An RNA-seq time series of the medaka pituitary gland during sexual maturation.

Directing both organismal homeostasis and physiological adaptation, the pituitary is a key endocrine gland in all vertebrates. One of its major tasks is to coordinate sexual maturation through the production and release of hormones stimulating gonad development. In order to study its developmental dynamics in the model fish medaka (Oryzias latipes), we sampled both the pituitary and the ovaries of 68 female fish. Of these, 55 spanned the entire course of sexual maturation from prepubertal juveniles to spawning adults. An additional 13 showed either considerably faster or slower growth and development than the majority of fish. We used histological examination of the ovaries to determine a histological maturation stage, and analyzed the pituitary glands using RNA-seq optimized for low input. Taken together, these data reveal the timing of hormone production priorities, and form a comprehensive resource for the study of their regulation.

New Insights Into the Evolution of Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone Family With a Special Focus on Teleosts.

Corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) was discovered for its role as a brain neurohormone controlling the corticotropic axis in vertebrates. An additional crh gene, crh2, paralog of crh (crh1), and likely resulting from the second round (2R) of vertebrate whole genome duplication (WGD), was identified in a holocephalan chondrichthyan, in basal mammals, various sauropsids and a non-teleost actinopterygian holostean. It was suggested that crh2 has been recurrently lost in some vertebrate groups including teleosts. We further investigated the fate of crh1 and crh2 in vertebrates with a special focus on teleosts. Phylogenetic and synteny analyses showed the presence of duplicated crh1 paralogs, crh1a and crh1b, in most teleosts, resulting from the teleost-specific WGD (3R). Crh1b is conserved in all teleosts studied, while crh1a has been lost independently in some species. Additional crh1 paralogs are present in carps and salmonids, resulting from specific WGD in these lineages. We identified crh2 gene in additional vertebrate groups such as chondrichthyan elasmobranchs, sarcopterygians including dipnoans and amphibians, and basal actinoperygians, Polypteridae and Chondrostei. We also revealed the presence of crh2 in teleosts, including elopomorphs, osteoglossomorphs, clupeiforms, and ostariophysians, while it would have been lost in Euteleostei along with some other groups. To get some insights on the functional evolution of the crh paralogs, we compared their primary and 3D structure, and by qPCR their tissue distribution, in two representative species, the European eel, which possesses three crh paralogs (crh1a, crh1b, crh2), and the Atlantic salmon, which possesses four crh paralogs of the crh1-type. All peptides conserved the structural characteristics of human CRH. Eel crh1b and both salmon crh1b genes were mainly expressed in the brain, supporting the major role of crh1b paralogs in controlling the corticotropic axis in teleosts. In contrast, crh1a paralogs were mainly expressed in peripheral tissues such as muscle and heart, in eel and salmon, reflecting a striking subfunctionalization between crh1a and b paralogs. Eel crh2 was weakly expressed in the brain and peripheral tissues. These results revisit the repertoire of crh in teleosts and highlight functional divergences that may have contributed to the differential conservation of various crh paralogs in teleosts.

Photoperiodic regulation of pituitary thyroid-stimulating hormone and brain deiodinase in Atlantic salmon.

Seasonal timing is important for many critical life history events of vertebrates, and photoperiod is often used as a reliable seasonal cue. In mammals and birds, it has been established that a photoperiod-driven seasonal clock resides in the brain and pituitary, and is driven by increased levels of pituitary thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and brain type 2 iodothyronine deiodinase (DIO2), which leads to local increases in triiodothyronine (T3). In order to determine if a similar mechanism occurs in fish, we conducted photoperiod manipulations in anadromous (migratory) Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) that use photoperiod to time the preparatory development of salinity tolerance which accompanies downstream migration in spring. Changing daylength from short days (light:dark (LD) 10:14) to long days (LD 16:8) for 20 days increased gill Na+/K+-ATPase (NKA) activity, gill NKAα1b abundance and plasma growth hormone (GH) levels that normally accompany increased salinity tolerance of salmon in spring. Long-day exposure resulted in five-fold increases in pituitary tshßb mRNA levels after 10 days and were sustained for at least 20 days. tshßb mRNA levels in the saccus vasculosus were low and not influenced by photoperiod. Increased daylength resulted in significant increases in dio2b mRNA levels in the hypothalamus and midbrain/optic tectum regions of the brain. The results are consistent with the presence of a photoperiod-driven seasonal clock in fish which involves pituitary TSH, brain DIO2 and the subsequent production of T3, supporting the hypothesis that this is a common feature of photoperiodic regulation of seasonality in vertebrates.

Differential Regulation of the Expression of the Two Thyrotropin Beta Subunit Paralogs by Salmon Pituitary Cells In Vitro.

We recently characterized two paralogs of the thyrotropin (TSH) beta subunit in Atlantic salmon, tshßa and tshßb, issued from teleost-specific whole genome duplication. The transcript expression of tshßb, but not of tshßa, peaks at the time of smoltification, which revealed a specific involvement of tshßb paralog in this metamorphic event. Tshßa and tshßb are expressed by distinct pituitary cells in salmon, likely related to TSH cells from the pars distalis and pars tuberalis, respectively, in mammals and birds. The present study aimed at investigating the neuroendocrine and endocrine factors potentially involved in the differential regulation of tshßa and tshßb paralogs, using primary cultures of Atlantic salmon pituitary cells. The effects of various neurohormones and endocrine factors potentially involved in the control of development, growth, and metabolism were tested. Transcript levels of tshßa and tshßb were measured by qPCR, as well as those of growth hormone (gh), for comparison and validation. Corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) stimulated tshßa transcript levels in agreement with its potential role in the thyrotropic axis in teleosts, but had no effect on tshßb paralog, while it also stimulated gh transcript levels. Thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) had no effect on neither tshß paralogs nor gh. Somatostatin (SRIH) had no effects on both tshß paralogs, while it exerted a canonical inhibitory effect on gh transcript levels. Thyroid hormones [triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4)] inhibited transcript levels of both tshß paralogs, as well as gh, but with a much stronger effect on tshßa than on tshßb and gh. Conversely, cortisol had a stronger inhibitory effect on tshßb than tshßa, while no effect on gh. Remarkably, insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) dose-dependently stimulated tshßb transcript levels, while it had no effect on tshßa, and a classical inhibitory effect on gh. This study provides the first data on the neuroendocrine factors involved in the differential regulation of the expression of the two tshß paralogs. It suggests that IGF1 may be involved in triggering the expression peak of the tshßb paralog at smoltification, thus representing a potential internal signal in the link between body growth and smoltification metamorphosis.

Corrigendum: New Insights Into the Evolutionary History of Melatonin Receptors in Vertebrates, With Particular Focus on Teleosts.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2020.538196.].

New Insights Into the Evolutionary History of Melatonin Receptors in Vertebrates, With Particular Focus on Teleosts.

In order to improve our understanding of melatonin signaling, we have reviewed and revised the evolutionary history of melatonin receptor genes (mtnr) in vertebrates. All gnathostome mtnr genes have a conserved gene organization with two exons, except for mtnr1b paralogs of some teleosts that show intron gains. Phylogeny and synteny analyses demonstrate the presence of four mtnr subtypes, MTNR1A, MTNR1B, MTNR1C, MTNR1D that arose from duplication of an ancestral mtnr during the vertebrate tetraploidizations (1R and 2R). In tetrapods, mtnr1d was lost, independently, in mammals, in archosaurs and in caecilian amphibians. All four mtnr subtypes were found in two non-teleost actinopterygian species, the spotted gar and the reedfish. As a result of teleost tetraploidization (3R), up to seven functional mtnr genes could be identified in teleosts. Conservation of the mtnr 3R-duplicated paralogs differs among the teleost lineages. Synteny analysis showed that the mtnr1d was conserved as a singleton in all teleosts resulting from an early loss after tetraploidization of one of the teleost 3R and salmonid 4R paralogs. Several teleosts including the eels and the piranha have conserved both 3R-paralogs of mtnr1a, mtnr1b, and mtnr1c. Loss of one of the 3R-paralogs depends on the lineage: mtnr1ca was lost in euteleosts whereas mtnr1cb was lost in osteoglossomorphs and several ostariophysians including the zebrafish. We investigated the tissue distribution of mtnr expression in a large range of tissues in medaka. The medaka has conserved the four vertebrate paralogs, and these are expressed in brain and retina, and, differentially, in peripheral tissues. Photoperiod affects mtnr expression levels in a gene-specific and tissue-specific manner. This study provides new insights into the repertoire diversification and functional evolution of the mtnr gene family in vertebrates.

Unidirectional response to bidirectional selection on body size. I. Phenotypic, life-history, and endocrine responses.

Anthropogenic perturbations such as harvesting often select against a large body size and are predicted to induce rapid evolution toward smaller body sizes and earlier maturation. However, body-size evolvability and, hence, adaptability to anthropogenic perturbations remain seldom evaluated in wild populations. Here, we use a laboratory experiment over 6 generations to measure the ability of wild-caught medaka fish (Oryzias latipes) to evolve in response to bidirectional size-dependent selection mimicking opposite harvest regimes. Specifically, we imposed selection against a small body size (Large line), against a large body size (Small line) or random selection (Control line), and measured correlated responses across multiple phenotypic, life-history, and endocrine traits. As expected, the Large line evolved faster somatic growth and delayed maturation, but also evolved smaller body sizes at hatch, with no change in average levels of pituitary gene expressions of luteinizing, follicle-stimulating, or growth hormones (GH). In contrast, the Small medaka line was unable to evolve smaller body sizes or earlier maturation, but evolved smaller body sizes at hatch and showed marginally significant signs of increased reproductive investment, including larger egg sizes and elevated pituitary GH production. Natural selection on medaka body size was too weak to significantly hinder the effect of artificial selection, indicating that the asymmetric body-size response to size-dependent selection reflected an asymmetry in body-size evolvability. Our results show that trait evolvability may be contingent upon the direction of selection and that a detailed knowledge of trait evolutionary potential is needed to forecast population response to anthropogenic change.

Basal teleosts provide new insights into the evolutionary history of teleost-duplicated aromatase.

Duplicated cyp19a1 genes (cyp19a1a encoding aromatase a and cyp19a1b encoding aromatase b) have been identified in an increasing number of teleost species. Cyp19a1a is mainly expressed in the gonads, while cyp19a1b is mainly expressed in the brain, specifically in radial glial cells, as largely investigated by Kah and collaborators. The third round of whole-genome duplication that specifically occurred in the teleost lineage (TWGD or 3R) is likely at the origin of the duplicated cyp19a1 paralogs. In contrast to the situation in other teleosts, our previous studies identified a single cyp19a1 in eels (Anguilla), which are representative species of a basal group of teleosts, Elopomorpha. In the present study, using genome data mining and phylogenetic and synteny analyses, we confirmed that the whole aromatase genomic region was duplicated in eels, with most aromatase-neighboring genes being conserved in duplicate in eels, as in other teleosts. These findings suggest that specific gene loss of one of the 3R-duplicated cyp19a1 paralogs occurred in Elopomorpha after TWGD. Similarly, a single cyp19a1 gene was found in the arowana, which is a representative species of another basal group of teleosts, Osteoglossomorpha. In eels, the single cyp19a1 is expressed in both the brain and the gonads, as observed for the single CYP19A1 gene present in other vertebrates. The results of phylogenetic, synteny, closest neighboring gene, and promoter structure analyses showed that the single cyp19a1 of the basal teleosts shared conserved properties with both teleost cyp19a1a and cyp19a1b paralogs, which did not allow us to conclude which of the 3R-duplicated paralogs (cyp19a1a or cyp19a1b) was lost in Elopomorpha. Elopomorpha and Osteoglossomorpha cyp19a1 genes exhibited preserved ancestral functions, including expression in both the gonad and brain. We propose that the subfunctionalization of the 3R-duplicated cyp19a1 paralogs expressed specifically in the gonad or brain occurred in Clupeocephala, after the split of Clupeocephala from Elopomorpha and Osteoglossomorpha, which represented a driving force for the conservation of both 3R-duplicated paralogs in all extant Clupeocephala. In contrast, the functional redundancy of the undifferentiated 3R-duplicated cyp19a1 paralogs in elopomorphs and osteoglossomorphs would have favored the loss of one 3R paralog in basal teleosts.

