Isolation, characterization and expression analyses of FSH receptor in protogynous grouper.
Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and its receptor (FSHR) play important roles in spermatogenesis. We cloned and characterized the honeycomb grouper Epinephelus merra FSHR (EmFSHR) to elucidate its role in the protogynous sex change in groupers. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis suggested that EmFSHR was expressed exclusively in the gonads. In situ hybridization showed the distribution of EmFSHR in the granulosa cells of previtellogenic oocytes and Leydig cells in the testis. Quantitative reverse transcription PCR (RT-qPCR) analysis of gonadal EmFSHR transcripts during the process of sex change indicated that the lowest levels were found in the female phase before sex change. EmFSHR transcripts increased during the early transitional phase, when oocytes began to degenerate in parallel with the initiation of gonial germ cell differentiation into spermatogonia. A dramatic increase in EmFSHR transcription occurred during the late transitional phase, when the gonad contained numerous proliferating male germ cells and many degenerated oocytes. EmFSHR expression remained high until the transformation from ovary to testis was complete. The data reveal that female to male sex change is associated with the upregulation of EmFSHR transcripts, and that this upregulation may be responsible for the development of testicular tissue and the progression of spermatogenesis. Furthermore, how the upregulation of EmFSHR is controlled in the initiation of sex change remains to be elucidated.
Sesoko Station, Tropical Biosphere Research Center, University of the Ryukyus, Sesoko 3422, Motobu, Okinawa 905-0227, Japan. alam.tbrc@gmail.comm
Mohammad Ashraful
MA
Alam
Yasuhisa
Y
Kobayashi
Toshiaki
T
Hirai
Masaru
M
Nakamura
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000235:genetics; D012734:Disorders of Sex Development; D005260:Female; D005399:Fishes / Q000235:genetics*; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D006066:Gonads / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D034443:RNA Transport; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011962:Receptors, FSH / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000378:metabolism*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
D018076:DNA, Complementary; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011962:Receptors, FSH