Hamed Paknejad, Tayebeh Enayat Gholampour, Roghayeh Safari,
Volume 9, Issue 1 (6-2019)
Abstract
Cytochrome P450 aromatase (CYP19) is a steroidogenic enzyme responsible for conversion of androgens to estrogens which plays a critical role in developmental sex differentiation and adult reproductive cycles in vertebrates. In zebrafish, two CYP19 genes, including CYP19a and CYP19b were found. In this study the expression of genes encoding hormonal activities i.e., CYP19b and CYP19a were examined in the course of larval development of zebrafish on days 4, 7, 10, 15, 30 and 45 after hatching. The expression of target genes was normalized using reference gene β-actin. The expression levels of genes CYP19a and CYP19b was statistically significant during larval development (P<0.01). The lowest and the highest expression of CYP19a gene were recorded on days 10 and 45 after hatching, respectively. Moreocer, the lowest and the highest expression of CYP19b gene were observed on days 7 and 45 after hatching, respectively. CYP19a gene expression was significantly higher on days 7 and 15 after hatching (P<0.01). The expression of CYP19b gene was significantly higher than β-actin expression on days 4, 10, 30 and 45 after hatching (P<0.01). According to the results of this study, the increased expression of genes CYP19a and CYP19b over time could be due to the development of gonads and sex hormone levels in fish larvae.
