银鲳3个营养代谢相关基因的克隆、表达及摄食水母对其表达模式的影响

本研究基于转录组学的分析结果,克隆分析了银鲳(Pampus argenteus)二肽酶(dehydropeptidase, dp1)、羧肽酶A (carboxypeptidases, cpa2l)和磺基转移酶(sulfotransferase, sult2) 3个营养代谢相关基因,并探讨了其在消化吸收水母(Scyphozoa)过程中发挥的功能。通过RACE技术克隆获得了银鲳dp1、cpa2l和sult2基因的cDNA全长序列。dp1基因全长2 522 bp,包含1个1 272 bp的开放阅读框(ORF),含有1个由23个氨基酸组成的信号蛋白肽和1个典型的酰胺水解酶超家族的结构域。cpa2l基因全长1 421 bp,ORF长1 260 bp,含有1个由16个氨基酸组成的信号蛋白肽和1个典型的M14金属羧肽酶家族的结构域。sult2基因全长1 834 bp,ORF长714 bp,含有1个典型的磺基转移酶家族的结构域。银鲳Dp1、Cpa2l和Sult2与蓝鳍金枪鱼(Thunnus maccoyii)同源性最高,系统进化树结果也显示,银鲳dp1、cpa2l和sult2与蓝鳍金枪鱼对应基因聚在一个分支上,亲缘关系最近。运用实时荧光定量PCR (RT-qPCR)检测了dp1、cpa2l和sult2基因在不同组织中的表达水平及摄食水母对3个基因不同组织中表达规律的影响。结果显示,银鲳dp1基因在肝脏中表达量最高(P<0.05),与未摄食水母组相比,dp1基因在摄食水母组的脑和鳃中表达量均极显著增加(P<0.01),在中肠和肾脏中显著增加(P<0.05),而在肌肉中显著下降(P<0.05)。cpa2l基因在未摄食水母组的中肠中表达量最高,而在摄食水母组的肾脏中表达量最高(P<0.05),与未摄食水母组相比,摄食水母组cpa2l基因在肝脏中的表达量极显著增加(P<0.01),而在中肠和肌肉中却极显著下降(P<0.01)。sult2基因在肝脏中表达量最高(P<0.05),与未摄食水母组相比,sult2基因在摄食水母组的中肠、脑、鳃、肝脏和肾脏中表达量显著增加(P<0.05)。研究表明,dp1、cpa2l和sult2基因在银鲳摄食水母后机体营养物质的消化吸收和代谢过程中起重要的调节作用,基于摄食水母后3个基因组织表达模式的比较分析,推测dp1主要参与调控消化吸收和组织中营养素沉积的过程,cpa2l主要参与调控肝脏中营养代谢的过程,而sult2可能在整个消化吸收和代谢过程中均起到重要的调控作用。     

大菱鲆脂质代谢相关基因PPARs的组织表达及其对高温胁迫的响应

为研究大菱鲆过氧化物酶体增殖物激活受体家族(PPARs)的组织分布和高温胁迫下PPARs在肾脏中的表达情况。实验采用荧光定量PCR(qPCR)技术检测PPARs基因3种亚型在大菱鲆不同组织中的表达情况以及高温胁迫下大菱鲆肾脏中PPARs的表达情况。qPCR结果显示,大菱鲆PPARs 3种亚型的组织分布存在显著差异。PPARα1和PPARα2在心脏中的表达量显著高于其他组织;PPARβ在大菱鲆的各个组织中普遍表达;PPARγ在大菱鲆的鳃中出现了显著性的高表达。大菱鲆肾脏中PPARs的mRNA水平随着温度升高呈现出不同的响应模式。PPARα随温度升高表达水平先显著降低,后有所升高;PPARβ的表达量在14、20、23和25℃时差异不显著,当温度升高至大菱鲆的致死温度28℃时,表达量出现了显著性的升高;PPARγ在14℃时表达水平很低,但随着温度的升高不断增加。研究表明,大菱鲆中存在PPARα、PPARβ和PPARγ3种亚型,而且三者可能以组织特异性的方式参与脂质代谢的调节,首次指出PPARs 3种亚型在温度胁迫中的表达变化,对PPARs的研究将推动鱼类脂代谢研究,揭示鱼类PPARs在脂质代谢调控以及响应逆境胁迫中的重要作用。     

低盐胁迫下松江鲈ATP1A3和ATP2B1基因的表达变化规律

为了探究Na+/K+-ATP酶和Ca2+-ATP酶在松江鲈(Trachidermus fasciatus)应对低盐胁迫过程中的调节作用,本研究基于前期转录组数据,获取目标基因ATP1A3 (Na+/K+-ATP酶α3亚基基因)和ATP2B1 (Ca2+-ATP酶1基因)的序列信息并进行了系统进化分析。利用实时荧光定量PCR技术检测了松江鲈的鳃、肠、肾脏和肝脏组织中2个基因在2种低盐胁迫处理(盐度渐变处理,盐度变化速率为1.1/h;盐度骤变处理,盐度变化速率为27/h)下,不同时间点(0 h、12 h、24 h和48 h)的表达水平。系统进化分析结果表明,ATP1A3和ATP2B1基因分别聚类形成独立分支;在各基因分支中,松江鲈与已报道的鲈形目和鲽形目等鱼类共同聚在硬骨鱼类分支中。在2种低盐胁迫处理下,2个基因在鳃、肠、肾脏和肝脏组织中的表达量呈现不同的变化趋势。鳃组织中ATP1A3表达量在盐度渐变处理下先上升后下降,ATP2B1表达量仅在24 h显著升高;盐度骤变处理下,ATP1A3表达量显著下降,ATP2B1表达量显著上升。2种盐度渐变处理下,肠组织中ATP1A3表达量均在24 h显著下降;ATP2B1表达量在盐度渐变处理下显著上升,盐度骤变处理下在24 h显著上升。在盐度渐变处理下,肾脏组织中2个基因的表达量均在24 h显著上升至最大值;ATP1A3表达量在盐度骤变处理下显著上升,ATP2B1表达量在12 h和48 h显著上升。肝脏组织中2个基因的表达量在盐度渐变处理下均无显著变化;盐度骤变处理下,ATP1A3表达量持续显著上升,ATP2B1表达量在48 h显著上升。结果表明,低盐胁迫处理显著影响了ATP1A3和ATP2B1基因的表达水平,但2个基因的表达量变化规律存在显著性差异。上述结果为探讨Na+/K+-ATP酶和Ca2+-ATP酶在鱼类渗透压调节过程中的作用及洄游性鱼类适应盐度变化的分子调控机制提供了理论依据。     

黄鳝细胞质动力蛋白3基因的克隆及其在性逆转中的功能分析

为解析黄鳝(Monopterus albus)性逆转机制，实验以雌、雄、间性发育黄鳝为研究对象，分析不同组织、不同发育时期性腺、甲基睾丸酮处理性腺及Zebularine处理性腺原代细胞后dynlt3基因表达模式的变化及其在性腺中的表达定位。性腺转录组测序结果显示，基因全长1 082 bp,开放阅读框354 bp,编码117个氨基酸。生物信息学分析显示，dynlt3基因编码蛋白质的二级结构包含37.96%的α-螺旋，29.20%的β-折叠，32.85%的无规则卷曲。系统进化分析结果显示，黄鳝DYNLT3氨基酸序列与硬骨鱼纲中底鳉(Fundulus heteroclitus)同源性最高。实时荧光定量PCR结果表明，dynlt3基因在黄鳝肌肉和脑具有较高表达，心脏次之，在其它各组织表达量较低。在性腺的不同发育时期，在间性后期和雄性中表达量显著性高于雌性与间性早期。甲基睾酮处理后黄鳝卵巢组织结构发生明显退化，卵母细胞退化且数量减少，结缔组织间出现空泡结构；dynlt3基因在卵巢中表达量显著性下调。原位杂交分析dynlt3基因在性腺组织中的表达定位结果显示，在不同性腺发育时期均检测到dynlt3...     

不同体色鲤的生长、酪氨酸酶活性、黑色素含量及基因表达比较

‘福瑞鲤 2 号’鲤(Cyprinus carpio)在繁育过程中会出现橘红色个体, 为了探讨鲤体色分化与生长性能的相关性, 利用‘福瑞鲤 2 号’构建具有青灰色和橘红色个体的家系, 并对其生长性状、酪氨酸酶活性、黑色素含量、黑色素合成通路(ko04916)及生长激素合成、释放和效应通路(ko04935)相关基因的表达水平进行比较。结果显示, 青灰色组 3 月龄体重、体长、体高和体厚均极显著大于橘红色组(P＜0.01), 其体长/体高显著大于橘红色组(P＜0.05)。青灰色组皮肤中酪氨酸酶活性和黑色素含量均显著高于橘红色组(P＜0.05)。与青灰色组相比, dct、mc1r、mitfb、tyr 和 tyrp1 等 12 个黑色素合成通路(ko04916)基因在橘红色组皮肤中的表达量显著(P＜0.05)或极显著降低(P＜0.01), 且 gh、ghr 和 igf2 等 6 个生长激素合成、释放和效应通路(ko04935)基因在橘红色组肌肉中的表达量也显著(P＜0.05)或极显著 (P＜0.01)降低。此外, 代谢通路内基因呈现共表达模式, 代谢通路间共有基因在组织间呈现相似表达趋势。研究表明, 鲤体色变异与黑色素合成通路存在密切关系, 且不同体色个体表现出生长差异, 推测与体色和生长调控通路间存在相同基因有关。     

低盐胁迫对刺参 4 个盐度调节相关基因表达丰度的影响

从刺参(Apostichopus japonicus)低盐转录组数据库中选取与应激(热休克蛋白70基因)和离子传递(甘氨酸转运蛋白基因、锌转运蛋白基因、神经乙酰胆碱受体基因)相关的4个差异表达基因,利用qRT-PCR技术分析这4个基因在不同组织中的表达水平及低盐对其表达丰度的影响.结果表明甘氨酸转运蛋白基因在刺参呼吸树中表达水平最高,肠次之,体腔液表达较低;锌指蛋白基因和神经乙酰胆碱受体基因均在体腔液中表达最高,肠次之,在呼吸树中不表达;热休克蛋白70基因在体腔液中表达量最高,其次是呼吸树和肠组织.低盐胁迫下这4种基因的表达量均随着胁迫时间的延长呈波动性增减,其中甘氨酸转运蛋白在体腔液中的表达低于正常表达水平,在胁迫后3h时达到最低表达量.神经乙酰胆碱受体基因除在体腔液中48 h出现明显的上调外,在体腔液其他时间点和肠组织中处于下调表达状态.低盐胁迫下这4个基因表达丰度的变化,说明这些基因或作为功能蛋白直接参与机体的代谢调节,或作为调控蛋白调节胁迫功能蛋白的表达和活性来提高刺参对低盐胁迫的耐受能力.研究结果可为刺参盐度调节适应机制的研究奠定基础.     

