Research
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Title : | Understanding sex specific molecular cross-talk between Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal–Gonadal (HHG) and Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal-Interrenal (HHI) axes during urogenital development in Asian Seabass Lates calcarifer |
Area of research : | Life Sciences & Biotechnology |
Focus area : | Endocrinology, Reproductive Biology |
Principal Investigator : | Dr. Indrashis Bhattacharya, Central University Of Kerala, Kasargod, Kerala |
Timeline Start Year : | 2024 |
Timeline End Year : | 2027 |
Contact info : | indrashis[dot]bhattacharya[at]gmail[dot]com |
Equipments : | Real Time PCR |
Details
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Executive Summary : | Fishes are developmentally diverse organisms showing remarkable capacity of sex reversal due to unique germ-line plasticity. Vertebrate sexual development and reproduction is regulated by a three tier system called Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal-Gonadal (HHG) axis. The brain derived neuro-peptides Kisspeptin-Dopamine modulate the controlled release of GnRH to stimulate FSH and LH discharge from pituitary. FSH critically supports germ cell differentiation/maturation, whereas LH induces gonadal steroidogenesis generating oestrogen (E2) and testosterone (T). In contrast, Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal-Interrenal (HHI) axis operates via stress induced secretion of Corticotropin Releasing Hormone (CRH), stimulating the production of Adrenocorticotropic Hormone (ACTH) and subsequent release of cortisol and catecholamines from kidney. Stress has adverse impacts on metabolism, immunity, behavior and reproduction. However, despite such robust physiological associations, the mode of integration and molecular cross-talks between these two axes are poorly understood in fishes. Asian seabass Lates calcarifer is a marine fish globally popular for food source. Due to increasing market demand, L. calcarifer is routinely being cultured in brackish water in coastal parts of India including Kerala. However, large scale production remains unachievable due to inadequate fertility rate for over-crowding. High stock density practiced in aqua-firms generates hypoxia induced stress response in fishes. This study will attempt to explore and establish the molecular association/interaction between HHG-HHI axes in L. calcarifer from embryonic development of urogenital system to annual maturational cycles of adult gonads. The expression profiles of the key components of the HHG-HHI axes will be evaluated at the molecular level during multiple developmental/ maturational stages. Finally sex biased differential transcriptomic analyses will be compared in adult brains and gonads from normal and induced hypoxic fishes. Collectively, this research will generate a holistic resource databank leading to the identification of the putative candidates that can be manipulated by external therapeutics/compounds or targeted gene editing techniques for overcoming such stress induced health-abnormalities or fertility complications/ failure. Overall, this proposal promises the fundamental understanding of the molecular network regulating stress & reproductive physiology in fishes with direct implication towards commercial productivity. |
Total Budget (INR): | 54,15,631 |
Organizations involved
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Implementing Agency : | Central University Of Kerala, Kasargod, Kerala |
Funding Agency : | Anusandhan National Research Foundation/ Science and Engineering Research Board |
Source : | Anusandhan National Research Foundation/Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB), DST 2023-24 |