Molecular regulation of germ cell proliferation: the effects of thermal stress and sex steroids and the roles of PEN-2, p53 and AMH genes

• Grant number: 14/50790-0
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: August 01, 2015
• End date: July 31, 2017
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Genetics - Animal Genetics
• Agreement: CONICET
• Mobility Program: SPRINT - Projetos de pesquisa - Mobilidade
• Principal Investigator: Ricardo Shohei Hattori
• Grantee: Ricardo Shohei Hattori
• Principal researcher abroad: Juan Ignacio Fernandino
• Institution abroad: Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Argentina
• Host Institution: Agência Paulista de Tecnologia dos Agronegócios (APTA). Secretaria de Agricultura e Abastecimento (São Paulo - Estado). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 13/17612-9 - Genetic characterization, sex control, and germ cell transplantation in salmonids stocks from Estação Experimental de Salmonicultura de Campos do Jordão, AP.JP

Abstract

Germ cells comprise a specific type of cells that give origin to gametes in vertebrates. During early development, they migrate to the genital ridge, start to proliferate through mitosis, and then some of them enter meiosis to form the gametes. This process is under the control of a complex genetic pathway, of steroid hormones, and are also influenced by several parameters of the surrounding environment. Among these, water temperature is one of the most studied factors in fish groups, which in some circumstances can inhibit the proliferation/differentiation of germ cells or even induce their depletion through apoptosis. This study will be developed in order to clarify the regulation of genetic and endocrine pathways involved in germ cell fate under normal and thermally stressful conditions in Japanese medaka, rainbow trout, and in the South American silverside pejerrey. Three genes involved in both proliferation and apoptosis of germinal elements selected from our previous studies, pen-2, p53, and amah, will be investigated during gonad differentiation and gonad maturation, by transcriptomic (qRT-PCR and ISH), immunohistochemically (IHC), and functional (morpholino or CRISPR-mediated knockdown/knockout) analyses. This study will contribute to clarify the reproductive physiology of many species and may have significant implications for the development of aquaculture technologies. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

IGNACIO FERNANDINO, JUAN; HATTORI, RICARDO SHOHEI. Sex determination in Neotropical fish: Implications ranging from aquaculture technology to ecological assessment. General and Comparative Endocrinology, v. 273, n. SI, p. 172-183, MAR 1 2019. (14/50790-0)

HATTORI, R. S.; CASTANEDA-CORTES, D. C.; ARIAS PADILLA, L. F.; STROBL-MAZZULLA, P. H.; FERNANDINO, J. I.. Activation of stress response axis as a key process in environment-induced sex plasticity in fish. CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR LIFE SCIENCES, v. 77, n. 21, MAY 2020. (14/50790-0, 18/20200-8)

IGNACIO FERNANDINO, JUAN; HATTORI, RICARDO SHOHEI. Sex determination in Neotropical fish: Implications ranging from aquaculture technology to ecological assessment. General and Comparative Endocrinology, v. 273, p. 12-pg., 2019-03-01. (14/50790-0)