红鳍东方鲀低温胁迫应答主效QTL候选基因的表达特征分析

红鳍东方鲀(Takifugu rubripes)为暖温性、广温性鱼类,低温的冬季海水会对其生存造成很大影响,因此,选育具有抗寒性状的品系对其产业发展具有重要意义。本研究在利用QTL (quantitative trait locus)定位分析筛选出6个与红鳍东方鲀耐低温相关的候选基因(tacc2、fsip1、exoc4、arhgap44a、pde10a和unc5b)的基础上,通过Real-time PCR检测这6个基因在低温胁迫下在肝脏、心脏和肾脏中表达量的变化。实验用鱼为课题组建立的同一家系的8月龄鱼,共设置3个温度梯度(8 ℃、13 ℃和18 ℃),8 ℃和13 ℃为低温组,18 ℃为对照组。结果显示,6个基因在不同温度下的3个组织中均有不同程度的表达。其中,pde10a基因在3个组织中的表达均呈先升高后下降的趋势;tacc2和exoc4基因在8 ℃组肝脏、肾脏以及心脏中的表达分别呈先下降再趋于稳定、先升高再趋于稳定和先上升后下降的趋势;unc5b基因在肝脏和心脏中的表达量较低,在低温组实验前期的肾脏中呈现高表达;arhgap44a基因在肝脏中的表达呈上升趋势,在心脏和肾脏中整体表达无明显变化;fsip1基因在肝脏中的表达呈下降趋势,在心脏和肾脏中的表达呈先上升后下降的趋势。这6个基因在红鳍东方鲀组织中均随着时间和温度变化具有差异性表达,在低温胁迫下呈现积极响应,表明这6个QTL候选基因在红鳍东方鲀低温适应中具有潜在的重要作用。本研究可为红鳍东方鲀耐低温相关信号通路研究以及耐低温品种选育提供理论依据。     

刺参主要卵黄蛋白MYP1、MYP2在不同幼体发育阶段、成体组织及温度胁迫条件下的相对定量表达

为探讨温度胁迫对刺参基因表达的影响,从已构建的刺参耐寒基因筛选cDNA文库中选取差异基因主要卵黄蛋白(major yolk protein,MYP):MYP1和MYP2,利用实时荧光定量PCR研究了其在刺参胚胎发生和个体发育9个阶段(受精卵、囊胚期、原肠期、小耳状幼体、中耳幼体、大耳幼体、樽形幼体、五触手幼体和稚参)、成体7种组织(呼吸树、体腔液、肠、纵肌、体壁、雄性性腺和雌性性腺)、长时温度胁迫(20℃、4℃,30 d)和低温短时胁迫(7℃、4℃、1℃、-2℃,12 h)成体肠组织中的表达量。结果发现,MYP1和MYP2表达模式基本相同:(1)在胚胎发育阶段樽形幼体时期开始表达,随后的阶段持续表达,到稚参阶段表达量最高;(2)在7种组织中,肠中的表达量最高,在体腔液中基本不表达,其余组织中均有表达;(3)在长时(30 d)温度胁迫下,肠组织中MYP表达量由高到低依次为4℃、12℃、20℃,且在4℃的表达量为20℃的6倍左右;(4)在低温短时胁迫(1℃、-2℃,12 h)条件下,肠组织中MYP表达量受到显著抑制,约为常温条件下的一半。研究表明,MYP在刺参胚胎发育的樽形幼体阶段开始合成,成体合成部位主要为肠,水温过低会抑制其表达。     

饲料脂肪水平对大口黑鲈CPT1表达的影响

为研究脂肪水平对大口黑鲈鱼体组织中肉碱棕榈酰转移酶I (CPT1)基因表达的影响及不同生长阶段的表达规律。实验设计6%(低脂)、12%(中脂)和18%(高脂)3种脂肪水平的等氮不等脂饲料,饲养初始体质量为(23.60±1.26)g的大口黑鲈,分别在饲养第30、60和90天取肝脏、肠道、肾脏和肌肉等组织样品,以18S为内参基因,用CPT1特异性引物进行实时荧光定量实验,使用2~(-__C_T)法得到CPT1基因的相对表达数据。结果显示,CPT1基因在肝脏中表达量最高,在肠道和肾脏中次之,在鳃丝、心脏、肌肉、胃、脑以及脾脏中表达量较低;在不同脂肪水平处理下,CPT1表达量随脂肪水平的增加而增加;在不同生长阶段中,CPT1表达量随饲养时间的延长而增加。研究表明,饲料脂肪水平及饲养时间会诱导大口黑鲈组织CPT1基因的表达,表明CPT1可能参与机体脂肪的分解代谢。     

