Sex-specific expression, synthesis and localization of aromatase regulators in one-year-old Atlantic salmon ovaries and testes

Transcripts for dax1, foxl2, mis and sf1 are co-expressed in the somatic companion cells of teleost germ cells. These regulatory factors function, in part, to modulate the transcription of aromatase, particularly cyp19a, the terminal enzyme of estrogen biosynthesis. At least two separate aromatase loci exist in teleost fish that encode distinct isoforms. The activity of two forms, cyp19a and cyp19b1, is predominantly associated with the ovary and the brain, respectively. We isolated sequences that compose the proximal promoters of cyp19a, cyp19b1 and foxl2a, to identify potential transcription factor binding motifs to define sex-specific regulatory profiles for each gene. We also provide evidence for the translation and immunological localization of DAX-1, FOXL2 and MIS to the endoplasmic reticulum and accumulation within secretory vesicles of the salmon oocyte. We found no evidence for the expression of CYP19A or CYP19B1 in the oocyte at the one-year-old stage. However, synthesis of both aromatases was localized to testicular germ and soma cells at this early stage of development. Production of these regulatory factors in the germ cells may serve to modulate the transcription and activity of endogenous aromatase and/or contribute to the differentiation of the neighbouring companion cells through secretory signaling.