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a Department of Biology, York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M3J 1P3
Activins, inhibins, and follistatins are important regulators of mammalian reproduction. However, their roles in lower vertebrates are poorly understood. In this study, we examined the expression of activin A, inhibin A, and follistatins in the zebrafish ovary and determined their role in final oocyte maturation. Using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction with primers specific for activin/inhibin ßA subunit and for follistatins, we detected DNA fragments of the expected size, which, upon sequencing, conformed to activin/inhibin ßA and follistatin. Western blot analysis using an antibody against activin/inhibin ßA subunit revealed two bands with sizes similar to those of activin A and inhibin A. The expression of follistatins was also confirmed by Western blot analysis. These results suggest that activin A, an inhibin A-like molecule, and follistatins are expressed in the zebrafish ovary. In cultured zebrafish follicles, activin A and inhibin A both induced final oocyte maturation in a dose-dependent manner. The effects of activin A and inhibin A were blocked by their binding protein, follistatin-288. Interestingly, follistatin-288 also inhibited final oocyte maturation induced by gonadotropin and by maturation-inducing hormone (MIH), suggesting that activin A and/or inhibin A may be local regulators mediating gonadotropin- and MIH-induced final oocyte maturation. Taken together, these findings suggest that activin A and inhibin A are paracrine regulators of ovarian functions in fish.
1 This study was supported by a grant from the Natural Science and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) of Canada to C.P. C.P. is a recipient of NSERC Women's Faculty Awards. T.W. and J.C. were supported by visiting professorships from the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
2 Correspondence: Chun Peng, Department of Biology, York University, 4700 Keele St., Toronto, ON, Canada M3J 1P3. FAX: 416 736 5698;cpeng{at}yorku.ca
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