Gene and protein expression for prolactin, growth hormone and somatolactin in Sparus aurata: seasonal variations

Comp Biochem Physiol B Biochem Mol Biol. 2009 May;153(1):130-5. doi: 10.1016/j.cbpb.2009.02.008. Epub 2009 Feb 27.

Abstract

The seasonal variation of PRL, GH and SL gene and protein expression has been analyzed in gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata) pituitaries using Real-Time Q-PCR and Western Blots, respectively. Animals were cultured in earthen ponds under natural photoperiod, temperature and salinity conditions. Samples were taken during winter 2005 (January), spring 2005 (April), summer 2005 (July) and autumn 2005 (October). Beta-actin, used as the housekeeping gene both for Q-RT-PCR and Western analysis, did not present significant differences among seasons. Higher expression was observed during spring and autumn for PRL, summer and winter for GH, and spring for SL. Expression of PRI, GH and SL, presented seasonal variation, suggesting that these hormones could play a role in the molecular signal transduction of environmental factors (especially of photoperiod and temperature) in eurythermal fish.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Blotting, Western
  • Fish Proteins / genetics*
  • Fish Proteins / metabolism
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Glycoproteins / genetics*
  • Glycoproteins / metabolism
  • Growth Hormone / genetics*
  • Growth Hormone / metabolism
  • Male
  • Pituitary Gland / metabolism
  • Pituitary Hormones / genetics*
  • Pituitary Hormones / metabolism
  • Prolactin / genetics*
  • Prolactin / metabolism
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Salinity
  • Sea Bream / genetics*
  • Sea Bream / metabolism
  • Seasons
  • Temperature

Substances

  • Fish Proteins
  • Glycoproteins
  • Pituitary Hormones
  • somatolactin protein, fish
  • Prolactin
  • Growth Hormone