The ovarian bone morphogenetic protein system in Oreochromis mossambicus

Carneiro, João Tiago Estêvão Tomé

http://hdl.handle.net/10400.1/353

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Authors

Carneiro, João Tiago Estêvão Tomé

Advisor(s)

Canario, Adelino V. M.

Deloffre, Laurence A. M.

Abstract(s)

The study of ovarian follicle growth in teleosts provides basic knowledge but it may also find applications in the biomedical sciences, fisheries management, environmental science and aquaculture. The processes regulating ovarian development are still largely unknown, particularly for teleosts. Many of the genes involved and their roles on the various processes associated with reproduction are yet to be found. Rising experimental data support TGF-β superfamily members has key role players in numerous features of follicle development. Here we have studied several TGF-β superfamily members, namely several BMP subfamily ligands and receptors, and the GDF subfamily member - GDF-9, to help understand their roles in the ovary physiology of the teleost Oreochromis mossambicus. The characterization of those ligands and receptors included cloning of their cDNA coding regions, the identification of protein conserved domains and phylogenetic analysis. Several TGF-β members received special attention due to their reported importance and relevance in mammalian ovarian follicle development, namely BMP-2, BMP-4, BMP-6, BMP-7, BMP-15, GDF-9, BMPR-IA, BMPR-IB and BMPR-II. mRNA expression analysis of mature gonads was carried out on these TGF-β members. Because of their crucial participation in ovarian follicle development, BMP-15, GDF-9 and BMPR-IB were further studied by northern blot and in situ hybridization. All BMP family members studied were detected in ovary and testis but, mainly in ovary. BMP-15 and GDF-9 mRNAs were expressed abundantly in ovary compared to other tissues. BMPR-IB, in addition to ovary, was expressed abundantly in brain. These results further reinforce the essential role BMP family members in ovarian physiology.