title: Vertebrate estrogen regulates the development of female characteristics in silkworm, Bombyx mori.
abstract: The vertebrate estrogens include 17-β-estradiol (E2), which has an analog in silkworm ovaries. In this study, the Bombyx mori vitellogenin gene (BmVg) was used as a biomarker to analyze the function of the E2 in silkworm. In most oviparous animals, Vg has female-specific expression. However, BmVg expression was also detected in B. mori males. Stage specific fluctuation of BmVg expression was similar in males and females, but expression levels in males were lower than in females. E2 treatment by injection or feeding of male larvae in the final instar stage induced and stimulated male BmVg transcription and protein synthesis. When silkworm ovary primordia were transplanted into males, BmVg was induced in male fat bodies. Transplanted ovaries primordia were also able to develop into ovaries and produce mature eggs. When females were treated with E2 promoted BmVg/BmVn protein accumulation in hemolymph, ovaries and eggs. However, BmVg transcription was decreased in female fat bodies. An E2 analog was identified in the hemolymph of day 3 wandering silkworms using high-performance liquid chromatography. Estradiol titers from fifth late-instar larvae to pupal stage were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The results suggested that silkworms synthesized a vertebrate E2 analog. This study found that E2 promoted the synthesis of BmVg, a female typical protein in silkworms.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China.
authors.forename: Guanwang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China.
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China.
authors.forename: Congwen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China.
authors.forename: Runmiao
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Xing
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China.
authors.forename: Haiyan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China.
authors.forename: Enxiang
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China.
authors.forename: Chaoshan
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China.
authors.forename: Hongling
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China.
authors.forename: Weiwei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China. Electronic address: xiaqy@swu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Qingyou
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Xia
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D012831:Bombyx / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development; D047108:Embryonic Development / Q000235:genetics; D004958:Estradiol / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000187:drug effects; D006458:Hemolymph / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007814:Larva / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D010053:Ovary / Q000187:drug effects / Q000196:embryology / Q000254:growth & development; D012733:Sex Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D014819:Vitellogenins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D014819:Vitellogenins; D004958:Estradiol
keywords: E2; Female typical characteristic; Sex-hormone function; Silkworm; Vitellogenin