title: A quantitative real-time RT-PCR assay to measure TGF-beta mRNA and its correlation with hematologic, plasma chemistry and organo-somatic indices responses in triamcinolone-treated Atlantic menhaden, Brevoortia tyrannus.
abstract: A quantitative real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay was developed to measure transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) in Atlantic menhaden (Brevoortia tyrannus), an estuarine-dependent species plagued by ulcerative skin lesions in the estuaries along the eastern United States. Atlantic menhaden were acclimated in a closed system for two weeks prior to initiation of the study. The synthetic glucocorticoid, triamcinolone acetonide (10mg/kg body weight) was administered by intracoelomic injection and its effect on the splenic mononuclear cell TGF-beta mRNA transcription, liver-somatic index, spleno-somatic index, hematology, and plasma chemistry were compared to untreated fish at 48 and 96h post-treatment. Triamcinolone-treated Atlantic menhaden showed suppression of TGF-beta mRNA production, neutrophilia, monocytosis, lymphopenia, and an increase in blood glucose concentrations. The health indices used in this study may help us interpret some of the changes observed during the development of ulcerative skin lesions in wild-caught menhaden.
authors.affiliation: Department of Population Health and Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, 4700 Hillsborough St, Raleigh, NC 27606, USA. akjohnson@mail.umes.edu
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Harms
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Levine
authors.forename: J McHugh
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Law
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001483:Base Sequence; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D005393:Fish Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D005399:Fishes / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010949:Plasma; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012883:Skin Ulcer / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000662:veterinary; D013154:Spleen / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000378:metabolism*; D014222:Triamcinolone Acetonide / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D001786:Blood Glucose; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D014222:Triamcinolone Acetonide