Regulation Of Sexual Maturation Research Articles

The time-keeping hormone melatonin: a possible key cue for puberty in freshwater eels (Anguilla spp.)

Worldwide, there is a dramatic decline in freshwater eel populations (Anguilla spp.), resulting in an urgent need to improve eel management and artificial reproduction protocols. Unfortunately, eels in captivity do not reproduce spontaneously as they remain in a (pre)-pubertal state resulting from a strong neural blockage. Eel propagation is possible to some extent by applying extensive, expensive, unnatural hormonal treatments. However, the success rates are still far too low to support a sustainable farming industry, due to low gamete quality and low survival rates of larvae. Artificial reproduction of eels has been pursued for almost 80 years, and maturation protocols have changed little. In order to improve current protocols it is clear that a different approach towards stimulating sexual maturation is required. In many fish species, changes in external environmental cues, such as photoperiod and temperature, are crucial to induce gonadal recrudescence and development. Still, the natural triggers involved in the gametogenesis of eels are poorly understood. The time-keeping hormone melatonin is a well-known transmitter of external cues, and influences various physiological processes, including reproduction. In eels, we hypothesize that melatonin is an important key player in the regulation of sexual maturation. Thus far, its mode of action is still an area which needs to be explored. In this review, we provide an overview of the current knowledge of studied natural cues possibly affecting reproductive function and the plausible role of melatonin in the regulation of puberty in eels.

Effects of light-emitting diode spectra on the vertebrate ancient long opsin and gonadotropin hormone in the goldfish Carassius auratus

We determined the molecular mechanism underlying the environmental (photoperiodic) regulation of sexual maturation in fish, we examined the expression of sexual maturation-related hormones and vertebrate ancient long opsin (VAL-opsin) in goldfish (Carassius auratus) exposed to different light spectra (red and green light-emitting diodes). We further evaluated the effect of exogenous gonadotropin hormone (GTH) on the expression of VAL-opsin under different light conditions. Our results demonstrated that the expression of GTHs was higher in the fish exposed to green light, and VAL-opsin levels were increased in the fish receiving GTH injection. Therefore, we have uncovered a molecular mechanism underlying the environmental (light)-induced trigger for sexual maturation: VAL-opsin is activated by green light and GTH, which promotes the expression of sexual maturation genes.

Changes in the gene expression profiles of the brains of male European eels (Anguilla anguilla) during sexual maturation.

BackgroundThe vertebrate brain plays a critical role in the regulation of sexual maturation and reproduction by integrating environmental information with developmental and endocrine status. The European eel Anguilla anguilla is an important species in which to better understand the neuroendocrine factors that control reproduction because it is an endangered species, has a complex life cycle that includes two extreme long distance migrations with both freshwater and seawater stages and because it occupies a key position within the teleost phylogeny. At present, mature eels have never been caught in the wild and little is known about most aspects of reproduction in A. anguilla. The goal of this study was to identify genes that may be involved in sexual maturation in experimentally matured eels. For this, we used microarrays to compare the gene expression profiles of sexually mature to immature males.ResultsUsing a false discovery rate of 0.05, a total of 1,497 differentially expressed genes were identified. Of this set, 991 were expressed at higher levels in brains (forebrain and midbrain) of mature males while 506 were expressed at lower levels relative to brains of immature males. The set of up-regulated genes includes genes involved in neuroendocrine processes, cell-cell signaling, neurogenesis and development. Interestingly, while genes involved in immune system function were down-regulated in the brains of mature males, changes in the expression levels of several receptors and channels were observed suggesting that some rewiring is occurring in the brain at sexual maturity.ConclusionsThis study shows that the brains of eels undergo major changes at the molecular level at sexual maturity that may include re-organization at the cellular level. Here, we have defined a set of genes that help to understand the molecular mechanisms controlling reproduction in eels. Some of these genes have previously described functions while many others have roles that have yet to be characterized in a reproductive context. Since most of the genes examined here have orthologs in other vertebrates, the results of this study will contribute to the body of knowledge concerning reproduction in vertebrates as well as to an improved understanding of eel biology.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/1471-2164-15-799) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

