cytosine (C) in control-XX(C-XX), control-XY (C-XY), E2-treated-XY (E-XY) and AI-treated-XX (AI-XX) were 9.11%, 9.19%, 8.63% and 9.23%, respectively. In the C-XX vs C-XY comparison, 4,196 differentially methylated regions (DMRs) overlapped with the gene body of 2,497 genes and 608 DMRs overlapped with the promoter of 575 genes. In the E-XY vs C-XY comparison, 6,539 DMRs overlapped with the gene body of 3,416 genes and 856 DMRs overlapped with the promoter of 776 genes. In the AI-XX vs C-XX comparison, 2,843 DMRs overlapped with the gene body of 1,831 genes and 461 DMRs overlapped with the promoter of 421 genes. Gonadal genomic methylation mainly occurred at CG sites and the genes that overlapped with DMRs on CG context were most enriched in the signaling pathways related to gonad differentiation, such as the Wnt, TGF-β, MAPK, CAM and GnRH pathways. The DNA methylation levels of steroid synthesis genes and estrogen receptor genes promoter or gene body were negative correlated with their expression. After bisulfite sequencing verification, the DNA methylation level of the amhr2 promoter in XY was increased after E2 treatment, which consistent with the data from the genome-wide DNA methylation sequencing. In C-XY group, the expression of amhr2 was significantly higher than that in E-XY (p < 0.05). Additionally, dnmt1, which is responsible for methylation maintenance, expressed at similar level in four groups (p > 0.05). dnmt3, tet2, and setd1b, which were responsible for methylation modification, expressed at significantly higher levels in E-XY compared to the C-XY (p < 0.05). Dnmt3 and tet2 were expressed at significantly higher levels in AI-XX than that in C-XX (p < 0.05). These results indicated that E2 and AI treatment lead to the aberrant genome-wide DNA methylation level and expression level of dnmt3, tet2, and setd1b in T. rubripes gonad.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xufang Shen
- Key Laboratory of Environment Controlled Aquaculture (Dalian Ocean University) Ministry of Education, 116023, China; College of Life Sciences, Liaoning Normal University, Dalian, Liaoning 116029, China
| | - Hongwei Yan
- Key Laboratory of Environment Controlled Aquaculture (Dalian Ocean University) Ministry of Education, 116023, China; College of Fisheries and Life Science, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian, Liaoning 116023, China; Key Laboratory of Pufferfish Breeding and Culture in Liaoning Province, Dalian Ocean University, 116023 Dalian, Liaoning, China.
| | - Weiyuan Li
- Key Laboratory of Environment Controlled Aquaculture (Dalian Ocean University) Ministry of Education, 116023, China; College of Marine Science and Environment Engineering, Dalian Ocean University, 116023 Dalian, Liaoning, China; Key Laboratory of Pufferfish Breeding and Culture in Liaoning Province, Dalian Ocean University, 116023 Dalian, Liaoning, China
| | - Huiting Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Environment Controlled Aquaculture (Dalian Ocean University) Ministry of Education, 116023, China; College of Fisheries and Life Science, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian, Liaoning 116023, China; Key Laboratory of Pufferfish Breeding and Culture in Liaoning Province, Dalian Ocean University, 116023 Dalian, Liaoning, China
| | - Jia Wang
- Key Laboratory of Environment Controlled Aquaculture (Dalian Ocean University) Ministry of Education, 116023, China; College of Fisheries and Life Science, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian, Liaoning 116023, China; Key Laboratory of Pufferfish Breeding and Culture in Liaoning Province, Dalian Ocean University, 116023 Dalian, Liaoning, China
| | - Qi Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Environment Controlled Aquaculture (Dalian Ocean University) Ministry of Education, 116023, China; College of Fisheries and Life Science, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian, Liaoning 116023, China; Key Laboratory of Pufferfish Breeding and Culture in Liaoning Province, Dalian Ocean University, 116023 Dalian, Liaoning, China
| | - Lei Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Environment Controlled Aquaculture (Dalian Ocean University) Ministry of Education, 116023, China; College of Marine Science and Environment Engineering, Dalian Ocean University, 116023 Dalian, Liaoning, China
| | - Qi Liu
- Key Laboratory of Environment Controlled Aquaculture (Dalian Ocean University) Ministry of Education, 116023, China; College of Marine Science and Environment Engineering, Dalian Ocean University, 116023 Dalian, Liaoning, China; Key Laboratory of Pufferfish Breeding and Culture in Liaoning Province, Dalian Ocean University, 116023 Dalian, Liaoning, China.
| | - Ying Liu
- Key Laboratory of Environment Controlled Aquaculture (Dalian Ocean University) Ministry of Education, 116023, China
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Mizia PC, Rams-Pociecha I, Podmokła E, Piprek RP. Histological analysis of early gonadal development in three bird species reveals gonad asymmetry from the beginning of gonadal ridge formation and a similar course of sex differentiation. Ann Anat 2023; 250:152151. [PMID: 37574173 DOI: 10.1016/j.aanat.2023.152151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2023] [Revised: 07/17/2023] [Accepted: 07/21/2023] [Indexed: 08/15/2023]
Abstract
The developing gonads constitute a valuable model for studying developmental mechanisms because the testes and ovaries, while originating from the same primordia, undergo two different patterns of development. So far, gonadal development among birds has been described in detail in chickens, but literature on the earliest stages of gonadogenesis is scarce. This study presents changes in the structure of the gonads in three species of breeding birds (chicken, duck, and pigeon), starting from the first signs of gonadal ridge formation, that is, the thickenings of the coelomic epithelium. It appears that both gonads show asymmetry from the very beginning of gonadal ridge formation in both genetic sexes. The left gonadal ridge is thicker than the right one, and it is invaded by a higher number of primordial germ cells. Undifferentiated gonads, both left and right, consist of the primitive cortex and the medulla. The primitive cortex develops from the thickened coelomic epithelium, while the primitive medulla - by the aggregation of mesenchymal cells. This study also describes the process of sex differentiation of the testes and ovaries, which is initiated at the same embryonic stage in all three studied species. The first sign of gonadal sex differentiation is the decrease in the number of cortical germ cells and a reduction in cortical thickness in the differentiating testes. This is followed by an increase in the number of germ cells in the medulla. The cortical asymmetry and difference in size between the left and right testes diminishes during later development. However, the differentiating left ovary shows an increase in the number of cortical germ cells and cortical thickness. No regression is seen in the right ovary, although its development is slower. The right ovarian cortex undergoes testis-specific reduction, while the medulla undergoes ovary-specific development. The process of gonadogenesis is similar in the three studied species, with only slight differences in gonadal structure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paulina C Mizia
- Department of Comparative Anatomy, Institute of Zoology and Biomedical Research, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 9, 30-387 Krakow, Poland; Doctoral School of Exact and Natural Sciences, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland
| | - Izabela Rams-Pociecha
- Department of Comparative Anatomy, Institute of Zoology and Biomedical Research, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 9, 30-387 Krakow, Poland; Doctoral School of Exact and Natural Sciences, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland
| | - Edyta Podmokła
- Department of Comparative Anatomy, Institute of Zoology and Biomedical Research, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 9, 30-387 Krakow, Poland
| | - Rafal P Piprek
- Department of Comparative Anatomy, Institute of Zoology and Biomedical Research, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 9, 30-387 Krakow, Poland.
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18
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Houdelet C, Blondeau-Bidet E, Estevez-Villar M, Mialhe X, Hermet S, Ruelle F, Dutto G, Bajek A, Bobe J, Geffroy B. Circulating MicroRNAs Indicative of Sex and Stress in the European Seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax): Toward the Identification of New Biomarkers. Mar Biotechnol (NY) 2023; 25:749-762. [PMID: 37581865 DOI: 10.1007/s10126-023-10237-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2023] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 08/16/2023]
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) constitute a new category of biomarkers. Studies on miRNAs in non-mammalian species have drastically increased in the last few years. Here, we explored the use of miRNAs as potential, poorly invasive markers, to identify sex and characterize acute stress in fish. The European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax) was chosen as a model because of its rapid response to stress and its specific sex determination system, devoid of sexual chromosomes. We performed a small RNA-sequencing analysis in the blood plasma of male and female European seabass (mature and immature) as well as in the blood plasma of juveniles submitted to an acute stress and sampled throughout the recovery period (at 0 h, 0.5 h, 1.5 h and 6 h). In immature individuals, both miR-1388-3p and miR-7132a-5p were up-regulated in females, while miR-499a-5p was more abundant in males. However, no miRNAs were found to be differentially expressed between sexes in the blood plasma of mature individuals. For the acute stress analysis, five miRNAs (miR-155-5p, miR-200a-3p, miR-205-1-5p, miR-143-3p, and miR-223-3p) followed cortisol production over time. All miRNAs identified were tested and validated by RT-qPCR on sequenced samples. A complementary analysis on the 3'UTR sequences of the European seabass allowed to predict potential mRNA targets, some of them being particularly relevant regarding stress regulation, e.g., the glucocorticoid receptor 1 and the mineralocorticoid receptor. The present study provides new avenues and recommendations on the use of miRNAs as biomarkers of sex or stress of the European seabass, with potential application on other fish species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camille Houdelet
- MARBEC Univ Montpellier, CNRS, Ifremer, IRD, Palavas-Les-Flots, France
| | | | | | - Xavier Mialhe
- MGX-Montpellier GenomiX, Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle, Montpellier, France
| | - Sophie Hermet
- MARBEC Univ Montpellier, CNRS, Ifremer, IRD, Montpellier, France
| | - François Ruelle
- MARBEC Univ Montpellier, CNRS, Ifremer, IRD, Palavas-Les-Flots, France
| | - Gilbert Dutto
- MARBEC Univ Montpellier, CNRS, Ifremer, IRD, Palavas-Les-Flots, France
| | - Aline Bajek
- Ecloserie Marine de Gravelines-Ichtus, Voie des Enrochements, F-59820, Gravelines, France
| | - Julien Bobe
- INRAE, UR1037, Fish Physiology and Genomic laboratory, F-35000, Rennes, France
| | - Benjamin Geffroy
- MARBEC Univ Montpellier, CNRS, Ifremer, IRD, Montpellier, France.
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19
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Santos MA, Grandela A, Antunes MA, Quina AS, Santos M, Matos M, Simões P. Sex and population differences underlie variation in reproductive success in a warming environment. Evolution 2023:7194055. [PMID: 37306280 DOI: 10.1093/evolut/qpad104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2023] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Current rising temperatures are threatening biodiversity. It is therefore crucial to understand how climate change impacts on male and female fertility and whether evolutionary responses can help in coping with heat stress. We use experimental evolution to study male and female fertility during real-time evolution of two historically differentiated populations of Drosophila subobscura under different thermal selection regimes for 23 generations. We aim to (1) tease apart sex-specific differences in fertility after exposure to warming conditions during development, (2) test whether thermal selection can enhance fertility under thermal stress, and (3) address the role of historically distinct genetic backgrounds. Contrary to expectations, heat stress during development had a higher negative impact on female fertility than on male fertility. We did not find clear evidence for enhanced fertility in male or females evolving under warming conditions. Population history had a clear impact on fertility response under thermal stress, particularly in males with those from lower latitude presenting better performance than their higher latitude counterparts. We show that the impact of thermal stress on fertility varies between traits, sexes and genetic backgrounds. Incorporating these several levels of variation is crucial for a deeper understanding of how fertility evolves under climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta A Santos
- Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes & CHANGE - Global Change and Sustainability Institute, Lisboa, Portugal
- Departamento de Biologia Animal, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Afonso Grandela
- Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes & CHANGE - Global Change and Sustainability Institute, Lisboa, Portugal
- Departamento de Biologia Animal, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Marta A Antunes
- Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes & CHANGE - Global Change and Sustainability Institute, Lisboa, Portugal
- Departamento de Biologia Animal, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Ana S Quina
- CESAM - Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies, Universidade de Aveiro and Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Mauro Santos
- Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes & CHANGE - Global Change and Sustainability Institute, Lisboa, Portugal
- Departament de Genètica i de Microbiologia, Grup de Genòmica, Bioinformàtica i Biologia Evolutiva (GBBE), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain
| | - Margarida Matos
- Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes & CHANGE - Global Change and Sustainability Institute, Lisboa, Portugal
- Departamento de Biologia Animal, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Pedro Simões
- Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes & CHANGE - Global Change and Sustainability Institute, Lisboa, Portugal
- Departamento de Biologia Animal, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
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20
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Ma J, Wang Z, Qin C, Wang T, Hu X, Ling W. Safety of benzophenone-type UV filters: A mini review focusing on carcinogenicity, reproductive and developmental toxicity. Chemosphere 2023; 326:138455. [PMID: 36944403 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.138455] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2023] [Revised: 03/09/2023] [Accepted: 03/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Consumer products containing benzophenone-type ultraviolet (UV) filters (BPs) have been widely accepted by the public, resulting in the widely existence of various BPs in the human body and environment. In recent years, more and more evidences show that BPs are endocrine disruptors. In view of the continuous exposure risk of BPs and their endocrine disrupting characteristics, the carcinogenicity of BPs and their effects on reproduction and development are of particular concern. However, due to the wide varieties of BPs and the scattered toxicity studies on BPs, people have a limited understanding on the safety of BPs. Therefore, this paper systematically reviews the carcinogenicity, reproductive and developmental toxicity of BPs in order to expand people's knowledge on the health risks of BPs and screen for more safe BPs. Although existing toxicological studies are insufficient, it can be determined that BPs have different potentials for carcinogenicity, and reproductive and developmental toxicity. Among those BPs, 2-hydroxyl-4-methoxyl benzophenone needs to be used with caution due to its adverse effects on cancer cell proliferation and migration, reproductive ability, sex differentiation, neurodevelopment, and so on. It is worth noting that functional group substitutions significantly affect the interaction between BPs and biomolecules such as DNA, cancer cells, and seminal fluid, resulting in different levels of toxicity. In short, it is very necessary to evaluate the carcinogenicity, reproductive and developmental toxicity of BPs, which is of great significance for establishing reasonable BPs content standards in cosmetics, water quality treatment standards for BPs, and so on.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junchao Ma
- Institute of Organic Contaminant Control and Soil Remediation, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China
| | - Zeming Wang
- Institute of Organic Contaminant Control and Soil Remediation, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China
| | - Chao Qin
- Institute of Organic Contaminant Control and Soil Remediation, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China
| | - Tingting Wang
- Institute of Organic Contaminant Control and Soil Remediation, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China
| | - Xiaojie Hu
- Institute of Organic Contaminant Control and Soil Remediation, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China
| | - Wanting Ling
- Institute of Organic Contaminant Control and Soil Remediation, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China.
