Development of testicular organoids and their use for potential sperm maturation in Zebrafish (Danio rerio) and Tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum)

• Grant number: 20/15237-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate (Direct)
• Start date: August 01, 2021
• End date: July 31, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Fishery Resources and Fishery Engineering - Inland Water Fishery Resources
• Principal Investigator: Rafael Henrique Nóbrega
• Grantee: Ivana Felipe da Rosa
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IBB). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Botucatu. Botucatu , SP, Brazil
• Associated scholarship(s): 23/02050-7 - Identification of candidate genes and pathways related to spermatogonial rapid proliferation and differentiation in Piaractus mesopotamicus, BE.EP.DD

Abstract

Testicular organoids are three-dimensional clusters derived from testicular cells (spermatogonial stem cells) that exhibit in vitro the same cytoarchitecture and functionality of testis in vivo. Due to the characteristics, this technology has been providing great possibilities for studies in the fundamental area as alternatives to animal experimentation and classic cell line models. To our knowledge, there are no testicular organoids developed for fish until now. Thus, this technology could be used to produce sperm in vitro for species that have a long period of sexual maturation, such as Tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum). This research proposal, in a first moment, aims to generate 3D testicular organoids using a model fish (Danio rerio) and a native species Tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum). Subsequently, to evaluate the efficiency of the employed method, testicular organoids will be characterized by morphological and functional assays. In a second step, the transcriptomic profile of maturing testicles and Tambaqui neo-males will be analyzed via (RNAseq), identifying candidates involved in maturation of this species. Finally, pre-selected candidates will be functionally tested via testicular organoids in Tambaqui in order to accelerate the process of maturation and formation of gametes. In summary, this research proposal, to be developed, will allow the development of modern technologies for the study of fish spermatogenesis/spermatogonial stem cells, from functional, and zootechnical aspects. This research is part of two submitted research grants (Auxílio Regular à Pesquisa - 2020/03569-8; Auxílio Regular à Pesquisa - FAPEAM-FAPESP 2020/08627-6). (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)

ROSA, IVANA F.; PECANHA, ANA P. B.; CARVALHO, TABATA R. B.; ALEXANDRE, LEONARDO S.; FERREIRA, VINICIUS G.; DORETTO, LUCAS B.; SOUZA, BEATRIZ M.; NAKAJIMA, RAFAEL T.; DA SILVA, PATRICK; BARBOSA, ANA P.; et al. Photobiomodulation Reduces the Cytokine Storm Syndrome Associated with COVID-19 in the Zebrafish Model. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES, v. 24, n. 7, p. 22-pg., 2023-04-01. (20/05761-3, 19/21739-0, 14/04294-1, 19/19939-1, 20/15237-0, 18/07098-0, 21/06742-5)

DA COSTA, DANIEL FERNANDES; RIBEIRO, AMANDA DE OLIVEIRA; RICCI, JULIANA MORENA BONITA; RODRIGUES, MAIRA DA SILVA; DE OLIVEIRA, MARCOS ANTONIO; DA ROSA, IVANA FELIPE; DORETTO, LUCAS BENITES; NAKAJIMA, RAFAEL TAKAHIRO; NOBREGA, RAFAEL HENRIQUE. A83-01 and DMH1 effects in the zebrafish spermatogonial niche: Unraveling the roles of TGF-β and BMP signaling in the Fsh-mediated spermatogonial fate. Gene, v. 897, p. 12-pg., 2023-12-21. (18/16595-7, 22/10421-2, 17/15793-7, 20/15237-0, 19/05643-3, 22/10389-1, 14/25313-4, 21/06742-5)