General and comparative endocrinology最新文献

{"title":"Understanding thyroid hormone receptor function in controlling developmental timing and rate in Xenopus: A journey from biochemistry and molecular biology to genetics","authors":"Yun-Bo Shi","doi":"10.1016/j.ygcen.2026.114927","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ygcen.2026.114927","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Anuran metamorphosis has long been used as a model to study thyroid hormone (T3) function during vertebrate development. The cloning of T3 receptor (TR) in the late 1980 s opened a door for using anuran metamorphosis to address some fundamental questions on T3 action in development that were difficult to ask or address in mammalian models. Here, I will review some of the studies ranging from biochemical and molecular investigations to more recent genetic studies that have not only uncovered novel and critical roles of TR in regulating adult organ development and larval tissue resorption/remodeling but also revealed <em>in vivo</em> mechanisms of T3 action. I will focus mainly on the work involving two highly related species, the allotetraploid <em>Xenopus laevis</em> and diploid <em>Xenopus tropicalis</em>, which offer many unique but complementary advantages for <em>in vivo</em> studies of TR function.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12582,"journal":{"name":"General and comparative endocrinology","volume":"380 ","pages":"Article 114927"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147644789","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"What’s in a name? Nomenclature inconsistencies in the corticotropin-releasing factor/hormone system across time and taxa","authors":"Brett M. Culbert ,&nbsp;Nicholas J. Bernier","doi":"10.1016/j.ygcen.2026.114931","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ygcen.2026.114931","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The use of clear, consistent, and specific terminology is important for maximizing the accessibility of scientific knowledge across all academic disciplines, including endocrinology. Yet, the nomenclature used to describe the primary hypophysiotropic neuropeptide responsible for centrally regulating rates of corticosteroid synthesis in vertebrates is inconsistent. Researchers use the terms “corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF)” and “corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH)” at almost equal frequency. While this may seem relatively minor, it highlights broader nomenclature issues that exist within this important neuropeptide family. Indeed, most neuropeptides in this family have had multiple names since their initial discovery and/or are described using different names in different taxa. This creates considerable confusion among students and researchers unfamiliar with this literature. In this review, we provide a historical perspective addressing how and why the nomenclature for these neuropeptides has changed. We also provide context for why some inconsistencies (e.g., CRF vs CRH) will likely continue to persist. Overall, our goal is to increase accessibility and remove barriers which may discourage research on this important neuropeptide family.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12582,"journal":{"name":"General and comparative endocrinology","volume":"380 ","pages":"Article 114931"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147689704","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Purification and charcterization of a neuropeptide (AN peptide) from starfish, Asterias amurensis","authors":"Mi Jeong Jo ,&nbsp;Hye-Jin Go ,&nbsp;Nam Gyu Park ,&nbsp;Gun-Do Kim","doi":"10.1016/j.ygcen.2026.114926","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ygcen.2026.114926","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Although neuropeptides have been extensively studied in marine invertebrates, their diversity and physiological roles remain incompletely understood. Starfish is marine echinoderm with a unique water structure, and lives in seas around the world. In this study, neuropeptide was purified from starfish <em>Asterias amurensis</em> and their properties were analyzed. ANP is a muscle-contracting peptide composed of 18 amino acids purified from starfish tube feet. As a result of full-length cDNA analysis, a total of 5 isotypes were identified through post-translational conversion by dibasic cleavage site (KR) and monobasic cleavage site (K). To investigate the potential physiological role of ANP, tissue-specific expression profiles of ANP transcript were checked and it was found to be highly expressed in the nerve cord. <em>In vitro</em> pharmacological assay confirmed that ANP caused contraction in the apical muscle of <em>A. amurensis</em>. Additionally, the effect of <em>in vivo</em> injection on starfish motility revealed that starfish motility was significantly reduced by ANP. These findings suggest that ANP is a neuropeptide involved in the regulation of muscle contraction and locomotor behavior in starfish, providing new insights into the physiological roles of neuropeptides in echinoderms.