Molecular and endocrine control involved on gonadal differentiation of zebrafish (Danio rerio)

• Grant number: 14/16280-5
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Effective date (Start): May 01, 2015
• Effective date (End): June 30, 2018
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Physiology - Compared Physiology
• Cooperation agreement: Coordination of Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES)
• Principal researcher: Rafael Henrique Nóbrega
• Grantee: Aldo Tovo Neto
• Home Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IBB). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Botucatu. Botucatu , SP, Brazil
• Associated scholarship(s): 17/09218-0 - Effects of methimazole-induced thyroid hormone insufficiency on zebrafish (Danio rerio) spermatogenesis, BE.EP.DR

Abstract

Gonochoristic vertebrates have two general mechanisms of sex determination: one named genetic (GSD) determined by sex chromosomes, and the other environmental (ESD), in which environmental parameters interfere in the sex differentiation process. In the environmental case, temperature is one of the main factors affecting gonadal differentiation in fishes, and this system is known as temperature-dependent sex determination (TSD). It has been demonstrated that higher water temperatures increases cortisol plasma levels in aquatic organisms as mark of stress condition. Thus, it is believed that increased levels of cortisol may be involved in the masculinization of TSD species, because the enzyme (Hsd11b2) which metabolizes the cortisol can also generate androgens, depending on the metabolic pathway. In this context, the project aims to elucidate the possible involvement of the cortisol in masculinization induced by the temperature in zebrafish (Danio rerio), as well as the function of the thyroid hormones (T3 e T4) in gonadal sex differentiation. To achieve that, hormonal and gene expression analysis will be performed, as well as the sex ratio by morphology will be evaluated. The molecular and hormonal data may elucidate the physiological mechanisms underlying gonadal sex differentiation in zebrafish, as well as to generate biotechnologies for masculinization of aquaculture species, when the male has greater economic value, or when the monosex population culture is more viable. From an environmental perspective, it will provide new information for understanding physiological impact in the aquatic organisms due to the gradual increase of water temperature (global warming). (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)

TOVO-NETO, ALDO; RODRIGUES, MAIRA DA SILVA; HABIBI, HAMID R.; NOBREGA, RAFAEL HENRIQUE. Thyroid hormone actions on male reproductive system of teleost fish. General and Comparative Endocrinology, v. 265, n. SI, p. 230-236, SEP 1 2018. (14/07620-7, 14/16280-5, 17/09218-0, 17/15793-7)

FALLAH, HAMIDEH P.; TOVO-NETO, ALDO; YEUNG, EDWARD C.; NOBREGA, RAFAEL H.; HABIBI, HAMID R.. Paracrine/autocrine control of spermatogenesis by gonadotropin-inhibitory hormone. Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology, v. 492, JUL 15 2019. (14/07620-7, 14/16280-5, 17/09218-0)

TOVO-NETO, ALDO; MARTINEZ, EMANUEL R. M.; MELO, ALINE G.; DORETTO, LUCAS B.; BUTZGE, ARNO J.; RODRIGUES, MAIRA S.; NAKAJIMA, RAFAEL T.; HABIBI, HAMID R.; NOBREGA, RAFAEL H.. Cortisol Directly Stimulates Spermatogonial Differentiation, Meiosis, and Spermiogenesis in Zebrafish (Danio rerio) Testicular Explants. BIOMOLECULES, v. 10, n. 3, MAR 2020. (14/07620-7, 14/16280-5, 13/22778-3, 17/15793-7, 16/12101-4, 15/12104-0, 17/09218-0)

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

NETO, Aldo Tovo. Endocrine and molecular control involved on zebrafish (Danio rerio) spermatogenesis: effects of corticosteroids and thyroid hormones. 2018. Doctoral Thesis - Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp). Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias. Jaboticabal Jaboticabal.