Research describes a mechanism that governs a critical vital transition for fish, demonstrating that embryos actively control their own hatching process, essential for their survival.
A study revealed that fish embryos actively control the timing of their hatching through a specific neurohormone, which triggers the release of enzymes that dissolve the egg wall.
The discovery, , has relevant implications for the expansion of knowledge in neurobiology, survival strategies and environmental adaptation in vertebrates, according to the authors, from (Israel).
Research describes a previously unknown neural mechanism that governs a critical life transition for fishdemonstrating that embryos are not passive, but actively control their own hatching process, which is fundamental for their survival.
O The hatching process is a crucial time for all egg-laying species: leaving too early or waiting too long can mean certain death for a newborn animal.which is not prepared to face the challenges of the outside world, from breathing to escaping predators.
“Survival depends on the perfect timing for hatching,” the authors noted.
“And surprisingly, it is the embryo itself that dictates this timing, although until now the underlying mechanism was unknown,” they added.
Researchers discovered that Fish embryos initiate hatching through a signal from the brain: a neurohormone called thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH).
TRH travels through the bloodstream to a specialized gland and triggers the release of enzymes that dissolve the egg wall, allowing the embryo to be released.
This neural circuit critical for hatching it forms shortly before the event and disappears shortly afterwards. And if it doesn’t work, the embryos are unable to release the enzymes, causing them to die inside the egg.
The authors advanced that vWe will continue to study how this neurohormone (TRH) and other neuroendocrine factors influence hatching in other species.
