Expression profiles of metamorphosis-related genes during natural transformations in tadpoles of wild wood frogs (lithobates sylvaticus)
Numerous studies using laboratory-reared tadpoles have shown the importance of thyroid hormones (TH), thyroid receptors (TR), and deiodinase (Dio) enzymes during anuran metamorphosis. Our study focuses on the analysis of thyroidrelated genes in tadpoles of wild Wood Frogs (Lithobates sylvaticus (LeConte, 1825); also known as Rana sylvatica (Cope, 1889)) during metamorphosis. Results showed that, in concordance with laboratory-reared studies, thyroid receptor beta (trb) gene expression profiles presented the most marked changes. At climax and compared with premetamorphic stages, brains, tails, and gonad-mesonephros complex (GMC) tissues increased trb expression levels 5-, 21-, and 41-fold, respectively (p < 0.05). In addition, gene expression levels of brain deiodinase type II and III showed opposite trends, where 3-fold decrease and 10-fold increase were, respectively, found. This finding supports the idea that thyroid hormone, as it has been demonstrated in laboratory-reared tadpoles, is also involved in natural metamorphosis in wild tadpoles. Interestingly, and contrary to our predictions, we observed that whole brain corticotropin-releasing factor (crf) and crf receptor 1 (crfr1) gene expression levels significantly decrease through metamorphosis in wild L. sylvaticus tadpoles. Further analyses are required to determine if a role of TH in the timing of anuran gonadal development exists, as well as the importance of cellspecific and tissue-specific expression of crf and crfr1 to metamorphosis.
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | artículo biblioteca |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Canadian Science Publishing
2012-08-01
|
| Subjects: | Wood Frog, Amphibians, Developmental gene expression profiles, Lithobates sylvaticus, Metamorphosis, Rana sylvatica, Tadpoles, Thyroid axis, Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss, |
| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/10261/346635 https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/84865390175 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|