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| Author(s): |
Luciane Rogéria dos Santos
Total Authors: 1
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| Document type: | Master's Dissertation |
| Press: | São Paulo. |
| Institution: | Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Instituto de Biociências (IBIOC/SB) |
| Defense date: | 2010-12-14 |
| Examining board members: |
Ana Maria de Lauro Castrucci;
Fernanda Gaspar do Amaral;
Zulma Felisbina da Silva Ferreira
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| Advisor: | Ana Maria de Lauro Castrucci |
| Abstract | |
Many ectothermic vertebrates adjust their body color to mimic the environment, through the pigment migration within chromatophores, regulated by neural and / or hormonal systems. These changes in color help in camouflage, thermoregulation, social communication and behaviors such as sexual arousal, agressiveness and fear. However, chromatophores of several species respond directly to light. Studies about light response in melanophores of Xenopus laevis have led to the discovery of the photopigment melanopsin, an opsin that is present in the retina of all vertebrate groups, including man. Various hormones may regulate the process of color change in vertebrates, among them melatonin, hormone secreted by the pineal gland. This is the main organ responsible for the integration of the neuroendocrine system of vertebrates to the environment, translating directly or indirectly the photoperiod information into hormonal signal, thus coordinating physiological circadian rhythms with the environment. The objectives of this work were: to investigate whether the gene expression of melanopsins and melatonin receptor in melanophores of Xenopus laevis exhibited temporal variation under different light conditions; to verify whether gene expression of melanopsins and melatonin receptor in melanophores of Xenopus laevis could be modulated by melatonin. Our data show that melanopsins in melanophores of Xenopus laevis are synchronized to light-dark cycles, expressing a robust ultradian rhythm with a period of 16h for Opn4m and circadian rhythm with a period of 25h for Opn4x. Interestingly, the rhythm was only observed when the melanophores were maintained in 12L: 12D regime and medium change was performed during the fotophase of photoperiod. The constancy in the expression of melatonin receptor Mel1c, either under different light regimes, or under treatment by melatonin, suggesting that this gene is extremely stable, not being altered by exogenous stimulus, and may be considered a constitutive gene. Treatment with melatonin for 6h during the fotophase of the photoperiod, drastically inhibit the expression of Opn4x and Opn4m, and abolished the rhythm of both melanopsins. Our results indicate that melanophores of Xenopus laevis possess a functional clock and can be characterized as peripheral clocks, but they need the light-dark cycle associated with change of medium to exhibit their synchronization. (AU) | |
| FAPESP's process: | 08/01499-0 - Expression of melatonin receptors (MT1 and MT2) and rhodopsin in B16 melanocytes of Mus musculus |
| Grantee: | Luciane Rogéria dos Santos |
| Support Opportunities: | Scholarships in Brazil - Master |