Sex-dependent regulation of vertebrate somatic growth and aging by germ cells.
basic_science · Level V
Where this comes from
- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 38865462.
- Also identified by DOI 10.1126/sciadv.adi1621 and PMC identifier 11168456.
- Licence recorded as CC BY.
- The licence permits redistribution, so the abstract is shown in full and the full text is available from the publisher.
Abstract
The function of germ cells in somatic growth and aging has been demonstrated in invertebrate models but remains unclear in vertebrates. We demonstrated sex-dependent somatic regulation by germ cells in the short-lived vertebrate model <i>Nothobranchius furzeri</i>. In females, germ cell removal shortened life span, decreased estrogen, and increased insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) signaling. In contrast, germ cell removal in males improved their health with increased vitamin D signaling. Body size increased in both sexes but was caused by different signaling pathways, i.e., IGF-1 and vitamin D in females and males, respectively. Thus, vertebrate germ cells regulate somatic growth and aging through different pathways of the endocrine system, depending on the sex, which may underlie the sexual difference in reproductive strategies.
Medical subject headings
- Germ Cells
- Aging
- Insulin-Like Growth Factor I