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

Abstract

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.

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Abbreviations

EBOP:

Extrabulbar olfactory projections

HPLC-ESI-MS:

High performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry

MOT:

Medial olfactory tract

NE:

Nucleus entopeduncularis

NPY:

Neuropeptide Y

ORNs:

Olfactory receptor neurons

PPD:

Proximal pars distalis

RPD:

Rostral pars distalis

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Correspondence to Nishikant Subhedar.

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Subhedar, N., Gaikwad, A., Biju, K.C. et al. Role of neuropeptide Y (NPY) in the regulation of reproduction: study based on catfish model. Fish Physiol Biochem 31, 167–172 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10695-006-0020-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10695-006-0020-7

Keywords

  • Immunocytochemistry
  • Peptides
  • Olfactory system
  • Forebrain
  • GnRH–LH axis
  • Teleosts