Abstract
In vertebrates, the anterior pituitary plays a crucial role in regulating several essential physiological processes via the secretion of at least seven peptide hormones by different endocrine cell types. Comparative and comprehensive knowledge of the spatial distribution of those endocrine cell types is required to better understand their physiological functions. Using medaka as a model and several combinations of multi-color fluorescence in situ hybridization, we present the first 3D atlas revealing the gland-wide distribution of seven endocrine cell populations: lactotropes, thyrotropes, Lh and Fsh gonadotropes, somatotropes, and pomca-expressing cells (corticotropes and melanotropes) in the anterior pituitary of a teleost fish. By combining in situ hybridization and immunofluorescence techniques, we deciphered the location of corticotropes and melanotropes within the pomca-expressing cell population. The 3D localization approach reveals sexual dimorphism of tshba-, pomca-, and lhb-expressing cells in the adult medaka pituitary. Finally, we show the existence of bi-hormonal cells co-expressing lhb-fshb, fshb-tshba and lhb-sl using single-cell transcriptomics analysis and in situ hybridization. This study offers a solid basis for future comparative studies of the teleost pituitary and its functional plasticity.
Highlights
In vertebrates, the pituitary is considered the chef d’orchestre of the endocrine system, regulating several essential biological and physiological functions throughout the life cycle
Using medaka as a model and several combinations of multicolor fluorescence in situ hybridization, we present the first 3D atlas revealing the glandwide distribution of seven endocrine cell populations: lactotropes, thyrotropes, Lh and Fsh gonadotropes, somatotropes, and pomca-expressing cells in the anterior pituitary of a teleost fish
- We offer the first 3D atlas of a teleost pituitary, which presents a valuable resource to the endocrinology and model fish community
Summary
The pituitary is considered the chef d’orchestre of the endocrine system, regulating several essential biological and physiological functions throughout the life cycle. Studies of other species described five [Japanese medaka [13]], six [fourspine sculpin [14]; cardinal and bloodfin tetra [15]], seven [greater weever [16]; white seabream [17]; dimerus cichlid [18]], and eight [Atlantic halibut [19]; Nile tilapia [20]; saddle wrasse [21]] cell types Even though these previous studies have provided interesting information on the spatial organization of endocrine cell populations, they lack information due to the techniques available and used at the time. The single-labeling method and non-species specific antibodies typically used do not provide sufficient detail on arrangements among different endocrine cell populations, or on the possible existence of multi-hormonal cells as described in mammals [22,23,24,25] These features will be important to better understand their roles in fish physiology and endocrinology. Using multi-color in situ hybridization techniques together with singlecell transcriptomics analysis, this study offers the first 3D atlas of teleost pituitary endocrine cell populations, allowing the characterization of differences in spatial distribution between sexes and stages, as well as demonstrating the existence of multihormonal cells
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