title: Identification of gonadal soma-derived factor involvement in Monopterus albus (protogynous rice field eel) sex change.
abstract: We studied molecular events and potential mechanisms underlying the process of female-to-male sex transformation in the rice field eel (Monopterus albus), a protogynous hermaphrodite fish in which the gonad is initially a female ovary and transforms into male testes. We cloned and identified a novel gonadal soma derived factor (GSDF), which encodes a member of the transforming growth factor-beta superfamily. gsdf expression was measured in gonads of female, intersex and male with reverse transcription-PCR and gsdf's role in sex transformation was studied with qPCR, histological analysis and dual-color in situ hybridization assays and compared to other sex-related genes. gsdf was correlated to Sertoli cell differentiation, indicating involvement in testicular differentiation and sex transformation from female to male in this species. A unique expression pattern reveals a potential role of gsdf essential for the sex transformation of rice field eels.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Exploration and Utilization of Aquatic Genetic Resources, Ministry of Education, College of Fisheries and Life Sciences, Shanghai Ocean University, HuchengHuan Road 999, Shanghai, 201306, China.
authors.forename: Yefei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Exploration and Utilization of Aquatic Genetic Resources, Ministry of Education, College of Fisheries and Life Sciences, Shanghai Ocean University, HuchengHuan Road 999, Shanghai, 201306, China.
authors.forename: Chunlei
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Exploration and Utilization of Aquatic Genetic Resources, Ministry of Education, College of Fisheries and Life Sciences, Shanghai Ocean University, HuchengHuan Road 999, Shanghai, 201306, China.
authors.forename: Xiaowu
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Exploration and Utilization of Aquatic Genetic Resources, Ministry of Education, College of Fisheries and Life Sciences, Shanghai Ocean University, HuchengHuan Road 999, Shanghai, 201306, China. gjguan@shou.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Guijun
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Guan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D029941:Fish Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D015870:Gene Expression; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D010053:Ovary / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D019849:Sex Determination Processes; D012733:Sex Differentiation; D023701:Smegmamorpha / Q000502:physiology*; D013737:Testis / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D029941:Fish Proteins; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
keywords: GSDF; Sex differentiation; Sex transformation