Effects of photoperiod on gonadotropin-releasing hormone levels in the brain and pituitary of underyearling male barfin flounder

ABSTRACT:   A pleuronectiform fish, the barfin flounder Verasper moseri , expresses three gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) forms in the brain: salmon GnRH (sGnRH), chicken GnRH-II (cGnRH-II) and seabream GnRH (sbGnRH). To clarify the effects of photoperiod on GnRH systems, changes in brain and pituitary GnRH peptide levels were examined using time-resolved fluoroimmunoassays. In experiment 1, 5-month-old male barfin flounder (mean total length 9.0 cm, body weight 11.0 g) were divided into short (8:16 h light : dark [L:D] cycle; lights on 08.00–16.00 hours) and long photoperiod (16:8 h L:D cycle; lights on 04.00–20.00 hours) groups in mid September and maintained until November under natural water temperature (19.3–15.2°C). Brain sGnRH concentrations were significantly higher in the 16:8 h L:D group than in the 8:16 h L:D group, whereas no significant differences were observed in total length, body weight, plasma testosterone concentration, brain cGnRH-II concentration and pituitary sbGnRH content. In experiment 2, 7-month-old male barfin flounder (mean total length 16.5 cm, body weight 76.8 g) were divided into short and long photoperiod groups in mid December and maintained until February under natural water temperature (12.5–6.6°C). Total length, body weight and condition factor were significantly greater in the 16:8 h L:D group than in the 8:16 h L:D group, whereas no significant differences were observed in plasma testosterone concentration and GnRH levels in the brain and pituitary. These results indicate that levels of sGnRH in barfin flounder are influenced by photoperiodic treatment dependent on water temperature and/or body size.     

Induced Spawning of the Indian Catfish,Heteropneustes fossilis,by GnRH Analogue Alone or in Combination with Dopamine-Affecting Drugs

ABSTRACT

Mature female Indian catfish, Heteropneustes fossilis were induced to spawn in spawning season (July-August) by various ovulation-inducing agents, and the frequency of ovulation was checked after a latency of 12-14 hours of the treatment. Egg mass and fertilization rate were taken as end-points of spawning performance. [D-Ala⁶-Pro⁹] ethylamide GnRH analogue in dosages of 0.075, 0.15, 0.2, and 0.5 μg/g of body weight resulted in 28.5%, 71%, 86%, and 86% ovulation, respectively, but the lower doses of 0.01 and 0.05 μg/g body weight failed to induce ovulation in early spawning phase (July). The dopamine-2 (DA2) receptor antagonists pimozide, domperidone, and metoclopramide potentiated the anovulatory dose of 0.05 μ g GnRH analogue to induce ovulation in 86%, 86%, and 50% of the females, respectively, in the early spawning phase (July). The DA precursor, L-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA; 10 μg/g body weight) and the DA agonist bromocriptine (10 μg/g body weight) decreased markedly the ovulatory response of 0.2 μ g GnRH analogue to 29%. The catechol-amine-synthesis inhibitor a-methylparatyrosine produced a mild depressing effect on the ovulatory response of 0.2 μ g GnRH analogue. Egg mass was high in groups that yielded a high ovulatory response (71% and above) except the a-MPT groups. The fertilization rate, however, was not affected, irrespective of the ovulatory response. The results show that the Indian catfish can be induced to spawn by superac-tive GnRH analogue alone in a dosage range of 0.15-0.2 μg/g body weight or in combination with DA2 antagonists, such as pimozide or domperidone, in a very low dosage of 0.05 μg/g.     

Effects of lamprey gonadotropin-releasing hormone and analogs on steroidogenesis and spermiation in male sea lampreys

The biological activities of lamprey GnRH and analogs were determined in the adult male lamprey,Petromyzon marinus. Two successive injections of lamprey GnRH at 0.005, 0.065 or 0.163 μg/g body weight or [D-Ala⁶,Pro⁹-NHEt] mammal GnRH at 0.05 μg/g stimulated plasma estradiol and progesterone levels in adult male lampreys undergoing final maturation. In these experiments, a lamprey GnRH putative antagonist, [D-Phe^2,6,Pro³] lamprey GnRH, at 0.075, 0.150 or 0.3 μg/g stimulated plasma estradiol but not progesterone levels. Four successive injections of lamprey GnRH at 0.05 or 0.1 μg/g stimulated plasma progesterone and spermiation. [D-Phe^2,6,Pro³] lamprey GnRH at 0.05 or 0.1 μg/g depressed plasma progesterone levels and inhibited spermiation. In contrast, lamprey GnRH analog, [D-Ala⁶,Pro⁹-OH free carboxylic acid] lamprey GnRH, at 0.05 or 0.1 μg/g stimulated plasma progesterone levels and inhibited spermiation. In summary, lamprey GnRH is biologically active in stimulating the pituitary-gonadal axis in adult male lampreys as determined by steroidogenesis and spermiation.     

