Pub Date : 2025-08-28DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2025.114807
Kelly M. Mitzel, Angela R. Freeman
Chlorpyrifos is an organophosphate pesticide widely used in many countries to control insect pests. This pesticide causes neurotoxic effects in target species through cholinergic toxicity, but also has several secondary effects on neural substrates. Chlorpyrifos can modulate several neurotransmitters, including the nonapeptides oxytocin and vasopressin which are well-known for their modulation of social behavior and reproduction. Scientists have championed the need for the use of non-traditional models to understand the underpinnings of these nonapeptides in the evolution of social behavior. However, exposure to pesticides like chlorpyrifos can alter the organization of vasopressin and oxytocin circuits during neurodevelopment, which then leads to changes in adult behavior. In this review, we explore the research that connects chlorpyrifos and the nonapeptides, emphasizing the potential impacts of this pesticide on behavioral neuroendocrinology using these non-traditional models.
{"title":"Chlorpyrifos and neuroendocrine function: Concerns for research with free-living mammal populations","authors":"Kelly M. Mitzel, Angela R. Freeman","doi":"10.1016/j.ygcen.2025.114807","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ygcen.2025.114807","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Chlorpyrifos is an organophosphate pesticide widely used in many countries to control insect pests. This pesticide causes neurotoxic effects in target species through cholinergic toxicity, but also has several secondary effects on neural substrates. Chlorpyrifos can modulate several neurotransmitters, including the nonapeptides oxytocin and vasopressin which are well-known for their modulation of social behavior and reproduction. Scientists have championed the need for the use of non-traditional models to understand the underpinnings of these nonapeptides in the evolution of social behavior. However, exposure to pesticides like chlorpyrifos can alter the organization of vasopressin and oxytocin circuits during neurodevelopment, which then leads to changes in adult behavior. In this review, we explore the research that connects chlorpyrifos and the nonapeptides, emphasizing the potential impacts of this pesticide on behavioral neuroendocrinology using these non-traditional models.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12582,"journal":{"name":"General and comparative endocrinology","volume":"373 ","pages":"Article 114807"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-08-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144950671","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Food is essential for an organism to meet its daily energy requirements. For this reason, animals show a highly motivated behaviour towards the acquisition of food. Food availability, however, is fairly irregular in nature as it is influenced by a number of environmental and ecological factors. Hence, food availability is a key factor in shaping the life history of an organism. In the present study, we tested the effects of timed food restriction on behaviour, physiology and hormone levels in Spotted Munia (Lonchura punctulata) subjected to a food availability for only four hours in the evening (Food restriction- FR). We also measured the indicators of stress to assess how birds responded to the restricted feeding schedule. The birds showed a significant change in their daily activity rest pattern where FR birds showed minimum movement during the time window when food was made available to them. Further, after two weeks, we found a lower body weight, plasma T3 and cort levels in FR birds, as compared to ad libitum controls. While the Heterophil/Lymphocyte ratio was higher, we observed a lower spleen weight and size in FR birds. These findings suggest that a predictable food scarcity led to behavioural and physiological adjustments in munia(s) reflective of an adaptive energy reallocation during food restriction.
{"title":"No Breakfast? physiological effects of morning food deprivation in spotted munia (Lonchura punctulata)","authors":"Vibha Yadav, Jyoti Tiwari, Shalie Malik, Aakansha Sharma","doi":"10.1016/j.ygcen.2025.114806","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ygcen.2025.114806","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Food is essential for an organism to meet its daily energy requirements. For this reason, animals show a highly motivated behaviour towards the acquisition of food. Food availability, however, is fairly irregular in nature as it is influenced by a number of environmental and ecological factors. Hence, food availability is a key factor in shaping the life history of an organism. In the present study, we tested the effects of timed food restriction on behaviour, physiology and hormone levels in Spotted Munia (<em>Lonchura punctulata</em>) subjected to a food availability for only four hours in the evening (Food restriction- FR). We also measured the indicators of stress to assess how birds responded to the restricted feeding schedule. The birds showed a significant change in their daily activity rest pattern where FR birds showed minimum movement during the time window when food was made available to them. Further, after two weeks, we found a lower body weight, plasma T3 and cort levels in FR birds, as compared to <em>ad libitum</em> controls. While the Heterophil/Lymphocyte ratio was higher, we observed a lower spleen weight and size in FR birds. These findings suggest that a predictable food scarcity led to behavioural and physiological adjustments in munia(s) reflective of an adaptive energy reallocation during food restriction.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12582,"journal":{"name":"General and comparative endocrinology","volume":"373 ","pages":"Article 114806"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-08-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144908952","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-08-26DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2025.114805
Luis Méndez-Martínez , Paula Suarez-Bregua , Laura Guerrero-Peña , Elisa Barreiro-Docío , Carolina Costas-Prado , Antonio Cobelo-García , Josep Rotllant
Parathyroid hormone 4 (Pth4) is an evolutionarily conserved member of the PTH family, expressed in hypothalamic neurons and lost in eutherian mammals. In order to elucidate its role in mineral homeostasis and skeletal development, a pth4 knockout (pth4KO) zebrafish line was generated using CRISPR/Cas9 and transcriptomic profiling was conducted across six key tissues: brain, kidney, intestine, gills, scales, and bone. The results obtained demonstrated that the loss of Pth4 led to pronounced disturbances in calcium and phosphate homeostasis, skeletal deformities, and widespread tissue-specific transcriptional alterations. Notably, dysregulation of mineral regulatory genes—such as fgf23, phex, and slc34a1a was particularly evident in the kidney, suggesting disruption of the FGF23-Klotho axis. In parallel, differential expression of extracellular matrix genes (col1a1a, col10a1a, col11a1) and matrix remodeling enzymes (mmp9, mmp13a, mmp2) in bone and scales indicated impaired skeletal remodeling. Together, these findings highlight a pivotal role for Pth4 in the endocrine and local regulation of mineral metabolism and skeletal integrity, expanding our understanding of PTH family functions in vertebrate physiology.
{"title":"Genetic ablation of Pth4 disrupts calcium-phosphate balance, bone development, and kidney transcriptome in teleosts","authors":"Luis Méndez-Martínez , Paula Suarez-Bregua , Laura Guerrero-Peña , Elisa Barreiro-Docío , Carolina Costas-Prado , Antonio Cobelo-García , Josep Rotllant","doi":"10.1016/j.ygcen.2025.114805","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ygcen.2025.114805","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Parathyroid hormone 4 (Pth4) is an evolutionarily conserved member of the PTH family, expressed in hypothalamic neurons and lost in eutherian mammals. In order to elucidate its role in mineral homeostasis and skeletal development, a <em>pth4</em> knockout (<em>pth4<sup>KO</sup></em>) zebrafish line was generated using CRISPR/Cas9 and transcriptomic profiling was conducted across six key tissues: brain, kidney, intestine, gills, scales, and bone. The results obtained demonstrated that the loss of Pth4 led to pronounced disturbances in calcium and phosphate homeostasis, skeletal deformities, and widespread tissue-specific transcriptional alterations. Notably, dysregulation of mineral regulatory genes—such as<!--> <em>fgf23,<!--> <!-->phex</em>, and<!--> <em>slc34a1a</em> was particularly evident in the kidney, suggesting disruption of the FGF23-Klotho axis. In parallel, differential expression of extracellular matrix genes (<em>col1a1a,<!--> <!-->col10a1a,<!--> <!-->col11a1</em>) and matrix remodeling enzymes (<em>mmp9,<!--> <!-->mmp13a,<!--> <!-->mmp2</em>) in bone and scales indicated impaired skeletal remodeling. Together, these findings highlight a pivotal role for Pth4 in the endocrine and local regulation of mineral metabolism and skeletal integrity, expanding our understanding of PTH family functions in vertebrate physiology.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12582,"journal":{"name":"General and comparative endocrinology","volume":"373 ","pages":"Article 114805"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-08-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144904648","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-08-25DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2025.114804
