Transcriptomic analyses reveal novel genes with sexually dimorphic expression in Takifugu rubripes brain during gonadal sex differentiation.

BACKGROUND: Quantification of mRNAs in gonads and other tissues at the early critical development stage of sex differentiation may help to provide a global view of regulatory mechanisms underlying sex differentiation. We have recently reported the transcriptomic profiling of fugu gonad associated with sex differentiation. OBJECTIVES: This study attempted to identify the genes in the brain that are involved in gonadal differentiation and development. METHODS: In this study, a transcriptomic scan of potential candidate genes involved in sex differentiation was conducted in the brains of fugu larvae at 30 and 40 dah (morphological gonadal sex differentiation had not yet occurred). The dimorphic expression patterns of several candidate genes were verified using quantitative PCR. RESULTS: A total of 28.24 Gb of clean reads were obtained and 22,337 genes were identified in the brains of fugu larvae. These included 1008 novel genes that provide abundant data for functional analysis of sex differentiation. 229 genes were identified in the 30 dah larvae that were abundant in the XY brain and 21 that were abundant in the XX brain. In the 40 dah larvae, 325 genes were identified abundant in the XY brain and 174 were identified abundant in the XX brain. CONCLUSION: This is the first investigation into the transcriptome of the fugu larvae brain at the early sex differentiation stage. The results obtained here will enhance the understanding of molecular mechanisms that underly fugu sex differentiation.