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Comp Biochem Physiol B Biochem Mol Biol

Title:		A reproductive role for the nonapeptides vasotocin and isotocin in male zebrafish (Danio rerio)
Author(s):		Altmieme Z; Jubouri M; Touma K; Cote G; Fonseca M; Julian T; Mennigen JA;
Address:		"Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, 20 Marie-Curie, K1N 6N5 Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, 20 Marie-Curie, K1N 6N5 Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Electronic address: jan.mennigen@uottawa.ca"
Journal Title:		Comp Biochem Physiol B Biochem Mol Biol
Year:		2019
Volume:		20190906
Issue:
Page Number:		110333 -
DOI:		10.1016/j.cbpb.2019.110333
ISSN/ISBN:		1879-1107 (Electronic) 1096-4959 (Linking)
Abstract:		"Two distinct nonapeptide systems, vasotocin- and oxytocin-related peptides, evolved in vertebrates. Their role in male zebrafish reproduction has not been formally investigated. We hypothesized that the teleost nonapeptides vasotocin and isotocin stimulate male zebrafish reproductive physiology and success by affecting central neuronal and/or peripheral endocrine pathways. Pharmacological inhibition experiments revealed that both vasotocin and isotocin contribute significantly to male reproductive success, which in the case of vasotocin correlated significantly with indices of male courtship behavior. Interestingly, co-administration of vasotocin and isotocin antagonists completely abolished male reproductive success without affecting male courtship behavior and endocrine indices, possibly linked to a synergistic action of nonapeptides on male pheromone release. To further probe the nonapeptides' role in male zebrafish reproduction, we subsequently tested whether male zebrafish nonapeptide systems were acutely activated by the female releaser pheromone PGF(2alpha), a strong chemoattractant and important reproductive cue in males which stimulates courtship behavior. Male zebrafish attracted to PGF(2alpha) in a choice assay exhibited acute increases in neuronal activation marker p-ERK immunoreactivity in the ventral glomerulus of the olfactory bulb and the preoptic area, however no co-localization with isotocin was observed. Conversely, PGF(2alpha) time-dependently stimulated whole brain isotocin mRNA abundance, suggesting secondary longer-term effects of PGF(2alpha) exposure on the central isotocinergic system. While the current lack of vasotocin-specific antibodies for zebrafish does not allow to probe acute activation of vasotocinergic neurons, whole brain vasotocin mRNA was not significantly affected by PGF(2alpha) exposure. Together, our results identify a role for nonapeptides in male zebrafish reproductive physiology and success"
Keywords:		Animals Brain/*metabolism Male Neurons/metabolism Oxytocin/*analogs & derivatives/biosynthesis/genetics Reproduction/*physiology Vasotocin/*biosynthesis/genetics Zebrafish/genetics/*metabolism Zebrafish Proteins/*biosynthesis/genetics Courtship behaviour;
Notes:		"MedlineAltmieme, Z Jubouri, M Touma, K Cote, G Fonseca, M Julian, T Mennigen, J A eng England 2019/09/10 Comp Biochem Physiol B Biochem Mol Biol. 2019 Dec; 238:110333. doi: 10.1016/j.cbpb.2019.110333. Epub 2019 Sep 6"