Media type: E-Article Title: Expression of vitellogenin receptor in the ovarian follicles during the reproductive cycle of the spotted ray Torpedo marmorata Risso 1880 Contributor: Del Giudice, Giuseppina; Prisco, Marina; Agnese, Marisa; Valiante, Salvatore; Verderame, Mariailaria; Limatola, Ermelinda; Laforgia, Vincenza; Andreuccetti, Piero imprint: Wiley, 2011 Published in: Journal of Experimental Zoology Part A: Ecological Genetics and Physiology Language: English DOI: 10.1002/jez.716 ISSN: 1932-5223; 1932-5231 Keywords: Genetics ; Molecular Biology ; Animal Science and Zoology ; Physiology ; Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics Origination: Footnote: Description: <jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:p>The aim of this investigation was to identify the encoding sequence of vitellogenin receptor gene (<jats:italic>vtgr</jats:italic>), and its expression during the oogenesis in the spotted ray, <jats:italic>Torpedo marmorata</jats:italic>, in different phases of reproductive cycle. From an ovarian cDNA of vitellogenic female<jats:italic>,</jats:italic> we obtained a fragment of 581 bp, which corresponds to a partial sequence encoding the vitellogenin receptor (VTGR) in <jats:italic>Torpedo</jats:italic> (accession number: gi/193244760). This sequence shows a high identity with the VTGR of other vertebrates, particularly <jats:italic>Leucoraja erinacea</jats:italic> (89% identity) and <jats:italic>Squalus acanthias</jats:italic> (84% identity). We also showed that <jats:italic>vtgr</jats:italic> mRNA expression in the ovary modifies during the oogenesis and throughout the reproductive cycle. Indeed, in immature females, whose ovary contains only previtellogenic follicles, <jats:italic>vtgr</jats:italic> mRNA occurred in the oocyte cortex as well as within intermediate and pyriform cells. In mature females, whose ovary contains pre‐ and vitellogenic follicles, <jats:italic>vtgr</jats:italic> mRNA was detectable not only in the oocyte cortex and in intermediate and pyriform cells but also in small follicle cells present in the follicular epithelium of vitellogenic follicles. In ovulating females, that, as pregnant ones, show pre‐and vitellogenic follicles, <jats:italic>vtgr</jats:italic> mRNA was evident in the oocyte cortex only, whereas in pregnant females, no <jats:italic>vtgr</jats:italic> mRNA was evident. The role of VTGR in the control of <jats:italic>Torpedo</jats:italic> vitellogenesis is discussed. <jats:italic>J. Exp. Zool. 315:585–592, 2011</jats:italic>. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.</jats:p>