半滑舌鳎(Cynoglossus semilaevis) gnrh2基因克隆、组织分布及卵巢成熟过程中表达分析

为了研究下丘脑神经肽促性腺激素释放激素(Gonadotropin-releasing hormone 2,GnRH2)在半滑舌鳎(Cynoglossus semilaevis)卵巢成熟过程中的生理作用,本研究通过RT-PCR及RACE方法获得了半滑舌鳎GnRH2全长cDNA序列;通过实时荧光定量PCR(qPCR)对gnrh2 mRNA的组织分布以及卵巢成熟过程中的时空表达特性进行了分析.结果显示,半滑舌鳎GnRH2全长cDNA序列为538 bp(不包括polyA尾),其中,5'非编码区(Untranslated region,UTR)为154 bp,3'UTR为126 bp,开放阅读框(Open reading frame,ORF)为258 bp,编码85个氨基酸的前体多肽,其分子量及等电点分别为9.69 kDa和8.55.GnRH2前体多肽由信号肽、GnRH2十肽、酶切位点(GKR)以及GnRH相关肽共4部分组成.序列比对分析发现,GnRH2在鱼类中同源性极高,尤其是十肽(QHWSHGWYPG)在所有硬骨鱼类中完全相同.半滑舌鳎GnRH2与鲈形目同源性最高(89.41％-90.5 9％),其次为鲽形目、鲑形目和鲍形目(78.82％-85.88％),与鲤形目同源性最低(61.18％-71.76％).gnrh2 mRNA主要在脑中表达,在垂体及其他外周组织中表达量极低.此外,组织学分析显示,半滑舌鳎卵巢发育共分为5个时期(Ⅱ、Ⅲ、Ⅳ、Ⅴ和Ⅵ期).在卵巢成熟过程中,脑gnrh2 mRNA表达量在卵黄生成期(Ⅲ期)显著性增加,达到峰值;随后表达量急剧下降,在成熟期(Ⅴ期)达到最小值;在排卵后期(Ⅵ期)又显著性增加.然而,在卵巢成熟过程中,垂体gnrh2 mRNA表达量在卵黄生成后期(Ⅳ期)显著性降低,随后在成熟期(Ⅴ期)有所增加,但在排卵后期(Ⅵ期)又急剧下降.上述研究结果表明,脑GnRH2可能参与了半滑舌鳎卵巢发育过程.     

Effect of different synthetic gonadotrop-releasing hormone analogues and their combinations with an anti-dopaminergic compound on the reproduction performance of sterlet (Acipenser ruthenus L.)

In this study, three synthetic gonadotrop-releasing hormones (GnRH) (azagly-nafarelin; des-Gly¹⁰-( d -Ala⁶)-LH-RH; and des-Gly¹⁰-( d -Phe⁶)-LH-RH) either alone or in combination with metoclopramide were used to induce reproduction of sterlet. The GnRH analogues were applied in a single dose of 40 μg kg⁻¹ of female and 20 μg kg⁻¹ of male body weight. Metoclopramid was administered in a simultaneous injection of 10 and 5 mg kg⁻¹ of body weight for females and males respectively. There were no significant differences in the ovulatory responses of females; ovulation rates varied between 57% and 80%, and at the temperature of 15.5–16.0 °C about 30–34 h were required for final maturation, when eggs of 17.3±1.3% of body weight were stripped. However, the fertilization rates of the des-Gly¹⁰-( d -Phe⁶)-LH-RH-treated groups were significantly lower than that in the other treatment. In males, the combination of the above peptidergic hormones with metoclopramide gave significantly better results than their single application. The results demonstrate that the final stage of gamete maturation in sterlet may be achieved by several hormonal means. The possibility of using new GnRH analogues without dopamine antagonists yields new perspectives for induced breeding of sturgeons, which have particular importance in the light of meat and roe (caviar) production for human consumption.     

