Gonadotropin-releasing hormone-like molecule is not an acute reproductive activator in the gastropod, Aplysia californica.
Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) is indispensable for reproductive activation in all vertebrates. Although several GnRH-like molecules have been isolated from non-chordates, the function of GnRH in these taxa remains unclear. We previously isolated the full-length cDNA sequence of a prohormone containing a GnRH-like molecule, termed ap-GnRH, from the gastropod mollusk, Aplysia californica. In this study, we characterized the distribution and quantity of ap-GnRH peptide in several central and peripheral tissues of A. californica. Further, we performed in vivo and in vitro studies to explore the function of ap-GnRH in these animals. Immunohistochemistry and radioimmunoassay using specific antisera against ap-GnRH showed that pedal ganglia contained the highest level of ap-GnRH peptide, followed by cerebral ganglia, abdominal ganglia, and then buccal ganglia. Ovotestis did not contain detectable levels of ap-GnRH peptide. Injection of sexually mature and immature animals with synthetic ap-GnRH over a course of 10-14 days had no effects on ovotestis mass, reproductive tract mass, egg-laying, and penile eversion. ap-GnRH also failed to alter oocyte growth and egg-laying hormone accumulation and secretion. Interestingly, ap-GnRH injection triggered acute behavioral responses including the stimulation of parapodial opening, inhibition of feeding, and promotion of substrate attachment. Our results showed that in A. californica, ap-GnRH could modulate a wide range of behavioral attributes. Most strikingly, ap-GnRH is not involved in the acute activation of reproduction in a fashion similar to vertebrate GnRH.
Department of Integrative Physiology, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309-0354, USA. pei-san.tsai@colorado.edu
Pei-San
PS
Tsai
Biao
B
Sun
Johanna R
JR
Rochester
Nancy L
NL
Wayne
D000818:Animals; D001048:Aplysia / Q000502:physiology*; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D017952:Ganglia, Invertebrate / Q000737:chemistry; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis / Q000502:physiology*; D006066:Gonads / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects; D012098:Reproduction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*
C045152:Gonadorelin-like peptides; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone