02197nas a2200205   4500008004100000022002500041245012900066210006900195260001600264490000800280520153300288653002201821653001601843653001501859653001601874653001701890100002201907700002301929856003901952       2025                        eng d  a0022-0949, 1477-914500aGene expression correlates and mechanistic insights into electric organ discharge duration changes in mormyrid electric fish0 aGene expression correlates and mechanistic insights into electri  cJun-01-20250 v2283 a<p><jats p="">Electric organ discharge (EOD) duration in African weakly electric fish (Mormyridae) is the most variable waveform component between species and the basis for distinguishing species-specific signals. EOD duration is thought to be influenced by morphological and physiological features of electrocytes (the cells that comprise the electric organ), but the mechanistic details are poorly understood. It has long been known that EOD duration is modulated by androgen hormones, affording an opportunity to identify gene expression correlates of EOD duration differences. We induced EOD elongation in the mormyrid Brienomyrus brachyistius by administering 17&alpha;-methyltestosterone (17&alpha;MT) to three treatment groups: control (no 17&alpha;MT exposure), T1day and T8day (samples taken 1 and 8 days after a single exposure to 17&alpha;MT, respectively). We then performed RNAseq, differential gene expression and functional enrichment analysis to detect gene expression changes during EOD duration change. Our analyses indicate 44 genes whose expression changed in tandem with EOD elongation and include genes responsible for actin filaments and microtubules, extracellular matrix organization and membrane lipid metabolism. Additionally, we found expression changes in one Na+ channel &beta;-subunit, and five voltage-gated K+ channels. Together, these genes point toward specific cellular processes that contribute to morphological and physiological changes that contribute to EOD duration changes.</jats></p>
10aAndrogen hormones10aelectrocyte10aK+ channel10aNa+ channel10aTestosterone1 aLosilla, Mauricio1 aGallant, Jason, R.  uhttps://doi.org/10.1242/jeb.249548