Variations in the gene expression of zona pellucida proteins, zpb and zpc, in female European eel (Anguilla anguilla) during induced sexual maturation

• Published in: General and Comparative Endocrinology
• Main Authors: Mazzeo, Ilaria, Peñaranda, D.S., Gallego Albiach, Victor, Hildahl, Jon, Nourizadeh-Lillabadi, Rasoul, Asturiano Nemesio, Juan Francisco, Pérez Igualada, Luz María, Weltzien, Finn Arne
• Other Authors: Universitat Politècnica de València. Departamento de Ciencia Animal - Departament de Ciència Animal, Universitat Politècnica de València. Instituto de Ciencia y Tecnología Animal - Institut de Ciència i Tecnologia Animal, European Commission, Generalitat Valenciana, Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier 2012
• Subjects: archeo; socio; Nemesio; Anguilla anguilla
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ygcen.2012.06.003; http://hdl.handle.net/10251/64784

S [EN] Vertebrate eggs are surrounded by an extracellular glycoprotein coat termed zona pellucida (ZP). Integrity of ZP is critical for a correct embryo development. Two zona pellucida protein genes (zpb and zpc) from European eel were characterized, specific qPCR assays developed and their expression in immature males and females carried out. An experimental group of silver-stage eel females was maintained at 18 C and hormonally induced to sexual maturation by weekly injections of carp pituitary extract during 12 weeks. Changes in zpb and zpc expression during sexual maturation were studied in liver and ovary by qPCR. In liver, no changes were recorded during hormonal treatment, while in ovary expression of both genes decreased during sexual development. These results are a first step in the characterization of ZP in European eel and in the understanding of the mechanism underlying egg envelope formation. Funded from the European Community's 7th Framework Programme under the Theme 2 "Food, Agriculture and Fisheries, and Biotechnology", Grant agreement no. 245257 (Pro-Eel) and Generalitat Valenciana through the GV/2007/202 project and ACOMP/2011/229. D.S. Penaranda has a postdoc Grant from the Universitat Politecnica de Valencia (CE-01-10). I.M. and V.G. have predoctoral Grants from Generalitat Valenciana and Spanish MICINN, respectively. F.-A. Weltzien received funding from The Norwegian School of Veterinary Science. Mazzeo, I.; Peñaranda, D.; Gallego Albiach, V.; Hildahl, J.; Nourizadeh-Lillabadi, R.; Asturiano Nemesio, JF.; Pérez Igualada, LM. (2012). Variations in the gene expression of zona pellucida proteins, zpb and zpc, in female European eel (Anguilla anguilla) during induced sexual maturation. General and Comparative Endocrinology. 178:338-346. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ygcen.2012.06.003 338 346 178