Adam K. Hillberg , Richard J. Harris , Cherie A. Motti , Abigail Elizur , Hongkang Wu , Mohammed Akhter Hossain , Ross A.D. Bathgate , Scott F. Cummins
The corallivorous Crown-of-Thorns Starfish (COTS; Acanthaster cf. solaris) has become a major pest across the Indo-Pacific, primarily due to anthropogenic environmental factors that have increased populations beyond sustainable levels. These effects are costly to both the economy and ecology of coral reefs and require human intervention. A better understanding of endogenous reproductive factors could help establish more effective management strategies. Based on information regarding an endogenous spawn-inducing peptide in COTS, known as the relaxin-like gonad-stimulating peptide (RGP), a version of this peptide (called synthetic Aso-RGP; inspired by the sequence from Acanthaster cf. solaris) was chemically synthesized. In this study, we demonstrate that in vivo intra-coelomic injection of reproductively mature COTS with 1 µM synthetic Aso-RGP (100 µl) induced spawning of males and females at 20 ± 6.8 min and 32.3 ± 17.2 min post-injection, respectively. Typical spawning behaviours were also observed, including seeking high-ground, crowning/arching and upwards curling of arms prior to gamete release, leading to >95 % fertilization rate. Subsequent testing of synthetic Aso-RGP at 1 µM on mature COTS ovarian fragments stimulated 100 % oocyte germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD), similar to that observed for the positive 1-methyladenine (1 and 10 mM) control, confirming activation of the RGP cascade. Synthetic Aso-RGP was not, however, effective in inducing spawning or triggering GVBD outside of the reproductive season, demonstrating it is seasonally functional. Finally, we showed that synthetic Aso-RGP can also stimulate spawning in the COTS sibling species, Acanthaster brevispinus. In summary, this research has established the bioactivity of the synthetic Aso-RGP, which in turn, may prove critical for the development of a novel control approach to manipulate COTS spawning.
{"title":"In vivo induction of crown-of-thorns starfish (Acanthaster spp.) spawning using a synthetic relaxin-like gonad-stimulating peptide","authors":"Adam K. Hillberg , Richard J. Harris , Cherie A. Motti , Abigail Elizur , Hongkang Wu , Mohammed Akhter Hossain , Ross A.D. Bathgate , Scott F. Cummins","doi":"10.1016/j.ygcen.2025.114804","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ygcen.2025.114804","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The corallivorous Crown-of-Thorns Starfish (COTS; <em>Acanthaster</em> cf. <em>solaris</em>) has become a major pest across the Indo-Pacific, primarily due to anthropogenic environmental factors that have increased populations beyond sustainable levels. These effects are costly to both the economy and ecology of coral reefs and require human intervention. A better understanding of endogenous reproductive factors could help establish more effective management strategies. Based on information regarding an endogenous spawn-inducing peptide in COTS, known as the relaxin-like gonad-stimulating peptide (RGP), a version of this peptide (called synthetic <em>Aso</em>-RGP; inspired by the sequence from <em>Acanthaster</em> cf. <em>solaris</em>) was chemically synthesized. In this study, we demonstrate that <em>in vivo</em> intra-coelomic injection of reproductively mature COTS with 1 µM synthetic <em>Aso</em>-RGP (100 µl) induced spawning of males and females at 20 ± 6.8 min and 32.3 ± 17.2 min post-injection, respectively. Typical spawning behaviours were also observed, including seeking high-ground, crowning/arching and upwards curling of arms prior to gamete release, leading to >95 % fertilization rate. Subsequent testing of synthetic <em>Aso</em>-RGP at 1 µM on mature COTS ovarian fragments stimulated 100 % oocyte germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD), similar to that observed for the positive 1-methyladenine (1 and 10 mM) control, confirming activation of the RGP cascade. Synthetic <em>Aso</em>-RGP was not, however, effective in inducing spawning or triggering GVBD outside of the reproductive season, demonstrating it is seasonally functional. Finally, we showed that synthetic <em>Aso</em>-RGP can also stimulate spawning in the COTS sibling species, <em>Acanthaster brevispinus</em>. In summary, this research has established the bioactivity of the synthetic <em>Aso</em>-RGP, which in turn, may prove critical for the development of a novel control approach to manipulate COTS spawning.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12582,"journal":{"name":"General and comparative endocrinology","volume":"373 ","pages":"Article 114804"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-08-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144931651","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-08-22DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2025.114802
