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A transgenic zebrafish model of targeted oocyte ablation and de novo oogenesis
Author(s) -
White Yvonne A. R.,
Woods Dori C.,
Wood Antony W.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
developmental dynamics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.634
H-Index - 141
eISSN - 1097-0177
pISSN - 1058-8388
DOI - 10.1002/dvdy.22695
Subject(s) - zebrafish , biology , oocyte , transgene , oogenesis , ovary , zona pellucida , microbiology and biotechnology , endocrinology , gene , genetics , embryo
We describe here a novel transgenic zebrafish, Tg(zpc:G4VP16/UAS:nfsB‐mCherry) that effectively demonstrates the targeted oocyte ablation in the adult zebrafish ovary. This transgenic line expresses bacterial nitroreductase enzyme (nfsB) under the control of the oocyte‐specific zona pellucida C ( zpc ) gene promoter. Adult transgenic females exposed to the prodrug metronidazole demonstrated near‐complete ablation of growing oocytes, resulting in ovarian degeneration and complete cessation of reproductive function. Within 4 weeks of prodrug removal, treated fish demonstrated complete anatomical regeneration of the ovary and, within 7 weeks, ovarian function (fertility) was fully restored. Together, these results demonstrate functional renewal of the oocyte pool in the adult zebrafish ovary. Accordingly, this transgenic zebrafish model system provides a novel means to investigate ovarian growth dynamics in a genetically tractable vertebrate, and may be useful for evaluating signaling interactions that regulate gonadal development processes such as de novo oogenesis. Developmental Dynamics 240:1929–1937, 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.