半滑舌鳎StAR基因克隆及其在不同组织的时空表达分析

利用半滑舌鳎性腺转录组测序获得的StAR基因部分序列,设计RACE引物,克隆了半滑舌鳎StAR基因的cDNA序列,全长为1 294 bp,5'端UTR为132 bp,3'端UTR为310 bp,开放阅读框(ORF)为852 bp,共编码283个氨基酸。将半滑舌鳎StAR基因与其他物种StAR基因进行氨基酸同源性分析,结果显示,半滑舌鳎StAR与塞内加尔鳎、大口黑鲈、花鲈、金头鲷的同源性都达到了85%,与虹鳟、斜带石斑鱼及日本鳗鲡的同源性分别为81%、83%和76%。雌、雄鱼不同组织StAR基因的表达分析表明,StAR基因在雄鱼性腺中高表达,在雄鱼的肝脏、脑及心脏中表达量较低,而在雄鱼的其他组织中不表达;在雌鱼肠中不表达,在其他组织(卵巢、肝脏、脾脏、脑、垂体、肌肉、心脏、肾脏)中微量表达。荧光定量PCR分析不同组织与不同时期性腺表达谱表明,雄鱼性腺中StAR基因的表达量显著高于雌、雄鱼其他各组织(P0.05),提示StAR基因对雄鱼精巢发育起重要作用。雄鱼不同时期表达谱分析结果显示,StAR基因在66天前的精巢中不表达,在150天时表达量急剧增加,至2龄时表达量最高,3龄时表达量下降,说明该基因在精巢发育成熟过程中起重要作用。原位杂交结果显示,StAR基因主要在雄鱼精巢的精子细胞中表达,而在雌鱼的卵巢中不表达。研究表明,StAR基因在半滑舌鳎精巢发育中发挥作用,且可能在精子形成中发挥重要作用。     

Effects of Estradiol and Testosterone on the Expression of Growth‐related Genes in Female and Male Nile Tilapia,Oreochromis niloticus

Nile tilapia exhibits strong sexual growth dimorphism. The potential role of sex steroid hormones in sexual growth dimorphism is not fully understood. We investigated the effects of estradiol (E₂) and testosterone (T) on growth rate, plasma sex hormones, and expression of growth hormone (GH)‐insulin‐like growth factor (IGF) axis genes and muscle regulatory factor (MRF) genes in female and male Nile tilapia. The results revealed that serum concentrations of E₂ and T were significantly higher after correlative injection (P < 0.05). Compared to male fish, female fish had lower growth rates. E₂ increased growth performance in females with no significant effects on males, whereas T significantly increased growth performance in males, with no significant effects on females. In females, E₂ significantly increased expression of ghr1, ghr2, igf1, and igf2, while T decreased igf2 and increased ghr1 and ghr2 expression. In males, T increased expression of igf1, igf2, ghr1, and ghr2, and E₂ decreased expression of igf1, ghr1, and ghr2. Additionally, E₂ and T enhanced the expression of MRF genes (myod1, myod2, myog, and myf5) in female and male fish, respectively. The results suggest that sex steroid hormones play a role in sexual growth dimorphism by regulating the expression of GH‐IGF axis and MRF genes.     

