The role of AMH signaling on sex differentiation and gametogenesis of teleost fish
| Grant number: | 14/25313-4 |
| Support type: | Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate |
| Effective date (Start): | June 01, 2015 |
| Effective date (End): | January 31, 2019 |
| Field of knowledge: | Agronomical Sciences - Animal Husbandry - Genetics and Improvement of Domestic Animals |
| Cooperation agreement: | Coordination of Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES) |
| Principal Investigator: | Rafael Henrique Nóbrega |
| Grantee: | Marcos Antônio de Oliveira |
| Home Institution: | Instituto de Biociências (IBB). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Botucatu. Botucatu , SP, Brazil |
| Associated scholarship(s): | 15/15631-1 - The role of AMH signaling on sex differentiation and gametogenesis of teleost fish, BE.EP.DR |
Abstract The decision whether the bipotencial gonad anlage will become a testis or ovary is a critical step during sex determination in vertebrates. This process involves a complex and coordinated cascade which result in the sex differentiation of the somatic cells in the gonad at the end. In this context, Amh signaling is an important effector in the decision whether the bipotencial gonad anlage will become a testis or ovary. Studies with medaka hotei, where Amh type II receptor (Amhr2) is mutated showed an overproliferation of germ cells and a male-to-female sex reversal. Our hypothesis is that Amh regulates germ cell number, which may influence the sex differentiation decision in medaka. Moreover, Amh might have a role in adult gametogenesis by differentially regulating gene expression related to gonadal function. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate Amh signaling during sex differentiation and gametogenesis using two experimental models, medaka (Oryzias latipes) and zebrafish (Danio rerio). For that, studies of loss-and-gain of function will be employed; transgenic lines overexpressing amhr2 or lacking amh/amhr2 will be generated for medaka. Genetic screening for Y chromosome contrasted with gonad histology will be performed to evaluate sex reversal. Moreover, number of germ cells, proliferation and steroid release will be conducted in each transgenic line to unravel the role of Amh signaling in medaka gametogenesis. Finally, to unravel the differentially regulated genes by Amh in spermatogenesis, and therefore, Amh mechanisms of action, transcriptome of zebrafish testes incubated with Amh will be performed. Potential candidates emerged from the sequencing will be validated through qPCR and/or in situ hybridization. All these data will provide evidences to better understand the role of Amh as an important effector in the control of germ cell number, which might influences the sex differentiation decision and gametogenesis as well as to use as potential biotechnological tool for aquaculture, for example, to mediate puberty in some species as well as for other masculinizing. (AU) | |
| News published in Agência FAPESP Newsletter about the scholarship: | |
| Researchers identify genes linked to sex differentiation in giant Amazon fish | |