PUBLICATION

Disruption of thyroid hormone receptor thrab leads to female infertility in zebrafish

Authors
Ai, N., Han, C.R., Zhao, H., Cheng, S.Y., Ge, W.
ID
ZDB-PUB-240326-6
Date
2024
Source
Endocrinology   165(5): (Journal)
Registered Authors
Ai, Nana, Cheng, Sheue-yann, Ge, Wei, Han, Cho Rong
Keywords
Thyroid hormone receptor, estrogen, folliculogenesis, oviduct, zebrafish
MeSH Terms
  • Animals
  • CRISPR-Cas Systems
  • Female
  • Infertility, Female*/genetics
  • Mutation
  • Ovary*/metabolism
  • Reproduction/genetics
  • Thyroid Hormone Receptors alpha/genetics
  • Thyroid Hormone Receptors alpha/metabolism
  • Zebrafish*/genetics
  • Zebrafish Proteins/genetics
  • Zebrafish Proteins/metabolism
PubMed
38527850 Full text @ Endocrinology
Abstract
Thyroid hormones (THs), thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3), are vital for development, growth, and metabolism. Thyroid dysfunction can also cause problems in fertility, suggesting involvement of THs in reproduction. In zebrafish, there exist two forms of TH receptor alpha gene (THRα: thraa and thrab). Disruption of these genes by CRISPR/Cas9 showed no reproductive irregularities in thraa mutant; however, inactivation of thrab gene resulted in female infertility. Although young female mutants (thrabm/m) showed normal ovarian development and folliculogenesis before sexual maturation, they failed to release eggs during oviposition after sexual maturation. This spawning failure was due to oviductal blockage at the genital papilla. The obstruction of the oviduct subsequently caused an accumulation of the eggs in the ovary, resulting in severe ovarian hypertrophy, abdominal distention, and disruption of folliculogenesis. Gene expression analysis showed expression of both TH receptors and estrogen receptors in the genital papilla, suggesting a direct TH action and potential interactions between thyroid and estrogen signaling pathways in controlling genital papilla development and function. In addition to their actions in the reproductive tracts, THs may also have direct effects in the ovary, as suggested by follicle atresia and cessation of folliculogenesis in the heterozygous mutant (thrab+/m), which was normal in all aspects of female reproduction in young and sexually mature fish but exhibited premature ovarian failure in aged females. In summary, this study provides substantial evidence for roles of THs in controlling the development and functions of both reproductive tract and ovary.
Genes / Markers
Figures
Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Antibodies
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping