Effects of sex steroids on gonadotropin (FSH and LH) regulation in coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch).
The effect of steroid hormone treatment on coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) was examined. The cDNAs for coho salmon FSH beta and LH beta subunits were cloned and sequenced using reverse transcriptase PCR. Northern blot analysis revealed that a single transcript of 1 kb for each of these subunits was present in the pituitaries of vitellogenic and spermiating coho salmon. RNase protection assays (RPAs) were developed to quantify FSH beta and LH beta subunit transcript levels. For the RPAs, antisense RNA probes and sense RNA standards were prepared from a region of the cDNAs which spanned the signal peptide and a portion of the mature protein. These RPAs were used to examine the effects of exogenous steroids including testosterone, estradiol-17beta (E2) and 17alpha, 20beta-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one (17alpha,20beta-P) in vivo, in coho salmon at three time points during the spring period of gonadal growth when plasma levels of FSH are increasing. Both testosterone and E2 increased steady state mRNA levels of LH beta, whereas E2 decreased steady state mRNA levels of FSH beta in one experiment. Thus, the RPAs were able to detect changes in steady state mRNA levels in response to exogenous steroid treatment. Plasma and pituitary levels of FSH and LH were also measured using RIA. Throughout the experimental series, FSH plasma levels decreased in response to exogenous testosterone and E2 administration, while 17alpha,20beta-P had no effect on FSH plasma levels. Plasma LH levels were not detected throughout the course of the experiment. Pituitary LH increased in response to testosterone and E2, while pituitary FSH levels did not change. 17alpha,20beta-P had no effect on pituitary FSH or LH content during the experiment. Thus, regulation of the gonadotropins in coho salmon occurs at both the transcriptional as well as the translational level. Testosterone and E2 appear to have negative feedback effects on FSH, but positive feedback on LH.
Dickey
J T
JT
Northwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, 2725 Montlake Blvd E, Seattle, Washington 98112, USA.
Swanson
P
P
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000235:genetics; D004958:Estradiol / Q000494:pharmacology; D005246:Feedback; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D037201:Follicle Stimulating Hormone, beta Subunit; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006908:Hydroxyprogesterones / Q000494:pharmacology; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D017684:Oncorhynchus kisutch; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D013739:Testosterone / Q000494:pharmacology
D017931:DNA Primers; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D037201:Follicle Stimulating Hormone, beta Subunit; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones; D006908:Hydroxyprogesterones; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C007433:17,20-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one; D013739:Testosterone; D004958:Estradiol; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone