Isotocin controls ion regulation through regulating ionocyte progenitor differentiation and proliferation.

ABSTRACT: The present study using zebrafish as a model explores the role of isotocin, a homolog of oxytocin, in controlling ion regulatory mechanisms. Double-deionized water treatment for 24 h significantly stimulated isotocin mRNA expression in zebrafish embryos. Whole-body Cl(-), Ca(2+), and Na(+) contents, mRNA expressions of ion transporters and ionocyte-differentiation related transcription factors, and the number of skin ionocytes decreased in isotocin morphants. In contrast, overexpression of isotocin caused an increase in ionocyte numbers. Isotocin morpholino caused significant suppression of foxi3a mRNA expression, while isotocin cRNA stimulated foxi3a mRNA expressions at the tail-bud stage of zebrafish embryos. The density of P63 (an epidermal stem cell marker)-positive cells was downregul

SUBMITTER: Chou MY 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3142547 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature