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Comparative Biochemistry and... Jan 2022The intense mining extraction of oil sand (OS) has increased over the last few decades, raising concerns about the release of OS contaminants and toxicity in resident...
The intense mining extraction of oil sand (OS) has increased over the last few decades, raising concerns about the release of OS contaminants and toxicity in resident aquatic organisms in the Athabasca River (Alberta, Canada). To address this, endemic Pyganodon grandis mussels were caged for 6 weeks at various upstream and downstream sites of industrial OS mining activities. Post-exposure mussels were then analyzed for light/medium/heavy polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in tissues, general health (weight to length ratio, growth rate, air survival time), biotransformation (cytochrome P4501A and 3A and glutathione S-transferase activities), oxidative stress/inflammation (lipid peroxidation-LPO and arachidonate cyclooxygenase-COX), genotoxicity (DNA strand breaks), and gonad status (triglycerides, GSI and vitellogenin-like proteins). The following effects significantly differed between OS mining area and natural/background sites: health condition, growth rate, air survival time, COX (immune/inflammation) activity, P4501A/GST activity, LPO and DNA breaks in the digestive gland and vitellogenin-like proteins in the gonad. Correlation analysis revealed that the biochemical responses were scaled to at least one of the following impacts at the individual level: air survival time, weight to length ratio, growth rate and vitellogenin-like proteins. These indices were therefore identified as key adverse outcome pathways of mussels impacted by OS mining activities. Based on the relative levels of light/medium/heavy PAHs in tissues, the observed effects appears to be associated rather to the disturbance of OS in this area than contamination from OS tailing ponds leaching into the aquatic environment.
Topics: Animals; Bivalvia; Ecotoxicology; Environmental Monitoring; Oil and Gas Fields; Water Pollutants, Chemical
PubMed: 34597779
DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpc.2021.109193 -
Frontiers in Physiology 2023
PubMed: 37469557
DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2023.1244594 -
Investigating the role of glycoprotein hormone GPA2/GPB5 signaling in reproduction in adult female .Frontiers in Insect Science 2022Glycoprotein hormones are essential for regulating various physiological activities in vertebrates and invertebrates. In vertebrates, the classical glycoprotein hormones...
Glycoprotein hormones are essential for regulating various physiological activities in vertebrates and invertebrates. In vertebrates, the classical glycoprotein hormones include follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and chorionic gonadotropin (CG), which have crucial roles in growth, development, metabolism, and reproduction. In female mammals, FSH stimulates egg production in the ovaries, whereas LH and CG act as the triggers for follicular ovulation. The more recently discovered heterodimeric glycoprotein hormone GPA2/GPB5 (called thyrostimulin in vertebrates) is suggested to be involved in reproductive processes in arthropods. Here, we focus on understanding the role of GPA2/GPB5 and its receptor, LGR1, in the reproductive success of adult female , a vector of Chagas disease. qPCR was used to monitor the expression of and transcripts and their receptor in different tissues. Immunohistochemistry was used to show the distribution of in the nervous system and reproductive system, and RNA interference was used to disrupt the glycoprotein hormone signaling pathway. Both subunit transcripts, and , are present in a variety of tissues, with the greatest expression in the central nervous system; whereas the transcript is present in peripheral tissues, including the fat body and the reproductive system of adult females. In the adult female, GPB5-like immunoreactive axonal projections are present in the trunk nerves extending onto the reproductive tissues, with processes overlaying the ovaries, oviducts, spermatheca, and bursa, indicating the possibility of neural control by neurons containing GPA2/GPB5. In addition, GPB5-like immunostaining is present in muscles encircling the ovarioles, and in the cytoplasm of trophocytes (nurse cells) located in the tropharium. GPB5-like immunoreactive processes and blebs are also localized to the previtellogenic follicles, suggesting an involvement of this glycoprotein hormone signaling in oocyte development. transcript expression increases in the adult female reproductive system post-feeding, a stimulus that initiates reproductive development, adding further support to an involvement in reproduction. We have investigated the effect of downregulation on reproductive processes, monitoring the number and the quality of eggs laid, hatching ratio, and production of vitellogenin (Vg), the major yolk protein for developing eggs. Downregulation of leads to increases in transcript expression of vitellogenin, , in the fat body and the vitellogenin receptor, , in the ovaries. Total protein in the fat body and hemolymph of dsLGR1-injected insects increased compared to controls and associated with this effect was a significant increase in vitellogenin in these tissues. dsLGR1-injection leads to accelerated oogenesis, an increase in the number of eggs produced and laid, an increase in egg size and a reduction in hatching rate. Our results indicate that GPA2/GPB5 signaling acts to delay egg production in adult female
PubMed: 38468806
DOI: 10.3389/finsc.2022.1096089 -
Scientific Reports Aug 2022Juvenile hormone (JH) signalling, via its receptor Methoprene-tolerant (Met), controls metamorphosis and reproduction in insects. Met belongs to a superfamily of...
Juvenile hormone (JH) signalling, via its receptor Methoprene-tolerant (Met), controls metamorphosis and reproduction in insects. Met belongs to a superfamily of transcription factors containing the basic Helix Loop Helix (bHLH) and Per Arnt Sim (PAS) domains. Since its discovery in 1986, Met has been characterized in several insect species. However, in spite of the importance as vectors of Chagas disease, our knowledge on the role of Met in JH signalling in Triatominae is limited. In this study, we cloned and sequenced the Dipetalogaster maxima Met transcript (DmaxMet). Molecular modelling was used to build the structure of Met and identify the JH binding site. To further understand the role of the JH receptor during oogenesis, transcript levels were evaluated in two main target organs of JH, fat body and ovary. Functional studies using Met RNAi revealed significant decreases of transcripts for vitellogenin (Vg) and lipophorin (Lp), as well as their receptors. Lp and Vg protein amounts in fat body, as well as Vg in hemolymph were also decreased, and ovarian development was impaired. Overall, these studies provide additional molecular insights on the roles of JH signalling in oogenesis in Triatominae; and therefore are relevant for the epidemiology of Chagas´ disease.
Topics: Animals; Female; Juvenile Hormones; Methoprene; Oogenesis; Triatominae; Vitellogenins
PubMed: 35988007
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-18384-5 -
General and Comparative Endocrinology Jan 2023The vitellogenin is composed by polypeptides that are precursors of egg yolk proteins that provides embryo and larvae nutrition. The mRNA encoding for vitellogenin Ab...
The vitellogenin is composed by polypeptides that are precursors of egg yolk proteins that provides embryo and larvae nutrition. The mRNA encoding for vitellogenin Ab (Vtg-Ab; 4,536 bp long and 1,512 amino acids) were obtained by RNA-Seq library sequencing of pirarucu gonads. The Vtg-Ab sequences had high homology with Vtgs of other three teleosts species of the order Osteoglossiformes. The transcript of ovarian Vtg was identified based on structural criteria, and so we classify the Vtg of pirarucu as Vtg-Ab due to the truncated or shortened phosvitin (N-terminal end) and phosvitinless domain (C-terminal end). The Vtg-Ab of pirarucu present two major deletions with 133 amino acids in the Lipovitellin I domain and 89 amino acids in the truncated or shortened Phosvitin domain, both located in the N-terminal end region. The three-dimensional (3-D) structure Vtg-Ab protein shows the presence of a typical 4α-helices bundle protein that runs in anti-parallel. In general, the characterization of Vtg-Ab may be the useful elucidation of the hormonal regulation of vitellogenesis and improve the production of pirarucu for broodstock management in aquaculture and preparation of Vtg antibody production (species-specific) for sex identification.
Topics: Animals; Vitellogenins; Phosvitin; Amino Acid Sequence; Fishes; Amino Acids
PubMed: 36244430
DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2022.114143 -
Developmental and Comparative Immunology Jun 2023Vitellogenin (Vg) is the major precursor of the egg-yolk proteins, which mainly acts as an energy reserve molecule for providing nutrients during embryonic development....
