Gonadotropins in the Russian Sturgeon: Their Role in Steroid Secretion and the Effect of Hormonal Treatment on Their Secretion

PLoS One. 2016 Sep 13;11(9):e0162344. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0162344. eCollection 2016.

Abstract

In the reproduction process of male and female fish, pituitary derived gonadotropins (GTHs) play a key role. To be able to specifically investigate certain functions of Luteinizing (LH) and Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) in Russian sturgeon (Acipenser gueldenstaedtii; st), we produced recombinant variants of the hormones using the yeast Pichia pastoris as a protein production system. We accomplished to create in vitro biologically active heterodimeric glycoproteins consisting of two associated α- and β-subunits in sufficient quantities. Three dimensional modelling of both GTHs was conducted in order to study the differences between the two GTHs. Antibodies were produced against the unique β-subunit of each of the GTHs, in order to be used for immunohistochemical analysis and to develop an ELISA for blood and pituitary hormone quantification. This detection technique revealed the specific localization of the LH and FSH cells in the sturgeon pituitary and pointed out that both cell types are present in substantially higher numbers in mature males and females, compared to immature fish. With the newly attained option to prevent cross-contamination when investigating on the effects of GTH administration, we compared the steroidogeneic response (estradiol and 11-Keto testosterone (11-KT) in female and males, respectively) of recombinant stLH, stFSH, and carp pituitary extract in male and female sturgeon gonads at different developmental stages. Finally, we injected commercially available gonadotropin releasing hormones analog (GnRH) to mature females, and found a moderate effect on the development of ovarian follicles. Application of only testosterone (T) resulted in a significant increase in circulating levels of 11-KT whereas the combination of GnRH + T did not affect steroid levels at all. The response pattern for estradiol demonstrated a similar situation. FSH levels showed significant increases when GnRH + T was administered, while no changes were present in LH levels.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Estradiol / metabolism
  • Female
  • Fishes / physiology*
  • Follicle Stimulating Hormone / chemistry
  • Follicle Stimulating Hormone / pharmacology
  • Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / analogs & derivatives
  • Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / pharmacology
  • Gonadotropins, Pituitary / chemistry
  • Gonadotropins, Pituitary / physiology*
  • Luteinizing Hormone / chemistry
  • Luteinizing Hormone / pharmacology
  • Male
  • Models, Molecular
  • Ovarian Follicle / drug effects
  • Ovarian Follicle / physiology
  • Pituitary Gland / drug effects
  • Pituitary Gland / physiology
  • Protein Subunits
  • Recombinant Proteins / chemistry
  • Recombinant Proteins / pharmacology
  • Steroids / physiology*
  • Testis / drug effects
  • Testis / physiology
  • Testosterone / analogs & derivatives
  • Testosterone / metabolism
  • Testosterone / pharmacology

Substances

  • Gonadotropins, Pituitary
  • Protein Subunits
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Steroids
  • Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone
  • Testosterone
  • Estradiol
  • Luteinizing Hormone
  • Follicle Stimulating Hormone
  • 11-ketotestosterone

Grants and funding

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Sklodowska-Curie Grant Agreement no 642893 - IMPRESS and from the Binational Agricultural Research and Development Fund (BARD IS-420209).