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21
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Bautista NM, Crespel A, Martinez-Bautista G, Burggren WW. Dietary crude oil exposure during sex differentiation skewed adult sex ratio towards males in the zebrafish. Sci Total Environ 2023:164449. [PMID: 37245804 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.164449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2023] [Revised: 04/28/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Dietary crude oil exposure has detrimental morpho-physiological effects in fishes, including endocrine disruption. However, little is known about how it influences sex differentiation and its potential for skewing sex ratios of populations. Appropriate sex ratio is important for maintaining effective population size and structure. Deviations of these ratios can compromise population growth and maintenance and may induce changes in a species' evolutionary trajectory. We assessed the potential of dietary exposure to crude oil (6.5, 11.4, and 17.5 mg/kg food) to alter sex differentiation in the zebrafish (Danio rerio) (20-35 days post fertilization (dpf)) and subsequently skew the adult (90 dpf) sex ratio. Multiple health- and fitness-related phenotypic traits (i.e., body mass and length, condition factor, heart rate, oxygen consumption, and their capacity to cope with hypoxia) were also assessed to better understand the effects of dietary crude oil exposure. We showed that dietary exposure to crude oil during the process of sex differentiation skewed sex ratio towards males (up to 0.34:1 female to male ratio in the highest oil concentration). Remarkably, this effect occurred independently of affecting physiological variables and female gonad characteristics, thus highlighting just how subtle the effects of dietary crude oil exposure can be. Our results suggest that, although fish were in an apparently healthy state during experimentation, sex ratio was still impacted, potentially compromising the resilience of the population. Therefore, considering how complex chemical mixtures affect organisms at several levels (molecular-individual) in experimental designs is warranted to better understand the implications of the exposures and the hazards that populations face in the wild.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naim M Bautista
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of North Texas, Denton, TX 76201, USA.
| | - Amélie Crespel
- Department of Biology, University of Turku, 20500 Turku, Finland
| | | | - Warren W Burggren
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of North Texas, Denton, TX 76201, USA
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22
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Ota R, Miura H, Masukawa M, Hayashi M, Kobayashi S. Identification of novel candidate genes leading to sex differentiation in primordial germ cells of Drosophila. Gene Expr Patterns 2023; 48:119321. [PMID: 37142099 DOI: 10.1016/j.gep.2023.119321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2022] [Revised: 03/28/2023] [Accepted: 04/26/2023] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Germline sex determination and differentiation are pivotal processes in reproduction. In Drosophila, sex determination of the germline occurs in primordial germ cells (PGCs), and the sex differentiation of these cells is initiated during embryogenesis. However, the molecular mechanism initiating sex differentiation remains elusive. To address this issue, we identified sex-biased genes using RNA-sequencing data of male and female PGCs. Our research revealed 497 genes that were differentially expressed more than twofold between sexes and expressed at high or moderate levels in either male or female PGCs. Among these genes, we used microarray data of PGCs and whole embryos to select 33 genes, which are predominantly expressed in PGCs compared to the soma, as candidate genes contributing to sex differentiation. Of 497 genes, 13 genes that were differentially expressed more than fourfold between sexes were also selected as candidates. Among the 46 (33 + 13) candidates, we confirmed the sex-biased expression of 15 genes by in situ hybridization and quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) analysis. Six and nine genes were predominantly expressed in male and female PGCs, respectively. These results represent a first step toward elucidating the mechanisms that initiate sex differentiation in the germline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryoma Ota
- Department of Biosciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Teikyo University, Utsunomiya, Tochigi, 320-8551, Japan; Division of Integrated Science and Engineering, Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Teikyo University, Utsunomiya, Tochigi, 320-8551, Japan.
| | - Hiroki Miura
- Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8577, Japan.
| | - Masaki Masukawa
- Degree Programs in Life and Earth Sciences, Graduate School of Science and Technology, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8577, Japan.
| | - Makoto Hayashi
- Life Science Center for Survival Dynamics, Tsukuba Advanced Research Alliance (TARA), University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8577, Japan.
| | - Satoru Kobayashi
- Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8577, Japan; Degree Programs in Life and Earth Sciences, Graduate School of Science and Technology, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8577, Japan; Life Science Center for Survival Dynamics, Tsukuba Advanced Research Alliance (TARA), University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8577, Japan.
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23
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Fontana CM, Terrin F, Facchinello N, Meneghetti G, Dinarello A, Gambarotto L, Zuccarotto A, Caichiolo M, Brocca G, Verin R, Nazio F, Carnevali O, Cecconi F, Bonaldo P, Dalla Valle L. Zebrafish ambra1b knockout reveals a novel role for Ambra1 in primordial germ cells survival, sex differentiation and reproduction. Biol Res 2023; 56:19. [PMID: 37106439 PMCID: PMC10142490 DOI: 10.1186/s40659-023-00430-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2022] [Accepted: 04/10/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AMBRA1 is an intrinsically disordered protein, working as a scaffold molecule to coordinate, by protein-protein interaction, many cellular processes, including autophagy, mitophagy, apoptosis and cell cycle progression. The zebrafish genome contains two ambra1 paralogous genes (a and b), both involved in development and expressed at high levels in the gonads. Characterization of the zebrafish paralogous genes mutant lines generated by CRISPR/Cas9 approach showed that ambra1b knockout leads to an all-male population. RESULTS We demonstrated that the silencing of the ambra1b gene determines a reduction of primordial germ cells (PGCs), a condition that, in the zebrafish, leads to the development of all-male progeny. PGC reduction was confirmed by knockdown experiments and rescued by injection of ambra1b and human AMBRA1 mRNAs, but not ambra1a mRNA. Moreover, PGC loss was not rescued by injection with human AMBRA1 mRNA mutated in the CUL4-DDB1 binding region, thus suggesting that interaction with this complex is involved in PGC protection from loss. Results from zebrafish embryos injected with murine Stat3 mRNA and stat3 morpholino suggest that Ambra1b could indirectly regulate this protein through CUL4-DDB1 interaction. According to this, Ambra1+/- mice showed a reduced Stat3 expression in the ovary together with a low number of antral follicles and an increase of atretic follicles, indicating a function of Ambra1 in the ovary of mammals as well. Moreover, in agreement with the high expression of these genes in the testis and ovary, we found significant impairment of the reproductive process and pathological alterations, including tumors, mainly limited to the gonads. CONCLUSIONS By exploiting ambra1a and ambra1b knockout zebrafish lines, we prove the sub-functionalization between the two paralogous zebrafish genes and uncover a novel function of Ambra1 in the protection from excessive PGC loss, which seems to require binding with the CUL4-DDB1 complex. Both genes seem to play a role in the regulation of reproductive physiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camilla Maria Fontana
- Department of Biology, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
- Department of Animal and Aquatic Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
| | | | | | | | - Alberto Dinarello
- Department of Biology, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
- Department of Medicine, Anschutz Medical Campus, University of Colorado, Denver, USA
| | - Lisa Gambarotto
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Annalisa Zuccarotto
- Department of Biology, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
- Department of Biology and Evolution of Marine Organisms, Zoological Station Anton Dohrn, Naples, Italy
| | | | - Ginevra Brocca
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science (BCA), University of Padova, Legnaro, PD, Italy
- Aquatic Diagnostic Services, Atlantic Veterinary College, University of Prince Edward Island, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada
| | - Ranieri Verin
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science (BCA), University of Padova, Legnaro, PD, Italy
| | - Francesca Nazio
- Department of Pediatric Hemato-Oncology and Cell and Gene Therapy, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy
- Department of Biology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Oliana Carnevali
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Polytechnic University of Marche, Ancona, Italy
| | - Francesco Cecconi
- Cell Stress and Survival Unit, Danish Cancer Society Research Center, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Paolo Bonaldo
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
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Wei WY, Gong Y, Guo XF, Liu M, Zhou YL, Li Z, Zhou L, Wang ZW, Gui JF. Gonadal transcriptomes reveal sex-biased expression genes associated with sex determination and differentiation in red-tail catfish (Hemibagrus wyckioides). BMC Genomics 2023; 24:183. [PMID: 37024792 PMCID: PMC10077648 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-023-09264-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 04/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Red-tail catfish (Hemibagrus wyckioides) is an important commercially farmed catfish in southern China. Males of red-tail catfish grow faster than females, suggesting that all-male catfish will produce more significant economic benefits in aquaculture practice. However, little research has been reported on sex determination and gonadal development in red-tail catfish. RESULTS In this study, we performed the first transcriptomic analysis of male and female gonads at four developmental stages at 10, 18, 30, and 48 days post hatching (dph) using RNA-seq technology. A total of 23,588 genes were screened in 24 sequenced samples, of which 28, 213, 636, and 1381 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were detected at four developmental stages, respectively. Seven candidate genes of sex determination and differentiation were further identified. Real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) further confirmed that anti-Mullerian hormone (amh), growth differentiation factor 6a (gdf6a), testis-specific gene antigen 10 (tsga10), and cytochrome P450 family 17 subfamily A (cyp17a) were highly expressed mainly in the male, while cytochrome P450 family 19 subfamily A polypeptide 1b (cyp19a1b), forkhead box L2 (foxl2), and hydroxysteroid 17-beta dehydrogenase 1 (hsd17b1) were highly expressed in the female. The KEGG pathway enrichment data showed that these identified DEGs were mainly involved in steroid hormone biosynthesis and TGF-β signaling pathways. CONCLUSIONS Based on RNA-seq data of gonads at the early developmental stages, seven DEGs shared by the four developmental stages were identified, among which amh and gdf6a may be the male-biased expression genes, while foxl2, cyp19a1b and hsd17b1 may be the female-biased expression genes in red-tail catfish. Our study will provide crucial genetic information for the research on sex control in red-tail catfish, as well as for exploring the evolutionary processes of sex determination mechanisms in fish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen-Yu Wei
- College of Fisheries and Life Science, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian, 116023, China
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, The Innovation Academy of Seed Design, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430072, China
| | - Yi Gong
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, The Innovation Academy of Seed Design, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430072, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Xin-Fen Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, The Innovation Academy of Seed Design, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430072, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Min Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, The Innovation Academy of Seed Design, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430072, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Yu-Lin Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, The Innovation Academy of Seed Design, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430072, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Zhi Li
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, The Innovation Academy of Seed Design, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430072, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Li Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, The Innovation Academy of Seed Design, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430072, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Zhong-Wei Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, The Innovation Academy of Seed Design, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430072, China.
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China.
| | - Jian-Fang Gui
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, The Innovation Academy of Seed Design, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430072, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
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25
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Lei DQ, Huang GY, Qiu SQ, Li XP, Wang CS, Fang GZ, Xie L, Ying GG. Exposure to estrone disrupts the endocrine system of western mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis). Aquat Toxicol 2023; 257:106457. [PMID: 36848693 DOI: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2023.106457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2022] [Revised: 01/17/2023] [Accepted: 02/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Estrone (E1) is one of the predominant natural estrogens detected in aquatic environments, yet little is known about its effects on the endocrine system in fish. In this study, the sex ratio, secondary sexual characteristics, gonadal histology, and transcriptional levels of genes closely related to sex differentiation and hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal-liver (HPGL) axis were assessed in western mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis) after a full life-cycle exposure to E1 (0, 25.4, 143, 740, and 4300 ng/L) for 119 days. The results showed that exposure to 4300 ng/L of E1 resulted in 100% female and inhibited the growth of females. Exposure to environmentally relevant concentrations of E1 (143 and 740 ng/L) led to obvious feminization of skeletons and anal fins in males. Exposure to 740 and 4300 ng/L of E1 increased the proportion of mature spermatocytes in females, and exposure to 143 and 740 ng/L decreased the proportion of mature spermatocytes in males. Moreover, the transcripts of genes related to sex differentiation and HPGL axis were changed in the E1-exposed adult fish and embryos inside females. This study has provided valuable data on the endocrine disruption effects of E1 at environmentally relevant concentrations in G. affinis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dong-Qiao Lei
- SCNU Environmental Research Institute, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Pollution and Environmental Safety & MOE Key Laboratory of Theoretical Chemistry of Environment, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510006, China; School of Environment, South China Normal University, University Town, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Guo-Yong Huang
- SCNU Environmental Research Institute, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Pollution and Environmental Safety & MOE Key Laboratory of Theoretical Chemistry of Environment, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510006, China; School of Environment, South China Normal University, University Town, Guangzhou 510006, China.
| | - Shu-Qing Qiu
- SCNU Environmental Research Institute, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Pollution and Environmental Safety & MOE Key Laboratory of Theoretical Chemistry of Environment, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510006, China; School of Environment, South China Normal University, University Town, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Xiao-Pei Li
- SCNU Environmental Research Institute, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Pollution and Environmental Safety & MOE Key Laboratory of Theoretical Chemistry of Environment, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510006, China; School of Environment, South China Normal University, University Town, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Chen-Si Wang
- SCNU Environmental Research Institute, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Pollution and Environmental Safety & MOE Key Laboratory of Theoretical Chemistry of Environment, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510006, China; School of Environment, South China Normal University, University Town, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Gui-Zhen Fang
- SCNU Environmental Research Institute, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Pollution and Environmental Safety & MOE Key Laboratory of Theoretical Chemistry of Environment, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510006, China; School of Environment, South China Normal University, University Town, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Lingtian Xie
- SCNU Environmental Research Institute, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Pollution and Environmental Safety & MOE Key Laboratory of Theoretical Chemistry of Environment, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510006, China; School of Environment, South China Normal University, University Town, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Guang-Guo Ying
- SCNU Environmental Research Institute, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Pollution and Environmental Safety & MOE Key Laboratory of Theoretical Chemistry of Environment, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510006, China; School of Environment, South China Normal University, University Town, Guangzhou 510006, China
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Liang SL, Liao WL, Chen RS. Perinatal blockade of neuronal glutamine transport sex-differentially alters glutamatergic synaptic transmission and organization of neurons in the ventrolateral ventral media hypothalamus of adult rats. J Neuroendocrinol 2023; 35:e13253. [PMID: 36949648 DOI: 10.1111/jne.13253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2022] [Revised: 02/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 03/16/2023]
Abstract
Compared to male pups, perinatal female rats rely heavily on neuronal glutamine (Gln) transport for sustaining glutamatergic synaptic release in neurons of the ventrolateral ventral media nucleus of the hypothalamus (vlVMH). VMH mainly regulates female sexual behavior and increases glutamate release of perinatal hypothalamic neurons, permanently enhances dendrite spine numbers and is associated with brain and behavioral defeminization. We hypothesized that perinatal interruption of neuronal Gln transport may alter the glutamatergic synaptic transmission during adulthood. Perinatal rats of both sexes received an intracerebroventricular injection of a neuronal Gln uptake blocker, alpha-(methylamino) isobutyric acid (MeAIB, 5 mM), and were raised until adulthood. Whole-cell voltage-clamp recordings of miniature excitatory postsynaptic currents (mEPSCs) and evoked EPSCs (eEPSCs) of vlVMH neurons in adult rats with the perinatal pretreatment were conducted and neuron morphology was subjected to post hoc examination. Perinatal MeAIB treatment sex-differentially increased mEPSC frequency in males, but decreased mEPSC amplitude and synaptic Glu release in females. The pretreatment sex-differentially decreased eEPSC amplitude in males but increased AMPA/NMDA current ratio in females, and changed the morphology of vlVMH neurons of adult rats to that of the opposite sex. Most alterations in the glutamatergic synaptic transmission resembled the changes occurring during MeAIB acute exposure in perinatal rats of both sexes. We conclude that perinatal blockade of neuronal Gln transport mediates changes via different presynaptic and postsynaptic mechanisms to induce sex-differential alterations of the glutamatergic synaptic transmission and organization of vlVMH neurons in adult rats. These changes may be permanent and associated with brain and behavior feminization and/or defeminization in rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shu-Ling Liang
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
- Neuroscience Research Center, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Wen-Lin Liao
- Institute of Neuroscience, National Chengchi University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Rou-Shayn Chen
- Neuroscience Research Center, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou, Taoyuan, Taiwan
- Division of Movement Disorders, Department of Neurology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou, Taoyuan, Taiwan
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Sun S, Song F, Shi L, Zhang K, Gu Y, Sun J, Luo J. Transcriptome analysis of differentially expressed circular RNAs in the testis and ovary of golden pompano (Trachinotus blochii). Comp Biochem Physiol Part D Genomics Proteomics 2023; 45:101052. [PMID: 36563610 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbd.2022.101052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2022] [Revised: 11/08/2022] [Accepted: 12/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
The artificial breeding of golden pompano (Trachinotus blochii) has expanded greatly in recent years, and after long-term breeding efforts, clear sexual dimorphisms have been observed in T. blochii growth traits, with females growing faster. As sponges of microRNA (miRNAs), circular RNAs (CircRNAs) can alleviate miRNA inhibition of target mRNA. However, few studies have examined sex-related CircRNAs and none of those have looked at T. blochii. To further understand the role of CircRNAs in sex differentiation and sexual size dimorphism in T. blochii, six CircRNA libraries were constructed from the testes and ovaries of T. blochii. A total of 1522 CircRNAs were found distributed over all 24 chromosomes of T. blochii. 135 differentially expressed CircRNAs (DECs) were identified by screening, These DECs were then subjected to GO enrichment, which found 47 enriched pathways. A number of CircRNAs were enriched in cellular processes and metabolic processes. According to the KEGG pathway analysis, a series of sex differentiation pathways were enriched, including the GnRH, calcium, and MAPK signaling pathways. Furthermore, we selected two CircRNAs from the DECs named circ-cacna1b and circ-octc. We found that the cacna1b gene is regulated by 7 miRNAs, 3 of which were regulated by circ-cacna1b, i.e., mmu-miR-138-5p, fru-miR-138, and pma-miR-138b. In addition, the miRNA named pma-miR-138b can regulate sex-related genes, such as sox9 and dmrt1, among others. The co-expression network of CircRNA-miRNA-mRNA showed circ-cacna1b may play a crucial role in T. blochii sex differentiation by regulating pma-miR-138b to affect the expression of sex differentiation genes. The circ-octc may be one of the largest contributors to sexual size dimorphism during growth through its effect on lipid metabolism. These findings could broaden our understanding of CircRNAs and provide new insight into their function in sex differentiation and growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shukui Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Resources Utilization in South China Sea, Hainan Aquaculture Breeding Engineering Research Center, Hainan Academician Team Innovation Center, Sanya Nanfan Research Institute, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China
| | - Feibiao Song
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Resources Utilization in South China Sea, Hainan Aquaculture Breeding Engineering Research Center, Hainan Academician Team Innovation Center, Sanya Nanfan Research Institute, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China.
| | - Liping Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Resources Utilization in South China Sea, Hainan Aquaculture Breeding Engineering Research Center, Hainan Academician Team Innovation Center, Sanya Nanfan Research Institute, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China
| | - Kaixi Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Resources Utilization in South China Sea, Hainan Aquaculture Breeding Engineering Research Center, Hainan Academician Team Innovation Center, Sanya Nanfan Research Institute, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China
| | - Yue Gu
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Resources Utilization in South China Sea, Hainan Aquaculture Breeding Engineering Research Center, Hainan Academician Team Innovation Center, Sanya Nanfan Research Institute, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China
| | - Junlong Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Resources Utilization in South China Sea, Hainan Aquaculture Breeding Engineering Research Center, Hainan Academician Team Innovation Center, Sanya Nanfan Research Institute, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China
| | - Jian Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Resources Utilization in South China Sea, Hainan Aquaculture Breeding Engineering Research Center, Hainan Academician Team Innovation Center, Sanya Nanfan Research Institute, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China.
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Amestoy A, Baudrillard C, Briot K, Pizano A, Bouvard M, Lai MC. Steroid hormone pathways, vitamin D and autism: a systematic review. J Neural Transm (Vienna) 2023; 130:207-241. [PMID: 36752873 DOI: 10.1007/s00702-022-02582-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2022] [Accepted: 12/23/2022] [Indexed: 02/09/2023]
Abstract
The origins of the male preponderance in autism incidence remain unclear. The idea that perinatal factors associated with sex differentiation (e.g., steroid hormone pathways) may increase the possibility of the emergence of autism is complementary to the hypothesis that female individuals are intrinsically less likely to develop autism. Empirical evidence for the mechanistic roles of in utero steroid hormones in autism etiology is accumulating but inconsistent. We conducted a systematic review using rigorous criteria for the measurements of steroids and vitamin D exposure, to summarize the potential contributing roles of prenatal and early postnatal steroids and vitamin D alterations to the emergence of autism. We searched PubMed, PsychInfo, Scopus, and included 22 studies for qualitative synthesis. Among them, six studies examined the association of autism diagnoses in offspring and levels of steroids and precursor steroid hormones in the fetal environment, eight studies examined the associations between autism and maternal and fetal blood vitamin D levels during pregnancy and at birth, and eight studies examined the associations between offspring autism diagnoses and maternal hyperandrogenemia diagnosed before pregnancy. We identified promising and complex results regarding the relations between steroid metabolism and autism. The interpretation of findings was limited by the mostly observational study designs, insufficient investigation of the effects of offspring sex, confounders and their cumulative effects on the development of the child, and unclear impact of the timing of steroids exposure and their effects on fetal neurodevelopment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anouck Amestoy
- Aquitaine Institute for Cognitive and Integrative Neuroscience, UMR 5287, University of Bordeaux, CNRS, INCIA, Bordeaux, France.
- Centre Hospitalier Charles-Perrens, Pôle Universitaire de Psychiatrie de L'enfant Et de L'adolescent, Bordeaux Cedex, France.
| | - Claire Baudrillard
- Centre Hospitalier Charles-Perrens, Pôle Universitaire de Psychiatrie de L'enfant Et de L'adolescent, Bordeaux Cedex, France
| | - Kellen Briot
- Centre Hospitalier Charles-Perrens, Pôle Universitaire de Psychiatrie de L'enfant Et de L'adolescent, Bordeaux Cedex, France
| | - Adrien Pizano
- Centre Hospitalier Charles-Perrens, Pôle Universitaire de Psychiatrie de L'enfant Et de L'adolescent, Bordeaux Cedex, France
| | - Manuel Bouvard
- Aquitaine Institute for Cognitive and Integrative Neuroscience, UMR 5287, University of Bordeaux, CNRS, INCIA, Bordeaux, France
- Centre Hospitalier Charles-Perrens, Pôle Universitaire de Psychiatrie de L'enfant Et de L'adolescent, Bordeaux Cedex, France
| | - Meng-Chuan Lai
- The Margaret and Wallace McCain Centre for Child, Youth & Family Mental Health and Azrieli Adult Neurodevelopmental Centre, Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry and Autism Research Unit, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
- Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Department of Psychiatry, National Taiwan University Hospital and College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
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29
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Hu XQ, Song H, Li N, Hao CX, Zhang B, Li XP, Xin J, Zhang YQ. Identification and analysis of miRNAs differentially expressed in male and female Trichosanthes kirilowii maxim. BMC Genomics 2023; 24:81. [PMID: 36810020 PMCID: PMC9945594 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-023-09178-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2022] [Accepted: 02/10/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Trichosanthes kirilowii Maxim. (TK) is a dioecious plant in the Cucurbitaceae family of which different sexes have separate medicinal uses. We used Illumina high-throughput sequencing technology to sequence miRNAs from male and female flower buds of TK. We performed bioinformatics analysis, miRNA identification, and target gene prediction on the data obtained from sequencing, and association analysis was performed in combination with the results of a previous transcriptome sequencing study. As a result, there were 80 differentially expressed miRNAs (DESs) between the female and male plants (48 upregulated and 32 downregulated in female plants). Moreover, 27 novel miRNAs in DESs were predicted to have 282 target genes, and 51 known miRNAs were predicted to have 3418 target genes. By establishing a regulatory network between miRNAs and target genes, 12 core genes were screened, including 7 miRNAs and 5 target genes. Among them, tkmiR157a-5p, tkmiR156c, tkmiR156_2, and tkmiR156k_2 jointly target the regulation of tkSPL18 and tkSPL13B. These two target genes are specifically expressed in male and female plants, respectively, and are involved in the biosynthesis process of BR, which is closely related to the sex differentiation process of TK. The identification of these miRNAs will provide a reference for the analysis of the sex differentiation mechanism of TK.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiu-qin Hu
- grid.410747.10000 0004 1763 3680Medical College, Linyi University, Lin’yi, 276000 China ,grid.464402.00000 0000 9459 9325School of Pharmacy, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ji’nan, 250355 China
| | - Han Song
- grid.410747.10000 0004 1763 3680Medical College, Linyi University, Lin’yi, 276000 China
| | - Na Li
- grid.410747.10000 0004 1763 3680Medical College, Linyi University, Lin’yi, 276000 China
| | - Chun-xiang Hao
- grid.410747.10000 0004 1763 3680Medical College, Linyi University, Lin’yi, 276000 China
| | - Bo Zhang
- grid.410747.10000 0004 1763 3680Medical College, Linyi University, Lin’yi, 276000 China
| | - Xin-peng Li
- grid.410747.10000 0004 1763 3680Medical College, Linyi University, Lin’yi, 276000 China
| | - Jie Xin
- Medical College, Linyi University, Lin'yi, 276000, China.
| | - Yong-qing Zhang
- grid.464402.00000 0000 9459 9325School of Pharmacy, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ji’nan, 250355 China
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Abstract
The adrenal cortex undergoes multiple structural and functional rearrangements to satisfy the systemic needs for steroids during fetal life, postnatal development, and adulthood. A fully functional adrenal cortex relies on the proper subdivision in regions or 'zones' with distinct but interconnected functions, which evolve from the early embryonic stages to adulthood, and rely on a fine-tuned gene network. In particular, the steroidogenic activity of the fetal adrenal is instrumental in maintaining normal fetal development and growth. Here, we review and discuss the most recent advances in our understanding of embryonic and fetal adrenal development, including the known causes for adrenal dys-/agenesis, and the steroidogenic pathways that link the fetal adrenal with the hormone system of the mother through the fetal-placental unit. Finally, we discuss what we think are the major open questions in the field, including, among others, the impact of osteocalcin, thyroid hormone, and other hormone systems on adrenal development and function, and the reliability of rodents as models of adrenal pathophysiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emanuele Pignatti
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetology and Metabolism, University Hospital Inselspital, University of Bern, 3010, Bern, Switzerland.
- Department for BioMedical Research, University Hospital Inselspital, University of Bern, 3010, Bern, Switzerland.
| | - Therina du Toit
- Department for BioMedical Research, University Hospital Inselspital, University of Bern, 3010, Bern, Switzerland.
| | - Christa E Flück
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetology and Metabolism, University Hospital Inselspital, University of Bern, 3010, Bern, Switzerland
- Department for BioMedical Research, University Hospital Inselspital, University of Bern, 3010, Bern, Switzerland
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Zou C, Wang L, Shu C, Tan X, Wu Z, Zou Y, Li Z, Wang G, Song Z, You F. Rxrs and their partner receptor genes inducing masculinization plausibly mediated by endocrine disruption in Paralichthys olivaceus. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol 2023; 226:106219. [PMID: 36356854 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsbmb.2022.106219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2022] [Revised: 11/03/2022] [Accepted: 11/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Retinoid X receptors (RXRs) can form homo- or heterodimers with orphan receptors involved in multiple intertwined signaling pathways. However, there is limited study on the formation of sex phenotypes and the regulation of steroidogenesis by RXRs in fish. Here, in Paralichthys olivaceus, we first indicated that PPARγ::RXRα was predictably a transcription factor for steroidogenesis genes, and Foxl2 and Dmrt1 were also transcription factors for rxrs and their partner receptor genes. When the flounder fry were exposed to LG100268 (LG, RXRs agonist, 50 mg/kg diet), the percentage of males increased from 50% to 71.4%. Before histological differentiation of the flounder ovary (3 cm TL) and testis (6 cm TL), the transcripts of rar β and rar γ (P < 0.05) were activated, and the steroidogenesis gene Hsd3b1 was down-regulated (P < 0.05). The ratios of testosterone (T)/17β-estradiol (E2) were all greatly increased (P < 0.05), and the ratio of 11-ketotestosterone (11-KT)/E2 was elevated at 3 cm TL. Moreover, LG was used to treat the cultured gonads in vitro (10 μM) and the fish with intraperitoneal injection in vivo (12 mg/kg body weight), respectively. LG was able to up-regulate rxr γ, rar γ, and ppar δ, and Hsd3b1 was significantly up-regulated (P < 0.05). The ratios of 11-KT/E2 in the culture medium and in the ovaries of the fish were decreased. Furthermore, the recombinant flounder Foxl2 protein was able to significantly down-regulate ppar γ (P < 0.05) and tr β (P < 0.01) in the ovaries in vitro, and the result of the Dmrt1 in the testes was opposite to that of the Foxl2, probably indicating a feedback loop between RXRs' partner receptors and Foxl2/Dmrt1. These findings introduce for the first time the mode of action of RXRs on the flounder steroidogenesis and provide important data to learn the potential function of RXRs in fish sex differentiation and the potential role of RXRs in aquatic animals in the presence of water pollutants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Congcong Zou
- CAS and Shandong Province Key Laboratory of Experimental Marine Biology, Center for Ocean Mega-Science, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao 266071, PR China; Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Pilot National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology (Qingdao), Qingdao 266237, PR China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, PR China
| | - Lijuan Wang
- CAS and Shandong Province Key Laboratory of Experimental Marine Biology, Center for Ocean Mega-Science, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao 266071, PR China; Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Pilot National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology (Qingdao), Qingdao 266237, PR China
| | - Chang Shu
- CAS and Shandong Province Key Laboratory of Experimental Marine Biology, Center for Ocean Mega-Science, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao 266071, PR China; Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Pilot National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology (Qingdao), Qingdao 266237, PR China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, PR China
| | - Xungang Tan
- CAS and Shandong Province Key Laboratory of Experimental Marine Biology, Center for Ocean Mega-Science, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao 266071, PR China; Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Pilot National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology (Qingdao), Qingdao 266237, PR China
| | - Zhihao Wu
- CAS and Shandong Province Key Laboratory of Experimental Marine Biology, Center for Ocean Mega-Science, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao 266071, PR China; Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Pilot National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology (Qingdao), Qingdao 266237, PR China
| | - Yuxia Zou
- CAS and Shandong Province Key Laboratory of Experimental Marine Biology, Center for Ocean Mega-Science, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao 266071, PR China; Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Pilot National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology (Qingdao), Qingdao 266237, PR China
| | - Ze Li
- CAS and Shandong Province Key Laboratory of Experimental Marine Biology, Center for Ocean Mega-Science, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao 266071, PR China; Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Pilot National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology (Qingdao), Qingdao 266237, PR China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, PR China
| | - Guoyu Wang
- CAS and Shandong Province Key Laboratory of Experimental Marine Biology, Center for Ocean Mega-Science, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao 266071, PR China; Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Pilot National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology (Qingdao), Qingdao 266237, PR China
| | - Zongcheng Song
- Shenghang Aquatic Science and Technology Co. Ltd., Weihai 264200, PR China
| | - Feng You
- CAS and Shandong Province Key Laboratory of Experimental Marine Biology, Center for Ocean Mega-Science, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao 266071, PR China; Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Pilot National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology (Qingdao), Qingdao 266237, PR China.
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32
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Li Y, Liu L, Zhang L, Wei H, Wu S, Liu T, Shu Y, Yang Y, Yang Z, Wang S, Bao Z, Zhang L. Dynamic transcriptome analysis reveals the gene network of gonadal development from the early history life stages in dwarf surfclam Mulinia lateralis. Biol Sex Differ 2022; 13:69. [PMID: 36461090 PMCID: PMC9716669 DOI: 10.1186/s13293-022-00479-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2022] [Accepted: 11/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Gonadal development is driven by a complex genetic cascade in vertebrates. However, related information remains limited in molluscs owing to the long generation time and the difficulty in maintaining whole life cycle in the lab. The dwarf surfclam Mulinia lateralis is considered an ideal bivalve model due to the short generation time and ease to breed in the lab. RESULTS To gain a comprehensive understanding of gonadal development in M. lateralis, we conducted a combined morphological and molecular analysis on the gonads of 30 to 60 dpf. Morphological analysis showed that gonad formation and sex differentiation occur at 35 and 40-45 dpf, respectively; then the gonads go through gametogenic cycle. Gene co-expression network analysis on 40 transcriptomes of 35-60 dpf gonads identifies seven gonadal development-related modules, including two gonad-forming modules (M6, M7), three sex-specific modules (M14, M12, M11), and two sexually shared modules (M15, M13). The modules participate in different biological processes, such as cell communication, glycan biosynthesis, cell cycle, and ribosome biogenesis. Several hub transcription factors including SOX2, FOXZ, HSFY, FOXL2 and HES1 are identified. The expression of top hub genes from sex-specific modules suggests molecular sex differentiation (35 dpf) occurs earlier than morphological sex differentiation (40-45 dpf). CONCLUSION This study provides a deep insight into the molecular basis of gonad formation, sex differentiation and gametogenesis in M. lateralis, which will contribute to a comprehensive understanding of the reproductive regulation network in molluscs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yajuan Li
- grid.4422.00000 0001 2152 3263MOE Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding & Sars-Fang Centre, Ocean University of China, 5 Yushan Road, Qingdao, China
| | - Liangjie Liu
- grid.4422.00000 0001 2152 3263MOE Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding & Sars-Fang Centre, Ocean University of China, 5 Yushan Road, Qingdao, China
| | - Lijing Zhang
- grid.4422.00000 0001 2152 3263MOE Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding & Sars-Fang Centre, Ocean University of China, 5 Yushan Road, Qingdao, China
| | - Huilan Wei
- grid.4422.00000 0001 2152 3263MOE Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding & Sars-Fang Centre, Ocean University of China, 5 Yushan Road, Qingdao, China
| | - Shaoxuan Wu
- grid.4422.00000 0001 2152 3263MOE Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding & Sars-Fang Centre, Ocean University of China, 5 Yushan Road, Qingdao, China
| | - Tian Liu
- grid.4422.00000 0001 2152 3263MOE Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding & Sars-Fang Centre, Ocean University of China, 5 Yushan Road, Qingdao, China
| | - Ya Shu
- grid.4422.00000 0001 2152 3263MOE Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding & Sars-Fang Centre, Ocean University of China, 5 Yushan Road, Qingdao, China
| | - Yaxin Yang
- grid.4422.00000 0001 2152 3263MOE Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding & Sars-Fang Centre, Ocean University of China, 5 Yushan Road, Qingdao, China
| | - Zujing Yang
- grid.4422.00000 0001 2152 3263MOE Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding & Sars-Fang Centre, Ocean University of China, 5 Yushan Road, Qingdao, China
| | - Shi Wang
- grid.4422.00000 0001 2152 3263MOE Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding & Sars-Fang Centre, Ocean University of China, 5 Yushan Road, Qingdao, China ,grid.484590.40000 0004 5998 3072Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology & Laboratory for Marine Fisheries Science and Food Production Processes, Pilot National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology (Qingdao), Qingdao, China ,grid.4422.00000 0001 2152 3263Key Laboratory of Tropical Aquatic Germplasm of Hainan Province, Sanya Oceanographic Institution, Ocean University of China, Sanya, China
| | - Zhenmin Bao
- grid.4422.00000 0001 2152 3263MOE Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding & Sars-Fang Centre, Ocean University of China, 5 Yushan Road, Qingdao, China ,grid.484590.40000 0004 5998 3072Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology & Laboratory for Marine Fisheries Science and Food Production Processes, Pilot National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology (Qingdao), Qingdao, China ,grid.4422.00000 0001 2152 3263Key Laboratory of Tropical Aquatic Germplasm of Hainan Province, Sanya Oceanographic Institution, Ocean University of China, Sanya, China
| | - Lingling Zhang
- grid.4422.00000 0001 2152 3263MOE Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding & Sars-Fang Centre, Ocean University of China, 5 Yushan Road, Qingdao, China ,grid.484590.40000 0004 5998 3072Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology & Laboratory for Marine Fisheries Science and Food Production Processes, Pilot National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology (Qingdao), Qingdao, China
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Zhang J, Sun ZH, Liu BZ, Su WY, Chang YQ. Sexually dimorphic expression of foxl2 in the sea urchin (Mesocentrotus nudus). Gene Expr Patterns 2022; 46:119280. [PMID: 36202345 DOI: 10.1016/j.gep.2022.119280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2022] [Revised: 09/29/2022] [Accepted: 09/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
Sea urchin (Mesocentrotus nudus) is an important economically mariculture species in several Asian countries, and gonads are the sole edible parts for people. In addition to commercial value, it is an excellent model for studying gonadal development, sex determination and sex differentiation. Identify sex-related genes is an effective way to reveal the molecular mechanism of gonadal development. In the present study, the foxl2 homologous gene was identified in M. nudus. Foxl2 is not a maternal factor, and is detected for the first time in two-arm stages. Additionally, the expression of foxl2 in the testis is higher than in the ovaries at the same developmental stages. The foxl2 transcripts were specifically enriched in the cytoplasm of germ cellsboth in the ovary and testis, but their proteins were more concentrated in the area near the oocyte nucleus. Overall, this study contributes to our understanding of the dynamic and sexually dimorphic expression pattern of foxl2 and provide a useful germ cell marker during gametogenesis in sea urchin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian Zhang
- School of Life Science, Liaoning Normal University, Dalian, 116029, China; Key Laboratory of Mariculture & Stock Enhancement in North China's Sea, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Fisheries and Life Science, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian, 116023, China
| | - Zhi-Hui Sun
- Key Laboratory of Mariculture & Stock Enhancement in North China's Sea, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Fisheries and Life Science, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian, 116023, China.
| | - Bing-Zheng Liu
- Key Laboratory of Mariculture & Stock Enhancement in North China's Sea, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Fisheries and Life Science, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian, 116023, China
| | - Wei-Yi Su
- Key Laboratory of Mariculture & Stock Enhancement in North China's Sea, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Fisheries and Life Science, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian, 116023, China
| | - Ya-Qing Chang
- School of Life Science, Liaoning Normal University, Dalian, 116029, China; Key Laboratory of Mariculture & Stock Enhancement in North China's Sea, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Fisheries and Life Science, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian, 116023, China.
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Hu Y, Ma X, Liu R, Mushtaq I, Qi Y, Yuan C, Huang D. 2,4-Dichlorophenol Increases Primordial Germ Cell Numbers via ESR2a-Dependent Pathway in Zebrafish Larvae. Environ Sci Technol 2022; 56:13878-13887. [PMID: 36106461 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c05212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Previous studies have reported the feminizing effects of 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP) on zebrafish (Danio rerio). However, the effect of 2,4-DCP on the number of primordial germ cells (PGCs), an indicator for early sex differentiation, remains elusive. In the present study, Tg (piwil1:egfp-UTR nanos3) zebrafish (GFP-labeled PGCs) were treated with 2,4-DCP (10, 20, and 40 μg/L) from 5 to 15 days postfertilization to explore the effect on PGC numbers and to elucidate associated molecular mechanisms. The results showed that 2,4-DCP exposure increased PGC numbers, as evidenced by larger GFP fluorescent areas, upregulated expressions of PGC marker genes (vasa and dnd), and raised the female ratio. Notably, the mRNA level of estrogen receptor 2a (esr2a) was also increased subsequently. Moreover, docking studies revealed stable 2,4-DCP interactions with ESR2a, speculating a role of ESR2a signaling pathway in 2,4-DCP toxicity. Furthermore, in esr2a knockout (esr2a-/-) zebrafish, the effects of 2,4-DCP were considerably minimized, proving the involvement of the ESR2a signaling pathway in the 2,4-DCP-mediated increase in PGC numbers. Dual-luciferase reporter gene assay and point mutation studies demonstrated that 2,4-DCP-stimulated promoter activity was mediated by estrogen response element (ERE) located in -686/-674 of the vasa promoter and -731/-719 of the dnd promoter. Overall, 2,4-DCP can potentially enhance the expression of vasa and dnd by binding to zebrafish ESR2a, thus leading to increased PGC numbers and subsequent female-biased sex differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Hu
- Gansu Key Laboratory of Biomonitoring and Bioremediation for Environmental Pollution, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, People's Republic of China
| | - Xuan Ma
- Gansu Key Laboratory of Biomonitoring and Bioremediation for Environmental Pollution, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, People's Republic of China
| | - Rongjian Liu
- Gansu Key Laboratory of Biomonitoring and Bioremediation for Environmental Pollution, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, People's Republic of China
| | - Iqra Mushtaq
- Gansu Key Laboratory of Biomonitoring and Bioremediation for Environmental Pollution, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, People's Republic of China
| | - Yongmei Qi
- Gansu Key Laboratory of Biomonitoring and Bioremediation for Environmental Pollution, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, People's Republic of China
| | - Cong Yuan
- Gansu Key Laboratory of Biomonitoring and Bioremediation for Environmental Pollution, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, People's Republic of China
| | - Dejun Huang
- Gansu Key Laboratory of Biomonitoring and Bioremediation for Environmental Pollution, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, People's Republic of China
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Zhang X, Wu W, Zhou J, Li L, Jiang H, Chen J. MiR-34b/c play a role in early sex differentiation of Amur sturgeon, Acipenser schrenckii. Front Zool 2022; 19:23. [PMID: 36163040 PMCID: PMC9511750 DOI: 10.1186/s12983-022-00469-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2022] [Accepted: 09/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Sex differentiation can be viewed as a controlled regulatory balance between sex differentiation-related mRNAs and post-transcriptional mechanisms mediated by non-coding RNAs. In mammals, increasing evidence has been reported regarding the importance of gonad-specific microRNAs (miRNAs) in sex differentiation. Although many fishes express a large number of gonadal miRNAs, the effects of these sex-biased miRNAs on sex differentiation in teleost fish remain unknown. Previous studies have shown the exclusive and sexually dimorphic expression of miR-34b/c in the gonads of the Amur sturgeon (Acipenser schrenckii), suggesting its potential role in the sex differentiation process. Results Using quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR), we observed that miR-34b/c showed consistent spatiotemporal expression patterns; the expression levels significantly increased during early sex differentiation. Using in situ hybridization, miR-34c was found to be located in the germ cells. In primary germ cells in vitro, the group subjected to overexpression and inhibition of miR-34c showed significantly higher proliferation ability and lower apoptosis, respectively, compared to the corresponding control group. Luciferase reporter assays using the ar-3′UTR-psiCHECK-2 luciferase vector suggested a targeted regulatory interaction between miR-34b/c and the 3′UTR of the androgen receptor (ar) mRNA. Furthermore, miR-34b/c and ar showed negative expression patterns during early sex differentiation. Additionally, a negative feedback regulation pattern was observed between foxl2 expression in the ovaries and amh and sox9 expression in the testes during early sex differentiation. Conclusions This study sheds new light on the roles of miR-34b/c in gonad development of Amur sturgeon, and provides the first comprehensive evidence that the gonad-predominant microRNAs may have a major role in sex differentiation in teleost fish. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12983-022-00469-6.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiujuan Zhang
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Conservation and Resource Utilization, Guangdong Public Laboratory of Wild Animal Conservation and Utilization, Institute of Zoology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wenhua Wu
- Heilongjiang River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Harbin, China
| | - Jiabin Zhou
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Conservation and Resource Utilization, Guangdong Public Laboratory of Wild Animal Conservation and Utilization, Institute of Zoology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Linmiao Li
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Conservation and Resource Utilization, Guangdong Public Laboratory of Wild Animal Conservation and Utilization, Institute of Zoology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Haiying Jiang
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Conservation and Resource Utilization, Guangdong Public Laboratory of Wild Animal Conservation and Utilization, Institute of Zoology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jinping Chen
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Conservation and Resource Utilization, Guangdong Public Laboratory of Wild Animal Conservation and Utilization, Institute of Zoology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China.
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Yuan JW, Song HX, Chang YW, Yang F, Du YZ. Transcriptome analysis and screening of putative sex-determining genes in the invasive pest, Frankliniella occidentalis (Thysanoptera: Thripidae). Comp Biochem Physiol Part D Genomics Proteomics 2022; 43:101008. [PMID: 35752128 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbd.2022.101008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2022] [Revised: 05/11/2022] [Accepted: 06/08/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The invasive insect pest, Frankliniella occidentalis, is a well-known vector that transmits a variety of ornamental and vegetable viruses. The mechanistic basis of sex determination in F. occidentalis is not well understood, and this hinders our ability to deploy sterile insect technology as an integrated pest management strategy. In this study, six cDNA libraries from female and male adults of F. occidentalis (three biological replicates each) were constructed and transcriptomes were sequenced. A total of 6000 differentially-expressed genes were identified in the two sexes including 2355 up- and 3645 down-regulated genes. A total of 149 sex-related genes were identified based on GO enrichment data and included transformer-2 (tra2), fruitless (fru), male-specific lethal (msl) and sex lethal (sxl); several of these exhibited sex-specific and/or sex-biased expression in F. occidentalis. This study contributes to our understanding of the sex-determined cascade in F. occidentalis and other members of the Thysanoptera.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia-Wen Yuan
- College of Horticulture and Plant Protection, Institute of Applied Entomology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
| | - Hai-Xia Song
- College of Horticulture and Plant Protection, Institute of Applied Entomology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
| | - Ya-Wen Chang
- College of Horticulture and Plant Protection, Institute of Applied Entomology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
| | - Fei Yang
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Yu-Zhou Du
- College of Horticulture and Plant Protection, Institute of Applied Entomology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China; Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety, The Ministry of Education, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China.
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Wang L, Cen S, Shi X, Zhang H, Wu L, Tian X, Ma W, Li X, Ma X. Molecular characterization and functional analysis of Esr1 and Esr2 in gonads of Chinese soft-shelled turtle (Pelodiscus sinensis). J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol 2022; 222:106147. [PMID: 35714971 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsbmb.2022.106147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2022] [Revised: 06/04/2022] [Accepted: 06/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Estrogens and their receptors play crucial roles in regulating the gonadal development of vertebrates. To clarify the roles of estrogen receptors in the gonadal development of turtles, estrogen receptors (Esr1 and Esr2) in Chinese soft-shelled turtle (Pelodiscus sinensis) were identified and characterized, and their function in gonads was investigated by intraperitoneal injection of agonist propylpyrazoletriol (PPT) and diarylpropionitrile (DPN), and antagonist ICI 182,780 (ICI). Ps-Esr1 encoded a 588 amino acid protein and Ps-Esr2 encoded a 556 amino acid protein. The two receptors contained classic domains, including the DNA-binding domain and ligand-binding domain, and amino acid sequences showed high homology with other turtles. Ps-Esr1 showed the highest expression in the testis, followed by the ovary and liver. However, Ps-Esr2 showed the highest expression in the ovary, followed by the brain and testis. Ps-Esr1 expression showed an up-regulation trend in gonadal differentiation. Histomorphometric analysis showed that the number of follicles increased in female juvenile turtles treated with DPN or PPT. In addition, Tsc2, GnRH, and Fshβ were up-regulated in ovaries of turtles treated with agonists, while Sycp3 and Picalm were up-regulated in testes of turtles treated with agonists. Treatment with the antagonist decreased the number of sperm in matured turtles. Stra8, Scyp3, Dmc1, Picalm, Evl, Boule, and Cdk1 were up-regulated in testis after antagonist treatment. The results indicated that Esr1 might play an important role in gonadal differentiation, and the two estrogen receptors might be involved in the spermatogenesis of the turtle. These results could provide a reference for further research on the function of the estrogen signal in male vertebrates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luming Wang
- Engineering Technology Research Center of Henan Province for Aquatic Animal Cultivation, College of Fisheries, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang 453007, China.
| | - Shuangshuang Cen
- Engineering Technology Research Center of Henan Province for Aquatic Animal Cultivation, College of Fisheries, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang 453007, China.
| | - Xi Shi
- Engineering Technology Research Center of Henan Province for Aquatic Animal Cultivation, College of Fisheries, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang 453007, China.
| | - Haoran Zhang
- Engineering Technology Research Center of Henan Province for Aquatic Animal Cultivation, College of Fisheries, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang 453007, China.
| | - Limin Wu
- Engineering Technology Research Center of Henan Province for Aquatic Animal Cultivation, College of Fisheries, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang 453007, China.
| | - Xue Tian
- Engineering Technology Research Center of Henan Province for Aquatic Animal Cultivation, College of Fisheries, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang 453007, China.
| | - Wenge Ma
- Engineering Technology Research Center of Henan Province for Aquatic Animal Cultivation, College of Fisheries, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang 453007, China.
| | - Xuejun Li
- Engineering Technology Research Center of Henan Province for Aquatic Animal Cultivation, College of Fisheries, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang 453007, China.
| | - Xiao Ma
- Engineering Technology Research Center of Henan Province for Aquatic Animal Cultivation, College of Fisheries, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang 453007, China.
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Goikoetxea A, Servili A, Houdelet C, Mouchel O, Hermet S, Clota F, Aerts J, Fernandino JI, Allal F, Vandeputte M, Blondeau-Bidet E, Geffroy B. Natural cortisol production is not linked to the sexual fate of European sea bass. Fish Physiol Biochem 2022; 48:1117-1135. [PMID: 35917042 DOI: 10.1007/s10695-022-01104-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2022] [Accepted: 07/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
In this study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between cortisol and the determination of sexual fate in the commercially important European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax). To test our hypothesis, we designed two temperature-based experiments (19 ℃, 21 ℃ and 23 ℃, experiment 1; 16 ℃ and 21 ℃, experiment 2) to assess the effects of these thermal treatments on European sea bass sex determination and differentiation. In the fish from the first experiment, we evaluated whether blood cortisol levels and expression of stress key regulatory genes were different between differentiating (149 to 183 dph) males and females. In the second experiment, we assessed whether cortisol accumulated in scales over time during the labile period for sex determination as well as the neuroanatomical localisation of brain cells expressing brain aromatase (cyp19a1b) and corticotropin-releasing factor (crf) differed between males and females undergoing molecular sex differentiation (117 to 124 dph). None of the gathered results allowed to detect differences between males and females regarding cortisol production and regulatory mechanisms. Altogether, our data provide strong physiological, molecular and histochemical evidence, indicating that in vivo cortisol regulation has no major effects on the sex of European sea bass.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Arianna Servili
- Ifremer, IFREMER, Univ Brest, CNRS, IRD, LEMAR, 29280, Plouzané, France
| | - Camille Houdelet
- MARBEC Univ Montpellier, CNRS, Ifremer, IRD, Palavas-Les-Flots, France
| | - Olivier Mouchel
- Ifremer, IFREMER, Univ Brest, CNRS, IRD, LEMAR, 29280, Plouzané, France
| | - Sophie Hermet
- MARBEC Univ Montpellier, CNRS, Ifremer, IRD, Montpellier, France
| | - Fréderic Clota
- MARBEC Univ Montpellier, CNRS, Ifremer, IRD, Palavas-Les-Flots, France
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, GABI, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Johan Aerts
- Stress Physiology Research Group, Faculty of Sciences, Ghent University, Ostend, Belgium
| | | | - François Allal
- MARBEC Univ Montpellier, CNRS, Ifremer, IRD, Palavas-Les-Flots, France
| | - Marc Vandeputte
- MARBEC Univ Montpellier, CNRS, Ifremer, IRD, Palavas-Les-Flots, France
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, GABI, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | | | - Benjamin Geffroy
- MARBEC Univ Montpellier, CNRS, Ifremer, IRD, Palavas-Les-Flots, France
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Zhang X, Li G, Zhou J, Lv M, Li L, Chen J. Full-length gonad transcriptome analysis of Amur sturgeon Dmrt family genes: identification, characterization, and expression patterns during gonadal differentiation. Fish Physiol Biochem 2022; 48:839-852. [PMID: 35650309 DOI: 10.1007/s10695-022-01087-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2021] [Accepted: 05/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The regulatory mechanisms that govern sex differentiation in sturgeon are still poorly understood. The doublesex and Mab-3-related transcription factor (Dmrt) gene family is known for its extensive roles in sex determination and differentiation across vertebrates. This study aimed to identify new members of sturgeon Dmrt family genes and core actors in the gonadal differentiation of Amur sturgeon. A full-length gonad transcriptome database was exploited to identify Dmrt gene orthologs. Analyses of phylogenetic relationships and selection pressure were performed, and tissue expression profiles and spatiotemporal expression patterns in gonads were then analyzed using real-time PCR. In total, five Dmrt family genes were identified from the full-length gonad transcriptome, including Dmrt2, DmrtA1, DmrtA2, DmrtB1a, and DmrtB1b. Phylogenetic analysis showed that these genes were clustered into clades corresponding to the doublesex/Mav-3 (DM) genes of vertebrates. Furthermore, the analysis of evolutionary selective pressure indicated that DmrtB1a and DmrtB1b were subject to positive selection, suggesting the existence of adaptive evolution in sturgeon. The extensive tissue expression profiling of each Dmrt family gene revealed typical characteristics. Remarkably, according to a spatiotemporal expression pattern analysis, in later stages, DmrtB1b expression increased in testes and was significantly higher in testes than in ovaries at 24 months after hatching (M) and 36 M. This study provides a genetic resource of full-length Dmrt family genes and increases the understanding of Dmrt functions in sex differentiation in sturgeon.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiujuan Zhang
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Conservation and Resource Utilization, Guangdong Public Laboratory of Wild Animal Conservation and Utilization, Institute of Zoology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Guanyu Li
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Conservation and Resource Utilization, Guangdong Public Laboratory of Wild Animal Conservation and Utilization, Institute of Zoology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Jiabin Zhou
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Conservation and Resource Utilization, Guangdong Public Laboratory of Wild Animal Conservation and Utilization, Institute of Zoology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Mei Lv
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Conservation and Resource Utilization, Guangdong Public Laboratory of Wild Animal Conservation and Utilization, Institute of Zoology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Linmiao Li
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Conservation and Resource Utilization, Guangdong Public Laboratory of Wild Animal Conservation and Utilization, Institute of Zoology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Jinping Chen
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Conservation and Resource Utilization, Guangdong Public Laboratory of Wild Animal Conservation and Utilization, Institute of Zoology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
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Yu Y, Chen M, Lu ZY, Liu Y, Li B, Gao ZX, Shen ZG. High-temperature stress will put the thermo-sensitive teleost yellow catfish (Tachysurus fulvidraco) in danger through reducing reproductivity. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 2022; 239:113638. [PMID: 35597142 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2022.113638] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2022] [Revised: 04/28/2022] [Accepted: 05/10/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Recently, concerns for species that sex differentiation is influenced by temperature in the context of global warming have increased because disrupted operational sex ratios could threaten population maintenance. In contrast, little attention has been given to the reproductive ability of populations that experienced elevated temperatures. In this study, we demonstrated that high temperature (HT) would decrease population size via three different aspects of reproductive ability for the first time. We show that, in a thermo-sensitive teleost yellow catfish, a short period of HT (+3 °C) exposure during the critical period of sex differentiation leads to a different percentage of masculinization of XX genotypic females (1-23%) in wet-lab and natural water bodies. Combining the results of gonadal appearance, histology, sperm parameters, and fertilization rate, we found that XX pseudo-males induced by HT display significantly discounted fertility and reproductive performance compared to XY normal males. We demonstrate that the survival of the XY genotype is lower than XX genotype under environmental stress, including HT, hypoxia, and parasite infection, and the differential survival seems unrelated to male-biased sexual size dimorphism. The mathematical model predicts that the phenotypic female percent will be stabilized at 50% and the population will be sustainably maintained when masculinizing force is less than 0.5, while HT will put the population in danger when the masculinizing force exceeds 0.5. However, when we combine the real-world data of reproductive ability and mathematic model, our results suggest the population size decreases and the long-term survival of the studied species are threatened under the projected pace of increasing temperature. These findings will be useful for understanding the long-term effects of increasing temperature on sex ratio, reproduction and population maintenance in teleost.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Yu
- College of Fisheries, Engineering Research Center of Green development for Conventional Aquatic Biological Industry in the Yangtze River Economic Belt, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Freshwater Animal Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture, Hubei Provincial Engineering Laboratory for Pond Aquaculture, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, PR China
| | - Min Chen
- College of Fisheries, Engineering Research Center of Green development for Conventional Aquatic Biological Industry in the Yangtze River Economic Belt, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Freshwater Animal Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture, Hubei Provincial Engineering Laboratory for Pond Aquaculture, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, PR China
| | - Zi-Yi Lu
- College of Fisheries, Engineering Research Center of Green development for Conventional Aquatic Biological Industry in the Yangtze River Economic Belt, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Freshwater Animal Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture, Hubei Provincial Engineering Laboratory for Pond Aquaculture, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, PR China
| | - Ya Liu
- College of Fisheries, Engineering Research Center of Green development for Conventional Aquatic Biological Industry in the Yangtze River Economic Belt, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Freshwater Animal Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture, Hubei Provincial Engineering Laboratory for Pond Aquaculture, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, PR China
| | - Bo Li
- Institute of Fisheries, Wuhan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan, PR China
| | - Ze-Xia Gao
- College of Fisheries, Engineering Research Center of Green development for Conventional Aquatic Biological Industry in the Yangtze River Economic Belt, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Freshwater Animal Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture, Hubei Provincial Engineering Laboratory for Pond Aquaculture, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, PR China
| | - Zhi-Gang Shen
- College of Fisheries, Engineering Research Center of Green development for Conventional Aquatic Biological Industry in the Yangtze River Economic Belt, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Freshwater Animal Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture, Hubei Provincial Engineering Laboratory for Pond Aquaculture, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, PR China.
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Zheng JL, Zhu QL, Hu XC, Parsons D, Lawson R, Hogstrand C. Transgenerational effects of zinc in zebrafish following early life stage exposure. Sci Total Environ 2022; 828:154443. [PMID: 35278549 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.154443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2021] [Revised: 03/01/2022] [Accepted: 03/06/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Although toxic effects of zinc (Zn) have been well established in the different developmental stages in fish, long-lasting effects of Zn exposure during embryonic development have not been explored. Exposure to an environmentally relevant Zn concentration of 10 μM (650 μg/L) during the first five days after fertilization did not affect survival, body weight, malformations or overall hatching success of F0 and F1 larvae. Zn exposure did, however, result in delayed hatching in both the F0 and F1 generations and caused significant changes in homeostasis of Zn and selenium (Se) in F0 and F1 fish. This was especially pronounced when F1 embryos from Zn-exposed parents were treated with 30 μM (2000 μg/L) Zn. In the F0 generation, skewed sex ratio towards males and changes in homeostasis of Zn, Se and manganese (Mn) in the brain, gill, liver and gonad of adult fish were also observed. These changes were associated with altered expression of Zn- and Mn-regulatory genes and sex differentiation genes in F0 and F1 fish. The present study suggests that fish may carry memory from embryo-larval Zn exposure into adulthood and further to the next generation. The present study shows that ecotoxicological risk of an exposure to Zn during embryo-larval development may persist long after recovery and may also manifest in the F1 generation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia-Lang Zheng
- National Engineering Research Center of Marine Facilities Aquaculture, College of Marine Science and Technology, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan 316022, PR China; King's College London, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, Department of Nutritional Sciences, Metal Metabolism Group, London, UK
| | - Qing-Ling Zhu
- National Engineering Research Center of Marine Facilities Aquaculture, College of Marine Science and Technology, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan 316022, PR China; King's College London, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, Department of Nutritional Sciences, Metal Metabolism Group, London, UK
| | - Xiu-Chuan Hu
- King's College London, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, Department of Nutritional Sciences, Metal Metabolism Group, London, UK
| | - Douglas Parsons
- King's College London, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, Department of Nutritional Sciences, Metal Metabolism Group, London, UK
| | - Rebecca Lawson
- King's College London, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, Department of Nutritional Sciences, Metal Metabolism Group, London, UK
| | - Christer Hogstrand
- King's College London, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, Department of Nutritional Sciences, Metal Metabolism Group, London, UK.
