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Distribution of a novel avian gonadotropin-inhibitory hormone in the quail brain

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Abstract

We recently identified a novel hypothalamic neuropeptide inhibiting gonadotropin release in the quail brain and termed it gonadotropin inhibitory hormone (GnIH). In this study, we investigated the localization and distribution of GnIH in both sexes of adult quails by immunohistochemistry with a specific antiserum against GnIH and in situ hybridization. Quantitative analysis demonstrated that the concentration of GnIH in the diencephalon was greater than that in the mesencephalon without sex difference. GnIH concentrations in the cerebrum and cerebellum were below the level of detectability. Clusters of GnIH-like immunoreactive (GnlH-ir) cell bodies were localized in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) of the hypothalamus. There was no significant difference in the number of GnlH-ir cells in the PVN between males and females. By double immunostaining with antisera reacting with GnIH or avian posterior pituitary hormones (vasotocin and mesotocin), GnIH-ir cells were found to be parvocellular neurons in the ventral portion of PVN, which showed no immunoreaction with the antisera against vasotocin and mesotocin. In situ hybridization revealed the cellular localization of GnIH mRNA in the PVN. GnIH-ir nerve fibers were however widely distributed in the diencephalic and mesencephalic regions. Dense networks of immunoreactive fibers were found in the ventral paleostriatum, septal area, preoptic area, hypothalamus, and optic tectum. The most prominent fibers were seen in the median eminence of the hypothalamus and the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus in the medulla oblongata. Thus, GnIH may participate not only in neuroendocrine functions, but also in behavioral and autonomic mechanisms.

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful to Dr. S. Kawashima (Zenyaku Kogyo Ltd., Japan) for the supply of the antiserum cross-reacting with avian vasotocin or mesotocin and his valuable discussion.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Brain Science, Faculty of Integrated Arts and Sciences, Hiroshima University, 739–8521, Higashi-Hiroshima, Japan

    Kazuyoshi Ukena, Takayoshi Ubuka & Kazuyoshi Tsutsui

  2. Core Research of Evolutional Science and Technology (CREST), Japan Science and Technology Corporation, 150–0002, Tokyo, Japan

    Kazuyoshi Ukena, Takayoshi Ubuka & Kazuyoshi Tsutsui

Authors
  1. Kazuyoshi Ukena
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  2. Takayoshi Ubuka
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  3. Kazuyoshi Tsutsui
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Correspondence to Kazuyoshi Tsutsui.

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This work was supported in part by Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research from the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture, Japan (12440233, 12894021, 13210101) to K.T., the SUNBOR Grant from the Suntory Institute for Bioorganic Research, Osaka, Japan to K.U., and the Narishige Zoological Science Award to K.U.

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Ukena, K., Ubuka, T. & Tsutsui, K. Distribution of a novel avian gonadotropin-inhibitory hormone in the quail brain. Cell Tissue Res 312, 73–79 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00441-003-0700-x

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