Project description:The present study aimed at studying the rainbow trout egg transcriptome using 9152-cDNA microarrays after natural or controlled ovulation. The analysis of egg transcriptome after natural or controlled ovulation led to the identification of 26 genes. We observed that both hormonal induction and photoperiod control of ovulation induced significant changes in the egg mRNA abundance of specific genes. We demonstrate that hormonal induction of ovulation has an impact on the egg mRNA abundance of specific genes even though the resulting effects on the developmental potential of the egg is so far unknown. In addition, we also identified 1 gene exhibiting a differential mRNA abundance in eggs of varying developmental potential. Keywords: Egg quality-dependent
Project description:The present study aimed at studying the rainbow trout egg transcriptome using 9152-cDNA microarrays after natural or controlled ovulation. The analysis of egg transcriptome after natural or controlled ovulation led to the identification of 26 genes. We observed that both hormonal induction and photoperiod control of ovulation induced significant changes in the egg mRNA abundance of specific genes. We demonstrate that hormonal induction of ovulation has an impact on the egg mRNA abundance of specific genes even though the resulting effects on the developmental potential of the egg is so far unknown. In addition, we also identified 1 gene exhibiting a differential mRNA abundance in eggs of varying developmental potential. Analysis of egg transcriptome after natural ovulation (4 samples), photoperiod-controlled ovulation (14 samples), and hormonally-induced ovulation (11 samples).
Project description:Egg quality is an important aspect in rainbow trout farming. Post-ovulatory aging is one of the most important factors affecting egg quality. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are the major regulators in various biological processes and their expression profiles could serve as reliable biomarkers for various pathological and physiological conditions. Egg samples from 32 females on day 1, day 7, and day 14 post-ovulation (D1PO, D7PO and D14PO), which had the fertilization rates of 91.8%, 73.4% and less than 50%, respectively, were collected and small RNAs isolated from these samples were subjected to deep sequencing using the Illumina platform. Six miRNAs were found to be differentially expressed between D1PO and D14PO eggs. GO analysis of the target genes of the 6 miRNAs that were down-regulated in D14PO eggs revealed significantly enriched GO terms that are related to stress response, cell death, DNA damage, ATP generation, signal transduction and transcription regulation.
Project description:Migratory species experience morphological and physiological changes during transitions between different life stages. In particular, modification of sensory systems is critical for animals to adapt to new environments. For example, to prepare for entry into seawater, salmonids undergo smoltification with dramatic changes in ultraviolet photoreceptors and polarized vision, which are important for orientation and foraging behaviours. Extraretinal organs are also involved in photoreception; however, the ontogenetic development of extraretinal photoreceptors is not well known, especially in migratory species. Here, we investigated whether rainbow trout dermal photoreceptors, melanophores, undergo change in spectral sensitivity during smoltification and which candidate molecules may account for this ontogenetic alteration. Our results showed that, contrary to parr melanophores which are insensitive to light, smolt melanophores displayed chromatic photoresponses with the emergence of cryptochrome and melanopsin expression. We suggest that these modifications may benefit the active foraging behaviour of smolts and enable adaptation to variable environments.
Project description:Diverse animals use Earth's magnetic field in orientation and navigation, but little is known about the molecular mechanisms that underlie magnetoreception. Recent studies have focused on two possibilities: (i) magnetite-based receptors; and (ii) biochemical reactions involving radical pairs. We used RNA sequencing to examine gene expression in the brain of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) after exposure to a magnetic pulse known to disrupt magnetic orientation behaviour. We identified 181 differentially expressed genes, including increased expression of six copies of the frim gene, which encodes a subunit of the universal iron-binding and trafficking protein ferritin. Functions linked to the oxidative effects of free iron (e.g. oxidoreductase activity, transition metal ion binding, mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation) were also affected. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that a magnetic pulse alters or damages magnetite-based receptors and/or other iron-containing structures, which are subsequently repaired or replaced through processes involving ferritin. Additionally, some genes that function in the development and repair of photoreceptive structures (e.g. crggm3, purp, prl, gcip, crabp1 and pax6) were also differentially expressed, raising the possibility that a magnetic pulse might affect structures and processes unrelated to magnetite-based magnetoreceptors.
Project description:Multiple mechanisms likely contribute to the increase in chromosome missegregation that leads to production of aneuploid eggs and fetuses at advanced maternal age. It is therefore considered unlikely that a single approach could prevent age-related egg aneuploidy. Here we show using three independent approaches that ovulation reduction is sufficient to prevent egg aneuploidy in aged mammals. To gain insights into the mechanism underlying the rescue in egg aneuploidy, we show that ovulation suppression correlates with retention of chromosomal Rec8-cohesin, implying that ovulations are linked to cohesin deterioration. Moreover, we discovered that ageing alters 3D chromatin organization by single-nucleus Hi-C (snHi-C). Extruded loops increase in size with age and this is retarded by ovulation reduction. We conclude that reducing ovulations leads to retention of chromosomal Rec8, which maintains interphase chromatin structure and promotes chromosome segregation and production of euploid eggs. Importantly, our data suggest that ovulation itself contributes to the maternal age effect. This work provides the first experimental evidence that progesterone treatment reduces egg aneuploidy and suggests that hormonal contraception can reduce the risk of trisomic pregnancies like Down’s syndrome at advanced maternal age.