title: Modulation of cortisol levels, endocannabinoid receptor 1A, proopiomelanocortin and thyroid hormone receptor alpha mRNA expressions by probiotics during sole (Solea solea) larval development.
abstract: In the present study, we investigated whether the use of Enterococcus faecium IMC 511 as a probiotic can modulate neuroendocrine system responses during the larval rearing of Solea solea; to this end, the gene expression patterns of proopiomelanocortin (POMC), endocannabinoid receptor 1A (CB1A), and thyroid receptor alpha (TRα) were quantified, and whole-body cortisol levels were measured. Probiotic treatment up-regulated transcription of all selected genes and cortisol concentrations on day 10 post hatch (ph), while on day 30 ph experimental groups showed significantly lower levels of both POMC and CB1A compared to those of the control group. These changes were no longer evident on day 60 ph, when POMC, CB1A, TRα gene expression and cortisol titers were found to be similar in all experimental groups. Our results suggest that metabolic responses to probiotic treatment can be modulated through the activation of genes selected for functional interaction between the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) axis and the melanocortin and the endocannabinoid systems. Furthermore, the observed (30 ph) down-regulation of both POMC and CB1A gene expression coupled with up-regulation of TRα mRΝΑ levels suggest the activation of a compensatory mechanism that promotes growth and development and perhaps modulates food intake.
authors.affiliation: Centro Universitario di Ricerca per Sviluppo e Gestione delle Risorse dell'Ambiente Marino e Costiero (UNICRAM), Università degli Studi di Camerino, Lungomare A. Scipioni 6, I-63039 San Benedetto del Tronto (AP), Italy. francesco.palermo@unicam.it
authors.forename: Francesco Alessandro
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Palermo
authors.forename: Gilberto
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mosconi
authors.forename: Matteo Alessandro
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Avella
authors.forename: Oliana
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Carnevali
authors.forename: Maria Cristina
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Verdenelli
authors.forename: Cinzia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cecchini
authors.forename: Alberta Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Polzonetti-Magni
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016984:Enterococcus faecium / Q000502:physiology; D005412:Flatfishes / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000378:metabolism*; D009490:Neurosecretory Systems / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D011333:Pro-Opiomelanocortin / Q000235:genetics*; D019936:Probiotics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D043884:Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1 / Q000235:genetics*; D037021:Thyroid Hormone Receptors alpha / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D043884:Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1; D037021:Thyroid Hormone Receptors alpha; D011333:Pro-Opiomelanocortin; D006854:Hydrocortisone