Expression of prostaglandin synthases ( pgds and pges) during zebrafish gonadal differentiation

• Published in: Comparative biochemistry and physiology. Part A, Molecular & integrative physiology Molecular & integrative physiology, 2010-09, Vol.157 (1), p.102-108
• Main Authors: Jørgensen, Anne, Nielsen, John E., Nielsen, Betina F., Morthorst, Jane E., Bjerregaard, Poul, Leffers, Henrik
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Danio rerio; Female; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic; Gonadal differentiation; Gonads - enzymology; Gonads - growth & development; In situ hybridisation; Intramolecular Oxidoreductases - genetics; Laser capture microdissection; Lipocalins - genetics; Male; pgds; pges; Prostaglandin-E Synthases; RT-PCR; Sex Differentiation - genetics; vasa; Zebrafish - genetics; Zebrafish - growth & development
• ISSN: 1095-6433; 1531-4332
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2010.03.014

The present study aimed at elucidating whether the expression pattern of the membrane bound form of prostaglandin E 2 synthase ( pges) and especially the lipocalin-type prostaglandin D 2 synthase ( pgds) indicates involvement in gonadal sex differentiation in zebrafish as has previously been found in other species. In mice and chicken, the lipocalin-type Pgds is specifically expressed in pre-Sertoli cells just after Sry and Sox9 and is involved in masculinisation of the developing testis. Furthermore, Pges are implicated in female reproduction including follicular development and ovulation. In this study, a sexually dimorphic expression of pgds was found in gonads of adult zebrafish with expression in testis but not in ovaries. To determine whether the sex-specific expression pattern of pgds was present in gonads of juvenile zebrafish and therefore could be an early marker of sex in zebrafish, we microdissected gonads from four randomly selected individual zebrafish for every second day in the period 2–20 days post hatch (dph) and 0–1 dph. The temporal expression of pgds and pges was investigated in the microdissected gonads, however, no differential expression that could indicate sex-specific difference between individual juvenile zebrafish was observed.