Cloning and characterization of a cDNA encoding cholesterol side-chain cleavage cytochrome P450 (CYP11A1): Tissue-distribution and changes in the transcript abundance in ovarian tissue of Japanese eel, Anguilla japonica, during artificially induced sexual development

Cold-induced changes in stress hormone and steroidogenic transcript levels in cunner (Tautogolabrus adspersus), a fish capable of metabolic depression

“…The result for StAR is consistent with data for the gilthead seabream (Castillo et al, 2008). However, it is opposite to that observed for Atlantic cod (Goetz et al, 2004), and Kazeto et al (2006) showed that P450scc is more highly expressed in the kidney of Japanese eel (Anguilla japonica) than in the ovary. These inter-specific differences in transcript expression were not unexpected as there is significant variation in the stress responsiveness of fishes (Gamperl et al, 1994;Mommsen et al, 1999;Wendelaar Bonga, 1997) and both Goetz et al (2004) and Kazeto et al (2006) show that steroidogenic gene expression in the fish ovary is dependent on the state of maturation.…”

“…Although studies on several fish species (e.g. gilthead seabream and Atlantic cod) have shown that these two transcripts were expressed exclusively in the head kidney and gonads (Castillo et al, 2008;Goetz et al, 2004;Kazeto et al, 2006), other have shown that StAR and P450scc transcripts were detected in non-steroidogenic tissues, such as brain, heart, intestine, pyloric caecae, spleen and posterior kidney (Arukwe, 2008;Hsu et al, 2002;Kusakabe et al, 2002;Li et al, 2003;Nunez et al, 2005). These contrasting results suggest that the tissue distribution of P450scc and StAR may be species-specific.…”

Ovarian steroidogenesis and the role of sex steroid hormones on ovarian growth and maturation of the Japanese eel

“…We assessed the in vitro ability of eel ovaries to produce sex steroid hormones using two primary methods; one is radioimmunoassay (RIA) to determine the concentration of steroid hormones in culture media after incubation of ovarian follicles with radioinert steroid substrates and another is thin-layer chromatography (TLC) for analysis of steroid metabolites generated by conversion of radiolabeled steroid substrates. Furthermore, in order to gain a deeper understanding of eel ovarian steroidogenesis, we also paid considerable attention to isolation and characterization of cDNAs encoding steroidogenic enzymes, i.e., cytochrome P450 cholesterol side-chain cleavage [28], 3␤-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3␤-HSD) [29], cytochrome P450 17␣-hydroxylase/C17-20 lyase (P450c17) [30], 17␤-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (17␤-HSD1) [31], cytochrome P450 aromatase (P450arom) [32], cytochrome P450 11␤-hydroxylase (P45011␤) [33] and 11␤-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 (11␤-HSD2) [34]. We discuss here on steroidogenic activity, expression of the steroidogenic enzymes in the eel ovary, and serum titer of sex steroid hormones during ovarian growth and oocyte maturation induced artificially by SP.…”

Japanese Eel Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (Fsh) and Luteinizing Hormone (Lh): Production of Biologically Active Recombinant Fsh and Lh by Drosophila S2 Cells and Their Differential Actions on the Reproductive Biology1

“…Since gonadotropic effects of exogenous hormones can therefore be readily assessed, the Japanese eel would be a suitable model for the study of reproductive physiology in fish gonads. Furthermore, cDNAs encoding genes related to the gametogenesis, e.g., the subunits [10,28] and the receptors (GenBank accession EU635883; [29]) of Gths, and steroidogenic enzymes [30][31][32][33][34], have been extensively isolated. These molecular tools make it possible to more precisely analyze the effects of endocrine factors on the gonads.…”