Overview of Fish Growth Hormone Family. New Insights in Genomic Organization and Heterogeneity of Growth Hormone Receptors

Growth hormone (GH), prolactin (PRL) and somatolactin (SL) are single chain proteins structurally and functionally related. Fish PRL and GH receptors (PRLR, GHR) have been characterized in several fish species. There is limited evidence of fish PRLR isoforms, but emerging data support the existence of different GHR variants. In gilthead sea bream, black sea bream, turbot and fugu, but not in zebrafish, GHR has retained an exclusive fish intron (10/10A). In gilthead sea bream and turbot, this intron is not alternatively spliced, but the black sea bream intron is either removed or retained during mRNA processing, resulting in a long GHR isoform with a 31 amino acid insertion that does not alter the open reading frame. This or any other GHR variant are not found in gilthead sea bream, but a truncated anchored form has been reported in turbot. The latter GHR isoform comprises extracellular and trans-membrane domains, the first 28 amino acids of the intracellular domain and 21 divergent amino acids before a stop codon. This GHR variant is the result of alternative splicing, being the 3′ UTR and the divergent sequence identical to the sequence of the 5′ end of the 9/10 intron. The physiological significance of different fish GHR isoforms remains unclear, but emerging data provide suitable evidence for season and nutrition related changes in the somatototropic axis activity. The up-regulation of circulating GH together with the decrease of plasma titres of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I), an altered pattern of serum IGF binding proteins and a reduced expression of hepatic IGF-I and GHRs represent a mechanism conserved through vertebrate evolution. It secures the preferential utilization of mobilized substrates to maintain energy homeostasis rather than tissue growth. Somatolactin also changes as a function of season, ration size, dietary amino acid profile and dietary protein source creating opposite plasma GH and SL profiles. There is now direct evidence for a lipolytic effect of fish SL, acting at the same time as an inhibitory factor of voluntary food intake. Indeed, long-term feeding restriction results in the enlargement of the summer GH peak, whereas the SL rise coincident with shortened day length is delayed in juvenile fish until late autumn. These findings agree with the idea that SL may act as a marker of energy surplus, priming some particular process such as puberty onset. However, it remains unclear whether SL works through specific receptors and/or dimers or heterodimers of GH and PRL receptors.     

河川沙塘鳢GHR和IGF-2基因克隆及mRNA的时序表达

生长激素/胰岛素样生长因子-轴(growth hormone/insulin-like growth-axis,GH/IGF-轴)是调控鱼类生长的主要内分泌轴线。为探讨生长相关基因GHR、IGF-2对河川沙塘鳢(Odontobutis potamophila)生长发育的调控机制,采用cDNA末端快速扩增(RACE)和实时荧光定量PCR等技术,对河川沙塘鳢的GHR、IGF-2基因进行了克隆和表达模式分析。研究结果显示:河川沙塘鳢GHR基因的cDNA全长序列为2 179 bp,开放阅读框为1 830 bp,共编码609个氨基酸,IGF-2基因的cDNA全长序列为1 586 bp,开放阅读框642 bp,共编码213个氨基酸。采用qRT-PCR方法检测了GHR、IGF-2基因在9个不同组织(脑、肝、心、肌肉、脾、肠、性腺、鳃、肾)和8个胚胎不同发育时期(受精卵期、桑椹胚期、原肠胚期、神经胚期、体节期、口裂期、出膜后1 d、出膜后3 d)的表达情况。结果表明:IGF-2和GHR基因在所检测的9种组织中均有表达,其中以肝脏、肌肉、性腺、脑中的表达量较高,在胚胎发育阶段GHR和IGF-2基因表达呈先上升后下降的趋势,在原肠胚期表达量较高,表明其在胚胎发育过程中发挥重要作用。qRT-PCR进一步比较了雌、雄河川沙塘鳢GHR和IGF-2基因在不同生长发育阶段(90、150、210、270、330 d)脑、肝、肌肉mRNA的表达量,结果表明:各时期雄鱼GHR和IGF-2基因在肝组织中表达量均显著高于雌鱼,肌肉和脑GHR基因mRNA的表达量则无显著差异。而IGF-2基因则仅在雌、雄鱼210 d的脑和150、210 d的肌肉存在显著性差异,推测肝GHR和IGF-2基因mRNA表达的雌雄差异是河川沙塘鳢雌雄生长差异的主要原因之一。     

