title: Prolactin receptor mRNA is upregulated in discus fish (Symphysodon aequifasciata) skin during parental phase.
abstract: Prolactin (PRL) has been shown to directly influence parental-care associated behavior in many vertebrate species. The discus fish (Symphysodon aequifasciata) displays extensive parental care behavior through utilization of epidermal mucosal secretion to raise free-swimming fry. Here, we cloned the full-length cDNA sequence of the S. aequifasciata prolactin receptor (dfPRLR) and investigated the mRNA expression pattern in several adult tissues. Bioinformatic analysis showed the dfPRLR shared rather high identity (79 and 67%) with the Nile tilapia PRLR 1 and black seabream PRLR 1, respectively. The presence of dfPRLR in several osmoregulatory tissues including kidney, gill and intestine is consistent with the known role of PRL in mediating hydromineral balance in teleosts. In addition, upregulated expression of PRLR mRNA was observed in skin of parental fish compared to non-parental fish, indicating possibility of a role of the PRL hormonal signaling in regulation of mucus production in relation to parental care behaviour.
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800, Minden, Penang, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Hou-Keat
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Khong
authors.forename: Meng-Kiat
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Kuah
authors.forename: Annette
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jaya-Ram
authors.forename: Alexander Chong
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Shu-Chien
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D023681:Cichlids / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D008297:Male; D008425:Maternal Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011981:Receptors, Prolactin / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D012867:Skin / Q000378:metabolism*; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D018076:DNA, Complementary; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011981:Receptors, Prolactin