The existence of gonadotropin-releasing hormone-like peptides in the neural ganglia and ovary of the abalone, Haliotis asinina L.

Abstract

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) is a neuropeptide that is conserved in both vertebrate and invertebrate species. In this study, we have demonstrated the presence and distribution of two isoforms of GnRH-like peptides in neural ganglia and ovary of reproductively mature female abalone, Haliotis asinina, using immunohistochemistry. We found significant immunoreactivities (ir) of anti-lamprey(l) GnRH-III and anti-tunicate(t) GnRH, but with variation of labeling intensity by each anti-GnRH type. lGnRH-III-ir was detected in numerous type 1 neurosecretory cells (NS1) throughout the cerebral and pleuropedal ganglia, whereas tGnRH-I-ir was detected in only a few NS1 cells in the dorsal region of cerebral and pleuropedal ganglia. In addition, a small number of type 2 neurosecretory cells (NS2) in cerebral ganglion showed lGnRH-III-ir. Long nerve fibers in the neuropil of ventral regions of the cerebral and pluropedal ganglia showed strong tGnRH-I-ir. In the ovary, lGnRH-III-ir was found primarily in oogonia and stage I oocytes, whereas tGnRH-ir was observed in stage I oocytes and some stage II oocytes. These results indicate that GnRH produced in neural ganglia may act in neural signaling. Alternatively, GnRH may also be synthesized locally in the ovary where it could induce oocyte development.

• Authors: Parinyaporn Nuurai, Jaruwan Poljaroen, Yotsawan Tinikul, Scott Cummins, Prapee Sretarugsa, Peter Hanna, Chaitip Wanichanon, Prasert Sobhon
• Journal: Acta histochemica (Acta Histochem) Vol. 112 Issue 6 Pg. 557-66 (Nov 2010) ISSN: 1618-0372 [Electronic] Germany
• PMID: 19604545 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2009 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Protein Isoforms
• Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone

Topics

• Animals
• Female
• Ganglia, Invertebrate (chemistry)
• Gastropoda (chemistry)
• Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone (analysis, biosynthesis, immunology)
• Immunohistochemistry
• Ovary (chemistry)
• Protein Isoforms (analysis, immunology)
• Signal Transduction