Cichlasoma dimerus responds to refeeding with a partial compensatory growth associated with an increment of the feed conversion efficiency and a rapid recovery of GH/IGFs axis

Many fish species display compensatory growth (CG), a phenomenon by which fasted fish grow faster during refeeding. However, most studies use a group‐housed fish approach that could be problematic in social fish when interaction between individuals is not considered or eliminated. Additionally, the growth hormone (GH)/insulin‐like growth factors’ (IGF‐1 and IGF‐2) axis is implicated in postnatal growth in vertebrates, but its relevance in CG is not fully understood. Thus, the aim of this work was to determine whether CG occurs in a social fish, Cichlasoma dimerus, using an individually held fish approach and secondly, to evaluate the GH/IGFs expression profile during refeeding by 3 days and 3 weeks. C. dimerus showed partial CG. The feed conversion efficiency (FCE) was higher in three‐day‐refed fish, which presented higher GH plasma and mRNA levels than controls but shown no differences in liver and muscle GH receptors (GHR1 and GHR2) and IGFs mRNA levels. Surprisingly, three‐week‐refed fish exhibited GHR1 and IGF‐2 increments, but a reduction in GHR2 expression in muscle. These results show a strong association between GH levels, growth rate and FCE during refeeding, and a long‐lasting effect of refeeding on muscular expression of GHRs and IGF‐2.     

Disrupting actions of bisphenol A and malachite green on growth hormone receptor gene expression and signal transduction in seabream

Environmental estrogen could mimic natural estrogens thereby disrupting the endocrine systems of human and animals. The actions of such endocrine disruptors have been studied mainly on reproduction and development. However, estrogen could also affect the somatotropic axis via multiple targets such as growth hormone (GH). In the present study, two endocrine disruptors were chosen to investigate their effects on the expression level and signal transduction of growth hormone receptor (GHR) in fish. Using real-time PCR, it was found that exposure to both the estrogenic (bisphenol A) and anti-estrogenic (malachite green) compounds could attenuate the expression levels of GHR1 and GHR2 in black seabream (Acanthopagrus schlegeli) hepatocytes. The expression level of IGF-I, the downstream effector of GHR activation in the liver, was decreased by bisphenol A but not by malachite green. Luciferase reporter assay of the β-casein promoter was used to monitor GHR signaling in transfected cells. In the fish liver cell line Hepa-T1, both GHR1 and GHR2 signaling were attenuated by bisphenol A and malachite green. This attenuation could only occur in the presence of estrogen receptor, indicating that these agents probably produce their actions via the estrogen receptor. Results of the present study demonstrated that estrogenic or anti-estrogenic compounds could down-regulate the somatotropic axis in fish by affecting both the gene expression and signaling of GHR. In view of the increasing prevalence of these compounds in the environment, the impact on fish growth and development both in the wild and in aquaculture would be considerable.     

Identification and expression analysis of two growth hormone receptors in zanzibar tilapia (Oreochromis hornorum)

Growth hormone plays important roles in various physiological processes such as growth, metabolism, and reproduction. In this study, two cDNAs encoding growth hormone receptor (GHR) were isolated from the liver of zanzibar tilapia (Oreochromis hornornum). The two cDNAs were 2,831 and 2,044 bp in length and named GHR1 and GHR2, respectively. GHR1 and GHR2 shared 57.4% similarity in nucleotide sequences and 33.5% similarity in deduced amino acid sequences. Consequently, it was presumed that they were two different genes. Conserved regions of GHR1 and GHR2 in zanzibar tilapia were different from those of other vertebrates. For example, conserved box2 regions of GHR1 and GHR2 in zanzibar tilapia were, respectively, WVELM and WVEFT, while it was WVEFI for GHRs in other vertebrates. Similar to other fish species, GHR1 and GHR2 were expressed in brain, gill, liver, muscle, spleen, gonad, stomach, kidney, and pituitary in zanzibar tilapia. The expression levels were the highest in liver. Unlike fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas) and mossambique tilapia (O. mossambicus), the expression levels of GHR1 in most female fish tissues were higher than those in male fish. No significant difference in GHR2 expression was found in all the tissues in male and female of zanzibar tilapia. Under fasting condition, the expressions of GHRs and IGF-II were significantly up-regulated (P < 0.05) in liver, while the expression of IGF-I remained stable. This observation would contribute to understanding the evolution of the GHR family in further investigation of growth regulation of zanzibar tilapia.     

