Endocrine Control of Fish Reproduction

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Reproduction is a complex process that requires precise control by various signaling molecules, such as hormones and growth factors. A key event in female reproduction is the growth of oocytes (increase in size) and their maturation into fertilizable eggs. The overall goal of my NSERC-funded research program is to determine how hormones produced from the pituitary gland work with hormones and growth factors produced within the ovary to regulate oocyte development. We showed that several members of the transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) family regulate oocyte maturation in the zebrafish ovary. More recently, we described key cellular pathways that mediate the effects of these growth factors in the ovary. In addition, we have identified additional members of the TGF-beta family, Nodal-related 1 (Ndr1) and Ndr2, and a group of small RNAs, named microRNAs, as potential regulators of oocyte growth and maturation. In the next five years, we will continue to use zebrafish as a model to study how oocyte growth and maturation are regulated by integrative functioning of hormones, growth factors and microRNAs.