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This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: 79/6/1111    most recent biolreprod.108.069146v1 Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal My Folders Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Wu, G.-C. Articles by Chang, C.-F. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Wu, G.-C. Articles by Chang, C.-F. Agricola Articles by Wu, G.-C. Articles by Chang, C.-F.

Dual Roles of cyp19a1a in Gonadal Sex Differentiation and Development in the Protandrous Black Porgy, Acanthopagrus schlegeli¹

Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology³ and Department of Aquaculture,⁴ National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung 202, Taiwan Sesoko Station,⁵ Tropical Biosphere Research Center, University of the Ryukyus, Motobu 905-0277, Japan

ABSTRACT

Protandrous black porgy fish, Acanthopagrus schlegeli, have a striking life cycle, with male sex differentiation at the juvenile stage, a bisexual gonad during first 2 yr of life, and a male-to-female sex change (with vitellogenic oocytes) at 3 yr of age. The present study investigated the role of aromatase (cyp19a1a/Cyp19a1a) in gonadal development in this species, especially in relation to sexual differentiation and sex change. Fish of various ages were treated with estradiol (E₂) or aromatase inhibitor (AI) to determine whether manipulation of the hormonal environment has an impact on these processes. We report an integrative immunohistochemical, cellular, and molecular data set describing these interesting phenomena. During male sex differentiation, high levels of cyp19a1a/Cyp19a1a expression were observed in the undifferentiated gonad (4 mo of age), in marked contrast to the low cyp19a1a/Cyp19a1a levels detected in the differentiated testis at the age of 5–6 mo. A low dose of E₂ (0.25 mg/kg feed) stimulated testicular growth and function in sexually differentiated fish, whereas a high dose of E₂ (6 mg/kg feed) induced female development. Furthermore, administration of AI suppressed male development and promoted female sexual differentiation. An increased number of figla transcripts (an oocyte-specific gene) were observed prior to cyp19a1a expression, concomitant with the development of oogonia and early primary oocytes in the ovaries of both E₂- and AI-treated groups. Immunohistochemical Pcna staining showed that the regression of testicular tissue occurred prior to the development of ovarian tissue in both E₂- and AI-induced females. The importance of cyp19a1a in female development was further demonstrated by the increase in cyp19a1a transcripts during the naturally occurring sex change. Transcripts of foxl2 increased in the gonads of 2- to 3-yr-old black porgy during the early stages of the natural sex change, followed by a gradual elevation of cyp19a1a levels. The levels of both genes peaked in the resulting ovarian tissue. Thus, cyp19a1a/Cyp19a1a plays dual roles in the gonadal development, namely, in testicular development during the initial period of sexual differentiation and later in ovarian development during the natural sex change.

early development, estradiol, male sexual function, ovary, testis

¹Supported in part by the National Science Council (Taiwan).

Correspondence: ²FAX: 886 2 2462 1579; e-mail: B0044{at}mail.ntou.edu.tw