Temperature influences the ontogenetic expression of aromatase and oestrogen receptor mRNA in the developing tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus) brain.
Water temperature has a differential influence on the development of central neurotransmitter systems according to the developmental period in tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus). Aromatase and oestrogen receptors (ERs) represent important components of the mechanism of brain differentiation. Gene expression of aromatase and ERs is modulated by neurotransmitters in the developing brain. In the present study, the quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction method was used to investigate the effects of temperature on the ontogenetic expression of aromatase and ERs in the developing tilapia brain. Before day 10 posthatching, exposure to a higher temperature (32 degrees C) resulted in a significant increase in the expression of brain aromatase; conversely, a lower temperature (20 degrees C) resulted in a decrease. ERalpha expression was depressed in accordance with the decrease of temperature, but ERbeta was unaffected by temperature. Between days 10 and 20, neither brain aromatase nor ERalpha expression was altered by temperature, whereas ERbeta expression was significantly enhanced by exposure to 32 degrees C. Between days 20 and 30, brain aromatase significantly increased at the higher temperature and decreased at 20 degrees C, but neither ERalpha nor ERbeta was affected by temperature. The expression of both brain aromatase and ERs, differentially regulated according to the temperature and to the developmental period, could be related to brain-sex differentiation.
Tsai
C-L
CL
Department of Marine Resources, National Sun Yat-Sen University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan. cltsai@mail.nsysu.edu.tw
Chang
S-L
SL
Wang
L-H
LH
Chao
T-Y
TY
D000199:Actins / Q000235:genetics; D000818:Animals; D001141:Aromatase / Q000235:genetics*; D001831:Body Temperature / Q000502:physiology*; D001921:Brain / Q000201:enzymology / Q000254:growth & development*; D001923:Brain Chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha; D047629:Estrogen Receptor beta; D005260:Female; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000502:physiology; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic / Q000502:physiology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000235:genetics*; D017210:Tilapia
D000199:Actins; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha; D047629:Estrogen Receptor beta; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D001141:Aromatase