title: FSH and LH-beta subunits in the preoptic nucleus: ontogenic expression in teleost.
abstract: In the present study we cloned, sequenced, and confirmed the presence of mRNAs of gonadotropins (FSH-beta, LH-beta subunits) from the brain and pituitary of tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus. Further, we examined the spatio-temporal expression pattern of FSH-beta and LH-beta in the brain and pituitary of two species of teleost (tilapia, O. niloticus; sockeye salmon, Oncorhynchus nerka), using in situ hybridization and immunological methods. The expression of FSH and LH immunoreactivity appeared simultaneously in the brain and pituitary (tilapia, 14 days; sockeye, 51 days after fertilization). In the pituitary, FSH mRNA and peptide expressing cells were distinct from LH expressing cells located in the ventral proximal pars distalis. In the brain, FSH and LH immunoreactivity was co-localized in cells of the preoptic nucleus parvocellularis, magnocellularis, and gigantocellularis. Fibers immunoreactive to FSH and LH antisera were seen along the forebrain-hypothalamus and in the neurohypophysis of the pituitary. Double-label immunofluorescence revealed FSH and LH immunoreactivity co-localized in arginine vasotocin synthesizing preoptic neurons. Our results show that FSH and LH-producing cells have developmental origins in the brain as well as in the pituitary. In addition, we propose that the brain-derived gonadotropins may function as hypophysiotropic hormones that regulate pituitary cells and along with arginine vasotocin could act as neuromodulators of reproductive behaviors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Molecular Neuroendocrinology Unit, Nippon Medical School, Sendagi, 113-8602 Tokyo, Japan. ishwar@nms.ac.jp
authors.forename: Ishwar S
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Parhar
authors.forename: Tomoko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Soga
authors.forename: Satoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ogawa
authors.forename: Yasuo
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sakuma
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D037201:Follicle Stimulating Hormone, beta Subunit / Q000235:genetics*; D037101:Luteinizing Hormone, beta Subunit / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000378:metabolism*; D011301:Preoptic Area / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D017385:Sequence Homology; D017210:Tilapia / Q000235:genetics*; D014668:Vasotocin / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D037201:Follicle Stimulating Hormone, beta Subunit; D037101:Luteinizing Hormone, beta Subunit; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014668:Vasotocin