title: Polygenic expression of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) in human?
abstract: A non-mammalian lamprey-like gonadotropin-releasing hormone (lGnRH) has been detected in human hypothalami using a combination of immunocytochemistry, high performance liquid chromatography and radioimmunoassay. The hypothalamic distribution of immunopositive lGnRH neurons is similar to that observed for those containing the mammalian gonadotropin-releasing hormone (mGnRH), indicating a possible role for this newly identified peptide in the regulation of pituitary function. Our data suggest the existence of a separate gene for lamprey-like GnRH in humans. Confirmation of the exact nature and role of this newly detected form of GnRH will require future isolation and sequence analysis. The possibility that polygenic expression of a given peptide may be a common phenomenon even in higher mammals is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology (Neuropathology Division), New England Medical Center, Boston, MA 02111.
authors.forename: E G
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Stopa
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Sower
authors.forename: C N
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Svendsen
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: King
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D002645:Chickens; D005260:Female; D005796:Genes; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000378:metabolism; D007798:Lampreys; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011301:Preoptic Area / Q000378:metabolism; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid
chemical_list: D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone