GH overexpression decreases spermatic parameters and reproductive success in two-years-old transgenic zebrafish males
- Authors
- Figueiredo, M.A., Fernandes, R.V., Studzinski, A.L., Rosa, C.E., Corcini, C.D., Junior, A.S., and Marins, L.F.
- ID
- ZDB-PUB-130507-5
- Date
- 2013
- Source
- Animal Reproduction Science 139(1-4): 162-7 (Journal)
- Registered Authors
- Figueiredo, Marcio de Azevedo, Marins, Luis Fernando, Studzinski, Ana Lupe Motta
- Keywords
- growth hormone, transgenesis, reproduction, zebrafish, Trojan effect
- MeSH Terms
-
- Animals
- Animals, Genetically Modified
- Cell Membrane/physiology
- Growth Hormone/genetics
- Growth Hormone/physiology*
- Histocytochemistry/veterinary
- Male
- Mitochondria/physiology
- Reproduction/genetics
- Reproduction/physiology*
- Sperm Motility/genetics
- Sperm Motility/physiology
- Spermatozoa/physiology*
- Statistics, Nonparametric
- Zebrafish/genetics
- Zebrafish/physiology*
- PubMed
- 23618946 Full text @ Anim. Reprod. Sci.
Growth hormone (GH) transgenesis has been postulated as a biotechnological tool for improving growth performance in fish aquaculture. However, GH is implied in several other physiological processes, and transgenesis-induced GH excess could lead to unpredictable collateral effects, especially on reproductive traits. Here, we have used two-years-old transgenic zebrafish males to evaluate the effects of GH-transgenesis on spermatic parameters and reproductive success. Transgenic spermatozoa were analyzed in terms of motility, motility period, membrane integrity, mitochondrial functionality, DNA integrity, fertility and hatching rate. We have also performed histological analyses in gonad, in order to verify the presence of characteristic cell types from mature testes. The results obtained have shown that, even in transgenic testes present in all cells in normal mature gonads, a significant general decrease was observed in all spermatic and reproductive parameters analyzed. These outcomes raise concerns about the viability of GH-transgenesis appliance to aquaculture and the environmental risks at the light of Trojan gene hypothesis.