RESUMO
The growth hormone/insulin-like factor I (GH/IGF-I) somatotropic axis is responsible for somatic growth in vertebrates, and has important functions in the nervous system. Among these, learning and memory functions related to the neural expression of ionotropic glutamate receptors, mainly types AMPA (α-amino-3hydroxy-5methylisoxazole-4propionic) and NMDA (N-methyl-d-aspartate) can be highlighted. Studies on these mechanisms have been almost exclusively conducted on mammal models, with little information available on fish. Consequently, this study aimed at evaluating the effects of the somatotropic axis on learning and memory of a GH-transgenic zebrafish (Danio rerio) model (F0104 strain). Long-term memory (LTM) was tested in an inhibitory avoidance apparatus, and brain expression of igf-I and genes that code for the main subunits of the AMPA and NMDA receptors were evaluated. Results showed a significant increase in LTM for transgenic fish. Transgenic animals also showed a generalized pattern of increase in the expression of AMPA and NMDA genes, as well as a three-fold induction in igf-I expression in the brain. When analyzed together, these results indicate that GH, mediated by IGF-I, has important effects on the brain, with improvement in LTM as a result of increased glutamate receptors. The transgenic strain F0104 was shown to be an interesting model for elucidating the intricate mechanisms related to the effect of the somatotropic axis on learning and memory in vertebrates.
Assuntos
Encéfalo/metabolismo , Cognição/fisiologia , Hormônio do Crescimento/metabolismo , Memória de Longo Prazo/fisiologia , Receptores de AMPA/metabolismo , Receptores de N-Metil-D-Aspartato/metabolismo , Animais , Animais Geneticamente Modificados , Aprendizagem da Esquiva/fisiologia , Expressão Gênica , Proteínas de Fluorescência Verde/genética , Proteínas de Fluorescência Verde/metabolismo , Hormônio do Crescimento/genética , Inibição Psicológica , Desempenho Psicomotor/fisiologia , Somatomedinas/metabolismo , Peixe-Zebra , Proteínas de Peixe-Zebra/metabolismoRESUMO
Homozygote individuals (HO) of the GH-transgenic zebrafish lineage (F0104), despite expressing double the amount of growth hormone (GH) in relation to the hemizygote (HE) individuals, presented smaller growth in relation to the last, and similar to the non-transgenic (NT) group. Through the analysis of the expression of genes of the somatotrophic axis in the livers of HO and NT individuals, it was verified that GHR, JAK2 and STAT5.1 did not present significant differences among the analyzed genotypes (NT and HO). However, in the IGF-I gene expression, an accentuated decrease was observed in group HO (p<0.01), suggesting a resistance effect to excess GH. This resistance could be related to the insufficient amount of energy for supporting the accelerated metabolic demand caused by excess circulating GH. Analysis of the genes involved in the regulation of GH signalization by dephosphorylation (PTP-H1 and PTP-1B) did not show any significant alteration when comparing groups HO and NT. However, the analysis of the SOCS1 and SOCS3 genes showed an induction in homozygotes of 2.5 times (p<0.01) and 4.3 times (p<0.05), respectively, in relation to non-transgenics. The results of the present work demonstrate that, in homozygotes, GH signaling is reduced by the action of the SOCS1 and SOCS3 proteins.