P.U. Ushas , M.C. Subhash Peter
3-iodothyronamine (T1AM), an endogenous aminergic derivative of thyroid hormone (TH), exhibits cardioprotective effects in mammals. However, it is unclear whether T1AM has similar effects in fish hearts to counteract hypothyroidism. We hypothesise that T1AM may regulate the expression patterns of GPCR-associated neuroendocrine receptors, thyroid hormone receptors (TRs), and Na+, K+-ATPase (NKA) subunit isoform genes, and may exert protection against hypothyroidism. The effects of T1AM on ion transporter activities in fish hearts under euthyroid conditions were first examined in vitro and in vivo to ascertain its direct impact on euthyroid fish hearts. Subsequently, the effects of methimazole (MMI), an antithyroid drug, and T1AM replacement in hypothyroid hearts of the air-breathing fish (Anabas testudineus) were studied. Dose-dependent effects of T1AM on ion-dependent ATPase activities were observed both in vitro and in vivo in euthyroid hearts. While MMI treatment increased NKA activity, T1AM replacement decreased its activity in hypothyroid hearts. The downregulation of NKA subunit isoform expressions (nkaα1a, nkaα1b, nkaα1c, atp1b1, atp1b2) by MMI was reversed when T1AM was added in hypothyroid hearts. Similarly, MMI suppressed and T1AM activated the transcript of trace amine-associated receptors taar1 and taar8c, as well as TR isoforms (thra, thrab, thrb) in the hypothyroid heart. MMI activated adra2a and suppressed adrb2 expression, while T1AM reversed these effects; however, both MMI and T1AM downregulated drd2 expression. These data indicate a novel targeted action of T1AM on cardiac GPCRs, TR function, and NKA-mediated ion osmotic homeostasis in hypothyroid fish, suggesting potential cardioprotective effects of T1AM against hypothyroidism.
{"title":"Methimazole suppresses, and 3-iodothyronamine (T1AM) activates GPCRs, TRs and Na+/K+-ATPase subunit isoform expression in air-breathing fish hearts","authors":"P.U. Ushas , M.C. Subhash Peter","doi":"10.1016/j.ygcen.2025.114802","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ygcen.2025.114802","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>3-iodothyronamine (T<sub>1</sub>AM), an endogenous aminergic derivative of thyroid hormone (TH), exhibits cardioprotective effects in mammals. However, it is unclear whether T<sub>1</sub>AM has similar effects in fish hearts to counteract hypothyroidism. We hypothesise that T<sub>1</sub>AM may regulate the expression patterns of GPCR-associated neuroendocrine receptors, thyroid hormone receptors (TRs), and Na<sup>+</sup>, K<sup>+</sup>-ATPase (NKA) subunit isoform genes, and may exert protection against hypothyroidism. The effects of T<sub>1</sub>AM on ion transporter activities in fish hearts under euthyroid conditions were first examined <em>in vitro</em> and <em>in vivo</em> to ascertain its direct impact on euthyroid fish hearts. Subsequently, the effects of methimazole (MMI), an antithyroid drug, and T<sub>1</sub>AM replacement in hypothyroid hearts of the air-breathing fish (<em>Anabas testudineus</em>) were studied. Dose-dependent effects of T<sub>1</sub>AM on ion-dependent ATPase activities were observed both <em>in vitro</em> and <em>in vivo</em> in euthyroid hearts. While MMI treatment increased NKA activity, T<sub>1</sub>AM replacement decreased its activity in hypothyroid hearts. The downregulation of NKA subunit isoform expressions (<em>nkaα1a, nkaα1b, nkaα1c, atp1b1, atp1b2</em>) by MMI was reversed when T<sub>1</sub>AM was added in hypothyroid hearts. Similarly, MMI suppressed and T<sub>1</sub>AM activated the transcript of trace amine-associated receptors <em>taar1</em> and <em>taar8c</em>, as well as TR isoforms (<em>thra, thrab, thrb</em>) in the hypothyroid heart. MMI activated <em>adra2a</em> and suppressed <em>adrb2</em> expression, while T<sub>1</sub>AM reversed these effects; however, both MMI and T<sub>1</sub>AM downregulated <em>drd2</em> expression. These data indicate a novel targeted action of T<sub>1</sub>AM on cardiac GPCRs, TR function, and NKA-mediated ion osmotic homeostasis in hypothyroid fish, suggesting potential cardioprotective effects of T<sub>1</sub>AM against hypothyroidism.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12582,"journal":{"name":"General and comparative endocrinology","volume":"373 ","pages":"Article 114802"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-08-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144895385","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-08-22DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2025.114803
Jesus Angel Aguirre-Pineda , Ricardo Arturo Valdéz Perez , Alfredo Pérez-Guiot , Raúl J. Bobes , Marta Catalina Romano