饲养密度对银鲳幼鱼增重率及消化酶活性的影响

研究了饲养密度对银鲳(Pampus argenteus)幼鱼(5.33±0.07 g)增重率及消化酶活性的影响。实验共设4组饲养密度,分别为5、10、15、25 ind.m-3,依次编为D1、D2、D3、D4组,实验周期为60 d。研究结果显示,饲养密度对银鲳幼鱼的增重率具有显著性影响,4组密度组中以D3组银鲳的增重率最高,且均显著高于其它3组密度组(P<0.05)。最高密度组(D4组)的增重率与D2组无显著性差异(P>0.05),但两组的增重率均显著高于D1组(P<0.05)。4组密度组间银鲳胃蛋白酶活性并无显著性差异,但胰蛋白酶、脂肪酶和淀粉酶活性则在不同密度组间呈现出显著性差异。胰蛋白酶与脂肪酶活性均在D3组达到最高值,且均显著高于其它各密度组(P<0.05)。D3和D4组的淀粉酶活性显著高于D1和D2组(P<0.05)。综合分析可知,饲养密度可显著影响银鲳幼鱼的增重率与消化酶活性,本实验条件下的适宜饲养密度范围内(15 ind.m-3左右),银鲳幼鱼具有较好的生长速度及较高的消化酶活性。     

Influence of circulating GH levels on GH-binding capacity measurements in the hepatic membrane of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss): importance of normalization of results

In fish, regulation of the growth hormone (GH) receptor has been mainly analyzed by binding studies, with some discrepancies in the results. The present work aims at determining whether circulating GH levels influence the measurement of hepatic GH-binding capacities. To do this, the effectiveness of the dissociation of the GH/GH receptor (GHR) complex by an MgCl₂ treatment was assessed in rainbow trout, and data on GH-binding capacities under various physiological conditions were studied using different means of expression. Our results reveal that MgCl₂ treatment dissociated the liver GH/GHR complex formed under in vitro conditions (85 ± 23 vs. 361 ± 16 fmol/g of liver; p<0.001) but not in vivo, showing such treatment in trout is not applicable. A comparison of fasted (3 weeks) and fed fish revealed that GH-binding capacities, expressed as femtomoles per milligram protein or femtomoles per gram of liver, were similar in both fed and fasted fish. However, when changes in liver and body size were taken into account, the total GH-binding capacities were lower in the fasted fish (0.026 ± 0.006 vs. 0.062 ± 0.009 fmol/cm³ liver; p<0.05). One day after hypophysectomy or GH injection, changes in the plasma GH levels increased or decreased GH-binding capacities, respectively. Five days later, GH-binding capacities increased in GH-injected fish (527 ± 38 vs. 399 ± 38 fmol/g liver; p<0.01). Our interpretation is that acute treatment modified GH-binding capacities through receptor occupancy and that GH stimulated the synthesis of its own receptor. On the other hand, long-term treatment through successive injections of GH lowered the total binding capacities (approx. 40%), which could result from receptor occupancy. We conclude that circulating GH levels strongly influence the measurement of GH-binding capacities in the liver, thereby limiting interpretation of the binding data and preventing accurate conclusions to be drawn on GHR regulation.