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Shu C, Wang L, Zou C, Tan X, Zou Y, Kong L, Wu Z, Wu Q, Wang L, Wang G, Li Z, You F. Function of Foxl2 and Dmrt1 proteins during gonadal differentiation in the olive flounder Paralichthys olivaceus. Int J Biol Macromol 2022; 215:141-54. [PMID: 35716793 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2022.06.098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2022] [Revised: 04/03/2022] [Accepted: 06/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Study on fish sex differentiation is important both from academic and practical aspects. Foxl2 and Dmrt1 are important transcription factors that should be involved in fish gonadal differentiation, but there is still no direct evidence to clarify their protein functions. Olive flounder Paralichthys olivaceus, an important mariculture fish in China, Japan, and Korea, shows sex-dimorphic growth. In this study, the Foxl2 and Dmrt1 proteins were detected in granulosa cells of the ovary and Sertoli cells of the testis, respectively, showing significant sex-dimorphic expression patterns. Then, bioactive high-purity Foxl2 and Dmrt1 recombinant proteins were obtained in vitro. Furthermore, effects of the recombinant Foxl2 and Dmrt1 during gonadal differentiation period were evaluated by intraperitoneal injection in juvenile fish. Compared with the control group, the male rate in the Dmrt1 group increased from 0 % to 82 %, showing for the first time in fish that the recombinant Dmrt1 could alter the sex phenotype. In addition, transcription levels of cyp19a and its transcription factors also changed after the recombinant Foxl2 and Dmrt1 injection. These findings reveal that Foxl2 and Dmrt1 are vital regulators for fish gonadal differentiation by regulating cyp19a expression, and also provide a new approach for sex control in fish aquaculture.
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Lei L, Chen C, Zhu J, Wang Y, Liu X, Liu H, Geng L, Su J, Li W, Zhu X. Transcriptome analysis reveals key genes and pathways related to sex differentiation in the Chinese soft-shelled turtle (Pelodiscus sinensis). Comp Biochem Physiol Part D Genomics Proteomics 2022; 42:100986. [PMID: 35447559 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbd.2022.100986] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2022] [Revised: 03/14/2022] [Accepted: 04/03/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Most vertebrates exhibit sexual dimorphisms in size, colour, behaviour, physiology and many others. The Chinese soft-shelled turtle (Pelodiscus sinensis) male individuals reach a larger size than females which produce significant economic implications in aquaculture. However, the mechanisms of sex determination and plastic patterns of sex differentiation in P. sinensis remain unclear. Here, comparative transcriptome analysis on male and female embryonic gonads prior to gonad formation and stages mediated gonadal differentiation of P. sinensis were performed to characterize the potential sex-related genes and their molecular pathways in P. sinensis. A total of 6369 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified from day 9 and day 16 and assigned to 626 GO pathways and 161 KEGG signalling pathways, including ovarian steroidogenesis pathway, steroid hormone biosynthesis pathways, and the GnRH signalling pathway (P < 0.05). Moreover, protein interaction network analyses revealed that Akr1c3, Sult2b1, Sts, Cyp3a, Cyp1b1, Sox30 and Lhx9 might be key candidate genes for sex differentiation in P. sinensis. These data provide a genomic rationale for the sex differentiation of P. sinensis and enrich the candidate gene pool for sex differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luo Lei
- Wuxi Fisheries College, Nanjing Agricultural University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214081, PR China; Key Laboratory of Tropical & Subtropical Fishery Resource Application & Cultivation of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Pearl River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangdong, Guangzhou 510380, PR China
| | - Chen Chen
- Key Laboratory of Tropical & Subtropical Fishery Resource Application & Cultivation of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Pearl River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangdong, Guangzhou 510380, PR China
| | - Junxian Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Tropical & Subtropical Fishery Resource Application & Cultivation of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Pearl River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangdong, Guangzhou 510380, PR China
| | - Yakun Wang
- Key Laboratory of Tropical & Subtropical Fishery Resource Application & Cultivation of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Pearl River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangdong, Guangzhou 510380, PR China
| | - Xiaoli Liu
- Key Laboratory of Tropical & Subtropical Fishery Resource Application & Cultivation of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Pearl River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangdong, Guangzhou 510380, PR China
| | - Haiyang Liu
- Key Laboratory of Tropical & Subtropical Fishery Resource Application & Cultivation of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Pearl River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangdong, Guangzhou 510380, PR China
| | - Lulu Geng
- Wuxi Fisheries College, Nanjing Agricultural University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214081, PR China
| | - Junyu Su
- Key Laboratory of Tropical & Subtropical Fishery Resource Application & Cultivation of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Pearl River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangdong, Guangzhou 510380, PR China
| | - Wei Li
- Key Laboratory of Tropical & Subtropical Fishery Resource Application & Cultivation of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Pearl River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangdong, Guangzhou 510380, PR China.
| | - Xinping Zhu
- Wuxi Fisheries College, Nanjing Agricultural University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214081, PR China; Key Laboratory of Tropical & Subtropical Fishery Resource Application & Cultivation of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Pearl River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangdong, Guangzhou 510380, PR China.
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Sun JJ, Sun ZH, Wei JL, Ding J, Song J, Chang YQ. Identification and functional analysis of foxl2 and nodal in sea cucumber, Apostichopus japonicus. Gene Expr Patterns 2022; 44:119245. [PMID: 35381371 DOI: 10.1016/j.gep.2022.119245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2021] [Revised: 02/24/2022] [Accepted: 03/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Sea cucumber (Apostichopus japonicus) is an important mariculture species in China. To date, the mechanisms of sex determination and differentiation in sea cucumber remain unclear. Identifying sex-specific molecular markers is an effective method for revealing the genetic basis of sex determination and sex differentiation. In this study, foxl2 and nodal homologous genes were identified in A. japonicus. Foxl2 exhibited dynamic and sexually dimorphic expression patterns in the gonads, with prominent expression in the ovaries and minimal expression in the testis according to real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) study. As nodal was specifically expressed in the ovary, it could serve as an ovary-specific marker in sea cucumber. Additionally, knockdown of foxl2 or nodal using RNA interference (RNAi) led to the down-regulation of piwi, germ cell-less, and dmrt1, suggesting that foxl2 and nodal may play important roles in gonad maintenance of sea cucumber. Overall, this study adds to our understanding of the roles of foxl2 and nodal in the gonadal development of A. japonicus, which provides further insight into the mechanisms of sea cucumber sex determination and differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan-Juan Sun
- Key Laboratory of Mariculture & Stock Enhancement in North China's Sea, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian, 116023, China
| | - Zhi-Hui Sun
- Key Laboratory of Mariculture & Stock Enhancement in North China's Sea, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian, 116023, China
| | - Jin-Liang Wei
- Key Laboratory of Mariculture & Stock Enhancement in North China's Sea, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian, 116023, China
| | - Jun Ding
- Key Laboratory of Mariculture & Stock Enhancement in North China's Sea, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian, 116023, China
| | - Jian Song
- Key Laboratory of Mariculture & Stock Enhancement in North China's Sea, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian, 116023, China
| | - Ya-Qing Chang
- Key Laboratory of Mariculture & Stock Enhancement in North China's Sea, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian, 116023, China.
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Wan H, Zhong J, Zhang Z, Sheng Y, Wang Y. Identification and functional analysis of the doublesex gene in the mud crab Scylla paramamosain. Comp Biochem Physiol A Mol Integr Physiol 2022; 266:111150. [PMID: 35017065 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2022.111150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2021] [Revised: 12/28/2021] [Accepted: 01/06/2022] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Doublesex (Dsx) is a crucial member of the Dmrt gene family and plays a vital role in sex determination and differentiation among the animal kingdom. In the present study, a doublesex (designated as Spdsx) gene was identified and characterized for the first time in the mud crab, Scylla paramamosain. The Spdsx cDNA contains an 801 bp open reading frame (ORF) encoding 266 amino acids with a conserved DM domain. Meanwhile, to elucidate the conservation of Dsx, its orthologus were identified in several crustacean species as well. In addition, the expression pattern of Spdsx in various adult tissues and during embryo development was analyzed with qRT-PCR technology. Finally, the roles of Spdsx might play in the testis, androgenic gland, and ovary were analyzed by RNAi technology. The main results are as follows: (1) the Spdsx gene widely existed in analyzed crustacean species, and the multiple sequences alignment result indicated the conservation of Dsx was low except for the DM domain; (2) only one dsx gene was identified in analyzed crab and lobster, while 2 dsx genes (dsx-1 and dsx-2) were identified in shrimps; (3) the Spdsx gene was widely expressed in analyzed tissues, and the expression level in androgenic gland was obviously higher than that in other tissues. Interestingly, the expression level of Spdsx in the ovary was significantly higher than that in testis (p < 0.05); (4) The expression pattern of Spdsx during embryo development was divided into two groups: remained stable from blastula stage to 5 pairs of appendages stage; after 5 pairs of appendages stage, the expression level increased and remained stable from 7 pairs of appendages stage to hatching stage; (5) After the silencing of Spdsx, the expression level of marker genes in testis, ovary, and androgenic gland significantly changed, among which the expression level of vtg and vtgR in ovary down-regulated, the dmrt-like and dmrt-1a (exclusively expressed in testis) in testis up-regulated and the IAG in androgenic gland down-regulated. All the results above demonstrated that the Spdsx play crucial roles in regulating the reproduction system development of mud crab.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haifu Wan
- Key Laboratory of Healthy Mariculture for the East China Sea, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Fisheries College, Jimei University, Xiamen 361021, China; Fujian Engineering Research Center of Aquatic Breeding and Healthy Aquaculture, Jimei University, Xiamen 361021, China
| | - Jinying Zhong
- Key Laboratory of Healthy Mariculture for the East China Sea, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Fisheries College, Jimei University, Xiamen 361021, China; Fujian Engineering Research Center of Aquatic Breeding and Healthy Aquaculture, Jimei University, Xiamen 361021, China
| | - Ziping Zhang
- College of Animal Science, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Yinzhen Sheng
- Key Laboratory of Healthy Mariculture for the East China Sea, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Fisheries College, Jimei University, Xiamen 361021, China; Fujian Engineering Research Center of Aquatic Breeding and Healthy Aquaculture, Jimei University, Xiamen 361021, China
| | - Yilei Wang
- Key Laboratory of Healthy Mariculture for the East China Sea, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Fisheries College, Jimei University, Xiamen 361021, China; Fujian Engineering Research Center of Aquatic Breeding and Healthy Aquaculture, Jimei University, Xiamen 361021, China.
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Hou M, Feng K, Luo H, Jiang Y, Xu W, Li Y, Song Y, Chen J, Tao B, Zhu Z, Hu W. Complete Depletion of Primordial Germ Cells Results in Masculinization of Monopterus albus, a Protogynous Hermaphroditic Fish. Mar Biotechnol (NY) 2022; 24:320-334. [PMID: 35303208 DOI: 10.1007/s10126-022-10106-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2021] [Accepted: 02/21/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Primordial germ cells (PGCs) play an important role in sexual fate determination and gonadal development in gonochoristic fish, such as zebrafish and medaka. However, little is known about the function of PGCs in hermaphroditic fish. Rice field eel (Monopterus albus), a protogynous hermaphroditic fish, is an economically valuable aquaculture species. We eliminated PGCs in rice field eels during embryogenesis via morpholino-mediated knockdown dead end (dnd). The PGCs-depleted gonads developed into testis-like structures with Sertoli cells and Leydig cells. The gene expression pattern of 15-month-old PGCs-depleted gonads showed that male-biased genes, dmrt1, sox9a, gsdf, and amh, were significantly higher than that of the WT, whereas female-biased genes, foxl2 and cyp19a1a, were significantly decreased. These results indicate that PGCs are essential for ovarian differentiation in rice field eel, and PGCs-depleted gonads develop into sterile males without undergoing the female and intersex stages. Our study is the first to identify the role of PGCs in sex differentiation in rice field eel, a protogynous hermaphrodite teleost. And it is of great significance in rice field eel for discovering the underlying mechanism of sex differentiation and establishing sex control technology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingxi Hou
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, The Innovation Academy of Seed Design, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan, 430072, China
- College of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Ke Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, The Innovation Academy of Seed Design, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan, 430072, China
| | - Hongrui Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, The Innovation Academy of Seed Design, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan, 430072, China
| | - Yinjun Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, The Innovation Academy of Seed Design, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan, 430072, China
- College of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Wen Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, The Innovation Academy of Seed Design, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan, 430072, China
- College of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Yongming Li
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, The Innovation Academy of Seed Design, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan, 430072, China
| | - Yanlong Song
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, The Innovation Academy of Seed Design, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan, 430072, China
| | - Ji Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, The Innovation Academy of Seed Design, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan, 430072, China
| | - Binbin Tao
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, The Innovation Academy of Seed Design, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan, 430072, China.
| | - Zuoyan Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, The Innovation Academy of Seed Design, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan, 430072, China
| | - Wei Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, The Innovation Academy of Seed Design, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan, 430072, China.
- Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, China.
- College of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China.
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Fang S, Duan Y, Nie L, Zhao W, Wang J, Zhao J, Zhao L, Wang L. Distinct metabolic profiling is correlated with bisexual flowers formation resulting from exogenous ethephon induction in melon ( Cucumis melo L.). PeerJ 2022; 10:e13088. [PMID: 35287348 PMCID: PMC8917798 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.13088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2021] [Accepted: 02/17/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Melon (Cucumis melo L.) is an agronomically important vegetable. Most cultivars of melon are andromonoecious and bisexual flowers only emerged from the leaf axil of lateral branches. However, the regulatory mechanism contributing to the occurrence of bisexual flowers were still obscure. In this study, ethephon was applied in two common cultivars of melon. In control without ethephon treatment, no bisexual flower was made in the main stem. However, 6.56 ± 1.42 and 6.63 ± 0.55 bisexual flowers were respectively induced in main stem of 'Yangjiaocui-QX' and 'Lvbao' after ethephon treatment, and induced bisexual flowers distributed in 12-20 nodes of main stem. During the formation of bisexual flowers, 41 metabolites were significantly up-regulated and 98 metabolites were significantly down-regulated. According to the KEGG enrichment analysis of 139 different metabolites, a total of 30 pathways were mapped and KEGG terms of "Phenylalanine, tyrosine and tryptophan biosynthesis", "Phenylalanine metabolism" and "Flavone and flavonol biosynthesis" were significantly enriched. In three significantly enriched KEGG terms, shikimic acid, L-tryptophan, L-phenylalanine, and kaempferol were significantly up-regulated while L-tyrosine, 4-hydroxycinnami acid and luteolin were significantly down-regulated in ET compared to CK. Different metabolites were also classified depend on major class features and 14 classes were acquired. The results of metabonomics and endogenous hormone identification indicated that ethylene could enhance the concentration of salicylic acid, methyl jasmonate, ABA and IAA. This study provided an important theoretical foundation for inducing bisexual flowers in main stem and breeding new varieties of melon in future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siyu Fang
- College of Horticulture, Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding, China
| | - Yaqian Duan
- College of Horticulture, Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding, China
| | - Lanchun Nie
- College of Horticulture, Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding, China,Hebei Key Laboratory of Vegetable Germplasm Innovation and Utilization, Baoding, China,Collaborative Innovation Center of Vegetative Industry of Hebei Province, Baoding, China
| | - Wensheng Zhao
- College of Horticulture, Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding, China,Hebei Key Laboratory of Vegetable Germplasm Innovation and Utilization, Baoding, China,Collaborative Innovation Center of Vegetative Industry of Hebei Province, Baoding, China
| | - Jiahao Wang
- College of Horticulture, Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding, China
| | - Jiateng Zhao
- College of Horticulture, Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding, China
| | - Liping Zhao
- Bureau of Agriculture and Rural of Dingzhou, Dingzhou, China
| | - Lei Wang
- Bureau of Agriculture and Rural of Dingzhou, Dingzhou, China
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48
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Evensen KG, Robinson WE, Krick K, Murray HM, Poynton HC. Comparative phylotranscriptomics reveals putative sex differentiating genes across eight diverse bivalve species. Comp Biochem Physiol Part D Genomics Proteomics 2022; 41:100952. [PMID: 34952324 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbd.2021.100952] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2021] [Revised: 12/08/2021] [Accepted: 12/08/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Mollusks, especially bivalves, exhibit a great diversity of sex determining mechanisms, including both genetic and environmental sex determination. Some bivalve species can be gonochoristic (separate sexes), while others are hermaphroditic (sequential or simultaneous). Several models have been proposed for specific bivalve species, utilizing information gained from gene expression data, as well as limited RAD-seq data (e.g., from Crassostrea gigas). However, these mechanisms are not as well studied as those in model organisms (e.g., Mus musculus, Drosophila melanogaster, Caenorhabditis elegans) and many genes involved in sex differentiation are not well characterized. We used phylotranscriptomics to better understand which possible sex differentiating genes are in bivalves and how these genes relate to similar genes in diverse phyla. We collected RNAseq data from eight phylogenetically diverse bivalve species: Argopecten irradians, Ensis directus, Geukensia demissa, Macoma tenta, Mercenaria mercenaria, Mya arenaria, Mytilus edulis, and Solemya velum. Using these data, we assembled representative transcriptomes for each species. We then searched for candidate sex differentiating genes using BLAST and confirmed the identity of nine genes using phylogenetics analyses from nine phyla. To increase the confidence of identification, we included ten bivalve genomes in our analyses. From the analysis of doublesex and mab-3 related transcription factor (DMRT) genes, we confirmed the identify of a Mollusk-specific sex determining DMRT gene: DMRT1L. Based on gene expression data from M. edulis and previous research, DMRT1L and FoxL2 are key genes for male and female development, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Garrett Evensen
- School for the Environment, University of Massachusetts Boston, 100 William T Morrissey Blvd, Boston, MA 02125, United States of America
| | - William E Robinson
- School for the Environment, University of Massachusetts Boston, 100 William T Morrissey Blvd, Boston, MA 02125, United States of America
| | - Keegan Krick
- School for the Environment, University of Massachusetts Boston, 100 William T Morrissey Blvd, Boston, MA 02125, United States of America
| | - Harry M Murray
- Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, 80 East White Hills Road, St John's, NL A1C 5X1, Canada
| | - Helen C Poynton
- School for the Environment, University of Massachusetts Boston, 100 William T Morrissey Blvd, Boston, MA 02125, United States of America.
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Jiang Y, Peng Z, Man Q, Wang S, Huang X, Meng L, Wang H, Zhu G. H3K27ac chromatin acetylation and gene expression analysis reveal sex- and situs-related differences in developing chicken gonads. Biol Sex Differ 2022; 13:6. [PMID: 35135592 PMCID: PMC8822763 DOI: 10.1186/s13293-022-00415-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2021] [Accepted: 01/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Birds exhibit a unique asymmetry in terms of gonad development. The female left gonad generates a functional ovary, whereas the right gonad regresses. In males, both left and right gonads would develop into testes. How is this left/right asymmetry established only in females but not in males remains unknown. The epigenetic regulation of gonadal developmental genes may contribute to this sex disparity. The modification of histone tails such as H3K27ac is tightly coupled to chromatin activation and gene expression. To explore whether H3K27ac marked chromatin activation is involved in the asymmetric development of avian gonads, we probed genome-wide H3K27ac occupancy in left and right gonads from both sexes and related chromatin activity profile to the expression of gonadal genes. Furthermore, we validated the effect of chromatin activity on asymmetric gonadal development by manipulating the chromatin histone acetylation levels. METHODS The undifferentiated gonads from both sides of each sex were collected and subjected to RNA-Seq and H3K27ac ChIP-Seq experiments. Integrated analysis of gene expression and active chromatin regions were performed to identify the sex- and situs-specific regulation and expression of gonadal genes. The histone deacetylase inhibitor trichostatin A (TSA) was applied to the undifferentiated female right gonads to assess the effect of chromatin activation on gonadal gene expression and cell proliferation. RESULTS Even before sex differentiation, the gonads already show divergent gene expression between different sexes and between left/right sides in females. The sex-specific H3K27ac chromatin distributions coincide with the higher expression of male/female specification genes in each sex. Unexpectedly, the H3K27ac marked chromatin activation show a dramatic difference between left and right gonads in both sexes, although the left/right asymmetric gonadal development was observed only in females but not in males. In females, the side-specific H3K27ac occupancy instructs the differential expression of developmental genes between the pair of gonads and contributes to the development of left but not right gonad. However, in males, the left/right discrepancy of H3K27ac chromatin distribution does not drive the side-biased gene expression or gonad development. The TSA-induced retention of chromatin acetylation causes up-regulation of ovarian developmental genes and increases cell proliferation in the female right gonad. CONCLUSIONS We revealed that left/right asymmetry in H3K27ac marked chromatin activation exists in both sexes, but this discrepancy gives rise to asymmetric gonadal development only in females. Other mechanisms overriding the chromatin activation would control the symmetric development of male gonads in chicken.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunqi Jiang
- Department of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, College of Animal Science and Technology, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, China.,Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Education, College of Animal Sciences and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Zhelun Peng
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Education, College of Animal Sciences and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Qiu Man
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Education, College of Animal Sciences and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Sheng Wang
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Education, College of Animal Sciences and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiaochen Huang
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Education, College of Animal Sciences and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Lu Meng
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Education, College of Animal Sciences and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Heng Wang
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Education, College of Animal Sciences and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.
| | - Guiyu Zhu
- Department of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, College of Animal Science and Technology, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, China. .,Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Education, College of Animal Sciences and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.
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50
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Othman R, Ron XJ, Yao H, O'Bryant P, Rapp D, Pei JC, Wu HJ, Wang HP. The effect of methyltestosterone (MT) on sex differentiation and growth in juvenile yellow perch (Perca flavescens). Fish Physiol Biochem 2022; 48:161-171. [PMID: 35039993 DOI: 10.1007/s10695-021-01038-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2021] [Accepted: 11/28/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
A study was conducted to evaluate the gonad differentiation of juvenile yellow perch (YP, Perca flavencens) and determine the latest labile period related to hormone treatment. Juvenile fish were subjected to two dietary concentrations of methyltestosterone (MT; 20 and 50 mg/kg feed) for 60 days in three (3) age groups of 38-, 46-, and 67-days post-hatching (dph), where control group were fed with standard commercial feed. Following a 10-month on-growing period, sex phenotypes were determined by gross and histological gonad morphology. Results showed the juvenile YP responded to the exogenous hormone when it was applied at 38 dph for both 20 and 50 mg/kg feed resulting in 100% males. At 46 dph, only 50 mg/kg feed resulted in 100% males. Both MT-treated at 38 and 46 dph significantly differed (P < 0.01) from the expected normal population of male:female (1:1). MT-treated at 67 dph resulted in 37% and 25% intersex fish for both 20 and 50 mg/kg feed dosage groups, respectively. MT-treated at 38 and 46 dph promoted growth and showed significantly heavier mean body weight (P < 0.05) compared to control. The gonadosomatic index (GSI) of MT-treated at 38 and 46 dph was significantly lower than that in control. This study provides the first evidence that juvenile YP can be successfully masculinized when the treatment is initiated at the age of up to 46 dph. The result is important for sex control in aquaculture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafidah Othman
- Ohio Center for Aquaculture Research and Development, The Ohio State University South Centers, 1864 Shyville Road, OH, 45661, Piketon, USA
- Borneo Marine Research Institute, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, UMS, Kota Kinabalu, 88400, Sabah, Malaysia
| | - Xiao-Jun Ron
- Ohio Center for Aquaculture Research and Development, The Ohio State University South Centers, 1864 Shyville Road, OH, 45661, Piketon, USA
- Laboratory for Marine Fisheries and Aquaculture, Yellow Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Qingdao, 266071, People's Republic of China
| | - Hong Yao
- Ohio Center for Aquaculture Research and Development, The Ohio State University South Centers, 1864 Shyville Road, OH, 45661, Piketon, USA
| | - Paul O'Bryant
- Ohio Center for Aquaculture Research and Development, The Ohio State University South Centers, 1864 Shyville Road, OH, 45661, Piketon, USA
| | - Dean Rapp
- Ohio Center for Aquaculture Research and Development, The Ohio State University South Centers, 1864 Shyville Road, OH, 45661, Piketon, USA
| | - Jing-Chen Pei
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, People's Republic of China
| | - Hong-Juan Wu
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, People's Republic of China.
| | - Han-Ping Wang
- Ohio Center for Aquaculture Research and Development, The Ohio State University South Centers, 1864 Shyville Road, OH, 45661, Piketon, USA.
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