GH Zebrafish Mutant
(a) Analysis by SEC-HPLC.
(b) Analysis by SDS-PAGE.
Description
Product Specs
Product Science Overview
Growth hormone, also known as somatotropin, is a peptide hormone that plays a crucial role in regulating growth, metabolism, and reproduction in vertebrates. In zebrafish, the growth hormone gene (gh1) has been extensively studied to understand its functions and implications in various physiological processes. The creation of growth hormone mutant zebrafish using recombinant DNA technology has provided valuable insights into the roles of growth hormone in development and disease.
Researchers have utilized CRISPR/Cas9 technology to create zebrafish lines with mutations in the growth hormone gene (gh1). This gene editing technique allows for precise modifications in the DNA sequence, leading to the generation of mutant zebrafish with specific alterations in the growth hormone gene. These mutants serve as models to study the effects of growth hormone deficiency and its impact on various physiological processes.
Studies have shown that mutations in the growth hormone gene in zebrafish result in significant physiological changes. For instance, zebrafish with gh1 mutations exhibit dwarfism and increased adiposity . The mutants develop normally up to 14 days post-fertilization, but a high rate of mortality is observed afterward, with only a small number of mutants surviving to adulthood . The body growth of these mutants is significantly retarded in both sexes compared to their wild-type siblings .
Growth hormone mutations also affect reproductive functions in zebrafish. In females, the loss of the growth hormone gene arrests ovarian folliculogenesis at the primary growth stage, leading to reproductive dysfunction . Although folliculogenesis resumes after a delay, the reproductive capacity of the mutants is severely compromised. In males, the onset of spermatogenesis is delayed, and adult mutant males are unable to breed with wild-type females through natural spawning .
The growth hormone mutant zebrafish also exhibit metabolic abnormalities. The mutants show increased accumulation of adipose tissue, with both subcutaneous and visceral fat deposits being significantly larger than those in wild-type zebrafish . This phenotype is similar to the metabolic effects observed in growth hormone-deficient mammals, where growth hormone deficiency leads to obesity and disrupted adipose tissue homeostasis.
