Expression and Regulation of Fushi Tarazu Factor-1 and Steroidogenic Genes During Reproduction in Arctic Char (Salvelinus alpinus)

• Published in: Biology of reproduction Vol. 67; no. 4; pp. 1297 - 1304
• Main Authors: VON HOFSTEN, Jonas, KARLSSON, Johnny, JONES, Iwan, OLSSON, Per-Erik
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Madison, WI Society for the Study of Reproduction 01-10-2002
• Subjects: 3-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases - genetics; Animal aquaculture; Animal productions; Animals; Biologi; Biological and medical sciences; Biology; Cholesterol Side-Chain Cleavage Enzyme - genetics; DNA-Binding Proteins - genetics; Estradiol - blood; Estradiol - pharmacology; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Fushi Tarazu Transcription Factors; Gene Expression Regulation - drug effects; Homeodomain Proteins; Kidney - chemistry; Male; Ovary - chemistry; Ovary - growth & development; Phosphoproteins - genetics; Pisciculture; Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear; Reproduction; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; RNA, Messenger - analysis; Sex Characteristics; Steroidogenic Factor 1; Steroids - biosynthesis; Testis - chemistry; Testis - growth & development; Testosterone - analogs & derivatives; Testosterone - blood; Testosterone - pharmacology; Tissue Distribution; Transcription Factors - genetics; Trout - physiology; Vertebrate aquaculture; Salmonidae; Nuclear receptor; Farming animal; Steroid hormone; Genital system; Gene expression; Freshwater environment; Sexual maturation; Vertebrata; Regulation(control); Seasonal variation; Pisces; Steroidogenesis; Salvelinus alpinus; Orphan receptor; Aquaculture
• ISSN: 0006-3363; 1529-7268; 1529-7268
• DOI: 10.1095/biolreprod67.4.1297

Teleost fushi tarazu factor-1 (FTZ-F1) is a potential regulator of steroidogenesis. The present study shows sex-specific regulation of Arctic
char fushi tarazu factor-1 (acFF1) and steroidogenic genes during reproductive maturation and in response to hormone treatment. A link between
gonadal expression of acFF1, steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR), and cytochrome P450-11A (CYP11A), was observed
in the reproductive maturation process, as elevated acFF1 mRNA and protein levels preceded increased StAR and CYP11A transcription.
Sex-specific differences were observed as estrogen treatment resulted in down-regulated levels of acFF1 mRNA in testis and
male head kidney, whereas no significant effect was observed in females. 11-Ketotestosterone (11-KT) down-regulated CYP11A
and 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3βHSD) in head kidney and up-regulated CYP11A in testis. StAR remained unaffected by
hormone treatment. This suggests that acFF1 is controlled by 17β-estradiol, whereas the effects on CYP11A and 3βHSD are mediated
by 11-KT. Coexpression of acFF1, StAR, and CYP11A was observed in head kidney, in addition to gonads, indicating correlation
between these steroidogenic genes. StAR and acFF1 were also coexpressed in liver, suggesting a potential role in cholesterol
metabolism. Although these results indicate conserved steroidogenic functions for FTZ-F1 among vertebrates, they also raise
the question of additional roles for FTZ-F1 in teleosts.