A novel GH secretagogue, A233, exhibits enhanced growth activity and innate immune system stimulation in teleosts fish

In teleosts fish, secretion of GH is regulated by several hypothalamic factors that are influenced by the physiological state of the animal. There is an interaction between immune and endocrine systems through hormones and cytokines. GH in fish is involved in many physiological processes that are not overtly growth related, such as saltwater osmoregulation, antifreeze synthesis, and the regulation of sexual maturation and immune functions. This study was conducted to characterize a decapeptide compound A233 (GKFDLSPEHQ) designed by molecular modeling to evaluate its function as a GH secretagogue (GHS). In pituitary cell culture, the peptide A233 induces GH secretion and it is also able to increase superoxide production in tilapia head-kidney leukocyte cultures. This effect is blocked by preincubation with the GHS receptor antagonist [d-Lys(3)]-GHRP6. Immunoneutralization of GH by addition of anti-tilapia GH monoclonal antibody blocked the stimulatory effect of A233 on superoxide production. These experiments propose a GH-mediated mechanism for the action of A233. The in vivo biological action of the decapeptide was also demonstrated for growth stimulation in goldfish and tilapia larvae (P<0.001). Superoxide dismutase levels, antiprotease activity, and lectin titer were enhanced in tilapia larvae treated with this novel molecule. The decapeptide A233 designed by molecular modeling is able to function as a GHS in teleosts and enhance parameters of the innate immune system in the fish larvae.

Implication of somatolactin in the regulation of sexual maturation and spawning of Mugil cephalus.

Specific antibody for chum salmon somatolactin (SL) was used for immunocytochemical investigation of SL cell activity of Mugil cephalus during the gonadal cycle in both natural habitat and captivity. The SL-immunoreactive cells showed strong and specific immunoreactivity to antichum salmon SL. The number of SL-immunoreactive cells increased, as did the secretory and synthetic activity during sexual maturation and spawning in the natural habitat. The SL cells were rather small and moderately immunoreactive in immature fish; they were enlarged, their numbers increased, and they frequently showed more SL immunoreactivity during gonadal development. In addition, during late stages of maturation, small cell size with more or less SL immunoreactive cells were noted, indicating an active release of SL granules. Prespawning females tended to have more enlarged SL cells with stronger immunoreactivity than equivalent males. The SL cells showed an increase in the secretory activity during spawning as indicated by small size and weak immunoreactivity. The SL cells of M. cephalus reared in captivity showed high activity. This may be due to the low concentration of calcium in fresh water. The gradual stimulation of SL synthesis and release during sexual maturation and spawning of M. cephalus suggest that SL may be involved in the control of some steps of reproductive processes, such as steroidogenesis, calcium metabolism, and energy mobilization.

The biology of salmon growth hormone: from daylight to dominance

The elucidation of the molecular structure of salmon growth hormone (GH) in the mid-1980's paved the way for a new era of endocrinological research. Establishment of homologous immuno- and receptor-assays have made studies of the secretion, tissue and plasma GH levels, GH turn-over and GH receptor concentrations possible. This overview attempts to summarize the present understanding of the biological roles of GH in salmon. Although the involvement of GH in the regulation of physiological processes throughout the salmon life history has yet to be comprehensively explored, the hormone has already been demonstrated to have several important functions. GH is a principal regulator of somatic growth in salmonids. The growth-stimulating effect of GH is probably integrated with that of insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I), as in later vertebrates. GH stimulates protein synthesis and improves feed conversion during growth. The hormone also promotes lipid and glycogen breakdown as well as gluconeogenesis, functions which are probably of great importance during starvation when GH levels are seen to increase. During parr-smolt transformation of anadromous salmonids, circulating GH levels appear to be governed by environmental cues. Increasing springtime daylength elevates GH levels, and temperature modulates the photoperiod regulation of GH. The seawater-adapting role of GH during the parr-smolt transformation is complex. In freshwater, GH improves hypoosmoregulatory ability by stimulating branchial Na+,K+-ATPase activity and probably also acts in kidney and intestine. Following seawater entry, GH levels and turn-over increase transiently, probably to further increase seawater tolerance. Accumulating in vitro and in vivo data support the conclusion that GH is involved in the regulation of sexual maturation in salmonids although further studies are needed to establish the exact role of GH in this process. GH increases appetite but it is unclear whether the hormone effects the central nervous system directly, or acts indirectly through metabolic changes. GH increases swimming activity as well as dominant feeding behaviour and diminishes anti-predator behaviour of juvenile salmonids. The GH-induced changes of behavioural patterns imply that there exists an ecological trade-off between high growth rate and long-term survival which may explain why natural fish populations normally grow at sub-maximal rates. Current knowledge indicates that GH is an important and multi-functional hormone in salmon and a central mediator of seasonal changes in physiology and behaviour. The regulatory effects of GH are also of great applied interest as they are likely to affect both product quality in aquaculture and long-term survival of released fish.

Inhibition of Sexual Maturation in Male Rats by Melatonin: Evidence Linking the Mechanism of Action to Changes in the Regulation of Hypothalamic Neuropeptide Y

Activation of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRHJ pathways is a pivotal event in the process of sexual maturation, however the regulatory influences that precipitate this change and lead to the onset of puberty remain poorly understood. Recent studies indicate that neuropeptide Y (NPY) may participate in the regulation of luteinizing hormone secretion by modulating the pattern of GnRH secretion and by directly altering the pituitary responsiveness to GnRH stimulation. To determine whether NPY plays a role in puberty-associated changes in hypothalamic function, levels of NPY-like immunoreactivity (NPY-IR) were measured in a fragment of the hypothalamus encompassing the median eminence and medial portion of the arcuate nucleus (ME-AN), and also in the remainder of the hypothalamus from male rats of different ages. To identify changes in hypothaiamic NPY linked to the process of sexual development, the effect of delaying sexual maturation by daily afternoon administration of 100 μg melatonin (MT) from 20 to 40 days was investigated. In the hypothalamus and ME-AN, total NPY content increased progressively with age. Expressed as a concentration (fmol/μg extracted protein), peak values for the ME-AN (55.4 ± 7.0) were observed at 30 days of age followed by a decline to lower levels (30.2 ± 1.9) at 40 days. Daily afternoon administration of MT from 20 days of age resulted in significant increases (P<0.01) in the levels of NPY-IR in the ME-AN compared to control values at 30 and 40 days of age. MT was without effect on NPY-IR levels in the remainder of the hypothalamus. When MT was administered in the early morning, a procedure which does not delay sexual maturation, NPY-IR values for the ME-AN region were not different from control rats indicating that the MT-induced changes in NPY were related to the effects on sexual maturation. Using pituitary luteinizing hormone content and seminal vesicle weight as indices of sexual development, significant inverse correlation coefficients (P<0.001) between these parameters and the NPY concentration in the ME-AN were observed (r =-0.79 and -0.70, respectively). From published data it is not possible to conclude whether the main effects of NPY are exerted at the hypothalamic or pituitary level. However, the changes in the NPY content of the ME-AN observed during the onset of puberty, and the influence of MT on these changes, support assertions that NPY is involved in the regulation of sexual maturation.

Serum prolactin and sex steroids in Atlantic salmon ( Salmo salar) during sexual maturation

Serum prolactin (PRL), total estrogen and androgen levels were measured monthly from May to September in adult Atlantic salmon. The fish were kept in sea water with no significant osmotic changes throughout the sampling period. Serum PRL in sexually maturing males and females, which spawned in November, and three immature females reached maximum levels (mean 10.6 ng/ml) at the end of June and declined thereafter. A significant increase in total androgen and estrogen levels in the maturing fish was not found until August–September. The results did not indicate any primary role for PRL in the regulation of sexual maturation in Atlantic salmon. However, a permissive action of PRL should not be excluded. The possible participation of PRL in the preadaptation for fresh water migration is discussed.