Establishment and characterisation of single cell-derived embryonic stem cell lines from the gilthead seabream, Sparus aurata.

An important bottleneck in fish aquaculture research is the supply and maintenance of embryos, larvae, juvenile and adult specimens. In this context, cell lines represent alternative experimental models for in vitro studies that complement in vivo assays. This allows us to perform easier experimental design and sampling and avoid the sacrifice of animals.

Ontogenetic expression rhythms of visual opsins in senegalese sole are modulated by photoperiod and light spectrum.

In the fish retina, rods and cones are responsible for nocturnal vision and colour perception, respectively, and exhibit a repertoire of light-sensitive opsin photopigments that permits the adaptation to different photic environment. The metamorphosis of Senegalese sole determines a migration from pelagic to benthic environments, which is accompanied by essential changes in light intensity and spectrum. In this paper, we analysed the daily expression rhythms of rod opsin and five cone opsins during sole ontogeny in animals maintained under light-dark cycles of white (LDW), blue (LDB), red (LDR) and continuous white (LL) lights.

Characterization of seven cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcripts (CARTs) differentially expressed in the brain and peripheral tissues of Solea senegalensis (Kaup).

CART (cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript) is a peptide with neurotransmitter and neuroendocrine functions with several key roles, both centrally and peripherally. In mammals there is a single gene that produces two alternatively spliced variants in rat and a single transcript in human but in teleosts multiple genes have been found. In the present study we report the existence of seven transcripts in Senegalese sole and characterize their sequences and phylogenetic relationships, as well as their expression patterns in the brain and peripheral tissues, and in response to feeding.

Differential effects of transient constant light-dark conditions on daily rhythms of Period and Clock transcripts during Senegalese sole metamorphosis.

Studies on the developmental onset of the teleost circadian clock have been carried out in zebrafish and, recently, in rainbow trout and Senegalese sole, where rhythms of clock gene expression entrained by light-dark (LD) cycles have been reported from the first days post fertilization. However, investigations of molecular clock rhythms during crucial developmental phases such as metamorphosis are absent in vertebrates. In this study, we documented the daily expression profile of Per1, Per2, Per3, and Clock during Senegalese sole pre-, early-, middle-, and post-metamorphic stages under LD 14:10 cycles (LD group), as well as under transient exposure to constant light (LL-LD group) or constant dark (DD-LD group) conditions.

The circadian clock machinery during early development of Senegalese sole (Solea senegalensis): effects of constant light and dark conditions.

Circadian rhythms are established very early during vertebrate development. In fish, environmental cues can influence the initiation and synchronization of different rhythmic processes. Previous studies in zebrafish and rainbow trout have shown that circadian oscillation of clock genes represents one of the earliest detectable rhythms in the developing embryo, suggesting their significance in regulating the coordination of developmental processes.