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Published on: April 18, 2021
Prolactin functions as a survival factor during zebrafish embryogenesis.
1Department of Biology, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858, USA.
Summary
Prolactin acts as a crucial survival factor during zebrafish development. Knocking down prolactin significantly increased cell death, particularly in the central nervous system, highlighting its anti-apoptotic role in embryos.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Endocrinology
- Cellular Biology
Background:
- Prolactin is a hormone with diverse functions in adult vertebrates.
- Its role in embryonic development, particularly in cell survival, remains largely unexplored.
- Previous research on prolactin's anti-apoptotic effects focused primarily on mammalian systems.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of prolactin as a survival factor in embryonic development.
- To determine if prolactin exhibits anti-apoptotic activity in developing zebrafish embryos.
Main Methods:
- Prolactin protein was knocked down in zebrafish embryos using prolactin-morpholino antisense (PRL-MO) microinjection.
- Apoptotic cells were quantified using TUNEL assays and DNA damage was assessed via comet assays.
- Expression levels of apoptotic genes, including caspase-8, were analyzed.
Main Results:
- Prolactin knockdown led to a significant increase in apoptotic cells compared to controls.
- Apoptosis was predominantly observed in the central nervous system, specifically the eyes and brain.
- Increased DNA damage and elevated caspase-8 transcript levels were detected in prolactin-knockdown embryos.
Conclusions:
- Prolactin functions as a vital survival factor during zebrafish embryogenesis.
- The hormone plays a critical role in preventing apoptosis within the developing central nervous system.
- These findings provide the first evidence of prolactin's anti-apoptotic role in embryonic development.
