Expression of an Androgenic-Gland-Specific Insulin-Like Peptide during the Course of Prawn Sexual and Morphotypic Differentiation. (23rd March 2011)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ventura, Tomer; Manor, Rivka; Aflalo, Eliahu D.; Weil, Simy; Khalaila, Isam; Rosen, Ohad; Sagi, Amir
• Other Names: Gunton J. E. Academic Editor.; Rey R. Academic Editor.; Ueshiba H. Academic Editor.
• Is Part Of: ISRN endocrinology. Volume 2011(2011)
• Publication Date: 2011-03-23
• Subjects: Endocrinology -- Periodicals; Endocrine System Diseases; Endocrinology; Endocrinology; Electronic journals; Periodical; Fulltext; Internet Resources; Periodicals; Periodicals; 616.4
• DOI: 10.5402/2011/476283
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2090-4630

Abstract

Abstract : The crustacean male-specific androgenic gland (AG) regulates sexual differentiation. In the prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii, silencing an AG-specific insulin-like encoding transcript ( Mr-IAG ) inhibited the development of male sexual characters, suggesting that Mr-IAG is a key androgenic hormone. We used recombinant pro-Mr-IAG peptide to generate antibodies that recognized the peptide in AG cells and extracts, as verified by mass spectrometry. We revealed the temporal expression pattern of Mr-IAG and studied its relevance to the timetable of sex differentiation processes in juveniles and after puberty. Mr-IAG was expressed from as early as 20 days after metamorphosis, prior to the appearance of external male sexual characters. Mr-IAG expression was lower in the less reproductively active orange-clawed males than in both the dominant blue-clawed males and the actively sneak mating small males. These results suggest a role for Mr-IAG both in the timing of male sexual differentiation and in regulating reproductive strategies.