AUTHOR=Jin Shubo , Fu Hongtuo , Jiang Sufei , Xiong Yiwei , Qiao Hui , Zhang Wenyi , Gong Yongsheng , Wu Yan 

TITLE=RNA Interference Analysis Reveals the Positive Regulatory Role of Ferritin in Testis Development in the Oriental River Prawn, Macrobrachium nipponense

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Physiology

VOLUME=Volume 13 - 2022

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/physiology/articles/10.3389/fphys.2022.805861

DOI=10.3389/fphys.2022.805861

ISSN=1664-042X

ABSTRACT=<p>Ferritin plays an essential role in organismic and cellular iron homeostasis in <italic>Macrobrachium nipponense</italic>. In this study, we aimed to investigate the role of ferritin in the sexual development of male <italic>M</italic>. <italic>nipponense</italic>. According to the qPCR analysis of different tissues and developmental stages, ferritin exhibited high expression levels in the testis and androgenic gland, from post-larval developmental stage 5 (PL5) to PL15, indicating that it may be involved in gonad differentiation and development, especially in male sexual development. <italic>In situ</italic> hybridization and qPCR analysis in various reproductive cycles of the testis indicated that ferritin may play an essential role in spermatogonia development in <italic>M</italic>. <italic>nipponense</italic>. RNAi analysis revealed that ferritin positively affected mRNA expression of the insulin-like androgenic gland (<italic>Mn-IAG</italic>) and the secretion of testosterone, and thus positively affected testis development in <italic>M. nipponense</italic>. This study highlighted the functions of ferritin in the sexual development of male <italic>M. nipponense</italic> and provided important information for the establishment of a technique to regulate the process of testis development in <italic>M. nipponense</italic>.</p>