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12582,"journal":{"name":"General and comparative endocrinology","volume":"380 ","pages":"Article 114926"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147722564","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Endocrine cells of the gastroenteropancreatic system in Testudines A brief review","authors":"Diego Ferreira de Sousa ,&nbsp;Larissa de Souza Guerra ,&nbsp;Érika Branco ,&nbsp;Paula Gomes Ferreira ,&nbsp;Ana Rita de Lima","doi":"10.1016/j.ygcen.2026.114934","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ygcen.2026.114934","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Enteroendocrine cells (EECs) are present throughout the digestive tract and synthesize various types of hormones that play important roles in gastrointestinal and systemic physiological regulation. These cells have been described in the gastrointestinal tract of several animals and can be classified according to their ability to retain silver salts, their communication with an animal’s lumen and their immunoreactivity to specific molecules. Because the search for these cells has been important for understanding phylogenetic relationships, the objective was to perform a brief review of the existing literature on studies involving EECs in animals of the Testudines Order in order to help understand the digestive physiology of this group. Although there are a large number of species in this order, relatively few have their EECs details known, elucidated and well described. An improved understanding of these cells has enormous potential for functional and molecular studies, as well as having important implications for the conservation and comparative biology of species. We therefore believe that further research involving immunohistochemical assays as well also microscopic analysis (light and electron), is necessary in order to fill existing gaps.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12582,"journal":{"name":"General and comparative endocrinology","volume":"380 ","pages":"Article 114934"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147769010","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Peripheral and central regulation of thyroid status in teleost fish with particular reference to tetraploid juvenile salmonids and parr-smolt transformation","authors":"J.Geoffrey Eales ,&nbsp;Megan Copeland ,&nbsp;Duncan S. MacKenzie","doi":"10.1016/j.ygcen.2026.114929","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ygcen.2026.114929","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Mammalian thyroid status is governed by thyroid secretion of L-thyroxine (T&lt;sub&gt;4&lt;/sub&gt;) as a prohormone that is monodeiodinated in peripheral tissues to bioactive T&lt;sub&gt;3&lt;/sub&gt; (3,5,3′-triiodo-l-thyronine). T&lt;sub&gt;4&lt;/sub&gt; secretion is controlled by the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) axis (central control) whereas T&lt;sub&gt;3&lt;/sub&gt; availability to target cells depends mainly on mechanisms in extrathyroidal tissues such as cellular transport and deiodination (peripheral control). Does this model apply to poikilothermic teleost fish which in contrast to homeothermic mammals may show major surges in plasma T&lt;sub&gt;4&lt;/sub&gt; due to season, feeding, reproductive state or stressors? We have evaluated the contributions of central and peripheral mechanisms to fish thyroid status in light of recent discoveries employing both traditional endocrine approaches and more modern molecular biological techniques, focusing primarily on salmonid species which may undergo a unique thyroid-implicated premigratory parr-smolt transition (PST), and which as tetraploids may express multiple paralogs of regulatory peptides. Most teleost research has focused on peripheral control by the three classic deiodinases (D1, D2 and D3). In salmonids they determine systemic (D1, D2) and tissue-specific (D2) T&lt;sub&gt;3&lt;/sub&gt; generation from T&lt;sub&gt;4&lt;/sub&gt; and the equally critical T&lt;sub&gt;4&lt;/sub&gt; and T&lt;sub&gt;3&lt;/sub&gt; degradations (D1, D3). Tetraploid salmonids may express up to four paralogs for a given deiodinase, providing the potential for species-specific or tissue-specific T&lt;sub&gt;3&lt;/sub&gt; production, curtailment of T&lt;sub&gt;3&lt;/sub&gt; action, or iodine recapture. Critical as they appear, salmonid deiodinases do not function in isolation but in concert with, and dependence on, TH plasma transport, cell-membrane translocation, hepatic conjugation, biliary excretion and gastrointestinal metabolism. Two rainbow trout properties are particularly distinct from the mammalian model: i) T&lt;sub&gt;3&lt;/sub&gt;, but not T&lt;sub&gt;4&lt;/sub&gt;, exchanges rapidly between plasma and erythrocytes permitting plasma T&lt;sub&gt;3&lt;/sub&gt; stability despite marked acute changes in plasma T&lt;sub&gt;4&lt;/sub&gt; and ii) in contrast to ingested T&lt;sub&gt;4&lt;/sub&gt;, which is unavailable from food due to complete gastrointestinal deiodination, ingested T&lt;sub&gt;3&lt;/sub&gt; contributes to the plasma T&lt;sub&gt;3&lt;/sub&gt; pool. Thus the teleost liver, poised at the confluence of exogenous and endogenous T&lt;sub&gt;3&lt;/sub&gt; sources, may play a strategic role through its TH biliary excretion, deiodination and other pathways in regulating systemic T&lt;sub&gt;3&lt;/sub&gt; availability involved in anabolic/catabolic balance and somatic growth. A major consequence