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Research Project: Integrated Research Approaches for Improving Production Efficiency in Rainbow Trout

Location: Cool and Cold Water Aquaculture Research

Title: Transcriptomic response of the ovarian follicle complex in post-vitellogenic rainbow trout to 17alpha,20beta-dihdroxy-4-pregnen-3-one in vitro

Author
item MA, HAO - US Department Of Agriculture (USDA)
item GAO, GUANGTU - US Department Of Agriculture (USDA)
item Palti, Yniv
item Tripathi, Vibha
item Birkett, Jill
item Weber, Gregory

Submitted to: International Journal of Molecular Sciences
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/22/2024
Publication Date: 11/26/2024
Citation: Ma, H., Gao, G., Palti, Y., Tripathi, V., Birkett, J.E., Weber, G.M. 2024. Transcriptomic response of the ovarian follicle complex in post-vitellogenic rainbow trout to 17alpha,20beta-dihdroxy-4-pregnen-3-one in vitro . International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 25, 12683. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms252312683.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms252312683

Interpretive Summary: Sexual maturation in female rainbow trout is a highly-coordinated and complex process. Captive fish often display reproductive dysfunction associated with follicle maturation and ovulation in the final phases of sexual maturation that lead to poor egg quality, but little is known about the causes of this reproductive dysfunction. The aim of this research was to characterize effects of different hormone treatments on global gene expression profiles during the final phases of egg maturation. Results from this study increase our knowledge of the genes and gene regulation networks that are responsible for egg maturation and will help inform approaches to improve reproductive success in rainbow trout breeding programs.

Technical Abstract: Gonadotropins and progestins are the primary regulators of follicle maturation and ovulation in fish which require complex communication among the oocyte and somatic cells of the follicle. The major progestin and the maturation-inducing hormone in salmonids is 17a,20ß-dihdroxy-4-pregnen-3-one (17,20ßP) and traditional nuclear receptors and membrane steroid receptors for the progestin have been identified within the follicle. Herein, RNA-seq was used to conduct a comprehensive survey of changes in gene expression throughout the intact follicle in response to in vitro treatment with these hormones to provide a foundation for understanding the coordination of their actions in regulating follicle maturation and preparation for ovulation. A total of 5,292 differentially expressed genes were identified from our transcriptome sequencing datasets comparing among four treatments: fresh tissue; untreated control; 17,20ßP-treated; and salmon pituitary homogenate-treated follicles. Extensive overlap in affected genes suggests many gonadotropin actions leading to the acquisitioning of maturational and ovulatory competence are mediated in part by gonadotropin induction of 17,20ßP synthesis. KEGG analysis identified signaling pathways including MAPK, TGFß, FoxO, and Wnt signaling pathways among the most significantly enriched pathways altered by 17,20ßP treatment suggesting pervasive influences of 17,20ßP on actions of other endocrine and paracrine factors in the follicle complex.