Gonadotrophin inhibitory hormone depresses gonadotrophin alpha and follicle-stimulating hormone beta subunit expression in the pituitary of the domestic chicken.
Studies performed in vitro suggest that a novel 12 amino acid RF amide peptide, isolated from the quail hypothalamus, is a gonadotrophin inhibitory hormone (GnIH). The aim of the present study was to investigate this hypothesis in the domestic chicken. Injections of GnIH into nest-deprived incubating hens failed to depress the concentration of plasma luteinizing hormone (LH). Addition of GnIH to short-term (120 min) cultures of diced pituitary glands from adult cockerels depressed follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and LH release and depressed common alpha and FSHbeta gonadotrophin subunit mRNAs, with no effect on LHbeta subunit mRNA. Hypothalamic GnIH mRNA was higher in incubating (out-of-lay) than in laying hens, but there was no significant difference in the amount of hypothalamic GnIH mRNA in out-of-lay and laying broiler breeder hens at the end of a laying year. It is concluded that avian GnIH may play a role in controlling gonadotrophin synthesis and associated constitutive release in the domestic chicken.
Ciccone
N A
NA
Division of Genetics and Genomics, Roslin Institute, Midlothian, UK. nick.ciccone@bbsrc.ac.uk
Dunn
I C
IC
Boswell
T
T
Tsutsui
K
K
Ubuka
T
T
Ukena
K
K
Sharp
P J
PJ
D000818:Animals; D030161:Avian Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D002645:Chickens; D005260:Female; D037201:Follicle Stimulating Hormone, beta Subunit / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D015292:Glycoprotein Hormones, alpha Subunit / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D007028:Hypothalamic Hormones / Q000502:physiology*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D009425:Nesting Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D010053:Ovary / Q000378:metabolism; D010903:Pituitary Gland, Anterior / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D012098:Reproduction / Q000502:physiology; D012737:Sex Factors
D030161:Avian Proteins; D037201:Follicle Stimulating Hormone, beta Subunit; D015292:Glycoprotein Hormones, alpha Subunit; D007028:Hypothalamic Hormones; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C413752:gonadotropin-inhibitory hormone, Coturnix japonica; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone