Neuroendocrine regulation of somatic growth in fishes

Growth is a polygenic trait that is under the influence of multiple physiological pathways regulating energy metabolism and muscle growth.Among the possible growth-regulating pathways in vertebrates,components of the somatotropic axis are thought to have the greatest influence.There is growing body of literature focusing on the somatotropic axis and its role regulating growth in fish.This includes research into growth hormone,upstream hypothalamic hormones,insulin-like growth factors,and downstream signaling molecules.Many of these signals have both somatic effects stimulating the growth of tissues and metabolic effects that play a role in nutrient metabolism.Signals of other endocrine axes exhibit profound effects on the function of the somatotropic axis in vivo.In this review we highlight recent advances in our understanding of the teleost fish endocrine somatotropic axis,including emerging research using genetic modified models.These studies have revealed new aspects and challenges associated with regulation of the important steps of somatic growth.

Genomic polymorphisms at the crhr2 locus improve feed conversion efficiency through alleviation of hypothalamus-pituitary-interrenal axis activity in gibel carp(Carassius gibelio)

Improvement in fish feed conversion efficiency(FCE)is beneficial for sustaining global food fish supplies.Here,we show that a set of polymorphisms at locus of the corticotropin releasing hormone receptor 2(crhr2),which is involved in hypothalamuspituitary-interrenal(HPI)axis signaling,is associated with improved FCE in farmed allogynogenetic gibel carp strain CAS Ⅲ compared with that in the wild gibel carp strain Dongting(DT).This set of polymorphisms downregulates the expression levels of crhr2 mRNA in the brain and pituitary tissues in gibel carp strain CAS Ⅲ compared with those in strain DT.Furthermore,compromised HPI axis signaling is observed in gibel carp strain CAS Ⅲ,such as decreased α-melanocyte stimulating hormone protein levels,plasma cortisol content,and stress responses.Moreover,enhanced activation of protein kinase B/mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 signaling observed in the muscle tissue of strain CAS Ⅲ in comparison to that in strain DT indicated elevated anabolic metabolism in strain CAS Ⅲ.Thus,these studies demonstrate that the genetic markers associated with compromised HPI axis signaling,such as crhr2,are potentially useful for genetic selection toward improvement in farmed fish growth and FCE,which would reduce fishmeal consumption and thereby indirectly facilitate sustainable fisheries.