title: Sexually dimorphic transcription of estrogen receptors in cod gonads throughout a reproductive cycle.
abstract: The role of sex steroid regulation in gonadal maturation is a very complex process that is far from being fully understood. Hence, we have investigated seasonal changes in gonadal expression of estrogen receptors (ERs) in Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua L.), a batch spawner, throughout the annual reproductive cycle. Three nuclear ER partial cDNA sequences (esr1, esr2a, and esr2b) were cloned and all esr transcripts were detected mainly in liver and gonads of fish of both sexes. In situ hybridization of esrs along with germ cell (vasa) and gonadal somatic cell markers (gonadal soma-derived factor (gsdf), 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3βhsd), and anti-Müllerian hormone (amh) for testicular, or gsdf for ovarian somatic cells) showed that all three esrs were preferentially localized within interstitial fibroblasts composed of immature and mature Leydig cells in testis, whereas they were differentially expressed in both follicular cells and oocytes in ovary. Quantitative real-time PCR analysis revealed a sexually dimorphic expression pattern of the three esr paralogs in testis and ovary. A significant increase in esr2a expression was identified in testis and of esr2b in ovary, whereas esr1 transcripts were elevated in both testis and ovary in February and March before the spawning period. The localization and sexually dimorphic expression of esr genes in gonads indicate a direct function of estrogen via ERs in gonadal somatic cell growth and differentiation for Leydig cell in testis and follicular cells in ovary throughout the annual reproductive cycle in Atlantic cod.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Biosciences and AquacultureUniversity of Nordland, 8049 Bodø, NorwayDepartment of ZoologyFaculty of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, 10-718 Olsztyn, Poland.
authors.forename: Kazue
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nagasawa
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Biosciences and AquacultureUniversity of Nordland, 8049 Bodø, NorwayDepartment of ZoologyFaculty of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, 10-718 Olsztyn, Poland.
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Presslauer
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Biosciences and AquacultureUniversity of Nordland, 8049 Bodø, NorwayDepartment of ZoologyFaculty of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, 10-718 Olsztyn, PolandFaculty of Biosciences and AquacultureUniversity of Nordland, 8049 Bodø, NorwayDepartment of ZoologyFaculty of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, 10-718 Olsztyn, Poland.
authors.forename: Lech
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kirtiklis
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Biosciences and AquacultureUniversity of Nordland, 8049 Bodø, NorwayDepartment of ZoologyFaculty of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, 10-718 Olsztyn, Poland.
authors.forename: Igor
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Babiak
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Biosciences and AquacultureUniversity of Nordland, 8049 Bodø, NorwayDepartment of ZoologyFaculty of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, 10-718 Olsztyn, Poland jfe@uin.no.
authors.forename: Jorge M O
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Fernandes
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D054304:Anti-Mullerian Hormone / Q000235:genetics; D001141:Aromatase / Q000096:biosynthesis; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D005260:Female; D048389:Gadus morhua / Q000235:genetics*; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D006913:Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases / Q000235:genetics; D007985:Leydig Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D010053:Ovary / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000235:genetics*; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D054304:Anti-Mullerian Hormone; D006913:Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases; D001141:Aromatase
keywords: Atlantic cod; androgen receptor (ar); cytochrome P450 aromatase (cyp19a1a); estrogen receptor (esr); sexual maturation