Endocrine System Cross-Talk in Fish

内分泌系统的腺体/组织产生激素，这些激素是许多大规模生物过程的信号分子和关键调节剂（例如，性腺产生的性类固醇调节性发育、生殖和行为;甲状腺产生的甲状腺激素调节新陈代谢、生长和发育;肾上腺/肾间细胞中产生的皮质类固醇调节应激反应和蛋白质、脂质和碳水化合物的代谢）。内分泌轴相互作用或串扰（例如调节激素活性、合成、分泌、降解、转运或受体活性）有许多潜在靶点，可能有助于这些关键生物过程的协调和调节。事实上，有越来越多的证据表明，一个内分泌轴的激素影响其他内分泌轴（即串扰）在多个脊椎动物类群。然而，在文献中，种内和种间的相互矛盾的结果是普遍的，因此进一步的研究，以确定在脊椎动物内分泌轴之间的相互作用的幅度和机制是必要的。 拟议的研究计划的长期目标是表征三个主要的脊椎动物神经内分泌轴，即鱼类的生殖，甲状腺和应激轴之间的相互作用或串扰。这些研究将潜在地发现内源性脊椎动物激素的扩展作用，并将获得关键数据，以更好地了解生殖，甲状腺和应激内分泌轴之间的串扰程度。短期目标是：1）表征在发育期间在改变的甲状腺和性类固醇激素状态下体内的多种甲状腺、生殖和应激内分泌轴分子和生物体水平的变化;和2）确定性腺和肾间内分泌腺体/组织中的激素合成是否是内分泌轴串扰的靶。为了实现这些短期目标，将采用虹鳟鱼（一种鲑鱼）进行体外和体内研究。 该研究计划将显着推进内分泌学领域。这项新的工作将通过提供对内分泌轴之间复杂的串扰的见解，对硬骨鱼内分泌系统有更深入的了解。该计划的整体方法和途径还通过推进我们对导致整个生物体水平结果的分子和细胞事件之间联系的认识，解决了与许多生物学科相关的知识差距。最后，鉴于内分泌系统在脊椎动物类群中的高度保守性，发现调节和整合内分泌系统各个方面的新信号传导途径、分子和过程的意义不仅适用于非哺乳动物脊椎动物，而且也适用于哺乳动物脊椎动物。

Glands/tissues of the endocrine system produce hormones that are signaling molecules and key regulators of many large-scale biological process (e.g. sex steroids produced in the gonads regulate sexual development, reproduction and behavior; thyroid hormones [THs] produced in the thyroid gland regulate metabolism, growth and development; and, corticosteroids produced in the adrenal/interrenal cells regulate the stress response and metabolism of proteins, lipids and carbohydrates). There are many potential targets for endocrine axes interactions or cross-talk (e.g. modulation of hormone activity, synthesis, secretion, degradation, transport or receptor activity) that may contribute to the coordination and regulation of these critical biological processes. Indeed there is mounting evidence that hormones of one endocrine axis influence other endocrine axes (i.e. cross-talk) in multiple vertebrate taxa. However, conflicting results within and between species are prevalent in the literature, thus further research to determine the magnitude and mechanism(s) underlying the interactions between endocrine axes in vertebrates is warranted. The long-term objective of the proposed research program is to characterize the interactions or cross-talk between the three major vertebrate neuroendocrine axes, namely, the reproductive, thyroid and stress axes in fish. These studies will potentially discover expanded roles for endogenous vertebrate hormones, and will derive critical data to better understand the extent of cross-talk between the reproductive, thyroid and stress endocrine axes. The short-term objectives are: 1) characterize a variety of thyroid, reproductive and stress endocrine axes molecular and organismal level changes in vivo under altered thyroid and sex steroid hormone status during development; and, 2) determine whether hormone synthesis in the gonad and interrenal endocrine glands/tissues are targets for endocrine axes cross-talk. To accomplish these short-term goals, in vitro and in vivo studies using rainbow trout, a model salmonid, will be employed. This research program will significantly advance the field of endocrinology. This novel work will develop a deeper understanding of the teleost endocrine system by providing insights into the complicated cross-talk between endocrine axes. The overall methods and approach of this program also addresses a knowledge gap relevant to many biological disciplines by advancing our knowledge of the link between molecular and cellular events that lead to whole organism level outcomes. Lastly, in light of the high conservation of the endocrine system across vertebrate taxa the implications of discovering novel signaling pathways, molecules and processes that modulate and integrate various aspects of the endocrine system may not only apply to non-mammalian vertebrates but mammalian vertebrates as well.