Mineralocorticoids are corticosteroid hormones that, in vertebrates, regulate extracellular fluid volume and salt balance by modulating the expression and activity of Na+/K+ ATPase, the enzyme that generates and maintains Na+ and K+ gradients across plasma membranes. However, the function of mineralocorticoids in invertebrates has not been well studied. Cysticerci (larvae) of the parasite Taenia crassiceps WFU synthesize the corticosteroids 11-deoxycorticosterone (DOC) and corticosterone in vitro. Here, we searched the genome and transcriptome of T. crassiceps for the presence of α-Na+/K+ ATPase sequences. We also studied the effects of corticosteroids on α-Na+/K+ ATPase expression and on the morphology of T. crassiceps WFU cysticerci in vitro. Cysticerci were obtained from the peritoneal cavity of previously infected female mice and cultured in the presence of corticosterone, DOC, spironolactone (a mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist) or metyrapone (a corticosteroid synthesis inhibitor) at different concentrations and for different periods of time. ATPase expression was evaluated by Western blotting. Genome and transcriptome searches revealed two highly conserved α-Na+/K+ ATPase sequences in T. crassiceps WFU. DOC was found to increase α-Na+/K+ ATPase expression in a concentration-dependent manner. The incubation of parasites with spironolactone, but not with metyrapone, significantly decreased the expression of the enzyme. In addition, DOC increased parasite size, whereas spironolactone and metyrapone altered parasite shape and size, respectively. These results suggest a role for mineralocorticoids in salt–water regulation of T. crassiceps WFU. A deep understanding of these mechanisms could contribute to improving therapeutic strategies for cysticercosis.
{"title":"Effects of mineralocorticoids on α-Na+/K+ ATPase expression and parasite morphology in T. crassiceps WFU cysticerci","authors":"Jesus Angel Aguirre-Pineda , Ricardo Arturo Valdéz Perez , Alfredo Pérez-Guiot , Raúl J. Bobes , Marta Catalina Romano","doi":"10.1016/j.ygcen.2025.114803","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ygcen.2025.114803","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Mineralocorticoids are corticosteroid hormones that, in vertebrates, regulate extracellular fluid volume and salt balance by modulating the expression and activity of Na<sup>+</sup>/K<sup>+</sup> ATPase, the enzyme that generates and maintains Na<sup>+</sup> and K<sup>+</sup> gradients across plasma membranes. However, the function of mineralocorticoids in invertebrates has not been well studied. Cysticerci (larvae) of the parasite <em>Taenia crassiceps</em> WFU synthesize the corticosteroids 11-deoxycorticosterone (DOC) and corticosterone <em>in vitro</em>. Here, we searched the genome and transcriptome of <em>T. crassiceps</em> for the presence of α-Na<sup>+</sup>/K<sup>+</sup> ATPase sequences. We also studied the effects of corticosteroids on α-Na<sup>+</sup>/K<sup>+</sup> ATPase expression and on the morphology of <em>T. crassiceps</em> WFU cysticerci <em>in vitro</em>. Cysticerci were obtained from the peritoneal cavity of previously infected female mice and cultured in the presence of corticosterone, DOC, spironolactone (a mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist) or metyrapone (a corticosteroid synthesis inhibitor) at different concentrations and for different periods of time. ATPase expression was evaluated by Western blotting. Genome and transcriptome searches revealed two highly conserved α-Na<sup>+</sup>/K<sup>+</sup> ATPase sequences in <em>T. crassiceps</em> WFU. DOC was found to increase α-Na<sup>+</sup>/K<sup>+</sup> ATPase expression in a concentration-dependent manner. The incubation of parasites with spironolactone, but not with metyrapone, significantly decreased the expression of the enzyme. In addition, DOC increased parasite size, whereas spironolactone and metyrapone altered parasite shape and size, respectively. These results suggest a role for mineralocorticoids in salt–water regulation of <em>T. crassiceps</em> WFU. A deep understanding of these mechanisms could contribute to improving therapeutic strategies for cysticercosis.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12582,"journal":{"name":"General and comparative endocrinology","volume":"373 ","pages":"Article 114803"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-08-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144912528","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Thyroid hormones play an important role in the regulation of growth, development, metabolism, thermoregulation, and migration. Very little information exists on patterns of thyroid hormone concentrations in healthy mysticete whales, as many studies have focused on ill, entangled, or stranded whales, making it difficult to interpret thyroid hormone trends. In this study, we used a unique sample-set of bowhead whale baleen plates to explore the long-term interrelationships between triiodothyronine (T3), the most biologically active thyroid hormone, corticosterone, testosterone, and nitrogen isotope ratios (δ15N) (proxies for stress, reproduction, and diet, respectively) to investigate the role T3 may play in the physiology of healthy cetaceans. Baleen plates were collected between 1998 and 2011 from eight subsistence-harvested male bowhead whales across the Eastern Canadian Arctic. Each baleen plate generated 88–158 serial samples, representing ∼11–22 years of life for each individual whale. T3 concentrations ranged from 0.61 to 21.62 ng/g and varied seasonally in just two whales. Most whales showed no correlation between T3 and seasonal fluctuations in testosterone or δ15N, suggesting that variation in T3 is not driven by seasonal shifts in reproductive cycles, consumer trophic level, or migration. However, a strong positive correlation between T3 and corticosterone was observed in every whale, which we hypothesized was due to non-seasonal factors that simultaneously increase metabolic rate and physiological stress. The positive correlation between T3 with corticosterone suggests that in mysticete whales, some stressors may require increased energetic output.
{"title":"Multi-year profiles of T3 are positively correlated with corticosterone in male bowhead whale baleen","authors":"Justine M. Hudson , Kathleen Hunt , Marianne Marcoux , C.Loren Buck , Cory J.D. Matthews","doi":"10.1016/j.ygcen.2025.114800","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ygcen.2025.114800","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Thyroid hormones play an important role in the regulation of growth, development, metabolism, thermoregulation, and migration. Very little information exists on patterns of thyroid hormone concentrations in healthy mysticete whales, as many studies have focused on ill, entangled, or stranded whales, making it difficult to interpret thyroid hormone trends. In this study, we used a unique sample-set of bowhead whale baleen plates to explore the long-term interrelationships between triiodothyronine (T3), the most biologically active thyroid hormone, corticosterone, testosterone, and nitrogen isotope ratios (δ<sup>15</sup>N) (proxies for stress, reproduction, and diet, respectively) to investigate the role T3 may play in the physiology of healthy cetaceans. Baleen plates were collected between 1998 and 2011 from eight subsistence-harvested male bowhead whales across the Eastern Canadian Arctic. Each baleen plate generated 88–158 serial samples, representing ∼11–22 years of life for each individual whale. T3 concentrations ranged from 0.61 to 21.62 ng/g and varied seasonally in just two whales. Most whales showed no correlation between T3 and seasonal fluctuations in testosterone or δ<sup>15</sup>N, suggesting that variation in T3 is not driven by seasonal shifts in reproductive cycles, consumer trophic level, or migration. However, a strong positive correlation between T3 and corticosterone was observed in every whale, which we hypothesized was due to non-seasonal factors that simultaneously increase metabolic rate and physiological stress. The positive correlation between T3 with corticosterone suggests that in mysticete whales, some stressors may require increased energetic output.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12582,"journal":{"name":"General and comparative endocrinology","volume":"373 ","pages":"Article 114800"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-08-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144882683","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-08-16DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2025.114801
Rosaria Sciarrillo , Alessandra Falzarano , Vito Gallicchio , Assunta Lallo , Francesca Carrella , Aldo Mileo , Anna Capaldo , Maria De Falco
The catecolaminergic system, which uses dopamine, noradrenaline and adrenaline as neurotransmitters, originates in the brainstem nuclei and spreads widely throughout the central nervous system (CNS). Although there are data indicating that interactions between the catecolaminergic systems of the nervous system and hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis do indeed take place and may be of physiological and clinical relevance, such interactions are far from being clarified. In this paper, we studied the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis responses in lizards treated with adrenaline, noradrenaline and dopamine respectively. Adrenaline raised plasma TRH and TSH levels and induced a stimulatory effect on the thyroid gland activity with an increase of T3 and T4 levels. On the contrary, noradrenaline treatment induced a reduction in TRH secretion, accompanied by a normal circulating TSH level and increased plasma T4 levels but with a reduction of circulating T3 levels. Dopamine stimulated TRH secretion centrally but induced TSH deficiency followed by reduction of circulating T3 and T4 levels. Furthermore, the effects of the catecolaminergic system on the TRH-TSH-thyroid hormone axis has been also manifested through mechanisms in peripheral organs such as the liver. The dynamic interplay between TRH and TSH and the feedback effects on circulating thyroid hormones after treatment with adrenaline, noradrenaline and dopamine is a very sophisticated and complicated mechanism that responds via afferent inputs from neurons originating in the paraventricular nucleus and can influence the secretion of TRH and TSH-secreting hypophysiotropic neurons with consequent feedback on thyroid hormones.