Involvement of Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone in Thyroxine Release in Three different forms of Teleost Fish: Barfin Founder, Masu Salmon and Goldfish

Effects of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) on thyroxine (T₄) release in vivo and in vitro were studied in barfin flounder Verasper moseri, masu salmon Oncorhynchus masou and goldfish Carassius auratus. Seabream GnRH (sbGnRH) at a dose of 200 ng/50 g body weight (BW) significantly increased plasma T₄ levels 1 h after the in vivo injection in the barfin flounder, but thereafter the levels normalized. Salmon GnRH (sGnRH) significantly increased plasma T₄ levels l h after the injection with a significant return to initial levels in male masu salmon and male goldfish. In contrast, sGnRH and cGnRH-II in barfin flounder, and cGnRH-II in male masu salmon and male goldfish were not effective in stimulating T₄ release. To clarify direct involvement of GnRH in T₄ release, dissected lower jaw including scattered thyroid follicles was incubated with sbGnRH (1 μg/well) in barfin flounder, and with two doses (0.1 and 1 μg/well) of sGnRH in masu salmon and goldfish in vitro. T₄ concentrations of control were stable during 24 h. Incubation of lower jaw with high dose (1 μg/well) of GnRH significantly (P<0.05) increased T₄ concentrations of incubation medium at 1 h in all experimental fishes. These results indicate that direct stimulation of T₄ secretion by GnRH occurs widely in teleost fish.     

中华鳖GnRH 1基因cDNA克隆及表达特征

为了解GnRH基因在中华鳖(Pelodiscus sinensis)性腺和胚胎发育过程中的表达特征,采用cDNA末端快速扩增(RACE)技术从中华鳖全脑中获得与生长生殖调控密切相关的GnRH1基因全长cDNA,并运用实时荧光定量PCR(qRT-PCR)技术检测GnRH1在成鳖不同组织和胚胎发育时期的表达水平。结果显示:中华鳖GnRH1基因cDNA全长546 bp,其中5′非编码区(5′UTR)99 bp,3′非编码区(3′UTR)168 bp,开放阅读框(ORF)279 bp,编码92个氨基酸,分子质量为10.23 ku,理论等电点pI为5.65,具有N端信号肽(1~23 aa)、核心十肽区域(24~33 aa)、断裂位点GKR(34~36 aa)及相关肽区域(37~92 aa),符合GnRH蛋白典型结构特征。系统进化树结果显示,中华鳖GnRH1基因和绿海龟(Chelonia mydas)、墨西哥箱龟(Terrapene carolina mexicana)及西部锦龟(Chrysemys picta bellii)GnRH1基因聚为一支。qRT-PCR结果表明,GnRH1基因在中华鳖雌雄个体的8个组织中均有表达,在脑和性腺组织中高表达,且具有性别差异,雄性中华鳖中的表达显著高于雌性(P<0.05);在10个胚胎发育时期均表达,且随发育时间的后移,表达量显著增加,在第16期达到峰值。GnRH1基因可能在中华鳖生长及性腺分化中具有重要作用。     

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptors: neuroendocrine regulators and neuromodulators

Several lines of evidence support the idea that more than one gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptor (GnRH-R) subtype exists to accommodate the presence of multiple GnRH forms seen in vertebrate species. The development of pituitary endocrine cells, GnRH-Rs type IA (GfA), IB (GfB) and type III in the pituitary and their synchronization with the establishment of GnRH1-3 regulatory pathways reflect a neuroendocrine function for the GnRH-Rs. Based on developmental, morphological and biochemical evidence it can be hypothesized that GnRH1 regulates gonadotrophs through GnRH-R type IA, GnRH2 regulates prolactin secretion through GnRH-R type IB and GnRH3 regulates growth hormone secretion through GnRH-R type III. Therefore, the three native GnRH variants in advance teleost like tilapia might have their respective cognate receptors, each being capable of regulating different and, to some degree the same pituitary endocrine cells. In the brain, the expression pattern of GnRH-R type IB and type III parallels the distribution of GnRH2 and GnRH3 fiber network, which suggests their role in neuromodulation and reproductive behavior.     

Extrapituitary gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) binding sites in goldfish

In teleosts, as in other vertebrates, the secretion of pituitary gonadotropin (GTH) is mediated by the hypothalamic decapeptide, gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH). Recent findings in teleosts indicate that GnRH receptors are not restricted to the pituitary gonadotropes and are also associated with somatotropes as well as being present in a number of other tissues. In the present study, we provide novel information on GnRH binding in a number of extrapituitary tissues in goldfish. However, we do not intend to provide full characterization of GnRH binding sites in various extrapituitary tissues in goldfish as this would clearly be outside the scope of this paper. In this study we examined GnRH binding in a number of extrapituitary tissues in goldfish and observed specific binding in ovary, testis, brain, liver and kidney. No specific GnRH binding was observed in muscle, skin, gut, gill and heart. In general, the present findings together with the results of other studies carried out in our laboratory demonstrate that mature goldfish ovary and testis contain two classes of GnRH binding sites, high affinity/low capacity and low affinity/high capacity sites with binding characteristics similar to those of the pituitary GnRH receptors. The brain of goldfish was also found to contain two classes of GnRH binding sites, a super-high affinity/low capacity and a low affinity/high capacity sites. Furthermore, study of goldfish liver and kidney demonstrated the presence of a single class of GnRH binding sites with characteristics different from those of pituitary, ovary, testis and brain. Overall, it is evident that goldfish contains a family of GnRH binding sites which can be classified into four groups based on binding affinities: 1) A class of high affinity binding sites present in the pituitary, ovary and testis, 2) a class of super high affinity sites so far only detected in the brain, 3) a class of intermediate-affinity GnRH binding sites in the liver and kidney, and 4) a class of low affinity binding sites present in all the tissues containing specific GnRH binding sites except for liver and kidney.     

GnRH_A和紫萁抑制大黄鱼性腺早熟的机制

应用脑垂体组织生理学和免疫组织化学方法，对GnRH-A和紫萁抑制大黄鱼性早熟的作用机制进行了研究。结果表明，性早熟大黄鱼脑垂体许多促性腺激素分泌细胞的胞质出现空泡，提示性早熟的原因可能是由于GtH细胞提早进入分泌活动所致。长期服用促性腺激素释放激素类似物的养殖大黄鱼（没有性早熟），它的脑垂体GtH细胞对GnRH抗独特型发生弱的免疫阳性反应，而对照组性早熟鱼仍出现强的反应，表明实验组大黄鱼脑垂体GtH细胞对GnRH-A的应答能力下降，出现脱敏效应，这可能与GnRH-A抑制大黄鱼性早熟有关。养殖大黄鱼长期服用紫萁，它的脑垂体GtH细胞膜上GnRH受体则没有出现脱敏现象，提示紫萁抑制大黄鱼性早熟的机制不同于GnRH类似物，确切机制有待进一步研究。     

GnRH及其受体在2种真骨鱼消化系统中存在的免疫细胞化学证据

用链霉亲和素—生物素化过氧化物酶复合物(strept avidin biotin—peroxidase complex，SABC)免疫细胞化学方法，使用促性腺激素释放激素(gonadotropin—releasing hormone，GnRH)，促性腺激素释放激素受体(gonadotropinreleasing hormone receptor，GnRHR)2种抗血清对黄颡鱼(Pelteobagrus fulvidraco)和鲇(Silurus asotus)的食道、贲门、胃底、幽门、前肠、中肠、后肠和胰中的免疫活性内分泌细胞进行了定位。结果表明：在鲇的食道、胃、肠、肠固有膜、肠肌间神经丛、胰腺和胰岛中均存在着GnRH和GnRHR免疫活性阳性反应；黄颡鱼消化系统中除了在食道和胰岛中未见GnRH和GnRHR的免疫活性阳性反应外，其他部位均有阳性反应，而且GnRH和GnRHR分泌细胞的分布模式相类似。说明胃肠道中GnRH分泌细胞可能以自分泌或旁分泌方式参与消化功能的调节。本研究首次证实在鱼类的消化系统中存在着GnRH及其受体的免疫活性内分泌细胞，可为GnRH功能的多样性等研究领域提供新的形态学依据。     

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone and gonadotropin in goldfish and masu salmon

Reproductive activities in vertebrates are regulated by an endocrine system, consisting of the brain-pituitary-gonad axis. In teleosts, gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) in the brain stimulates gonadotropin (GTH) release in the pituitary gland, but because of lack of the portal vessel, it is not known when and how much GnRH is released for the regulation of GTH release. There are multiple molecular types of GnRH in teleosts and several distinct populations of GnRH neurons in the brain. However, we do not know which types and populations of GnRH neurons regulate reproductive activities. Here we summarize our recent studies on GnRH and GTH in masu salmon Oncorhynchus masou and goldfish Carassius auratus. Immunocytochemistry showed the location and molecular types of GnRH neurons. Salmon (sGnRH) and chicken-II GnRH (cGnRH-II) neuronal fibers were widely distributed in the brain of both masu salmon and goldfish. Only sGnRH fibers were observed in the pituitary of masu salmon, whereas both sGnRH and cGnRH-II fibers were observed in the goldfish pituitary, indicating that species specific GnRH profiles are involved in the regulation of pituitary function in teleosts. A series of experiments in masu salmon and goldfish suggest that among GnRH neuron populations GnRH neurons in the ventral telencephalon and the hypothalamus regulate GTH release, and that GnRH of the terminal nerve origin is not essential to gonadal maturation and ovulation. The biological function of other GnRH neurons remains unkown. Two GTHs appear to be characteristic of teleost; however, regulation of reproduction by these GTHs is a question that remains to be elucidated. In salmonid species, it is proposed that GTH I stimulates early gonadal development, whereas GTH II acts in later stages. When GTH expression was examined in goldfish, both GTH I and II mRNA levels in the pituitary gland showed increases in accordance with gonadal development, unlike the sequential expression of GTH subunits in salmonids. The expression of these GTH subunit mRNAs were affected by water temperature, starvation, and steroid hormones in goldfish, but in what manner these two GTHs regulate gonadal development remains to be clarified.     

Pituitary gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) receptor activity in goldfish and catfish: seasonal and gonadal effects

The goldfish pituitary contains two classes of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) binding sites, a high affinity/low capacity site and a low affinity/high capacity site (Habibiet al. 1987a), whereas the catfish pituitary contains a single class of high affinity GnRH binding sites (De Leeuwet al. 1988a). Seasonal variations in pituitary GnRH receptor binding parameters, and the effect of castration on pituitary GnRH receptor binding were investigated in goldfish and catfish, respectively. In goldfish, GnRH receptors undergo seasonal variation with the highest pituitary content of both high and low affinity sites occurring during the late stages of gonadal recrudescence. The observed changes in pituitary GnRH receptor content correlate closely with responsiveness to a GnRH agonistin vivo in terms of serum gonadotropin (GTH) levels. In catfish, castration results in a two-fold increase in pituitary GnRH receptor content, which can be reversed by concomitant treatment with androstenedione, but not by the non-aromatizable androgen 11β-hydroxyandrostenedione; changes observed in GnRH receptor content correlate with variations in serum GTH levels and responsiveness to a GnRH agonist. In summary, the present study provides a clear evidence for seasonal variation in pituitary GnRH receptor activity in goldfish, and demonstrates a gonadal feedback mechanism regulating GnRH receptor activity in the catfish pituitary.     

The existence of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) immunoreactivity in the ovary and the effects of GnRHs on the ovarian maturation in the black tiger shrimp Penaeus monodon

Immunocytochemical localization using antibodies against five isoforms of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), namely, luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH), salmon (s)GnRH, octopus (oct)GnRH, lamprey (l)GnRH-I, and lGnRH-III, showed that only lGnRH-I immunoreactivity (ir-lGnRH-I) was localized in follicular cells of proliferative, vitellogenic, and mature ovaries. The effects of exogenous GnRHs on the ovarian maturation cycle of Penaeus monodon were compared by treating female broodstocks with LHRH, sGnRH, and lGnRH-I. The cycle of ovarian maturation in both eyestalk-ablated and eyestalk-intact shrimp administered with the three isoforms of GnRH was significantly shorter than that of the control animals. Moreover, administrations of all GnRH isoforms showed similar numbers of spawned eggs and the percentage of successful fertilization as in the control animals. These findings suggest that GnRHs may be highly conserved peptides that play an important role in inducing the ovarian maturation in the shrimp.     

GnRH affects activity and jumping frequency in adult sockeye salmon, Oncorhynchus nerka

We tested whether waterflow, gender, maturity or treatment with a GnRH analogue affected jumping frequency, an acclimatization response and swimming activity in three-year-old sockeye salmon when confronted with an artificial waterfall. In our first behavioural experiment, increased waterflow and the stage of sexual maturity led to a significant increase in the number of fish that overcame an artificial waterfall, while sex had no significant effect. In a second experiment, we demonstrated that GnRH treatment affected behavioural responses in a waterfall channel as follows: (i) GnRH injected fish did not display an increase in their time of acclimatization while the acclimatization period in control fish increased significantly. (ii) GnRH significantly enhanced swimming activity and jumping motivation. We suggest that waterflow, degree of sexual maturity and injections with a GnRH analogue, lead to behavioural patterns that are correlated with migratory behaviour of adult sockeye salmon.     

