A1 Journal article (refereed)
Altricial Bird Early-Stage Embryos Express the Molecular “Machinery” to Respond to and Modulate Maternal Thyroid Hormone Cues (2022)

Ruuskanen, S., Hukkanen, M., Garcin, N., Cossin-Sevrin, N., Hsu, B.-Y., & Stier, A. (2022). Altricial Bird Early-Stage Embryos Express the Molecular “Machinery” to Respond to and Modulate Maternal Thyroid Hormone Cues. Physiological and Biochemical Zoology, 95(6), 544-550. https://doi.org/10.1086/721556

JYU authors or editors

Publication details

All authors or editors: Ruuskanen, Suvi; Hukkanen, Mikaela; Garcin, Natacha; Cossin-Sevrin, Nina; Hsu, Bin-Yan; Stier, Antoine

Journal or series: Physiological and Biochemical Zoology

ISSN: 1522-2152

eISSN: 1537-5293

Publication year: 2022

Publication date: 01/11/2022

Volume: 95

Issue number: 6

Pages range: 544-550

Publisher: University of Chicago Press

Publication country: United States

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1086/721556

Publication open access: Not open

Publication channel open access: 

Web address of parallel published publication (pre-print): https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.12.07.471587v1.abstract

Abstract

Maternal hormones, such as thyroid hormones (THs) transferred to embryos and eggs, are key signaling pathways for mediating maternal effects. To be able to respond to maternal cues, embryos must express the key molecular “machinery” of hormone pathways, such as enzymes and receptors. While altricial birds begin TH production only at or after hatching, experimental evidence suggests that their phenotype can be influenced by maternal THs deposited into the egg. However, it is not understood how or when altricial birds express genes in the TH pathway. For the first time, we measured the expression of key TH-pathway genes in altricial embryos by using two common altricial ecological model species, pied flycatcher (Ficedula hypoleuca) and blue tit (Cyanistes caeruleus). Deiodinase DIO1 gene expression could not be reliably confirmed in either species, but deiodinase enzyme genes DIO2 and DIO3 were expressed in both species. Given that DIO2 converts thyroxine to biologically active triiodothyronine and that DIO3 mostly converts triiodothyronine to inactive forms of THs, our results suggest that embryos may modulate maternal signals. TH receptors (THRA and THRB) and a monocarboxylate membrane transporter gene (SLC16A2) were also expressed, enabling TH responses. Our results suggest that altricial embryos may be able to respond to and potentially modulate maternal signals conveyed by THs in early development.

Keywords: phenotype; gene expression; hormonal factors; embryogenesis; birds; developmental biology

Contributing organizations

Ministry reporting: Yes

Reporting Year: 2022

JUFO rating: 1