FSHβ links photoperiodic signalling to seasonal reproduction in Japanese quail

Majumdar, G. , Liddle, T. A., Stewart, C., Marshall, C. J. , Bain, M. and Stevenson, T. J. (2023) FSHβ links photoperiodic signalling to seasonal reproduction in Japanese quail. eLife, 12, RP87751. (doi: 10.7554/eLife.87751) (PMID:38150309) (PMCID:PMC10752586)

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Abstract

Endogenous programs in avian reproductive seasonal life history transitions have been known for over 30 years. Attempts to identify the neural and molecular substrates of photoperiodic time measurement have, to date, focussed on blunt changes in light exposure during a restricted period of photoinducibility. Here we report mediobasal hypothalamus (MBH) and pituitary gland specific transcript expression cascades associated with photoperiod-induced seasonal life history transitions. We identified multiple waves of transcript expression that were not synchronized across brain regions. Follicle-stimulating hormone-β (FSHβ) expression increased during the simulated vernal equinox, prior to photoinduced increases in prolactin, thyrotropin-stimulating hormone-β and testicular growth. Analyses showed sustained elevated levels of daily FSHβ expression in the pituitary under conditions of the vernal, compared to autumnal equinox, short (<12L) and long (>12L) photoperiods. FSHβ expression increased in Quail held in non-stimulatory photoperiod, indicative of an endogenous programmed change in transcription. These data identify that FSHβ provides an endogenous program for the photoperiod-dependent external coincidence timing for seasonal transitions in reproduction. FSHβ may prime the pituitary for subsequent stimulation by triiodothyronine-mediated changes in tanycytes during the photoinducible phase. Overall, the data indicate a multi-cellular, multi-neural interval timing mechanism resides in the brain to control seasonal life-history transitions in birds.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Marshall, Dr Christopher and Liddle, Mr Timothy and Stevenson, Professor Tyler and Bain, Professor Maureen and Stewart, Calum and Majumdar, Dr Gaurav
Creator Roles:
Majumdar, G.Data curation, Formal analysis, Validation, Investigation, Visualization, Methodology, Writing – original draft
Liddle, T.Validation, Investigation, Visualization, Methodology
Stewart, C.Data curation, Formal analysis, Validation, Investigation, Visualization, Methodology
Marshall, C.Investigation, Methodology
Bain, M.Supervision, Investigation, Methodology, Writing – review and editing
Stevenson, T.Conceptualization, Data curation, Formal analysis, Supervision, Funding acquisition, Visualization, Writing – original draft, Project administration, Writing – review and editing
Authors: Majumdar, G., Liddle, T. A., Stewart, C., Marshall, C. J., Bain, M., and Stevenson, T. J.
College/School:College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine
Journal Name:eLife
Publisher:eLife Sciences Publications
ISSN:2050-084X
ISSN (Online):2050-084X
Published Online:12 July 2023
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 2023 Majumdar et al.
First Published:First published in eLife 12:RP87751
Publisher Policy:Reproduced under a Creative Commons licence

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Project CodeAward NoProject NamePrincipal InvestigatorFunder's NameFunder RefLead Dept
307679Unravelling the mechanisms of seasonal genomic timingTyler StevensonLeverhulme Trust (LEVERHUL)RL-2019-006Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine