-
General and Comparative Endocrinology Jan 2023Eyestalk-derived neuropeptides, primarily the crustacean hyperglycemic hormone (CHH) neuropeptide family, regulate vitellogenesis in decapod crustaceans. The red...
Eyestalk-derived neuropeptides, primarily the crustacean hyperglycemic hormone (CHH) neuropeptide family, regulate vitellogenesis in decapod crustaceans. The red deep-sea crab, Chaceon quinquedens, a cold-water species inhabiting depths between 200 and 1800 m, has supported a small fishery, mainly harvesting adult males in the eastern US for over 40 years. This study aimed to understand the role of eyestalk-neuropeptides in vitellogenesis in C. quinquedens with an extended intermolt stage. Chromatography shows two CHH and one MIH peak in the sinus gland, with a CHH2 peak area four times larger than CHH1. The cDNA sequence of MIH and CHH of C. quinquedens is isolated from the eyestalk ganglia, and the qPCR assay shows MIH is significantly higher only at ovarian stages 3 than 4 and 5. However, MIH transcript and its neuropeptides do differ between stages 1 and 3. While CHH transcripts remain constant, its neuropeptide levels are higher at stages 3 than 1. Additionally, transcriptomic analysis of the de novo eyestalk ganglia assembly at ovarian stages 1 and 3 found 28 eyestalk neuropeptides. A GIH/VIH or GSH/VSH belonging to the CHH family is absent in the transcriptome. Transcripts per million (TPM) values of ten neuropeptides increase by 1.3 to 2.0-fold at stage 3 compared to stage 1: twofold for Bursicon α, followed by CHH, AKH/corazonin-like, Pyrokinin, CCAP, Glycoprotein B, PDH1, and IDLSRF-like peptide, and 1.3-fold of allatostatin A and short NP-F. WXXXRamide, the only downregulated neuropeptide, decreases TPM by ∼ 2-fold at stage 3, compared to stage 1. Interestingly, neuroparsin with the highest TPM values remains the same in stages 1 and 3. The mandibular organ-inhibiting hormone is not found in de novo assembly. We report that CHH, MIH, and eight other neuropeptides may play a role in vitellogenesis in this species.
Topics: Animals; Male; Female; Brachyura; Invertebrate Hormones; Arthropod Proteins; Neuropeptides; Ganglia; DNA, Complementary; Transcriptome
PubMed: 36152768
DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2022.114128 -
Ecology and Evolution Feb 2021A frequent response of organisms to climate change is altering the timing of reproduction, and advancement of reproductive timing has been a common reaction to warming...
A frequent response of organisms to climate change is altering the timing of reproduction, and advancement of reproductive timing has been a common reaction to warming temperatures in temperate regions. We tested whether this pattern applied to two common North American turtle species over the past three decades in Nebraska, USA. The timing of nesting (either first date or average date) of the Common Snapping Turtle () was negatively correlated with mean December maximum temperatures of the preceding year and mean May minimum and maximum temperatures in the nesting year and positively correlated with precipitation in July of the previous year. Increased temperatures during the late winter and spring likely permit earlier emergence from hibernation, increased metabolic rates and feeding opportunities, and accelerated vitellogenesis, ovulation, and egg shelling, all of which could drive earlier nesting. However, for the Painted Turtle (), the timing of nesting was positively correlated with mean minimum temperatures in September, October, December of the previous year, February of the nesting year, and April precipitation. These results suggest warmer fall, and winter temperature may impose an increased metabolic cost to painted turtles that impedes fall vitellogenesis, and April rains may slow the completion of vitellogenesis through decreased basking opportunities. For both species, nest deposition was highly correlated with body size, and larger females nested earlier in the season. Although average annual ambient temperatures have increased over the last four decades of our overall fieldwork at our study site, spring temperatures have not yet increased, and hence, nesting phenology has not advanced at our site for . While exhibited a weak trend toward later nesting, this response was likely due to increased recruitment of smaller females into the population due to nest protection and predator control () in the early 2000s. Should climate change result in an increase in spring temperatures, nesting phenology would presumably respond accordingly, conditional on body size variation within these populations.
