title: 17β-Estradiol induces supernumerary primordial germ cells in embryos of the polychaete Platynereis dumerilii.
abstract: In the polychaete Platynereis dumerilii exactly four primordial germ cells (PGCs) arise in early development and are subject to a transient mitotic arrest until the animals enter gametogenesis. In order to unravel the mechanisms controlling the number of PGCs in Platynereis, we tested whether the steroid 17β-estradiol (E2) is able to induce PGC proliferation, as it had been described in other species. Our data provide strong support for such a mechanism, showing that E2 significantly increases the occurrence of larvae with supernumerary PGCs in Platynereis in a dose dependent manner. E2 responsiveness is restricted to early developmental stages, when the PGCs are specified. During these stages, embryos exhibit high expression levels of the estradiol receptor (ER). The ER transcript localizes to the yolk-free cytoplasm of unfertilized eggs and segregates into the micromeres during cleavage stages. Nuclear ER protein is found asymmetrically distributed between daughter cells. Neither transcript nor protein is detectable in PGCs at larval stages. Addition of the specific estradiol receptor inhibitor ICI-182,780 (ICI) abolishes the proliferative effect of E2, suggesting that it is mediated by ER signaling. Our study reports for the first time an ER mediated proliferative effect of E2 on PGCs in an invertebrate organism.
authors.affiliation: Morphology and Evolution of Invertebrates, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Anika K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Lidke
authors.affiliation: Max F. Perutz Laboratories and Research Platform "Marine Rhythms of Life", University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bannister
authors.affiliation: Morphology and Evolution of Invertebrates, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Andreas M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Löwer
authors.affiliation: Morphology and Evolution of Invertebrates, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Germany.
authors.forename: David M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Apel
authors.affiliation: Molecular Embryology, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Martina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Podleschny
authors.affiliation: Animal Physiology, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kollmann
authors.affiliation: Nikon Imaging Center, Ruprecht-Karls-Universität, Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: Christian F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Ackermann
authors.affiliation: Biodiversity Group, Centro Universitario Regional Este, Universidad de la República, Maldonado, Uruguay.
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: García-Alonso
authors.affiliation: Max F. Perutz Laboratories and Research Platform "Marine Rhythms of Life", University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Florian
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Raible
authors.affiliation: Morphology and Evolution of Invertebrates, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Germany. Electronic address: Rebscher@biologie.uni-marburg.de.
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rebscher
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D004958:Estradiol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004965:Estrogen Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D004967:Estrogens / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000077267:Fulvestrant; D005854:Germ Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D011077:Polychaeta; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011959:Receptors, Estradiol / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D004965:Estrogen Antagonists; D004967:Estrogens; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011959:Receptors, Estradiol; D000077267:Fulvestrant; D004958:Estradiol
keywords: 17β-Estradiol; 17β-estradiol; Bioassay; E2; ER; Estradiol receptor; MPGZ; PGCs; Platynereis dumerilii; Primordial germ cells; Proliferation; days post fertilization; dpf; estradiol receptor; hours post fertilization; hpf; mesodermal posterior growth zone; primordial germ cells