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Temperature Influences the Ontogenetic Expression of Aromatase and Oestrogen Receptor mRNA in the Developing Tilapia ( Oreochromis mossambicus ) Brain
Author(s) -
Tsai C. L.,
Chang S. L.,
Wang L. H.,
Chao T. Y.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
journal of neuroendocrinology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.062
H-Index - 116
eISSN - 1365-2826
pISSN - 0953-8194
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2826.2003.00950.x
Subject(s) - oreochromis mossambicus , aromatase , endocrinology , medicine , tilapia , gene expression , biology , estrogen receptor , estrogen , receptor , gene , fish <actinopterygii> , biochemistry , cancer , fishery , breast cancer
Water temperature has a differential influence on the development of central neurotransmitter systems according to the developmental period in tilapia ( Oreochromis mossambicus ). Aromatase and oestrogen receptors (ERs) represent important components of the mechanism of brain differentiation. Gene expression of aromatase and ERs is modulated by neurotransmitters in the developing brain. In the present study, the quantitative reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction method was used to investigate the effects of temperature on the ontogenetic expression of aromatase and ERs in the developing tilapia brain. Before day 10 posthatching, exposure to a higher temperature (32 °C) resulted in a significant increase in the expression of brain aromatase; conversely, a lower temperature (20 °C) resulted in a decrease. ER α expression was depressed in accordance with the decrease of temperature, but ER β was unaffected by temperature. Between days 10 and 20, neither brain aromatase nor ER α expression was altered by temperature, whereas ER β expression was significantly enhanced by exposure to 32 °C. Between days 20 and 30, brain aromatase significantly increased at the higher temperature and decreased at 20 °C, but neither ER α nor ER β was affected by temperature. The expression of both brain aromatase and ERs, differentially regulated according to the temperature and to the developmental period, could be related to brain–sex differentiation.