Vitellogenin (Vg) is the major precursor of the egg-yolk proteins, which mainly acts as an energy reserve molecule for providing nutrients during embryonic development. Vg also plays an immune function in vertebrates such as fish, but there are few studies on the immune function of Vg in invertebrates. In the present study, a Vg homologue (CgVg) was identified and characterized in oyster Crassostrea gigas. There are three domains in the CgVg protein, including a Vitellogenin_N domain, a domain of unknown function 1943 (DUF1943) and a von Willebrand factor type D domain (VWD). The mRNA transcripts of CgVg were detected in all tested tissues with high expression in the gonad, hepatopancreas and haemocytes, which was 466.29-, 117.15- and 57.49-fold (p < 0.01) of that in adductor muscle, respectively. After Vibrio splendidus stimulation, the mRNA expression level of CgVg in haemocytes increased significantly at 6, 12 and 24 h, which was 1.97-, 3.58- and 1.3-fold (p < 0.01) of that in the seawater group, respectively. The immunofluorescence assay showed that positive signals of CgVg protein were mainly located at the cytoplasm of haemocytes. The recombinant protein of DUF1943 domain (rDUF1943) and VWD domain (rVWD) was able to bind lipopolysaccharide (LPS), mannose (MAN), peptidoglycan (PGN) and poly (I:C), as well as Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus and Micrococcus luteus), Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli and V. splendidus) and fungi (Pichia pastoris). rDUF1943 exhibited stronger agglutination activity towards S. aureus, M. luteus, E. coli, V. splendidus and P. pastoris, while agglutination was only observed in the rVWD group towards P. pastoris. The rVWD inhibited the growth of E. coli, S. aureus and V. splendidus, while no antibacterial activity was detected in rDUF1943 group. Collectively, CgVg not only functioned as a pattern recognition receptor (PRR) to bind various microorganisms and PAMPs, but also as an immune effector participating in the clearance of invaders, in which DUF1943 and VWD domain were mainly responsible for agglutinating and inhibiting microorganism respectively.
Topics: Animals; Vitellogenins; Crassostrea; Staphylococcus aureus; Escherichia coli; Agglutination; RNA, Messenger; Hemocytes; Immunity, Innate
PubMed: 36921701
DOI: 10.1016/j.dci.2023.104679 -
Metabolites Jul 2021The liver is a vital organ that sustains multiple functions beneficial for the whole organism. It is sexually dimorphic, presenting sex-biased gene expression with... (Review)
Review
The liver is a vital organ that sustains multiple functions beneficial for the whole organism. It is sexually dimorphic, presenting sex-biased gene expression with implications for the phenotypic differences between males and females. Estrogens are involved in this sex dimorphism and their actions in the liver of several reptiles, fishes, amphibians, and birds are discussed. The liver participates in reproduction by producing vitellogenins (yolk proteins) and eggshell proteins under the control of estrogens that act via two types of receptors active either mainly in the cell nucleus (ESR) or the cell membrane (). Estrogens also control hepatic lipid and lipoprotein metabolisms, with a triglyceride carrier role for VLDL from the liver to the ovaries during oogenesis. Moreover, the activation of the vitellogenin genes is used as a robust biomarker for exposure to xenoestrogens. In the context of liver diseases, high plasma estrogen levels are observed in fatty liver hemorrhagic syndrome (FLHS) in chicken implicating estrogens in the disease progression. Fishes are also used to investigate liver diseases, including models generated by mutation and transgenesis. In conclusion, studies on the roles of estrogens in the non-mammalian oviparous vertebrate liver have contributed enormously to unveil hormone-dependent physiological and physiopathological processes.
PubMed: 34436443
DOI: 10.3390/metabo11080502 -
Environmental Pollution (Barking, Essex... Jul 2023Total mercury (THg) was measured in muscle (fillet) and liver tissue of adult smallmouth bass Micropterus dolomieu collected at multiple sites in the Potomac and...