{"title":"Catecolaminergic systems and hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) axis: adrenaline, noradrenaline and dopamine treatments in vivo in lizard Podarcis siculus","authors":"Rosaria Sciarrillo , Alessandra Falzarano , Vito Gallicchio , Assunta Lallo , Francesca Carrella , Aldo Mileo , Anna Capaldo , Maria De Falco","doi":"10.1016/j.ygcen.2025.114801","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ygcen.2025.114801","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The catecolaminergic system, which uses dopamine, noradrenaline and adrenaline as neurotransmitters, originates in the brainstem nuclei and spreads widely throughout the central nervous system (CNS). Although there are data indicating that interactions between the catecolaminergic systems of the nervous system and hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis do indeed take place and may be of physiological and clinical relevance, such interactions are far from being clarified. In this paper, we studied the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis responses in lizards treated with adrenaline, noradrenaline and dopamine respectively. Adrenaline raised plasma TRH and TSH levels and induced a stimulatory effect on the thyroid gland activity with an increase of T<sub>3</sub> and T<sub>4</sub> levels. On the contrary, noradrenaline treatment induced a reduction in TRH secretion, accompanied by a normal circulating TSH level and increased plasma T<sub>4</sub> levels but with a reduction of circulating T<sub>3</sub> levels. Dopamine stimulated TRH secretion centrally but induced TSH deficiency followed by reduction of circulating T<sub>3</sub> and T<sub>4</sub> levels. Furthermore, the effects of the catecolaminergic system on the TRH-TSH-thyroid hormone axis has been also manifested through mechanisms in peripheral organs such as the liver. The dynamic interplay between TRH and TSH and the feedback effects on circulating thyroid hormones after treatment with adrenaline, noradrenaline and dopamine is a very sophisticated and complicated mechanism that responds via afferent inputs from neurons originating in the paraventricular nucleus and can influence the secretion of TRH and TSH-secreting hypophysiotropic neurons with consequent feedback on thyroid hormones.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12582,"journal":{"name":"General and comparative endocrinology","volume":"373 ","pages":"Article 114801"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-08-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144872703","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Neurosecretory protein GL (NPGL) is a novel hypothalamic neuropeptide that promotes fat accumulation in rats, mice, and neonatal chicks. However, its role in Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the effects of chronic intracerebroventricular infusion of NPGL on body mass, food intake, and fat deposition in five-week-old male Japanese quails. A 13-day infusion of NPGL significantly increased body mass, food intake, and the masses of subcutaneous fat, abdominal fat, and liver. In contrast, water intake and the masses of the pancreas, testes, heart, and muscle remained unchanged. Blood concentrations of triglyceride, glucose, and non-esterified fatty acid were unaffected. Real-time qPCR analysis revealed a significant upregulation of NPGM, a paralogous gene of NPGL, in the hypothalamus. Additionally, the expression of stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 (SCD1), a key enzyme involved in lipogenesis, showed an increasing trend in the liver. Although the fatty acid ratio used as the SCD1 activity index (palmitoleate/palmitate) did not change, the de novo lipogenesis index (palmitate/linoleate) tended to increase in both the liver and abdominal fat. These results suggest that NPGL promotes fat accumulation in Japanese quails, indicating its potential involvement in avian adiposity.
{"title":"Neurosecretory protein GL stimulates feeding behavior and fat accumulation in Japanese quails (Coturnix japonica)","authors":"Masaki Kato, Eiko Iwakoshi-Ukena, Megumi Furumitsu, Yuki Narimatsu, Kazuyoshi Ukena","doi":"10.1016/j.ygcen.2025.114798","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ygcen.2025.114798","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Neurosecretory protein GL (NPGL) is a novel hypothalamic neuropeptide that promotes fat accumulation in rats, mice, and neonatal chicks. However, its role in Japanese quail (<em>Coturnix japonica</em>) remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the effects of chronic intracerebroventricular infusion of NPGL on body mass, food intake, and fat deposition in five-week-old male Japanese quails. A 13-day infusion of NPGL significantly increased body mass, food intake, and the masses of subcutaneous fat, abdominal fat, and liver. In contrast, water intake and the masses of the pancreas, testes, heart, and muscle remained unchanged. Blood concentrations of triglyceride, glucose, and non-esterified fatty acid were unaffected. Real-time qPCR analysis revealed a significant upregulation of <em>NPGM</em>, a paralogous gene of <em>NPGL</em>, in the hypothalamus. Additionally, the expression of stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 (SCD1), a key enzyme involved in lipogenesis, showed an increasing trend in the liver. Although the fatty acid ratio used as the SCD1 activity index (palmitoleate/palmitate) did not change, the <em>de novo</em> lipogenesis index (palmitate/linoleate) tended to increase in both the liver and abdominal fat. These results suggest that NPGL promotes fat accumulation in Japanese quails, indicating its potential involvement in avian adiposity.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12582,"journal":{"name":"General and comparative endocrinology","volume":"372 ","pages":"Article 114798"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-08-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144840774","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1), a multifunctional secreted polypeptide cytokine, has been reported to play crucial roles in pregnancy process of mammals, including immune tolerance and embryonic development. However, less is known in Pisces. Aimed to figure out the molecular mechanism underlying TGF-β1 functions, black rockfish (Sebastes schlegelii), an ovoviviparity teleost, which process the sperm storage and gestation periods, was employed as the research model. In the present study, we found that tgfb1 among four tgfb isoforms was highly expressed and localized in ovary. The recombinant TGF-β1 (rTGF-β1) was mainly involved in immune response, signal transduction, angiogenesis and cell death by analyzing transcriptome of ovarian cells. The current results reveal the pivotal role of TGF-β1 in black rockfish ovary and provide novel insights into cytokines in the pregnancy of ovoviviparity teleost.
{"title":"Regulation of transforming growth factor beta 1 in the ovary of ovoviviparous black rockfish (Sebastes schlegelii)","authors":"Xiao Jing, Likang Lyu, Chenpeng Zuo, Jianshuang Li, Xiaojie Wang, Jing Yang, Tianyu Jiang, Yun Li, Haishen Wen, Xin Qi","doi":"10.1016/j.ygcen.2025.114799","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ygcen.2025.114799","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1), a multifunctional secreted polypeptide cytokine, has been reported to play crucial roles in pregnancy process of mammals, including immune tolerance and embryonic development. However, less is known in Pisces. Aimed to figure out the molecular mechanism underlying TGF-β1 functions, black rockfish (<em>Sebastes schlegelii</em>), an ovoviviparity teleost, which process the sperm storage and gestation periods, was employed as the research model. In the present study, we found that <em>tgfb1</em> among four <em>tgfb</em> isoforms was highly expressed and localized in ovary. The recombinant TGF-β1 (rTGF-β1) was mainly involved in immune response, signal transduction, angiogenesis and cell death by analyzing transcriptome of ovarian cells. The current results reveal the pivotal role of TGF-β1 in black rockfish ovary and provide novel insights into cytokines in the pregnancy of ovoviviparity teleost.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12582,"journal":{"name":"General and comparative endocrinology","volume":"372 ","pages":"Article 114799"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-08-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144830268","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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