Effects of Melatonin on Anterior Pituitary Plasticity: A Comparison Between Mammals and Teleosts.

Melatonin is a key hormone involved in the photoperiodic signaling pathway. In both teleosts and mammals, melatonin produced in the pineal gland at night is released into the blood and cerebrospinal fluid, providing rhythmic information to the whole organism. Melatonin acts via specific receptors, allowing the synchronization of daily and annual physiological rhythms to environmental conditions. The pituitary gland, which produces several hormones involved in a variety of physiological processes such as growth, metabolism, stress and reproduction, is an important target of melatonin. Melatonin modulates pituitary cellular activities, adjusting the synthesis and release of the different pituitary hormones to the functional demands, which changes during the day, seasons and life stages. It is, however, not always clear whether melatonin acts directly or indirectly on the pituitary. Indeed, melatonin also acts both upstream, on brain centers that control the pituitary hormone production and release, as well as downstream, on the tissues targeted by the pituitary hormones, which provide positive and negative feedback to the pituitary gland. In this review, we describe the known pathways through which melatonin modulates anterior pituitary hormonal production, distinguishing indirect effects mediated by brain centers from direct effects on the anterior pituitary. We also highlight similarities and differences between teleosts and mammals, drawing attention to knowledge gaps, and suggesting aims for future research.

Characterization of gonadotropin receptors Fshr and Lhr in Japanese medaka, Oryzias latipes.

Reproduction in vertebrates is controlled by the brain-pituitary-gonad axis, where the two gonadotropins follicle-stimulating hormone (Fsh) and luteinizing hormone (Lh) play vital parts by activating their cognate receptors in the gonads. The main purpose of this work was to study intra- and interspecies ligand promiscuity of teleost gonadotropin receptors, since teleost receptor specificity is unclear, in contrast to mammalian receptors. Receptor activation was investigated by transfecting COS-7 cells with either Fsh receptor (mdFshr, tiFshr) or Lh receptor (mdLhr, tiLhr), and tested for activation by recombinant homologous and heterologous ligands (mdFshßα, mdLhßα, tiFshßα, tiLhßα) from two representative fish orders, Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes, Beloniformes) and Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus, Cichliformes). Results showed that each gonadotropin preferentially activates its own cognate receptor. Cross-reactivity was detected to some extent as mdFshßα was able to activate the mdLhr, and mdLhßα the mdFshr. Medaka pituitary extract (MPE) stimulated CRE-LUC activity in COS-7 cells expressing mdlhr, but could not stimulate cells expressing mdfshr. Recombinant tiLhßα, tiFshßα and tilapia pituitary extract (TPE) could activate the mdLhr, suggesting cross-species reactivity for mdLhr. Cross-species reactivity was also detected for mdFshr due to activation by tiFshßα, tiLhßα, and TPE, as well as for tiFshr and tiLhr due to stimulation by mdFshßα, mdLhßα, and MPE. Tissue distribution analysis of gene expression revealed that medaka receptors, fshr and lhr, are highly expressed in both ovary and testis. High expression levels were found for lhr also in brain, while fshr was expressed at low levels. Both fshr and lhr mRNA levels increased significantly during testis development. Amino acid sequence alignment and three-dimensional modelling of ligands and receptors highlighted conserved beta sheet domains of both Fsh and Lh between Japanese medaka and Nile tilapia. It also showed a higher structural homology and similarity of transmembrane regions of Lhr between both species, in contrast to Fshr, possibly related to the substitution of the conserved cysteine residue in the transmembrane domain 6 in medaka Fshr with glycine. Taken together, this is the first characterization of medaka Fshr and Lhr using homologous ligands, enabling to better understand teleost hormone-receptor interactions and specificities. The data suggest partial ligand promiscuity and cross-species reactivity between gonadotropins and their receptors in medaka and tilapia.

Gnrh receptor gnrhr2bbα is expressed exclusively in lhb-expressing cells in Atlantic salmon male parr.

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (Gnrh) plays a major role in the regulation of physiological and behavioural processes related to reproduction. In the pituitary, it stimulates gonadotropin synthesis and release via activation of Gnrh receptors (Gnrhr), belonging to the G protein-coupled receptor superfamily. Evidence suggests that differential regulation of the two gonadotropins (Fsh and Lh) is achieved through activation of distinct intracellular pathways and, probably, through the action of distinct receptors. However, the roles of the different Gnrhr isoforms in teleosts are still not well understood. This study investigates the gene expression of Gnrhr in the pituitary gland of precociously maturing Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) male parr. A total of six Gnrhr paralogs were identified in the Atlantic salmon genome and named according to phylogenetic relationship; gnrhr1caα, gnrhr1caß, gnrhr1cbα, gnrhr1cbß, gnrhr2bbα, gnrhr2bbß. All paralogs, except gnrhr1caα, were expressed in male parr pituitary during gonadal maturation as evidenced by qPCR analysis. Only one gene, gnrhr2bbα, was differentially expressed depending on maturational stage (yearly cycle), with high expression levels in maturing fish, increasing in parallel with gonadotropin subunit gene expression. Additionally, a correlation in daily expression levels was detected between gnrhr2bbα and lhb (daily cycle) in immature fish in mid-April. Double fluorescence in situ hybridization showed that gnrhr2bbα was expressed exclusively in lhb gonadotropes in the pituitary, with no expression detected in fshb cells. These results suggest the involvement of receptor paralog gnrhr2bbα in the regulation of lhb cells, and not fshb cells, in sexually maturing Atlantic salmon male parr.

Melatonin receptors in Atlantic salmon stimulate cAMP levels in heterologous cell lines and show season-dependent daily variations in pituitary expression levels.

The hormone melatonin connects environmental cues, such as photoperiod and temperature, with a number of physiological and behavioural processes, including seasonal reproduction, through binding to their cognate receptors. This study reports the structural, functional and physiological characterization of five high-affinity melatonin receptors (Mtnr1aaα, Mtnr1aaß, Mtnr1ab, Mtnr1al, Mtnr1b) in Atlantic salmon. Phylogenetic analysis clustered salmon melatonin receptors into three monophyletic groups, Mtnr1A, Mtnr1Al and Mtnr1B, but no functional representative of the Mtnr1C group. Contrary to previous studies in vertebrates, pharmacological characterization of four receptors in COS-7, CHO and SH-SY5Y cell lines (Mtnr1Aaα, Mtnr1Aaß, Mtnr1Ab, Mtnr1B) showed induction of intracellular cAMP levels following 2-iodomelatonin or melatonin exposure. No consistent response was measured after N-acetyl-serotonin or serotonin exposure. Melatonin receptor genes were expressed at all levels of the hypothalamo-pituitary-gonad axis, with three genes (mtnr1aaß, mtnr1ab and mtnr1b) detected in the pituitary. Pituitary receptors displayed daily fluctuations in mRNA levels during spring, prior to the onset of gonadal maturation, but not in autumn, strongly implying a direct involvement of melatonin in seasonal processes regulated by the pituitary. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of cAMP induction mediated via melatonin receptors in a teleost species.

Functional divergence of thyrotropin beta-subunit paralogs gives new insights into salmon smoltification metamorphosis.