of ingested T&lt;sub&gt;4&lt;/sub&gt; degradation is the exclusive delegation of T&lt;sub&gt;4&lt;/sub&gt; availability to the HPT axis. Since mammalian TSH consistently stimulates teleost T&lt;sub&gt;4&lt;/sub&gt; secretion a mammal-like HPT central control model has been assumed. However, teleost HPT function differs from that of homeotherms in both its hypothalam","PeriodicalId":12582,"journal":{"name":"General and comparative endocrinology","volume":"380 ","pages":"Article 114929"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147644033","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Kobayashi Award 2024: Cyclic regulation of the reproductive neuroendocrine system in fish: Using migratory fish as a model","authors":"Hironori Ando","doi":"10.1016/j.ygcen.2026.114916","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ygcen.2026.114916","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Migration involves the coordinated regulation of various physiological functions and behaviors in order to adapt to complex environmental factors in the wild. Migratory fish are valuable models for studying the cyclic regulation of the reproductive neuroendocrine system due to their distinct and tightly timed annual and seasonal reproductive cycles synchronized with changing environmental factors. This review provides an overview of the cyclic regulation of the reproductive neuroendocrine system, focusing on GnRH, kisspeptin and GnIH, in two migratory fish: Pacific salmon, which undertake long-distance spawning migration in the North Pacific Ocean and the grass puffer, which repeatedly migrates to spawn in a coastal area, synchronizing with lunar phases and tidal cycles. Our studies on Pacific salmon revealed that the timeline of sexual maturation is likely common among Pacific salmon, regardless of species or location. During the spawning migration, GnRH3 plays a central role in gonadal maturation and migratory behavior in conjunction with IGF-I and E2. Its action on GTH secretion varies significantly depending on the stage of sexual maturation and the season. In the grass puffer, two different biological clocks, a circatidal clock and a circadian clock, may produce semilunar oscillations, and melatonin may play a role in synchronizing these clocks and the reproductive neuroendocrine system with the lunar phase. Our studies of these two migratory fish species provide valuable insights into how wild animals regulate their reproductive functions in response to periodic changes in diverse environments.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12582,"journal":{"name":"General and comparative endocrinology","volume":"379 ","pages":"Article 114916"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147511315","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Endocrine and immune pathways under pressure: teleost responses to a changing environment","authors":"Elisabeth Eppler ,&nbsp;Alessandro Bilella ,&nbsp;Karl Link ,&nbsp;Helena D’Cotta ,&nbsp;Jean-François Baroiller","doi":"10.1016/j.ygcen.2026.114903","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ygcen.2026.114903","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This minireview talks about how environmental perturbations are affecting fish development and reproductive physiology. It highlights interactions between hormones, growth factors with particular emphasis on the growth hormone (GH)-insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-axis, and selected cytokines involved in the complex orchestration of reproduction, growth, metabolism and health in teleost fish. Focus is placed on challenges posed by changing water temperature and salinities on fish reproduction and growth, and how these factors influence the GH-IGF-system and immune genes during environmental adaptation. Another focus is placed on chemical pollutants including endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) and on mechanistic links with the GH/IGF-immune axis. Finally, we highlight some synergistic effects of EDCs with physical and natural stressors, including pathogens and recent attempts to optimise fish health by dietary additives. This minireview concludes with a discussion of the One Health concept.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12582,"journal":{"name":"General and comparative endocrinology","volume":"379 ","pages":"Article 114903"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147369165","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Characterization of serotonin receptors Aj5-HTR2 and Aj5-HTR7 reveals potential roles in circadian regulation of Apostichopus japonicus","authors":"Yibo Wang,&nbsp;Yuting Liu,&nbsp;Zhiqing Ye,&nbsp;Lifei Ge,&nbsp;Guanyu Han,&nbsp;Jingjing Jiang,&nbsp;Yuqian Chen,&nbsp;Jixiu Wang,&nbsp;Jieyang Weng,&nbsp;Jingwen Yang,&nbsp;Tianming Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.ygcen.2026.114913","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ygcen.2026.114913","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) is an evolutionarily conserved neurotransmitter that mediates neuroendocrine signaling through 5-hydroxytryptamine receptors (5-HTRs). In this study, two 5-HT receptor subtypes, <em>Aj</em>5-HTR₂ and <em>Aj</em>5-HTR₇, were cloned and functionally characterized from the sea