Maugars, Gersende
- Department of Wildlife, Fish and Environmental Studies, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
Abstract
The initiation of sexual maturation and spermatogenesis are complex processes that require the highly coordinated regulation of a number of key genes. The endocrine system plays crucial roles in these processes, but the precise mechanisms involved in sexual maturation of fish are poorly understood. We investigated the expression of genes encoding proteins involved in sex steroid biosynthesis (Ff1b (FTZ-F1 homolog), steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR), cytochrome P450 cholesterol side-chain cleavage enzyme (P450scc), 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase/Delta(5)-Delta(4)-isomerase (3 beta-HSD), cytochrome P450 17 alpha-hydroxylase/17,20-lyase (1345007), cytochrome P450 11 beta-hydroxylase (P45011 beta) and 11 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11 beta-HSD)) and the anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) homolog during early sexual maturation of one-summer-old male Atlantic salmon part by RT-PCR. Genes encoding Ff1b, StAR, 3 beta-HSD, P450c17 and 11 beta-HSD were upregulated during spermatogonial proliferation. During the course of spermatogenesis expression profiles of Ff1b, StAR, 3 beta-HSD, P450scc, P450c17, P45011 beta, and 11 beta-HSD were similar; transcript levels being low during early stages, then strongly increasing during spermiogenesis. These results indicate that coordinated de novo transcription of genes encoding StAR as well as 3 beta-HSD, P450c17 and 11 beta-HSD might be required for sex steroids production during the initiation of spermatogenesis in salmon. In contrast, transcription levels of AMH were comparatively high in immature testes, decreased when spermatogenesis was initiated, and were lowest during spermiogenesis, suggesting that AMH suppression plays a crucial role in the process of spermatogenesis in salmonids. Correlation analyses show that FSH and LH might be differentially involved in the regulation of several of these genes studied. (c) 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Keywords
Puberty; Spermatogenesis; Male Atlantic salmon part; Steroidogenic enzymes; StAR; Ff1b; AMH
Published in
General and Comparative Endocrinology
2008, volume: 159, number: 2-3, pages: 178-187
Publisher: ACADEMIC PRESS INC ELSEVIER SCIENCE
SLU Authors
Schmitz, Monica
- Karlstad University
UKÄ Subject classification
Zoology
Genetics and Genomics
Publication identifier
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ygcen.2008.08.008
Permanent link to this page (URI)
https://res.slu.se/id/publ/77938