PUBLICATION

Knockout of Gnrh2 in zebrafish (Danio rerio) reveals its roles in regulating feeding behavior and oocyte quality

Authors
Marvel, M.M., Spicer, O.S., Wong, T.T., Zmora, N., Zohar, Y.
ID
ZDB-PUB-190406-19
Date
2019
Source
General and comparative endocrinology   280: 15-23 (Journal)
Registered Authors
Zohar, Yonathan
Keywords
Feeding, Gnrh2, Neuroendocrinology, Null mutation/knockout, Reproduction, Zebrafish
MeSH Terms
  • Animals
  • Body Weight
  • Feeding Behavior*
  • Female
  • Gene Knockout Techniques*
  • Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone/deficiency
  • Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone/metabolism*
  • Gonads/metabolism
  • Oocytes/metabolism*
  • Reproduction/physiology
  • Time Factors
  • Zebrafish/metabolism*
PubMed
30951724 Full text @ Gen. Comp. Endocrinol.
Abstract
Many studies on Gnrh1, and the teleost Gnrh3, have elucidated the roles of these peptides in reproductive regulation. However, the role of the midbrain population of Gnrh, Gnrh2, has long been a mystery, despite its ubiquitous conservation in all jawed vertebrates except rodents. Previous behavioral studies in sparrows, musk shrews, mice, zebrafish, and goldfish show that Gnrh2 administrations both increase spawning behaviors and decrease feeding behaviors, suggesting a role of this peptide in metabolism regulation along with the canonical role in regulating reproduction. In order to more deeply explore the roles of Gnrh2, we used a cyprinid teleost, zebrafish, which has 2 forms of Gnrh, Gnrh2 and Gnrh3, to generate a knockout zebrafish line which contains a frameshift mutation and subsequent disruption of the coding for the functional Gnrh2 peptide. We examined differences in reproduction, feeding, growth, and mobility in this line, and discovered major differences in feeding and growth parameters, suggesting that Gnrh2 is a potent anorexigen in zebrafish. Additionally, there were no differences in mobility except for increased distances swam during feeding periods. There were no major differences in reproductive success, however, female gnrh2-/- zebrafish exhibited smaller oocytes and increased embryo mortality, indicating slightly decreased oocyte quality. Additionally, there were changes in the expression levels of many feeding, growth, and reproductive neuropeptides in gnrh2-/- zebrafish. Taken together, these findings suggest a role for Gnrh2 in controlling satiation in zebrafish along with a minor role in maintaining optimal oocyte quality in females.
Genes / Markers
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Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Antibodies
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping