title: Cortisol modulates vasotocinergic and isotocinergic pathways in the gilthead sea bream.
abstract: In the present study, we assessed the responses of the vasotocinergic and isotocinergic systems to chronic stress induced by cortisol administration in the gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata). Pituitary and plasma arginine vasotocin (AVT) and isotocin (IT) levels, as well as hypothalamic pro-vasotocin (pro-VT) and pro-isotocin (pro-IT) mRNA expression levels, were analysed. In addition, the mRNA levels of three receptors, AVTR type V1a2, AVTR type V2 and ITR, were analysed in several target organs associated with the following physiological processes: (i) integration and control (hypothalamus), (ii) metabolism and its control (liver and hypothalamus), (iii) osmoregulation (gills) and (iv) stress response (head kidney). Specimens were injected intraperitoneally with slow-release implants (5 μL g(-1) body mass) containing coconut oil alone (control group) or with cortisol (50 μg g(-1) body mass; cortisol group). Both AVT and IT synthesis and release were correlated with plasma cortisol values, suggesting a potential interaction between both hormonal systems and cortisol administration. Our results suggest that the activation of hepatic metabolism as well as the hypothalamic control of metabolic processes provide the energy necessary to overcome stress, which could be partly mediated by AVTRs and ITR. Upregulation of branchial AVT and IT receptor expression following cortisol treatment suggests an involvement of the vasotocinergic and isotocinergic systems in the regulation of ion channels/transporters during stressful situations. Finally, changes in AVT and IT receptor mRNA expression in the head kidney suggest these nonapeptides participate in feedback mechanisms that regulate the synthesis/release of cortisol. Our results indicate a relationship between cortisol and both the vasotocinergic and isotocinergic systems during simulated chronic stress in S. aurata.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Faculty of Marine and Environmental Sciences, University of Cádiz, 11510 Puerto Real, Cádiz, Spain Instituto de Ciencias Marinas de Andalucía, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (ICMAN-CSIC), 11510 Puerto Real, Cádiz, Spain.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cádiz
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Faculty of Marine and Environmental Sciences, University of Cádiz, 11510 Puerto Real, Cádiz, Spain.
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Román-Padilla
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetics and Marine Biotechnology, Institute of Oceanology of the Polish Academy of Sciences, 81-712 Sopot, Poland.
authors.forename: Magdalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gozdowska
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetics and Marine Biotechnology, Institute of Oceanology of the Polish Academy of Sciences, 81-712 Sopot, Poland.
authors.forename: Ewa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kulczykowska
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Ciencias Marinas de Andalucía, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (ICMAN-CSIC), 11510 Puerto Real, Cádiz, Spain.
authors.forename: Gonzalo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Martínez-Rodríguez
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Faculty of Marine and Environmental Sciences, University of Cádiz, 11510 Puerto Real, Cádiz, Spain.
authors.forename: Juan M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Mancera
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Faculty of Marine and Environmental Sciences, University of Cádiz, 11510 Puerto Real, Cádiz, Spain Instituto de Ciencias Marinas de Andalucía, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (ICMAN-CSIC), 11510 Puerto Real, Cádiz, Spain juanantonio.sitcha@uca.es.
authors.forename: Juan A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Martos-Sitcha
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D005880:Gills / Q000502:physiology; D060226:Head Kidney / Q000378:metabolism; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000378:metabolism; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000502:physiology; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D064587:Osmoregulation / Q000502:physiology; D010121:Oxytocin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000378:metabolism; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000502:physiology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D017483:Receptors, Vasopressin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D021541:Sea Bream / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000502:physiology*; D014668:Vasotocin / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D017483:Receptors, Vasopressin; D010121:Oxytocin; C008215:isotocin; D014668:Vasotocin; D006854:Hydrocortisone
keywords: Cortisol; Isotocin; Receptors; Sparus aurata; Stress; Vasotocin