Apelin signaling controls neuroendocrine homeostasis via Atoh8-dependent transcriptional regulation

Apelin signaling in zebrafish is dosage-sensitive and required for normal neuroendocrine development and physiological homeostasis, with both deficiency and overexpression reducing adult lifespan and fertility.

• Why it matters: The role of Apelin in neuroendocrine development and function is unclear, despite known effects in cardiovascular and metabolic biology.
• What they did: Using zebrafish genetic loss-of-function and inducible gain-of-function models plus transcriptomic profiling, the study identified atoh8 as a candidate downstream effector; atoh8 expression increased early, and atoh8 mRNA partially rescued apelin mutant defects.
• The result: Apelin loss and excess produced young-adult mutant transcriptomes resembling aged wild-type fish and disrupted HPT axis development; atoh8 crispants showed thyroid and pituitary abnormalities, supporting Atoh8’s role in HPT formation.

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