Identification of estrogen-responsive genes in the testis of sea bream (Sparus auratus) using suppression subtractive hybridization

• Published in: Molecular reproduction and development 2006-03, Vol.73 (3), p.318-329
• Main Authors: Pinto, P.I.S., Teodósio, H.R., Galay-Burgos, M., Power, D.M., Sweeney, G.E., Canário, A.V.M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Apolipoprotein A-I - drug effects; Apolipoprotein A-I - genetics; Biological and medical sciences; choriogenin; Cloning, Molecular; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Down-Regulation - drug effects; egg shell proteins; endocrine disruption; estradiol; Estradiol - pharmacology; Estrogens - pharmacology; Estrogens - physiology; Fibrinogen - drug effects; Fibrinogen - genetics; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gene Expression Profiling; Hormone metabolism and regulation; Liver - drug effects; Liver - physiology; Male; Mammalian male genital system; Nucleic Acid Hybridization - methods; reproduction; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; Sea Bream; Testis - drug effects; Testis - physiology; Up-Regulation - drug effects; Vertebrates: reproduction; vitellogenin; Vitellogenins - drug effects; Vitellogenins - genetics
• ISSN: 1040-452X; 1098-2795
• DOI: 10.1002/mrd.20402

There is growing evidence that estrogens play important roles in both normal and xenoestrogen disrupted testis physiology. However, the mechanisms and signaling pathways involved, in particular in fish, are largely unknown. We have used suppression subtractive hybridization to isolate 152 candidate estrogen‐responsive genes in the testis of male estradiol (E2)‐treated sea bream (Sparus aurata). The E2 up‐regulation of some of the genes (e.g., choriogenin L and H, vitellogenin I and II, apolipoprotein A‐I, fibrinogen β and γ, and thyroid receptor interacting protein 4) was confirmed by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction in fish treated with 0.1–10 mg/kg E2. Many of these genes are typical E2‐induced genes in liver, and this is the first report of its up regulation with E2 in testis. Moreover, low levels of expression were also found for nontreated fish. Hepatic differential expression for these genes was also confirmed, although, contrary to testis, fibrinogen β, and γ were downregulated. The possible significance of these findings in normal testis physiology and in endocrine disruption is discussed. Mol. Reprod. Dev. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.