title: Molecular cloning, characterization, and gene expression of the androgen receptor in the large yellow croaker, Larimichthys crocea.
abstract: Androgens mediate a wide range of physiological responses and developmental processes in vertebrates, involving both reproductive and nonreproductive systems. The activity of androgens is mediated by the androgen receptor (AR), a member of the nuclear receptor superfamily. In this study, an AR gene was cloned from the large yellow croaker (Larimichthys crocea) for the first time. qRT-PCR revealed ubiquitous expression of AR in all adult tissues examined, with higher expression in the gonad and liver of both sexes and highest expression in the blastula stage of embryonic development. Using in situ hybridization, we detected positive signals of AR in the spermatogonium, spermatocyte, spermatid, and spermatozoon during spermatogenesis, in the cytoplasm of all oocytes during oogenesis and in the follicle cells of stage IV oocytes. Our findings support the important role that AR plays in gametogenesis, gonadal development, and the early stages of embryonic development.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Healthy Mariculture for East China Sea, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries College, Jimei University, Xiamen 361021, China.
authors.forename: Lulu
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pu
authors.forename: Kunhuang
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Fangjing
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.forename: Zhihua
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zou
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Close
authors.forename: Ziping
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Yilei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D036703:Blastula / Q000378:metabolism; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000235:genetics; D005718:Gametogenesis / Q000502:physiology*; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling / Q000662:veterinary; D005854:Germ Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D017403:In Situ Hybridization / Q000662:veterinary; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010473:Perciformes / Q000235:genetics*; D010802:Phylogeny; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D011944:Receptors, Androgen / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA / Q000662:veterinary
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D011944:Receptors, Androgen