Loss of function of Vasoactive-intestinal peptide alters sex ratio and reduces male reproductive fitness in zebrafish

dc.contributor.authorYu, Yang
dc.contributor.authorTanaka, Sakura
dc.contributor.authorWong, Ten-Tsao
dc.contributor.authorZohar, Yonathan
dc.contributor.authorZmora, Nilli
dc.date.accessioned2024-08-07T14:07:19Z
dc.date.available2024-08-07T14:07:19Z
dc.date.issued2024-07-10
dc.description.abstractVasoactive-intestinal peptide (Vip) is a pleiotropic peptide with a wide range of distribution and functions. Zebrafish possess two isoforms of Vip (a and b), in which Vipa is most homologous to the mammalian form. In female zebrafish, Vipa can stimulate LH secretion from the pituitary but is not essential for female reproduction, as vipa-/- females display normal reproduction. In contrast, we have found that vipa-/- males are severely sub-fertile and sex ratio of offspring is female-biased. By analyzing all aspects of male reproduction with WT males, we show that the testes of vipa-/- are underdeveloped and contain ∼70% less spermatids compared to WT counterparts. The sperm of vipa-/- males displayed reduced potency in terms of fertilization (by ∼80%) and motility span and duration (by ∼50%). In addition, vipa-/- male attraction to WT females was largely non-existent, indicating decreased sexual motivation. We show that vipa mRNA and protein is present in Leydig cells and in developing germ cells in the testis of WT, raising the possibility that endogenous Vipa contributes to testicular function. Absence of Vipa in vipa-/- males resulted in downregulation of three key genes in the androgen synthesis chain in the testis, 3β-hsd, 17β-hsd1 and cyp11c1 (11β-hydrogenase), associated with a pronounced decrease in 11-ketotestosterone production and, in turn, compromised reproductive fitness. Altogether, this study establishes a crucial role for Vipa in the regulation of male reproduction in zebrafish, like in mammals, with the exception that Vipa is also expressed in zebrafish testis.
dc.description.sponsorshipNational Science foundation- Division of Integrative Organismal Systems- NSF-BSF #1947541: Studying the compensatory mechanisms underlying gene loss-of-function in the nervous system.
dc.description.urihttps://academic.oup.com/endo/advance-article/doi/10.1210/endocr/bqae082/7710410
dc.format.extent11 pages
dc.genrejournal articles
dc.genrepostprints
dc.identifierdoi:10.13016/m2alhw-9xkd
dc.identifier.citationYu, Yang, Sakura Tanaka, Ten-Tsao Wong, Yonathan Zohar, and Nilli Zmora. “Loss of Function of Vasoactive-Intestinal Peptide Alters Sex Ratio and Reduces Male Reproductive Fitness in Zebrafish.” Endocrinology, July 10, 2024, bqae082. https://doi.org/10.1210/endocr/bqae082.
dc.identifier.urihttps://doi.org/10.1210/endocr/bqae082
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11603/35185
dc.language.isoen_US
dc.publisherOxford University Press
dc.relation.isAvailableAtThe University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC)
dc.relation.ispartofUMBC Department of Marine Biotechnology
dc.relation.ispartofUMBC Faculty Collection
dc.relation.ispartofUMBC Student Collection
dc.rightsCC BY 4.0 Deed ATTRIBUTION 4.0 INTERNATIONAL
dc.rights.urihttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
dc.titleLoss of function of Vasoactive-intestinal peptide alters sex ratio and reduces male reproductive fitness in zebrafish
dc.typeText
dcterms.creatorhttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-3051-6975
dcterms.creatorhttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-5573-9767
dcterms.creatorhttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-1092-3557
dcterms.creatorhttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-1324-2458

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