Total mercury (THg) was measured in muscle (fillet) and liver tissue of adult smallmouth bass Micropterus dolomieu collected at multiple sites in the Potomac and Susquehanna River drainages within the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Smallmouth bass in these drainages have experienced episodic mortality events, a high prevalence of skin lesions and reproductive endocrine disruption (intersex or testicular oocytes and plasma vitellogenin in males). A multi-level assessment of general and reproductive health including indicators at the organismal, organ, cellular and molecular levels was conducted on adult smallmouth bass during the spring (prespawn) season. Concentrations of THg were correlated with increased visible abnormalities, increased macrophage aggregates and tissue parasite burdens. In male bass positive correlations of THg were observed with plasma vitellogenin and hepatic transcript abundance of estrogen receptor β1 and androgen receptor α, while there was a negative association with estrogen receptors α and β2 and androgen receptors β. In female bass there was a negative correlation between THg and plasma vitellogenin as well as hepatic transcript abundance of vitellogenin, choriogenin, estrogen receptor β2 and 17β hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase. Associations of THg concentrations with various biological indicators suggest mercury may be an important environmental stressor contributing to the observed adverse effects in smallmouth bass populations.
Topics: Animals; Male; Female; Bass; Mercury; Receptors, Estrogen; Vitellogenins; Water Pollutants, Chemical; Rivers
PubMed: 37088253
DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.121688 -
Scientific Reports Sep 2021An isolated bacterium TBE-8, was identified as Leuconostoc mesenteroides according to the sequences of 16S rDNA and the 16S-23S rDNA intergenic spacer region. The...
An isolated bacterium TBE-8, was identified as Leuconostoc mesenteroides according to the sequences of 16S rDNA and the 16S-23S rDNA intergenic spacer region. The probiotic properties of the L. mesenteroides TBE-8 strain were characterized and revealed that TBE-8 could utilize various carbohydrates, exhibited high tolerance to sucrose's osmotic pressure and acidic conditions, and could mitigate the impact of the bee pathogen Paenibacillus larvae. In addition, we found that the TBE-8 broth increased the expression of the nutrition-related genes major royal jelly protein 1 and vitellogenin in bees by approximately 1400- and 20-fold, respectively. The expression of genes encoding two antibacterial peptides, hymenoptaecin and apidaecin, in the bee abdomen was significantly increased by 17- and 7-fold in bees fed with the TBE-8 fermented broth. Furthermore, we fed four-frame bee colonies with 50% sucrose syrup containing TBE-8 and can detect the presence of approximately 2 × 10 16S rDNA copies of TBE-8 in the guts of all bees in 24 h, and the retention of TBE-8 in the bee gut for at least 5 days. These findings indicate that the L. mesenteroides TBE-8 has high potential as a bee probiotic and could enhance the health of bee colonies.
Topics: Animals; Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; Bees; Carbohydrate Metabolism; Disease Resistance; Glycoproteins; Insect Proteins; Leuconostoc mesenteroides; Paenibacillus larvae; Probiotics; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; Vitellogenins
PubMed: 34531482
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-97950-9 -
Animal Reproduction Science Dec 2022Oogenesis in fish is a process that involves cell proliferation, growth and maturation. In rivers blocked by hydroelectric dams, these factors can be altered and affect...
Oogenesis in fish is a process that involves cell proliferation, growth and maturation. In rivers blocked by hydroelectric dams, these factors can be altered and affect the reproduction mechanism of the species. Regarding this scenario, the present study aimed to describe oogenesis in two cichlids native to the Amazon basin, Geophagus argyrostictus and G. altifrons, during pre- and post-dam periods of the Xingu River. Females of both Geophagus species were captured and biometric measurements were taken. Afterwards, the fish were euthanized, and the gonads were removed and subjected to histological processing for light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and immunoperoxidase staining. Oocyte diameter and zona radiata thickness were also measured. The ovaries appeared in pairs, where according to their shape, size, vascularization and cell organization, five stages were described for both species. In the post-dam period, there was a reduction in the mean diameter of the oocytes, especially type IV, and a decrease in the thickness of the zona radiata, mainly, in G. argyrostictus. In both species, there was a greater presence of oocyte atresia in the post-dam period. PCNA immunoreactivity was more intense in type I and II oocytes, while vitellogenin immunoreactivity occurred in the cytoplasm and follicular cells of oocytes III and IV. These data suggest that because of changes in the level/flow of the river, the gonads of these two species adjust to the new environment, with a decrease in mean diameter and zona radiata thickness of the oocytes, which can interfere with the reproduction of the animals.
Topics: Female; Animals; Vitellogenins; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen; Oogenesis; Oocytes; Cichlids
PubMed: 36435051
DOI: 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2022.107150