PubMed: 33598126
DOI: 10.1002/ece3.7105 -
PloS One 2023Ecdysteroids control ovary growth and egg production through a complex gene hierarchy. In the female Rhodnius prolixus, a blood-gorging triatomine and the vector of...
Ecdysteroids control ovary growth and egg production through a complex gene hierarchy. In the female Rhodnius prolixus, a blood-gorging triatomine and the vector of Chagas disease, we have identified the ecdysone response genes in the ovary using transcriptomic data. We then quantified the expression of the ecdysone response gene transcripts (E75, E74, BR-C, HR3, HR4, and FTZ-F1) in several tissues, including the ovary, following a blood meal. These results confirm the presence of these transcripts in several tissues in R. prolixus and show that the ecdysone response genes in the ovary are mostly upregulated during the first three days post blood meal (PBM). Knockdown of E75, E74, or FTZ-F1 transcripts using RNA interference (RNAi) was used to understand the role of the ecdysone response genes in vitellogenesis and egg production. Knockdown significantly decreases the expression of the transcripts for the ecdysone receptor and Halloween genes in the fat body and the ovaries and reduces the titer of ecdysteroid in the hemolymph. Knockdown of each of these transcription factors typically alters the expression of the other transcription factors. Knockdown also significantly decreases the expression of vitellogenin transcripts, Vg1 and Vg2, in the fat body and ovaries and reduces the number of eggs produced and laid. Some of the laid eggs have an irregular shape and smaller volume, and their hatching rate is decreased. Knockdown also influences the expression of the chorion gene transcripts Rp30 and Rp45. The overall effect of knockdown is a decrease in number of eggs produced and a severe reduction in number of eggs laid and their hatching rate. Clearly, ecdysteroids and ecdysone response genes play a significant role in reproduction in R. prolixus.
Topics: Animals; Female; Ecdysone; Ecdysteroids; Rhodnius; Ovary; Vitellogenesis
PubMed: 36940230
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0283286 -
Insects Feb 2022Tudor family proteins exist in all eukaryotic organisms and play a role in many cellular processes by recognizing and binding to proteins with methylated arginine or...
Tudor family proteins exist in all eukaryotic organisms and play a role in many cellular processes by recognizing and binding to proteins with methylated arginine or lysine residues. TDRD5, a member of Tudor domain-containing proteins (TDRDs), has been implicated in the P-element-induced wimpy testis-interacting RNA (piRNA) pathway and germ cell development in some model species, but little is known about its function in other species. Therefore, we identified and characterized LmTDRD5, the TDRD5 ortholog in Locusta migratoria, a hemimetabolous pest. The LmTdrd5 gene has 19 exons that encode a protein possessing a single copy of the Tudor domain and three LOTUS domains at its N-terminus. qRT-PCR analysis revealed a high LmTdrd5 expression level in genital glands. Using RNA interference, LmTdrd5 knockdown in males led to a lag in meiosis phase transition, decreased spermatid elongation and sperm production, and downregulated the expression of the two germ cell-specific transcription factors, LmCREM and LmACT, as well as the sperm tail marker gene LmQrich2.LmTdrd5 knockdown in females reduced the expression levels of vitellogenin (Vg) and Vg receptor (VgR) and impaired ovarian development and oocyte maturation, thus decreasing the hatchability rate. These results demonstrate that LmTdrd5 is essential for germ cell development and fertility in locusts, indicating a conserved function for TDRD5.
PubMed: 35323525
DOI: 10.3390/insects13030227 -
International Journal of Molecular... Mar 2020Oxytocin (OT)/vasopressin (VP) signaling system is important to the regulation of metabolism, osmoregulation, social behaviours, learning, and memory, while the...
Oxytocin (OT)/vasopressin (VP) signaling system is important to the regulation of metabolism, osmoregulation, social behaviours, learning, and memory, while the regulatory mechanism on ovarian development is still unclear in invertebrates. In this study, ot/vp-like and its receptor (ot/vpr-like) were identified in the mud crab Scylla paramamosain. ot/vp-like transcripts were mainly expressed in the nervous tissues, midgut, gill, hepatopancreas, and ovary, while ot/vpr-like were widespread in various tissues including the hepatopancreas, ovary, and hemocytes. In situ hybridisation revealed that ot/vp-like mRNA was mainly detected in 6-9 clusters in the cerebral ganglion, and oocytes and follicular cells in the ovary, while ot/vpr-like was found to localise in F-cells in the hepatopancreas and oocytes in the ovary. In vitro experiment showed that the mRNA expression level of vg in the hepatopancreas, vgr in the ovary, and 17β-estradiol (E) content in culture medium were significantly declined with the administration of synthetic OT/VP-like peptide. Besides, after the injection of OT/VP-like peptide, it led to the significantly reduced expression of vg in the hepatopancreas and subduced E content in the haemolymph in the crabs. In brief, OT/VP signaling system might inhibit vitellogenesis through neuroendocrine and autocrine/paracrine modes, which may be realised by inhibiting the release of E.
Topics: Animals; Brachyura; Female; Ganglia, Invertebrate; Hepatopancreas; Ovary; Oxytocin; Receptors, Oxytocin; Receptors, Vasopressin; Transcriptome; Vasopressins; Vitellogenesis
PubMed: 32225106
DOI: 10.3390/ijms21072297 -
PLoS Genetics Oct 2014Juvenile hormone (JH), a sesquiterpenoid produced by the corpora allata, coordinates insect growth, metamorphosis, and reproduction. While JH action for the repression...
Juvenile hormone (JH), a sesquiterpenoid produced by the corpora allata, coordinates insect growth, metamorphosis, and reproduction. While JH action for the repression of larval metamorphosis has been well studied, the molecular basis of JH in promoting adult reproduction has not been fully elucidated. Methoprene-tolerant (Met), the JH receptor, has been recently shown to mediate JH action during metamorphosis as well as in vitellogenesis, but again, the precise mechanism underlying the latter has been lacking. We have now demonstrated using Met RNAi to phenocopy a JH-deprived condition in migratory locusts, that JH stimulates DNA replication and increases ploidy in preparation for vitellogenesis. Mcm4 and Mcm7, two genes in the DNA replication pathway were expressed in the presence of JH and Met. Depletion of Mcm4 or Mcm7 inhibited de novo DNA synthesis and polyploidization, and resulted in the substantial reduction of vitellogenin mRNA levels as well as severely impaired oocyte maturation and ovarian growth. By using luciferase reporter and electrophoretic mobility shift assays, we have shown that Met directly regulates the transcription of Mcm4 and Mcm7 by binding to upstream consensus sequences with E-box or E-box-like motifs. Our work suggests that the JH-receptor complex acts on Mcm4 and Mcm7 to regulate DNA replication and polyploidy for vitellogenesis and oocyte maturation.
Topics: Animals; Grasshoppers; Humans; Juvenile Hormones; Larva; Methoprene; Minichromosome Maintenance Complex Component 4; Minichromosome Maintenance Complex Component 7; Nuclear Proteins; Oocytes; Oogenesis; Polyploidy; RNA Interference; RNA, Messenger; Signal Transduction; Vitellogenesis
PubMed: 25340846
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1004702 -
Frontiers in Bioscience (Landmark... Jan 2011Meiotic maturation is a complex process that involves resumption of meiosis in response to preovulatory luteinizing hormone (LH) surge just before ovulation. High levels... (Comparative Study)
Comparative Study Review
Meiotic maturation is a complex process that involves resumption of meiosis in response to preovulatory luteinizing hormone (LH) surge just before ovulation. High levels of cAMP in oocytes maintain meiotic arrest at diplotene of prophase I in mammals and pisces. In mammals, the process by which LH induces recommencement of meiosis involves breakdown of oocyte-somatic cells communication, which is followed by a drop in intracellular cAMP levels that in turn causes exit from meiotic arrest. Maturation promoting factor (MPF) then accomplishes progression of oocytes to reach first metaphase followed by second metaphase after reinitiating meiosis. Pisces require precise completion of oocyte growth involving vitellogenesis before the entry of meiotic maturation. Then, both mammalian and fish oocytes enters resumption of meiosis involving germinal vesicle breakdown, chromosome condensation, assembly of meiotic spindle, and formation of first polar body. However, this process in pisces is regulated by three major mediators, LH, 17alpha,20beta-dihydroxy progesterone and MPF which are unique. The molecular mechanisms of meiotic maturation and ovulation by comparing mammalian and piscine research have been dealt in this review.
Topics: 3-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases; A Kinase Anchor Proteins; Animals; Cortisone Reductase; Cyclic AMP; Female; Fishes; Humans; Mammals; Maturation-Promoting Factor; Meiosis; Oocytes; Ovarian Follicle; Ovulation; Phosphoproteins; Steroid 17-alpha-Hydroxylase; Steroids; Transcription Factors
PubMed: 21196272
DOI: 10.2741/3829 -
BMC Developmental Biology Jul 2019Insulin/insulin-like growth peptide signaling (IIS) down-regulates hemolymph sugar level and facilitates larval growth in the soybean pod borer, Maruca vitrata. The...
BACKGROUND
Insulin/insulin-like growth peptide signaling (IIS) down-regulates hemolymph sugar level and facilitates larval growth in the soybean pod borer, Maruca vitrata. The objective of this study is to determine whether IIS of M. vitrata can mediate ovarian development of adult females.
RESULTS
A pair of ovaries consists of 8 ovarioles, each of which is separated into distal germarium and proximal vitellarium in M. vitrata. In the germarium, oocyte development occurred with active mitotic activity which was visible by incorporating bromodeoxyribose uridine. Previtellogenic development and subsequent vitellogenesis began soon after adult emergence. They continued with increase of female age. Oocyte development was facilitated by up-regulation of vitellogenin (Vg) and Vg receptor (VgR) gene expression. Larval diets significantly influenced on ovarian development of M. vitrata because oocyte development varied with pupal size derived from larvae treated with different nutritional diets. Its ovarian development was dependent on endocrine signal(s) from the head because decapitation soon after adult emergence prevented oogenesis and subsequent vitellogenesis along with marked reduction of Vg and VgR expression. Topical application of juvenile hormone (JH) significantly recovered its ovarian development whereas farnesoic acid (a precursor of JH biosynthesis) or 20-hydroxyecdysone treatment did not. JH stimulated vitellogenesis and choriogenesis, but not previtellogenic development. In contrast, insulin injection to decapitated females stimulated oocyte differentiation and vitellogenesis along with increase of Vg and VgR expression. To further analyze the effect of insulin on ovarian development, expression of four IIS components (InR, FOXO, Akt, and TOR) genes was manipulated by RNA interference. Hemocoelic injection of gene-specific double stranded RNAs significantly reduced their target gene mRNA levels and interfered with ovarian development. An addition of insulin to JH treatment against decapitated females enhanced the gonadotropic effect of JH by stimulating oogenesis.
CONCLUSIONS
IIS plays crucial role in mediating previtellogenic development of M. vitrata in response to nutrient signal. It also enhances the gonadotropic effect of JH II on vitellogenesis.
Topics: Animals; Ecdysterone; Egg Proteins; Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; Female; Forkhead Box Protein O1; Insulin; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; Juvenile Hormones; Moths; Oogenesis; Ovary; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; RNA Interference; RNA, Small Interfering; Receptors, Cell Surface; Receptors, Somatomedin; TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases; Vitellogenesis; Vitellogenins
PubMed: 31277577
DOI: 10.1186/s12861-019-0194-8 -
BMC Developmental Biology Mar 2019Knowledge about vitellogenesis in spiders is rudimentary. Therefore, the aim of study was to check the vitellogenin (Vg) presence in various tissues of the female spider...
