Transcript profiles and triiodothyronine regulation of sex steroid- and thyroid hormone-related genes in the gonad-mesonephros complex of Silurana tropicalis.
In amphibians, the main role of thyroid hormones (THs) is to regulate metamorphosis; however, there is evidence that THs also affect gonadal sexual differentiation. In this study, Silurana (Xenopus) tropicalis tadpoles were exposed to triiodothyronine (T3; 0, 0.5, 5 and 50 nM), the bioactive form of THs for 48h. Real-time RT-PCR analyses in the gonad-mesonephros complex (GMC) revealed that TH- and androgen-related genes were positively regulated, while estrogen receptor β was negatively regulated by T3. Together, these results are in agreement with the masculinizing effect of THs in amphibians. Profiles of TH- and sex steroid-related genes in the GMC during metamorphosis of S. tropicalis suggest that THs are important regulators of sex steroid-related gene expression in the GMC. This study provides evidence that the GMC is a target of THs but that a complex interplay exists between THs and sex steroids during gonadal sexual development.
Duarte-Guterman
Paula
P
Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Centre for Advanced Research in Environmental Genomics, Ottawa, ON, Canada K1N 6N5.
Trudeau
Vance L
VL
D000818:Animals; D004967:Estrogens / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000187:drug effects*; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D006066:Gonads / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008650:Mesonephros / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012733:Sex Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D014284:Triiodothyronine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014981:Xenopus / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics*
D004967:Estrogens; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014284:Triiodothyronine