cucumber <em>Apostichopus japonicus</em>. Functional assays demonstrated that both receptors are signaling-competent molecules, exhibiting rapid receptor internalization upon 5-HT stimulation, along with dose-dependent increases in intracellular Ca²⁺ or cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) levels and ERK1/2 phosphorylation. Quantitative real-time PCR showed that <em>Aj5-HTR₂</em> was highly expressed in the nerve ring and tentacles, whereas <em>Aj5-HTR₇</em> was highly expressed in the Polian vesicle and muscle. Moreover, both receptors exhibited distinct day-night expression rhythms, suggesting subtype-specific involvement in circadian neuroendocrine regulation. In summary, this work expands the repertoire of 5-HTRs in sea cucumbers and provides new insights into their potential roles in circadian neuroendocrine regulation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12582,"journal":{"name":"General and comparative endocrinology","volume":"379 ","pages":"Article 114913"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147442991","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Establishment of an ELISA system to measure pituitary hormones in teleosts","authors":"Xiangtong Zeng ,&nbsp;Yu Ouyang ,&nbsp;Xuetao Shi ,&nbsp;Changqing Han ,&nbsp;Liang Ke ,&nbsp;Yinai Gao ,&nbsp;Xiangjiang Liu ,&nbsp;Jing Yang ,&nbsp;Kai Yang ,&nbsp;Guangfu Hu","doi":"10.1016/j.ygcen.2026.114914","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ygcen.2026.114914","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>We developed and validated a fluorescence-based competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the parallel quantification of four key pituitary hormones—growth hormone (GH), prolactin (PRL), somatolactin alpha (SLα), and somatolactin beta (SLβ)—in grass carp (<em>Ctenopharyngodon idella</em>). The assay utilizes recombinant grass carp hormones as standards and corresponding rabbit polyclonal antibodies, with biotin–avidin–HRP amplification and HPPA-based fluorescence detection. Standard curves demonstrated high linearity and half-maximal inhibitory concentrations (ID₅₀) ranging from 8.004 to 18.63 ng/mL. We successfully applied this ELISA to quantify hormone levels in plasma and culture medium from primary pituitary cell culture after stimulation with GHRH, SST, cortisol, and CRH, confirming its ability to detect physiologically relevant changes. This reliable, sensitive, and cost-effective ELISA provides a valuable tool for monitoring endocrine status in grass carp, with potential applications in growth performance assessment, reproductive management, and stress response studies in aquaculture. The method may also be adaptable to other cyprinid species due to high hormone sequence conservation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12582,"journal":{"name":"General and comparative endocrinology","volume":"379 ","pages":"Article 114914"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147462913","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Hair progesterone reflects past reproductive activity in the invasive Pallas’s squirrel Callosciurus erythraeus","authors":"Tatsuki Shimamoto ,&nbsp;Kotona Furusho","doi":"10.1016/j.ygcen.2026.114915","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ygcen.2026.114915","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Integrated approaches to physiology and ecology offer powerful tools to assess individual- and population-level health. Although hair glucocorticoid analysis is widely used as a physiological indicator, hair progesterone has recently attracted attention as a potential measure of reproductive health that may integrate information on past reproductive activity. Here, we examined the assay validation and biological utility of hair progesterone analysis as an indicator of long-term reproductive activity in Pallas’s squirrel <em>Callosciurus erythraeus.</em> A hair progesterone enzyme immunoassay was validated and used to compare hair progesterone concentrations (HPC) between sexes and age classes. The effects of current and past reproductive activity (pregnancy and number of placental scars), body condition, age, and season (hair non-growth vs. growth season) on adult female HPC were investigated. The analytical assay validation was successful. Adult females had significantly higher HPC than juvenile males, adult males, and juvenile females. Although there was no effect of current reproductive activity, past reproductive activity (as indexed by the number of placental scars) significantly influenced adult female HPC, such that female Pallas’s squirrels with more placental scars had higher HPC. There was also a significant positive impact of season on HPC, and females with better body condition tended to have higher HPC. Hair progesterone is therefore an integrative physiological indicator of past reproductive activity in Pallas’s squirrels, with potential applications in the prediction of population dynamics to inform the management of this invasive squirrel.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12582,"journal":{"name":"General and comparative endocrinology","volume":"379 ","pages":"Article 114915"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147503627","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}