According to research published in the journal Science, and carried out by a team of researchers from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, in Israel, It has been 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 finding has relevant implications for expanding knowledge in neurobiology, survival strategies and environmental adaptation in vertebrates, Furthermore, the research describes a neuronal mechanism, unknown until now, that governs a critical vital transition for the fish, demonstrating that Embryos are not passive, but actively control their own hatching process, key to their survival.
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The hatching process is a crucial time for all egg-laying species: Leaving too soon or waiting too long can mean the certain death of a newborn animal, that is not prepared to face the challenges of the outside world, from breathing to avoiding predators.
Survival depends on perfect timing of hatching and, surprisingly, it is the embryo itself that dictates this timing, although the underlying mechanism was unknown until now. Experts discovered that fish embryos initiate hatching through a signal from their 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 forms just before the event and disappears shortly after; and if it doesn’t work, The embryos are unable to release the enzymes, causing them to die inside the egg.
The authors mention that they will continue studying how this neurohormone (TRH) and other neuroendocrine factors influence hatching in other species.
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