Gene expression involved in the sexual development of Best Beluga hybrid sturgeons

• Published in: Journal of fish biology Vol. 93; no. 5; pp. 1021 - 1026
• Main Authors: Burcea, Alexandru, Popa, Gina‐Oana, Florescu (Gune), Iulia E., Gharbia, Sami, Gaina, Gisela, Dudu, Andreea, Maereanu, Marilena, Hermenean, Anca, Georgescu, Sergiu E., Costache, Marieta
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.11.2018; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Animals; Developmental stages; Female; Females; Fish Proteins - genetics; Fish Proteins - metabolism; Fishes - genetics; Fishes - growth & development; Gene Expression; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; Genes; gonad development; Gonads; Gonads - growth & development; Gonads - metabolism; histology; Male; Males; q‐RT‐PCR; Sex Differentiation - genetics; Sexual Development - genetics; Sox9 protein; Spermatogenesis; Spermatogenesis - genetics; Steroid 17-alpha-Hydroxylase - genetics; Steroid 17-alpha-Hydroxylase - metabolism; sturgeons; gonad development; sturgeons; histology; q-RT-PCR
• ISSN: 0022-1112; 1095-8649
• DOI: 10.1111/jfb.13815

The scope of this study is to investigate the expression of dmrt1, foxl2, ar, star and sox9 genes in the context of the gonad development stage of 21 month‐old Best Beluga individuals. No significant difference was observed between males and females but the cyp17a1 gene showed higher expression in male than in female gonads. The results suggest that during sampling the females were in perinucleolar stage and the males in early spermatogenesis stage which led to specific patterns of expression for the investigated genes.