Dataset Information

A Computational Model of the Rainbow Trout Hypothalamus-Pituitary-Ovary-Liver Axis.

ABSTRACT: Reproduction in fishes and other vertebrates represents the timely coordination of many endocrine factors that culminate in the production of mature, viable gametes. In recent years there has been rapid growth in understanding fish reproductive biology, which has been motivated in part by recognition of the potential effects that climate change, habitat destruction and contaminant exposure can have on natural and cultured fish populations. New approaches to understanding the impacts of these stressors are being developed that require a systems biology approach with more biologically accurate and detailed mathematical models. We have developed a multi-scale mathematical model of the female rainbow trout hypothalamus-pituitary-ovary-liver axis to use as a tool to help understand the functioning of the system and for extrapolation of laboratory findings of stressor impacts on specific components of the axis. The model describes the essential endocrine components of the female rainbow trout reproductive axis. The model also describes the stage specific growth of maturing oocytes within the ovary and permits the presence of sub-populations of oocytes at different stages of development. Model formulation and parametrization was largely based on previously published in vivo and in vitro data in rainbow trout and new data on the synthesis of gonadotropins in the pituitary. Model predictions were validated against several previously published data sets for annual changes in gonadotropins and estradiol in rainbow trout. Estimates of select model parameters can be obtained from in vitro assays using either quantitative (direct estimation of rate constants) or qualitative (relative change from control values) approaches. This is an important aspect of mathematical models as in vitro, cell-based assays are expected to provide the bulk of experimental data for future risk assessments and will require quantitative physiological models to extrapolate across biological scales.

SUBMITTER: Gillies K

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4838294 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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A Computational Model of the Rainbow Trout Hypothalamus-Pituitary-Ovary-Liver Axis.

Gillies Kendall K Krone Stephen M SM Nagler James J JJ Schultz Irvin R IR

PLoS computational biology 20160420 4

Reproduction in fishes and other vertebrates represents the timely coordination of many endocrine factors that culminate in the production of mature, viable gametes. In recent years there has been rapid growth in understanding fish reproductive biology, which has been motivated in part by recognition of the potential effects that climate change, habitat destruction and contaminant exposure can have on natural and cultured fish populations. New approaches to understanding the impacts of these str ...[more]

PMID: 27096735

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Project description:Estrogens are critical hormones involved in reproduction and need to bind to estrogen receptors in target organs for biological activity. Fishes have two distinct estrogen receptor subtypes, alpha (?) and beta (?), with variable combinations of additional isoforms of each subtype dependent on the history of genome duplication within a taxon. The comparative expression patterns of estrogen receptor isoforms during the female reproductive cycle will provide important insights into the unique function and importance of each. The purpose of this study was to measure the mRNAs for the four estrogen receptor isoforms (er?1, er?2, er?1, er?2) in the liver and ovary of adult, female rainbow trout over the course of an annual reproductive cycle. The expression of estrogen receptor mRNA isoforms was measured by quantitative real-time RT-PCR. Several reproductive indices (gonadosomatic index, maximum oocyte diameter, plasma estradiol-17?, plasma vitellogenin, and ovulation) were also quantified for comparison and used in a correlation analysis to examine any inter-relationships. Of the four isoforms, the expression of er?1 was highest in the liver, and had a significant positive correlation with liver er?1 expression. Liver expression of er?2 mRNA was the lowest, but showed a significant positive correlation with maximum oocyte diameter in the ovary. The pattern of the er? isoforms in liver was one of initially elevated mRNA expression followed by a gradual decrease as reproductive development proceeded. In the ovary the er?1 isoform had the highest mRNA expression of all estrogen receptor isoforms, at the beginning of the reproductive cycle, but then decreased afterward. Both ovarian er? isoforms had a significant positive correlation with one another. In contrast, er?2 mRNA expression showed a high maximum level in the ovary near the end of the cycle along with a significant positive correlation with plasma estradiol-17? levels; the highest gonadosomatic indices, maximum oocyte diameter, and vitellogenin levels occurred then too.

Dataset Information

A Computational Model of the Rainbow Trout Hypothalamus-Pituitary-Ovary-Liver Axis.

Publications

A Computational Model of the Rainbow Trout Hypothalamus-Pituitary-Ovary-Liver Axis.

Similar Datasets

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