Vasopressin Promoter Transgenic and Vasopressin Gene-Edited Ascidian, Type A (): Innervation, Gene Expression Profiles, and Phenotypes.

Oxytocin (OT) and vasopressin (VP) superfamily neuropeptides are distributed in not only vertebrates but also diverse invertebrates. However, no VPergic innervation of invertebrates has ever been documented. In the ascidian, Type A (), an OT/VP superfamily peptide was identified, and the vasopressin (CiVP) induces oocyte maturation and ovulation. In the present study, we characterize the innervation and phenotypes of genetically modified : promoter-Venus transgenic and mutants. promoter-Venus transgenic demonstrated that gene was highly expressed in the cerebral ganglion and several nerves. Fluorescence was also detected in the ovary of young promoter-Venus transgenic ascidians, suggesting that the gene is also expressed temporarily in the ovary of young ascidians. Furthermore, a marked decrease of post-vitellogenic (stage III) follicles was observed in the ovary of mutants, whereas pre-vitellogenic (stage I) and vitellogenic (stage II) follicles were increased in the mutant ovary, compared with that of wildtype . Gene expression profiles showed that the expression of various genes, including genes related to ovarian follicle growth, was altered in the ovary of mutants. Altogether, these results indicated that CiVP, mainly as a neuropeptide, plays pivotal roles in diverse biological functions, including growth of early-stage ovarian follicles regulation of the expression of a wide variety of genes. This is the first report describing a gene promoter-transgenic and gene-edited invertebrate and also on its gene expression profiles and phenotypes.