BACKGROUND
Knowledge about vitellogenesis in spiders is rudimentary. Therefore, the aim of study was to check the vitellogenin (Vg) presence in various tissues of the female spider Parasteatoda tepidariorum, determine when and where vitellogenesis starts and takes place, and the putative role of selected hormones in the vitellogenesis.
RESULTS
Here we show two genes encoding Vg (PtVg4 and PtVg6) in the genome of the spider P. tepidariorum. One gene PtVg4 and three subunits of Vg (250 kDa, 47 kDa and 30 kDa) are expressed in the midgut glands, ovaries and hemolymph. Heterosynthesis of the Vg in the midgut glands and autosynthesis in the ovaries were observed. Vitellogenesis begins in the last nymphal stage in the midgut glands (heterosynthesis). However, after sexual maturity is reached, Vg is also synthesized in the ovaries (autosynthesis). Changes in the PtVg4 expression level and in the Vg concentration after treatment with 20-hydroxyecdysone, a juvenile hormone analog (fenoxycarb) and an antijuvenoid compound (precocene I) were observed. Therefore, we propose a hypothetical model for the hormonal regulation of vitellogenesis in P. tepidariorum.
CONCLUSIONS
Our results are the first comprehensive study on spider vitellogenesis. In our opinion, this work will open discussion on the evolutionary context of possible similarities in the hormonal control of vitellogenesis between P. tepidariorum and other arthropods as well as their consequences.
Topics: Animals; Benzopyrans; Ecdysterone; Female; Gene Expression Regulation; Juvenile Hormones; Ovary; Phenylcarbamates; Spiders; Vitellogenesis; Vitellogenins
PubMed: 30849941
DOI: 10.1186/s12861-019-0184-x -
PloS One 2020The life cycle of European eel (Anguilla anguilla), a catadromous species, is complex and enigmatic. In nature, during the silvering process prior to their long spawning...
The life cycle of European eel (Anguilla anguilla), a catadromous species, is complex and enigmatic. In nature, during the silvering process prior to their long spawning migration, reproductive development is arrested, and they cease feeding. In studies of reproduction using hormonal induction, eels are equivalently not feed. Therefore, in female eels that undergo vitellogenesis, the liver plays different, essential roles being involved both in vitellogenins synthesis and in reallocating resources for the maintenance of vital functions, performing the transoceanic reproductive migration and completing reproductive development. The present work aimed at unravelling the major transcriptomic changes that occur in the liver during induced vitellogenesis in female eels. mRNA-Seq data from 16 animals (eight before induced vitellogenesis and eight after nine weeks of hormonal treatment) were generated and differential expression analysis was performed comparing the two groups. This analysis detected 1,328 upregulated and 1,490 downregulated transcripts. Overrepresentation analysis of the upregulated genes included biological processes related to biosynthesis, response to estrogens, mitochondrial activity and localization, while downregulated genes were enriched in processes related to morphogenesis and development of several organs and tissues, including liver and immune system. Among key genes, the upregulated ones included vitellogenin genes (VTG1 and VTG2) that are central in vitellogenesis, together with ESR1 and two novel genes not previously investigated in European eel (LMAN1 and NUPR1), which have been linked with reproduction in other species. Moreover, several upregulated genes, such as CYC1, ELOVL5, KARS and ACSS1, are involved in the management of the effect of fasting and NOTCH, VEGFA and NCOR are linked with development, autophagy and liver maintenance in other species. These results increase the understanding of the molecular changes that occur in the liver during vitellogenesis in this complex and distinctive fish species, bringing new insights on European eel reproduction and broodstock management.
Topics: Anguilla; Animals; Female; Liver; RNA-Seq; Reproduction; Transcriptome; Vitellogenesis
PubMed: 32790680
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0236438