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Vitellogenin genes in fish: differential expression on exposure to estradiol

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Abstract

Three types of vitellogenins (Vgs) namely vitellogenin A (VgA), vitellogenin B (VgB) and vitellogenin C (VgC) have been identified in fishes. The existence of VgA and VgB is reported in the Indian freshwater murrel Channa punctatus. Gene-specific primers were designed using available nucleotide sequences in National Centre for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), for amplification of VgA and VgB cDNA. Differential processing of Vgs is evident in many fishes. Adult male murrel expressed both the VgA and VgB genes when estradiol-17β (E2) is injected in vivo and Vg levels in blood quantified by Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) showed a dose-related response in such treatments. Cultured hepatocytes on treatment with E2, however, expressed only VgB as detected by RT-PCR, suggesting different regulatory mechanism for the VgA and VgB genes.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported in part by Research Grants from the Department of Science and Technology, New Delhi and from the University of Delhi, Delhi.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Zoology, University of Delhi, Delhi, 110007, India

    K. V. Rani, R. Phartyal & N. Sehgal

  2. Department of Zoology, Hindu College, University of Delhi, Delhi, 110007, India

    V. S. Rawat

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  1. V. S. Rawat
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  2. K. V. Rani
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  3. R. Phartyal
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  4. N. Sehgal
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Correspondence to N. Sehgal.

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Rawat, V.S., Rani, K.V., Phartyal, R. et al. Vitellogenin genes in fish: differential expression on exposure to estradiol. Fish Physiol Biochem 39, 39–46 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10695-012-9626-0

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