Eeffects of dietary administration of hydroalcoholic extract of fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) on expression of genes related to reproduction (Estrogen receptor and Vitellogenin) in female of zebrafish (Danio rerio)

The present study investigates the effect of dietary administration of the hydroalcoholic extract of fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) on expression of genes related to reproduction (ER-a and Vtg) in female zebrafish (Danio rerio). For this purpose, zebrafish with average wight of 0.15±0.01 gr fed on diet supplemented with 0, 75, 100 and 150 mg/kg of diet for 6 weeks. After this period and sex determination, females fed with fennel for 1 month. At the end of feeding trial, RNA extracted from liver, cDNA syntesised with SuPrimeScript RTase kit and PCR were done using primers relate to Vtg, ER-a and Beta-actin as housekeeping genes. Evaluation of reproduction gene expression showed increase in fish fed fennel compare to control. Vtg and ER-a gene expression didn’t show significant differences in fish fed 75and 100 mg/kg (P>0.05). Diet supplemented with 150 mg/kg of fennel showed significant increases compared to two other fennel-fed groups. According to the results it seems that using fennel could considered as a new strategy for improving reproductive performance.