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mRNA expression of GnRH variants and receptors in the brain, pituitary and ovaries of pejerrey (Odontesthes bonariensis) in relation to the reproductive status

Abstract

The present study examined the differential mRNA expression levels of three forms of GnRH (sGnRH, pjGnRH and cGnRH-II) and two forms of GnRH receptor (pjGnRH-R I and pjGnRH-R II) in the brain, pituitary, and ovaries of pejerrey in relation to the reproductive status. The analysis revealed the presence of significant amounts of mRNA of the three GnRH forms while the ovaries showed only two (sGnRH and pjGnRH). The GnRH receptor II was found ubiquitously in the brain, pituitary, and ovaries while the form I was detected only in the brain. The levels of pjGnRH mRNA in the brain and pjGnRH-R II in the pituitary gland varied in correlation with the ovarian condition. However, brain sGnRH and pjGnRH-R I mRNA levels reached a maximum during early stages of ovarian development. In contrast, the brain levels of cGnRH-II mRNA showed no variation. The present study also shows a good correlation of ovarian sGnRH and pjGnRH-R II mRNA levels with the reproductive condition, suggesting that these molecules are may be involved in the regulation of pejerrey ovarian function.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Juan Ignacio Fernandino, Pablo Strobl-Mazzulla, Ricardo Hattori, and Gabriela Carina López for their technical assistance This work was supported by grants given to G.M.S (CONICET, PIP #5425 and ANPCyT PICTR-528) and to C.A.S. (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan #15201003).

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Guilgur, L.G., Strüssmann, C.A. & Somoza, G.M. mRNA expression of GnRH variants and receptors in the brain, pituitary and ovaries of pejerrey (Odontesthes bonariensis) in relation to the reproductive status. Fish Physiol Biochem 35, 157–166 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10695-008-9215-4

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Keywords

  • mRNA levels
  • GnRH
  • GnRH receptors
  • Ovary
  • Reproduction