PUBLICATION

The membrane androgen receptor ZIP9 (SCL39A9) maintains ovarian homeostasis by mediating post-ovulatory follicle breakdown in zebrafish

Authors
Converse, A., Genuise, H., Bennett, T.L., Butler, R.M., Thomas, P.
ID
ZDB-PUB-230530-34
Date
2023
Source
General and comparative endocrinology   340: 114323 (Journal)
Registered Authors
Bennett, Teresa, Thomas, Peter
Keywords
Androgen, Apoptosis, Ovary, Post-ovulatory follicle, ZIP9
MeSH Terms
  • Androgens
  • Animals
  • Apoptosis/genetics
  • Female
  • Homeostasis
  • Humans
  • Ovarian Cysts*
  • Ovarian Neoplasms*
  • Receptors, Androgen/genetics
  • Receptors, Androgen/metabolism
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53/genetics
  • Zebrafish/metabolism
  • bcl-2-Associated X Protein/metabolism
PubMed
37247826 Full text @ Gen. Comp. Endocrinol.
Abstract
ZIP9 was recently characterized as a membrane androgen receptor in Atlantic croaker granulosa/theca (G/T) cells where it mediates androgen-induced apoptosis in vitro, but the physiological significance of this action has remained unclear. In the current study, we utilized ZIP9 knockout (zip9-/-) zebrafish to investigate the role of ZIP9-mediated androgen-induced G/T cell apoptosis in vivo. We first confirmed ZIP9 mediates apoptosis of zebrafish G/T cells in vitro. Testosterone increased apoptosis, intracellular free zinc, and expression of pro-apoptotic members bax and p53 in wildtype and zip9+/+ zebrafish G/T cells, but not in ZIP9 knockout and knockdown cell models. We hypothesized ZIP9-mediated G/T cell apoptosis may be involved in post-ovulatory follicle (POF) breakdown in vivo. Post ovulation, zip9, bax, and p53 were upregulated in zip9+/+ but not in zip9-/- ovaries. Immunoreactivity of cleaved caspase 3 was also higher in POFs from zip9+/+ ovaries compared zip9-/-, and POF breakdown was significantly delayed in zip9-/- fish compared to zip9+/+ counterparts. To determine the detrimental consequences of delayed POF breakdown in the zip9-/- model, fish were challenged with repeated ovulation induction. After the challenge, zip9-/- fish exhibited abnormal ovarian lesions that contained debris consistent with atretic or necrotic cellular material. However, no abnormalities were observed in zip9+/+ fish ovaries, indicating that the abnormal phenotype is due to the loss of ZIP9. This study demonstrates an important role for ZIP9 in mediating POF breakdown and maintaining tissue remodeling and homeostasis in the teleost ovary and indicates a role for the ZIP9-mediated androgen-induced apoptotic response in vivo.
Genes / Markers
Figures
Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Antibodies
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping