Hormones and reproduction in scleractinian corals

Twan, Wen‐Hung; Hwang, Jiang‐Shiou; Lee, Yan‐Horn; Wu, Hua-Fang; Tung, Y; Chang, Ching‐Fong

doi:10.1016/j.cbpa.2006.01.011

Cited by 53 publications

(41 citation statements)

References 29 publications

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“…E. ancora is currently as a model animal for the hormones and reproduction related studies in corals. In southern Taiwan, the mass spawning of scleractinian corals occurs in April-May (lunar mid-March) according to our observation (Twan et al 2006a). We hypothesize that the endocrine system is one of the endogenous factors to regulate reproduction and spawning in corals as already demonstrated in fish and other vertebrates (Fig.…”

Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 51%

“…Our recent experiment further demonstrated that addition of mGnRH agonist to seawater in the coral aquarium at 3-day intervals for 15 days in March could induce oocyte growth by 20% (unpublished data). Our findings provide the foundation to understand the mechanism of reproduction and mass spawning in corals on the basis of current and previous studies (Twan et al 2003(Twan et al , 2006a. We propose that coral irGnRH, as a neuroendocrine factor, may link the environmental cues (temperature, lunar periodicity, photoperiod, and others) and regulate gonadal function (Fig.…”

Section: Evolutionary Conservation In the Reproductive Systemmentioning

confidence: 85%

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Corals have already evolved the vertebrate-type hormone system in the sexual reproduction

Twan

Hwang

et al. 2005

Fish Physiol Biochem

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Most broadcast spawning scleractinian corals synchronously release gametes during a brief annual spawning period. In southern Taiwan, the mass spawning of scleractinians occurs in lunar mid-March. Endocrine system has been proposed to play important roles in this annual phenomenon. A scleractinian coral, Euphyllia ancora has been selected as a model for the hormones and reproduction studies. We detected the presence of estradiol (E2), testosterone (T), glucuronided E2, glucuronided T, aromatase, immunoreactive (ir)GnRH in coral polyps E. ancora. Annual profiles of sex steroids, aromatase, and irGnRH have also been characterized. We found the parallel increases in irGnRH concentrations, aromatase activity and free E2 and glucuronided E2 concentrations at the time of coral mass spawning. The stimulation of mammalian (m)GnRH agonist in the increased aromatase activity and sex steroid concentrations was also observed in corals. Coral extracts (irGnRH) and mGnRH agonist had a similar dose-dependent effect on luteinizing hormone release in black porgy fish pituitary cells (in vitro). In conclusion, our data suggest that irGnRH and glucuronided E2 may play important roles in the control of reproduction and mass spawning in corals. Corals already evolved the vertebrate-type hormone system in the sexual reproduction.

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Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 51%

Section: Evolutionary Conservation In the Reproductive Systemmentioning

confidence: 85%

Corals have already evolved the vertebrate-type hormone system in the sexual reproduction

Twan

Hwang

et al. 2005

Fish Physiol Biochem

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“…Cnidaria appear to be susceptible to signal disruption by exogenous estrogens (reviewed in (Tarrant, 2005, 2007)), although there appear to be differences between coral and hydra sensitivity (Pascoe et al, 2002; Tarrant et al, 2004). Estrogen signaling may still be important in corals, however, as estrogens have been found in and around spawning corals, and corals have the ability to metabolize estradiol and testosterone (Atkinson and Atkinson, 1992; Blomquist et al, 2006; Tarrant et al, 1999; Tarrant et al, 2003; Twan et al, 2003; Twan et al, 2006). …”

Section: Defensome Gene Familiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Environmental sensing and response genes in cnidaria: the chemical defensome in the sea anemone Nematostella vectensis

Goldstone

2008

Cell Biol Toxicol

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The starlet sea anemone Nematostella vectensis has been recently established as a new model system for the study of the evolution of developmental processes, as cnidaria occupy a key evolutionary position at the base of the bilateria. Cnidaria play important roles in estuarine and reef communities, but are exposed to many environmental stressors.Here I describe the genetic components of a 'chemical defensome' in the genome of N. vectensis, and review cnidarian molecular toxicology. Gene families that defend against chemical stressors and the transcription factors that regulate these genes have been termed a 'chemical defensome,' and include the cytochromes P450 and other oxidases, various conjugating enyzymes, the ATPdependent efflux transporters, oxidative detoxification proteins, as well as various transcription factors. These genes account for about 1% (266/27200) of the predicted genes in the sea anemone genome, similar to the proportion observed in tunicates and humans, but lower than that observed in sea urchins. While there are comparable numbers of stress-response genes, the stress sensor genes appear to be reduced in N. vectensis relative to many model protostomes and deuterostomes. Cnidarian toxicology is understudied, especially given the important ecological roles of many cnidarian species. New genomic resources should stimulate the study of chemical stress sensing and response mechanisms in cnidaria, and allow us to further illuminate the evolution of chemical defense gene networks.

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“…The science and technology of fish have also improved much (Yueh et al, 2005;Twan et al, 2006;Tomy et al, 2007). Human local anesthetics are divided into two classes in accordance with chemical constitution: The derivatives of esters, like tetracaine, procaine, etc., the derivatives of amides, like lidocaine, mepivacaine, etc., are the anesthetics which human medical circles and academia often use at present (King, 2006).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%