Lipoprotein Biology During Induced Oogenesis in the Shortfinned Eel, <i>Anguilla australis</i>—Vascular Transport

The ecological, cultural and economic importance of freshwater eels, coupled with declining wild populations, drives the need for artificial propagation of these fish. Despite the closure of the lifecycle in captivity over a decade ago, numerous bottlenecks still prevent production at a commercially...

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Main Authors: Erin L. Damsteegt, Benedetta Mercuriali, Georgia Thomson-Laing, Joanna M. Ward, P. Mark Lokman
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-12-01
Series:Fishes
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2410-3888/10/1/1
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author Erin L. Damsteegt
Benedetta Mercuriali
Georgia Thomson-Laing
Joanna M. Ward
P. Mark Lokman
author_facet Erin L. Damsteegt
Benedetta Mercuriali
Georgia Thomson-Laing
Joanna M. Ward
P. Mark Lokman
author_sort Erin L. Damsteegt
collection DOAJ
description The ecological, cultural and economic importance of freshwater eels, coupled with declining wild populations, drives the need for artificial propagation of these fish. Despite the closure of the lifecycle in captivity over a decade ago, numerous bottlenecks still prevent production at a commercially viable scale. Focusing on the key event of nutrient accumulation, we employed hypophysation over a 10-week period with biweekly sampling of female New Zealand shortfinned eels (<i>Anguilla australis</i>). Slotblots, colorimetric lipid/cholesterol assays, fast protein liquid chromatography and radioimmunoassay were used to assess aspects of blood chemistry. The lack of any trend in triglyceride and apolipoprotein B levels in plasma over time, combined with a significant reduction in cholesterol concentrations and a 10-fold increase in vitellogenin levels, confirmed a shift from low-density lipoprotein dominance—usually associated with lipid uptake and early oogenesis—to an abundance of high-density lipoproteins linked to vitellogenesis. The ongoing presence of 11-ketotestosterone in the circulation and the increase in 17β-estradiol levels reinforced the importance of steroids in mediating the gonadotropic signal associated with hypophysation. We conclude that the accumulation of both vitellogenin and apolipoprotein-B-associated lipids is essential for nutrient accumulation in eel oocytes during artificial induction of maturation.
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spelling doaj-art-8c3497ea6030436aa827126773999cf32025-01-24T13:32:23ZengMDPI AGFishes2410-38882024-12-01101110.3390/fishes10010001Lipoprotein Biology During Induced Oogenesis in the Shortfinned Eel, <i>Anguilla australis</i>—Vascular TransportErin L. Damsteegt0Benedetta Mercuriali1Georgia Thomson-Laing2Joanna M. Ward3P. Mark Lokman4Department of Zoology, University of Otago, 340 Great King Street, Dunedin 9016, New ZealandDepartment of Zoology, University of Otago, 340 Great King Street, Dunedin 9016, New ZealandDepartment of Zoology, University of Otago, 340 Great King Street, Dunedin 9016, New ZealandDepartment of Zoology, University of Otago, 340 Great King Street, Dunedin 9016, New ZealandDepartment of Zoology, University of Otago, 340 Great King Street, Dunedin 9016, New ZealandThe ecological, cultural and economic importance of freshwater eels, coupled with declining wild populations, drives the need for artificial propagation of these fish. Despite the closure of the lifecycle in captivity over a decade ago, numerous bottlenecks still prevent production at a commercially viable scale. Focusing on the key event of nutrient accumulation, we employed hypophysation over a 10-week period with biweekly sampling of female New Zealand shortfinned eels (<i>Anguilla australis</i>). Slotblots, colorimetric lipid/cholesterol assays, fast protein liquid chromatography and radioimmunoassay were used to assess aspects of blood chemistry. The lack of any trend in triglyceride and apolipoprotein B levels in plasma over time, combined with a significant reduction in cholesterol concentrations and a 10-fold increase in vitellogenin levels, confirmed a shift from low-density lipoprotein dominance—usually associated with lipid uptake and early oogenesis—to an abundance of high-density lipoproteins linked to vitellogenesis. The ongoing presence of 11-ketotestosterone in the circulation and the increase in 17β-estradiol levels reinforced the importance of steroids in mediating the gonadotropic signal associated with hypophysation. We conclude that the accumulation of both vitellogenin and apolipoprotein-B-associated lipids is essential for nutrient accumulation in eel oocytes during artificial induction of maturation.https://www.mdpi.com/2410-3888/10/1/111-ketotestosteroneartificial maturation<i>Anguilla</i>estradiolhypophysationvitellogenesis
spellingShingle Erin L. Damsteegt
Benedetta Mercuriali
Georgia Thomson-Laing
Joanna M. Ward
P. Mark Lokman
Lipoprotein Biology During Induced Oogenesis in the Shortfinned Eel, <i>Anguilla australis</i>—Vascular Transport
Fishes
11-ketotestosterone
artificial maturation
<i>Anguilla</i>
estradiol
hypophysation
vitellogenesis
title Lipoprotein Biology During Induced Oogenesis in the Shortfinned Eel, <i>Anguilla australis</i>—Vascular Transport
title_full Lipoprotein Biology During Induced Oogenesis in the Shortfinned Eel, <i>Anguilla australis</i>—Vascular Transport
title_fullStr Lipoprotein Biology During Induced Oogenesis in the Shortfinned Eel, <i>Anguilla australis</i>—Vascular Transport
title_full_unstemmed Lipoprotein Biology During Induced Oogenesis in the Shortfinned Eel, <i>Anguilla australis</i>—Vascular Transport
title_short Lipoprotein Biology During Induced Oogenesis in the Shortfinned Eel, <i>Anguilla australis</i>—Vascular Transport
title_sort lipoprotein biology during induced oogenesis in the shortfinned eel i anguilla australis i vascular transport
topic 11-ketotestosterone
artificial maturation
<i>Anguilla</i>
estradiol
hypophysation
vitellogenesis
url https://www.mdpi.com/2410-3888/10/1/1
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