The dopaminergic system, a spinal cord (SC) motor circuit regulator, is administrated by sexual hormones and evolutionary conserved in all vertebrates. Accordingly, we hypothesized that the dopamine receptor (DAR) expression pattern may be dissimilar in female and male zebrafish SC auto repair. We implemented an uncomplicated method to induce spinal cord injury (SCI) on fully reproductive adult zebrafish, in both genders. SCI was induced using a 28-gauge needle at 9th-10th vertebra without skin incision. Thereupon, lesioned SC was harvested for DAR gene expression analysis; zebrafish were tracked routinely for any improvement in swim distance, speed, and their roaming capabilities/preference. Our findings revealed discrepancies between , , , , and expression patterns at 1, 7, and 14 days postinjury (DPI) between female and male zebrafish. The receptors were mostly upregulated at 7 DPI in both genders, whereas and were mostly maximized in females. Surprisingly, was measured greater even in intact SC in males. In addition, female zebrafish were able to swim farther distances more accelerated, in multiple directions, by engaging more caudal muscles compared with males, of course with no statistical significance. Indeed, females were able to generate whole-body rotation and move forward using the muscles downstream to the lesion site, whereas the coordinated movement in males was accomplished by rostral muscles. In conclusion, there are differences in DAR gene expression pattern throughout SC autonomous recovery between adult female and male zebrafish, and also, female locomotion seems to ameliorate more rapidly.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.1089/zeb.2021.0081DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

female male
16
male zebrafish
16
gene expression
12
expression pattern
12
spinal cord
12
auto repair
8
dar gene
8
zebrafish
7
female
6
expression
5

Similar Publications

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!