Smoltification is a metamorphic event in salmon life history, which initiates downstream migration and pre-adapts juvenile salmon for seawater entry. While a number of reports concern thyroid hormones and smoltification, few and inconclusive studies have addressed the potential role of thyrotropin (TSH). TSH is composed of a α-subunit common to gonadotropins, and a ß-subunit conferring hormone specificity. We report the presence and functional divergence of duplicated TSH ß-subunit paralogs (tshßa and tshßb) in Atlantic salmon. Phylogeny and synteny analyses allowed us to infer that they originated from teleost-specific whole genome duplication. Expression profiles of both paralogs in the pituitary were measured by qPCR throughout smoltification in Atlantic salmon from the endangered Loire-Allier population raised in a conservation hatchery. This revealed a striking peak of tshßb expression in April, concomitant with downstream migration initiation, while tshßa expression remained relatively constant. In situ hybridization showed two distinct pituitary cell populations, tshßa cells in the anterior adenohypophysis, and tshßb cells near to the pituitary stalk, a location comparable to the pars tuberalis TSH cells involved in seasonal physiology and behaviour in birds and mammals. Functional divergence of tshß paralogs in Atlantic salmon supports a specific role of tshßb in smoltification.

The effects of acute transfer to freshwater on ion transporters of the pharyngeal cavity in European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax).

Gene expression of key ion transporters (the Na+/K+-ATPase NKA, the Na+, K+-2Cl- cotransporter NKCC1, and CFTR) in the gills, opercular inner epithelium, and pseudobranch of European seabass juveniles (Dicentrarchus labrax) were studied after acute transfer up to 4 days from seawater (SW) to freshwater (FW). The functional remodeling of these organs was also studied. Handling stress (SW to SW transfer) rapidly induced a transcript level decrease for the three ion transporters in the gills and operculum. NKA and CFTR relative expression level were stable, but in the pseudobranch, NKCC1 transcript levels increased (up to 2.4-fold). Transfer to FW induced even more organ-specific responses. In the gills, a 1.8-fold increase for NKA transcript levels occurs within 4 days post transfer with also a general decrease for CFTR and NKCC1. In the operculum, transcript levels are only slightly modified. In the pseudobranch, there is a transient NKCC1 increase followed by 0.6-fold decrease and 0.8-fold CFTR decrease. FW transfer also induced a density decrease for the opercular ionocytes and goblet cells. Therefore, gills and operculum display similar trends in SW-fish but have different responses in FW-transferred fish. Also, the pseudobranch presents contrasting response both in SW and in FW, most probably due to the high density of a cell type that is morphologically and functionally different compared to the typical gill-type ionocyte. This pseudobranch-type ionocyte could be involved in blood acid-base regulation masking a minor osmotic regulatory capacity of this organ compared to the gills.

Differential expression of gonadotropin and estrogen receptors and oocyte cytology during follicular maturation associated with egg viability in European eel (Anguilla anguilla).

In captivity, oogenesis and ovarian follicle maturation in European eel can be induced experimentally using hormonal therapy. The follicle's ability to respond effectively to the induction of maturation and ovulation, resulting in viable eggs, depends on the oocyte stage at the time of induction. We hypothesized that variation in the expression of key hormone receptors in the ovary and size of oocyte lipid droplets are associated with changes in oocyte stage. Thus, we induced ovarian follicle maturation using a priming dose of fish pituitary extract followed by the administration of a 17α, 20ß-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one (DHP) injection. Females were then strip-spawned, the eggs were fertilized in vitro, incubated and larval survival was recorded at 3 days post hatch (dph). The expression of gonadotropin receptors (fshr, lhcgr1 and lhcgr2) and estrogen receptors (esr1, esr2a, esr2b, gpera and gperb) was quantified and the size of oocyte lipid droplets measured. Larval survival at 3 dph was used to differentiate high- and low-quality egg batches. Results showed significantly higher abundance of lhcgr1 and esr2a at priming for high-quality egg batches whereas fshr and gperb transcripts were significantly higher at DHP injection for low-quality egg batches. Therefore, high levels of lhcgr1 and esr2a may be important for attaining follicular maturational competence, while high fshr and gperb mRNA levels may indicate inadequate maturational competence. Furthermore, lipid droplet size at DHP and in ovulated eggs was significantly smaller in high-quality egg batches than in low-quality, which indicates that droplet size may be a useful marker of follicular maturational stage.

Molecular characterization and expression of Na+/K+-ATPase α1 isoforms in the European sea bass Dicentrarchus labrax osmoregulatory tissues following salinity transfer.

The Na+/K+-ATPase (NKA) is considered as the main pump involved in active ion transport. In the European sea bass, Dicentrarchus labrax, we found two genes encoding for the alpha 1 subunit isoforms (NKA α1a and NKA α1b). NKA α1a and NKA α1b isoform amino acid (aa) sequences were compared through phylogeny and regarding key functional motifs between salmonids and other acanthomorph species. Analysis of aa sequences of both isoforms revealed a high degree of conservation across teleosts. The expression pattern of both nka α1a and nka α1b was measured in the gill, kidney and posterior intestine of fish in seawater (SW) and transferred to fresh water (FW) at different exposure times. Nka α1a was more expressed than nka α1b whatever the condition and the tissue analyzed. After long-term salinity acclimation (2.5 years) either in FW or SW, transcript levels of nka α1a were higher in the kidney followed by the posterior intestine and the gill. Compared to SW conditions, expression of nka α1a in FW was significantly increased or decreased, respectively, in gill and posterior intestine. In contrast, branchial nka α1b was significantly decreased in FW-acclimated fish. Short-term FW acclimation seems to rapidly increase nka α1a transcript levels in the kidney unlike in gill tissues where different gene expression levels are detected only after long-term acclimation.

Demonstration of the Coexistence of Duplicated LH Receptors in Teleosts, and Their Origin in Ancestral Actinopterygians.

Pituitary gonadotropins, FSH and LH, control gonad activity in vertebrates, via binding to their respective receptors, FSHR and LHR, members of GPCR superfamily. Until recently, it was accepted that gnathostomes possess a single FSHR and a single LHR, encoded by fshr and lhcgr genes. We reinvestigated this question, focusing on vertebrate species of key-phylogenetical positions. Genome analyses supported the presence of a single fshr and a single lhcgr in chondrichthyans, and in sarcopterygians including mammals, birds, amphibians and coelacanth. In contrast, we identified a single fshr but two lhgcr in basal teleosts, the eels. We further showed the coexistence of duplicated lhgcr in other actinopterygians, including a non-teleost, the gar, and other teleosts, e.g. Mexican tetra, platyfish, or tilapia. Phylogeny and synteny analyses supported the existence in actinopterygians of two lhgcr paralogs (lhgcr1/ lhgcr2), which do not result from the teleost-specific whole-genome duplication (3R), but likely from a local gene duplication that occurred early in the actinopterygian lineage. Due to gene losses, there was no impact of 3R on the number of gonadotropin receptors in extant teleosts. Additional gene losses during teleost radiation, led to a single lhgcr (lhgcr1 or lhgcr2) in some species, e.g. medaka and zebrafish. Sequence comparison highlighted divergences in the extracellular and intracellular domains of the duplicated lhgcr, suggesting differential properties such as ligand binding and activation mechanisms. Comparison of tissue distribution in the European eel, revealed that fshr and both lhgcr transcripts are expressed in the ovary and testis, but are differentially expressed in non-gonadal tissues such as brain or eye. Differences in structure-activity relationships and tissue expression may have contributed as selective drives in the conservation of the duplicated lhgcr. This study revises the evolutionary scenario and nomenclature of gonadotropin receptors, and opens new research avenues on the roles of duplicated LHR in actinopterygians.

Multiple thyrotropin ß-subunit and thyrotropin receptor-related genes arose during vertebrate evolution.

Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) is composed of a specific ß subunit and an α subunit that is shared with the two pituitary gonadotropins. The three ß subunits derive from a common ancestral gene through two genome duplications (1R and 2R) that took place before the radiation of vertebrates. Analysis of genomic data from phylogenetically relevant species allowed us to identify an additional Tshß subunit-related gene that was generated through 2R. This gene, named Tshß2, present in cartilaginous fish, little skate and elephant shark, and in early lobe-finned fish, coelacanth and lungfish, was lost in ray-finned fish and tetrapods. The absence of a second type of TSH receptor (Tshr) gene in these species suggests that both TSHs act through the same receptor. A novel Tshß sister gene, named Tshß3, was generated through the third genomic duplication (3R) that occurred early in the teleost lineage. Tshß3 is present in most teleost groups but was lostin tedraodontiforms. The 3R also generated a second Tshr, named Tshrb. Interestingly, the new Tshrb was translocated from its original chromosomic position after the emergence of eels and was then maintained in its new position. Tshrb was lost in tetraodontiforms and in ostariophysians including zebrafish although the latter species have two TSHs, suggesting that TSHRb may be dispensable. The tissue distribution of duplicated Tshßs and Tshrs was studied in the European eel. The endocrine thyrotropic function in the eel would be essentially mediated by the classical Tshß and Tshra, which are mainly expressed in the pituitary and thyroid, respectively. Tshß3 and Tshrb showed a similar distribution pattern in the brain, pituitary, ovary and adipose tissue, suggesting a possible paracrine/autocrine mode of action in these non-thyroidal tissues. Further studies will be needed to determine the binding specificity of the two receptors and how these two TSH systems are interrelated.

Effects of long-term restricted feeding on plasma leptin, hepatic leptin expression and leptin receptor expression in juvenile Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.).

Leptin is a pleiotropic hormone and plays a key role in body weight regulation, energy homeostasis and lipid store utilization in mammals. In this study, we investigated the effect of feed-restriction on leptin genes (lepa1 and lepa2), leptin receptor (lepr) gene expression and plasma leptin levels in juvenile Atlantic salmon parr. Feed restriction was performed from late April to mid-June, in order to gain insight into the role of the leptin system in energy balance regulation and adiposity in juvenile salmon. A significant increase in lepa1 expression as well as higher levels of plasma leptin was found in feed-restricted fish in June compared to fully fed controls, while lepa2 gene expression decreased in both groups during the treatment period. Lepa2 was, however significantly higher in the feed-restricted group in June. Leptin receptor expression was up regulated during the period of enhanced growth and lipid deposition in the fully fed control, indicating a seasonal effect on the receptor expression in the brain. Both lepa1 and lepa2 genes very mainly expressed in the liver in juvenile salmon, while lepr was expressed in the brain but showed also considerable expression in various peripheral tissues. The study provides evidence that the leptin system is sensitive to the metabolic status of the fish as both season and restricted feeding affect lepa1 and lepa2 gene expression in the liver and brain leptin receptor expression, however, for lepa1 expression and leptin plasma level in an opposite way as that observed in the mammalian system.

Pituitary gonadotropins FSH and LH are oppositely regulated by the activin/follistatin system in a basal teleost, the eel.

European eels are blocked at a prepubertal silver stage due to a deficient production of pituitary gonadotropins. We investigated the potential role of activin/follistatin system in the control of eel gonadotropins. Through the development of qPCR assays for European eel activin ß(B) and follistatin, we first analyzed the tissue distribution of the expression of these two genes. Both activin ß(B) and follistatin are expressed in the brain, pituitary and gonads. In addition, a striking expression of both transcripts was also found in the retina and in adipose tissue. The effects of recombinant human activins and follistatin on eel gonadotropin gene expression were studied using primary cultures of eel pituitary cells. Activins A and B strongly stimulated FSHß subunit expression in a time- and dose-dependent manner. In contrast, activin reduced LHß expression, an inhibitory effect which was highlighted in the presence of testosterone, a known activator of eel LHß expression. No effect of activin was observed on other pituitary hormones. Follistatin antagonized both the stimulatory and inhibitory effects of activin on FSHß and LHß expression, respectively. Activin is the first major stimulator of FSH expression evidenced in the eel. These results in a basal teleost further support the ancient origin and strong conservation of the activin/follistatin system in the control of FSH in vertebrates. In contrast, the opposite regulation of FSH and LH may have emerged in the teleost lineage.