title: Retinoid level dynamics during gonad recycling in the limpet Patella vulgata.
abstract: Germ cell commitment and meiosis initiation are among the multitude of physiological roles of retinoic acid (RA) in vertebrates. Acting via receptor-mediated transcription, RA induces the expression of meiotic factors, triggering meiosis. Contrasting with vertebrates, invertebrate RA metabolism is scarcely understood. Still, some physiological processes appear to be conserved. Here we set to evaluate the role of retinoids in the gonad maturation process of the marine gastropod Patella vulgata. We found that retinoid concentration in gonadal tissue, namely RA, varies between breeding and resting specimens, with maxima attained in the latter. Additionally, we isolated and quantified the expression of both the retinoic acid receptor (RAR) and the retinoid X receptor (RXR) in gonads. In view of the stability of retinoid receptor expression, we suggest that the balance of RA levels operates through the enzymatic control of synthetic and catabolic processes. Overall, the reported data are supportive for a developmental role of RA during gonadal maturation in P. vulgata, which should be addressed in other protostome lineages.
authors.affiliation: CIMAR/CIIMAR-Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Rua dos Bragas 289, 4050-123 Porto, Portugal; Laboratorio de Fisioloxía Animal, Facultade de Bioloxía, Universidade de Vigo, 36310 Vigo, Spain.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gesto
authors.affiliation: CIMAR/CIIMAR-Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Rua dos Bragas 289, 4050-123 Porto, Portugal. Electronic address: rruivo@ciimar.up.pt.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ruivo
authors.affiliation: CIMAR/CIIMAR-Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Rua dos Bragas 289, 4050-123 Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Páscoa
authors.affiliation: CIMAR/CIIMAR-Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Rua dos Bragas 289, 4050-123 Porto, Portugal; ICBAS - Institute of Biomedical Sciences of Abel Salazar, University of Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira, 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: André
authors.affiliation: CIMAR/CIIMAR-Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Rua dos Bragas 289, 4050-123 Porto, Portugal; FCUP - Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: L F C
authors.initials: LFC
authors.lastname: Castro
authors.affiliation: CIMAR/CIIMAR-Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Rua dos Bragas 289, 4050-123 Porto, Portugal; FCUP - Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal. Electronic address: santos@ciimar.up.pt.
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Santos
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D049851:Gastropoda / Q000378:metabolism*; D015870:Gene Expression; D006066:Gonads / Q000378:metabolism*; D018168:Receptors, Retinoic Acid / Q000378:metabolism*; D012098:Reproduction / Q000502:physiology; D047488:Retinoid X Receptors / Q000378:metabolism*; D012176:Retinoids / Q000378:metabolism*; D014212:Tretinoin / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D002352:Carrier Proteins; D018168:Receptors, Retinoic Acid; D047488:Retinoid X Receptors; D012176:Retinoids; D014212:Tretinoin
keywords: Evolution; Gametogenesis; Invertebrates; Nuclear receptors; Retinoid pathways