Development and Function of the Zebrafish Neuroendocrine System

Biran, Jakob; Blechman, Janna; Wircer, Einav; Levkowitz, Gil

doi:10.1002/9781119391128.ch5

Cited by 20 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 119 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…We therefore tested how various environmental challenges influence mstn expression in the fish brain and muscles. Most of the challenges we employed elicit a homeostatic response in the hypothalamus (48). Therefore, we analyzed mstn expression separately in the forebrain, midbrain, and hindbrain.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Fluctuations in environmental conditions are known to induce hypothalamic activity as part of the homeostatic response to the changes (48). In addition, the piscine cerebellum and, to a lesser extent, the telencephalon and diencephalon are major sites of adult brain neurogenesis, and adult brain size can also be affected by environmental conditions (49,50).…”

Section: Environmental Conditions Influence the Expression Of Mstn1 And Mstn2 In The Brain And Muscles Of Nile Tilapiamentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Identification and Characterization of a Non-muscular Myostatin in the Nile Tilapia

et al. 2020

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The growth and differentiation factor Myostatin (MSTN, also known as GDF8) negatively regulates skeletal muscle development and growth in vertebrates. Most fish genomes contain two or more mstn genes, which are expressed in muscle and other tissues. Yet, in the genome of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus), which is one of the world's most important aquaculture fish species, only one mstn gene has previously been identified. Here, we identify a second mstn gene in Nile tilapia. We show that it clusters phylogenetically with other piscine mstn2 genes and that it shares chromosomal synteny with the human and zebrafish orthologs. We further show that mstn2 is not expressed in red or white muscles of Nile tilapia, but rather that its main site of expression is the brain. To determine which physiological functions are correlated with mstn expression, adult Nile tilapia were exposed to various environmental conditions and their effect on mstn1 and mstn2 expression in the brain and muscles was measured using real-time PCR. We found that the centrally-and muscle-expressed mstn genes differ in their responsiveness to diverse challenges, suggesting differential gene-and tissue-specific regulation of their expression. Metabolic and stress marker analyses showed that the altered mstn expression is not regulated by classical stress response. Taken together, our findings expand the understanding of the MSTN system in Nile tilapia and provide evolutionary insight into its function.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Environmental Conditions Influence the Expression Of Mstn1 And Mstn2 In The Brain And Muscles Of Nile Tilapiamentioning

confidence: 99%

Identification and Characterization of a Non-muscular Myostatin in the Nile Tilapia

et al. 2020

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…An interesting example of possible hypothesis-driven research would be to focus on the isotocin system. Similar to oxytocin in mammals, this neurohormone plays a key role in neurodevelopment as well as in the expression of social behaviors in fish (Gutnick et al, 2011 ; Biran et al, 2018 ). Interestingly, the injection of an oxytocin receptor antagonist produces social behavior deficits similar to those observed in zebrafish embryonically exposed to ethanol (Landin et al, 2020 ).…”

Section: Future Directionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Zebrafish Shoaling, Its Behavioral and Neurobiological Mechanisms, and Its Alteration by Embryonic Alcohol Exposure: A Review

Facciol

2020

Front. Behav. Neurosci.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Social cognition and social behaviors are complex phenomena that involve numerous brain areas and underlying neurobiological mechanisms. Embryonic alcohol exposure may lead to the development of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD), a disorder that manifests with varying symptoms including abnormal social behavior and other cognitive deficits. Animal models have been utilized to mimic aspects of the disease and to study potential underlying mechanisms. The zebrafish is a relative newcomer in this field but has been suggested as an optimal compromise between system complexity and practical simplicity for modeling FASD. Importantly, due to external fertilization and development of the embryo outside the mother and subsequent lack of parental care, this species allows precise control of the timing and dose of alcohol delivery during embryonic development. Furthermore, the zebrafish is a highly social species and thus may be particularly appropriate for the analysis of embryonic alcohol-induced alterations in this context. Here, we provide a succinct review focusing on shoaling, a prominent form of social behavior, in zebrafish. We summarize what is known about its behavioral mechanisms and underlying neurobiological processes, and how it is altered by exposure to ethanol during embryonic development. Lastly, we briefly consider possible future directions of research that would help us better understand the relationship between the behavioral expression and molecular basis of embryonic ethanol-induced social deficits in fish and humans.

show abstract

“…Zebrafish females lay eggs that are externally fertilised and the larvae hatch approximately 3 days after fertilisation. By 5‐6 days, the larvae have a functional endocrine system and exhibit complex behaviours such as prey capture, escape and stress responses . In a laboratory setting, a preference to swim near conspecifics is observed, starting in three week‐old juveniles; however, the ontogeny of collective behaviours is established earlier because zebrafish larvae already display weak attraction toward each other from 7 days post‐fertilisation and this interaction increases with age …”

Section: Fishmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…As an animal model that is readily amenable to genetic perturbations, the zebrafish is useful for identifying genes involved in the formation and function of the neuronal circuits that underlie social behaviours. Furthermore, zebrafish are uniquely suitable for detailed, high‐resolution brain activity imaging, as their embryos and larvae develop externally and are optically transparent . Hence, using the above‐described paradigms in combination with state‐of‐the art optogenetic and imaging tools will allow future understanding of the mechanisms by which the vertebrate brain receives and processes socially‐relevant information.…”

Section: Fishmentioning

confidence: 99%

Social creatures: Model animal systems for studying the neuroendocrine mechanisms of social behaviour

Robinson

Bosch

Levkowitz

et al. 2019

J Neuroendocrinology

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The interaction of animals with conspecifics, termed social behaviour, has a major impact on the survival of many vertebrate species. Neuropeptide hormones modulate the underlying physiology that governs social interactions, and many findings concerning the neuroendocrine mechanisms of social behaviours have been extrapolated from animal models to humans. Neurones expressing neuropeptides show similar distribution patterns within the hypothalamic nucleus, even when evolutionarily distant species are compared. During evolution, hypothalamic neuropeptides and releasing hormones have retained not only their structures, but also their biological functions, including their effects on behaviour. Here, we review the current understanding of the mechanisms of social behaviours in several classes of animals, such as worms, insects and fish, as well as laboratory, wild and domesticated mammals.

show abstract

Development and Function of the Zebrafish Neuroendocrine System

Cited by 20 publications

References 119 publications

Identification and Characterization of a Non-muscular Myostatin in the Nile Tilapia

Identification and Characterization of a Non-muscular Myostatin in the Nile Tilapia

Zebrafish Shoaling, Its Behavioral and Neurobiological Mechanisms, and Its Alteration by Embryonic Alcohol Exposure: A Review

Social creatures: Model animal systems for studying the neuroendocrine mechanisms of social behaviour

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About