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Defective germplasm assembly and germ cell development contribute to hybrid sterility in yellow catfish
Author(s) -
Hu Weihua,
Chu Zhenzhen,
Xiong Yang,
Mei Jie,
Lin Qiaohong,
Ren Fan,
Huang Peipei,
Guo Wenjie
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
aquaculture research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.646
H-Index - 89
eISSN - 1365-2109
pISSN - 1355-557X
DOI - 10.1111/are.15255
Subject(s) - biology , sterility , catfish , germplasm , somatic cell , germ cell , meiosis , genetics , gene , germline , development of the gonads , embryo , microbiology and biotechnology , botany , fish <actinopterygii> , fishery
Hybrid sterility has been widely observed in fish species; however, the molecular mechanisms of hybrid sterility are not well understood. In this work, we compared the reproductive development of yellow catfish ( Pelteobagrus fulvidraco , PF) and hybrid yellow catfish ( Pelteobagrus fulvidraco ♀ × Pelteobagrus vachelli ♂) from embryo to adult at cellular and molecular levels. Firstly, we developed a pair of genetic markers to efficiently distinguish PF and PV ( Pelteobagrus vachelli ) and their interspecific hybrid. Hybrid sterility was observed in hybrid yellow catfish, as indicated by the germ cell‐less phenotype and defective gonadal development. The expression levels of germ cell differentiation‐related and gonadal somatic cell development‐related genes were obviously down‐regulated in PF × PV hybrid than in PF. In addition, meiotic and mitotic defects were detected in the testis of PF × PV hybrid, since the numbers of Sycp3‐ and PH3‐positive cells were obviously reduced. As early as 4‐cell stage, defects of germplasm assembly and accelerated decay of maternal germline‐specific mRNAs were observed in hybrid yellow catfish. Our studies provide evidence that hybrid sterility in animals might be caused by the accelerated decay of germplasm mRNAs, impaired germplasm assembly and defective germ cell development.