Gonadotropin response to GnRH during sexual ontogeny in the common carp, Cyprinus carpio

M. Kandel-Kfir, G. Gur, P. Melamed, Y. Zilberstein, Y. Cohen, N. Zmora, M. Kobayashi, A. Elizur, Z. Yaron*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

29 Scopus citations

Abstract

This study was designed to reveal whether gonadotropic response to GnRH in the common carp (Cyprinus carpio) changes during sexual ontogeny and whether the response of FSHβ and LHβ subunits is uniform or differential. The study comprised fish at the following stages: juveniles (4-month-old females with primary oocytes and early spermatogenic males); maturing (9-month-old previtellogenic females and advanced spermatogenic males); and mature (16-month-old postvitellogenic females and spermiating males). Fish were injected with superactive salmon GnRH analogue (sGnRHa; 25 μg/kg) and blood was sampled 6, 12 and 24 h later for cGtH (LH) and sex steroid levels. Pituitaries were taken for determination of FSHβ and LHβ mRNA levels by slot-blot hybridization and for cGTH content in the same glands by radioimmunoassay (RIA). Values were compared with the levels prior to sGnRHa administration and with control fish sampled at the same intervals. Juvenile fish did not respond at all to sGnRHa. In maturing females, FSHβ mRNA increased by >300%, while that of LHβ increased by 200%. In maturing males, FSHβ mRNA did not change and only a slight increase occurred in that of LHβ. In 16-month-old postvitellogenic females, there was no response of FSHβ mRNA, while that of LHβ dramatically increased. In spermiating males of the same age, mRNA of both FSHβ and LHβ increased following sGnRHa injection. Immunoreactive cGtH was present in the pituitary and plasma of all fish examined, but in juveniles it did not change following sGnRHa injection. In maturing and mature fish of both genders, sGnRHa administration was followed by a marked increase in circulating cGtH, concomitant with a decrease in its pituitary content, indicating the limited amount of the hormone stored in the gland. In conclusion, the response of the gonadotropin subunit mRNAs in the common carp was found to be differential and dependent on the gender and the phase of sexual ontogeny.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)17-26
Number of pages10
JournalComparative Biochemistry and Physiology - B Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Volume132
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 2002

Funding

FundersFunder number
United States - Israel Binational Agricultural Research and Development Fund
BARDIS-2634-95, IS-2149-92

    Keywords

    • Beta subunit
    • Common carp gonadotropic hormone (cGtH)
    • Cyprinus carpio
    • Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)
    • Luteinizing hormone (LH)
    • MRNA
    • Pituitary
    • Salmon gonadotropin-releasing hormone (sGnRH)
    • Sexual ontogeny

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