title: Gonadotropins in European sea bass: Endocrine roles and biotechnological applications.
abstract: Follicle stimulating hormone (Fsh) and luteinizing hormone (Lh) are central endocrine regulators of the gonadal function in vertebrates. They act through specific receptors located in certain cell types found in the gonads. In fish, the differential roles of these hormones are being progressively elucidated due to the development of suitable tools for their study. In European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax), isolation of the genes coding for the gonadotropin subunits and receptors allowed in first instance to conduct expression studies. Later, to overcome the limitation of using native hormones, recombinant dimeric gonadotropins, which show different functional characteristics depending on the cell system and DNA construct, were generated. In addition, single gonadotropin beta-subunits have been produced and used as antigens for antibody production. This approach has allowed the development of detection methods for native gonadotropins, with European sea bass being one of the few species where both gonadotropins can be detected in their native form. By administering recombinant gonadotropins to gonad tissues in vitro, we were able to study their effects on steroidogenesis and intracellular pathways. Their administration in vivo has also been tested for use in basic studies and as a biotechnological approach for hormone therapy and assisted reproduction strategies. In addition to the production of recombinant hormones, gene-based therapies using somatic gene transfer have been offered as an alternative. This approach has been tested in sea bass for gonadotropin delivery in vivo. The hormones produced by the genes injected were functional and have allowed studies on the action of gonadotropins in spermatogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Acuicultura de Torre la Sal (CSIC), Ribera de Cabanes s/n, 12595 Torre la Sal, Castellón, Spain.
authors.forename: María José
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Mazón
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Acuicultura de Torre la Sal (CSIC), Ribera de Cabanes s/n, 12595 Torre la Sal, Castellón, Spain.
authors.forename: Gregorio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Molés
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Acuicultura de Torre la Sal (CSIC), Ribera de Cabanes s/n, 12595 Torre la Sal, Castellón, Spain.
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rocha
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Acuicultura de Torre la Sal (CSIC), Ribera de Cabanes s/n, 12595 Torre la Sal, Castellón, Spain.
authors.forename: Berta
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Crespo
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Acuicultura de Torre la Sal (CSIC), Ribera de Cabanes s/n, 12595 Torre la Sal, Castellón, Spain.
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Lan-Chow-Wing
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Acuicultura de Torre la Sal (CSIC), Ribera de Cabanes s/n, 12595 Torre la Sal, Castellón, Spain.
authors.forename: Felipe
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Espigares
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Acuicultura de Torre la Sal (CSIC), Ribera de Cabanes s/n, 12595 Torre la Sal, Castellón, Spain.
authors.forename: Iciar
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Muñoz
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Acuicultura de Torre la Sal (CSIC), Ribera de Cabanes s/n, 12595 Torre la Sal, Castellón, Spain.
authors.forename: Alicia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Felip
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Acuicultura de Torre la Sal (CSIC), Ribera de Cabanes s/n, 12595 Torre la Sal, Castellón, Spain.
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Carrillo
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Acuicultura de Torre la Sal (CSIC), Ribera de Cabanes s/n, 12595 Torre la Sal, Castellón, Spain.
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zanuy
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Acuicultura de Torre la Sal (CSIC), Ribera de Cabanes s/n, 12595 Torre la Sal, Castellón, Spain. Electronic address: a.gomez@csic.es.
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gómez
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001492:Bass / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D001709:Biotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006062:Gonadotropins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006066:Gonads / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D053652:Nuclear Transfer Techniques; D019849:Sex Determination Processes
chemical_list: D006062:Gonadotropins
keywords: Fish; Fsh; Gonadotropins; Lh; Recombinant hormones; Reproduction