The kiss/kissr systems are dispensable for zebrafish reproduction: Evidence from gene knockout studies

Haipei Tang, Yun Liu, Daji Luo, Satoshi Ogawa, Yike Yin, Shuisheng Li, Yong Zhang, Wei Hu, Ishwar Parhar, Haoran Lin, Xiaochun Liu, Christopher Hon Ki Cheng

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleResearchpeer-review

155 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The kiss1/gpr54 signaling system is considered to be a critical regulator of reproduction in most vertebrates. However, this presumption has not been tested vigorously in nonmammalian vertebrates. Distinct from mammals, multiple kiss1/gpr54 paralogous genes (kiss/kissr) have been identified in nonmammalian vertebrates, raising the possibility of functional redundancy among these genes. In this study, we have systematically generated the zebrafish kiss1-/-, kiss2-/-, and kiss1-/-; kiss2-/- mutant lines as well as the kissr1-/-, kissr2-/-, and kissr1-/-;kissr2-/- mutant lines using transcription activator-like effector nucleases. We have demonstrated that spermatogenesis and folliculogenesis as well as reproductive capability are not impaired in all of these 6 mutant lines. Collectively, our results indicate that kiss/kissr signaling is not absolutely required for zebrafish reproduction, suggesting that the kiss/kissr systems play nonessential roles for reproduction in certain nonmammalian vertebrates. These findings also demonstrated that fish and mammals have evolved different strategies for neuroendocrine control of reproduction.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)589 - 599
Number of pages11
JournalEndocrinology
Volume156
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2015

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