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Gonadal mRNA expression levels of TGFbeta superfamily signaling factors correspond with post-hatching morphological development in American alligators
- Source :
- Sexual development : genetics, molecular biology, evolution, endocrinology, embryology, and pathology of sex determination and differentiation. 4(1-2)
- Publication Year :
- 2009
-
Abstract
- Paracrine factor signaling regulates many aspects of vertebrate gonadal development. We investigated key ovarian and testicular morphological markers of the American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) during the first 5 months post-hatching and correlated gonadal development with mRNA expression levels of a suite of regulatory factors. In both sexes, we observed significant morphology changes, including ovarian follicle assembly and meiotic progression of testicular germ cells. Concomitant with these changes were sexually dimorphic and ontogenetically variable mRNA expressions. In ovaries, FOXL2, aromatase, and follistatin mRNA expression was greater than in testes at all ages. At one week after hatching, we observed ovarian medullary remodeling in association with elevated activin/inhibin βA subunit, follistatin, and aromatase mRNA expressions. Three and 5 months following hatching and concomitant with follicle assembly, ovaries showed increased mRNA expression levels of GDF9 and the mitotic factor PCNA. In testes, the activin/inhibin α and βB subunit transcript levels were greater than in ovaries at all ages. Elevated testicular expression of GDF9 mRNA levels at 5 months after hatching aligned with increased spermatogenic activity. We propose that the mRNA expression levels and concomitant morphological changes observed here affect the establishment of alligator reproductive health and later fertility.
- Subjects :
- Male
Paper
Embryology
medicine.medical_specialty
endocrine system
Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism
Alligator
Ovary
Paracrine signalling
Follicle
Transforming Growth Factor beta
Internal medicine
biology.animal
Testis
medicine
Animals
RNA, Messenger
Ovarian follicle
Aromatase
Gonads
Alligators and Crocodiles
biology
Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
medicine.anatomical_structure
Endocrinology
biology.protein
Female
Development of the gonads
Americas
Developmental Biology
Follistatin
Signal Transduction
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 16615433
- Volume :
- 4
- Issue :
- 1-2
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Sexual development : genetics, molecular biology, evolution, endocrinology, embryology, and pathology of sex determination and differentiation
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....7f63d592f787f9c9c904ffeb4f8fb8f4