Positive feedback control by the gonads on gonadotropin (GTH) and gonadoliberin (GnRH) levels in experimentally matured female silver eels,Anguilla anguilla

Treatment of sham-operated female silver eels with carp pituitary extract stimulated ovarian development and induced increases in pituitary gonadotropin (GTH) and gonadoliberin (GnRH) contents. Both effects of carp pituitary extract were abolished in ovariectomized eels, indicating the involvement of the gonads. Endogenous sexual steroids, the secretion of which was increased during sexual maturation, should be responsible for the stimulation of GTH and GnRH levels. Ovariectomy itself had no significant effect on pituitary GTH and GnRH contents, reflecting the fact that, at the silver stage, sexual steroid levels are too low to exert any significant effect on pituitary GTH and GnRH. The positive feedback control exerted by the gonads on GTH and GnRH levels during sexual maturation, in the eel as well as in some other teleosts, would produce an amplification of the pubertal stimulation of the hypothalamo-pituitary-gonadal axis.     

Physiological and social constraints on growth of fish with special reference to Arctic charr, Salvelinus alpinus L.

Physiological studies of growth in animals predict that growth rates should decrease with increasing size, but when Arctic charr, Salvelinus alpinus, were reared together in large groups there was often a positive correlation between initial body size and the growth rate of an individual fish. This suggested that social interactions were important determinants of growth rates and, in the absence of the establishment of direct linear hierarchies, it is suggested that growth suppression is the result of short-term bouts of aggression associated with feeding periods leading to reduced food intake by certain fish. Evidence is presented to show that growth suppression can be reduced by increasing the frequency of feeding.     

Role of neuropeptide Y (NPY) in the regulation of reproduction: study based on catfish model

Significance of NPY in the regulation of GnRH–LH axis was evaluated. Considerable NPY immunoreactivity was seen in the components like olfactory system, basal telencephalon, preoptic and tuberal areas, and the pituitary gland that serve as neuroanatomical substrates for processing reproductive information. Close anatomical association as well as colocalizations of NPY and GnRH were seen in the olfactory receptor neurons, olfactory nerve fibers and their terminals in the glomeruli, ganglion cells of nervus terminalis, medial olfactory tracts, fibers in the ventral telencephalon and pituitary. In the pituitary, NPY fibers seem to innervate the GnRH as well as LH cells. Intracranial administration of NPY resulted in significant increase in the GnRH immunoreactivity in all the components of the olfactory system. In the pituitary, NPY augmented the population of GnRH fibers and LH cells. HPLC analysis showed that salmon GnRH content in the olfactory organ, bulb, preoptic area+telencephalon and pituitary was also significantly increased following NPY treatment. NPY may play a role in positive regulation of GnRH throughout the neuraxis and also up-regulate the LH cells in the pituitary.     

GnRH and gpcr: laser-captured single cell gene profiling

We have developed a novel single cell real-time quantitative PCR technique, which incorporates harvesting marker-identified single cells using laser-capture. Here, for the first time in a vertebrate species, using this innovative single cell gene profiling technique, we report the presence of G-protein coupled receptors in individual gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) neurons and endocrine cells of the pituitary of the tilapia Oreochromis niloticus. The differential expression of multiple combinations of three GnRH receptor types (R1, R2 and R3) in individual gonadotropic and nongonadotropic cells demonstrates cellular and functional heterogeneity. The differential use of GnRH receptors in corticotropes, melanotropes and thyrotropes during gonadal maturation and reproductive behaviors suggests new roles for these hormones. Further, we provide evidence of the structure of a novel nonmammalian G-protein coupled receptor (GPR54) for kisspeptins, encoded by Kiss-1 gene, which is highly conserved during evolution and expressed in GnRH1, GnRH2 and GnRH3 neurons. We hypothesize GPR54 stimulates GnRH secretion and is crucial for pubertal maturation. We speculate, the use of this method will allow the identification and quantification of known and unknown genes in single cells, which would greatly facilitate our understanding of the complex interactions that govern the physiology of individual cells in vertebrates species.