title: Long-term GnRH-induced gonadotropin secretion in a novel hypothalamo-pituitary slice culture from tilapia brain.
abstract: Organotypic cultures, prepared from hypothalamo-pituitary slices of tilapia, were developed to enable long-term study of secretory cells in the pituitary of a teleost. Values of membrane potential at rest were similar to those recorded from acute slices, and cells presented similar spontaneous spikes and spikelets. Some cells also exhibited slow spontaneous oscillations in membrane potential, which may be network-driven. Long-term (6days) continuous exposure to GnRH induced increases in LH and FSH secretion. FSH levels reached the highest levels after 24h of exposure to GnRH, and the highest secretion of LH was observed in days 4 and 5 of the experiment. Since slices were viable for several weeks in culture, maintaining the original cytoarchitecture, electrical membrane properties and the ability to secrete hormones in response to exogenous GnRH, this technique is ideal for studying the mechanisms regulating cell-to-cell communication under conditions resembling the in vivo tissue organization.
authors.affiliation: The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, Department of Animal Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot 76100, Israel; Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Agriculture, Food, and Environment, The Hebrew University, Rehovot 76100, Israel.
authors.forename: Corinne L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Bloch
authors.affiliation: Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Agriculture, Food, and Environment, The Hebrew University, Rehovot 76100, Israel.
authors.forename: Noa
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kedar
authors.affiliation: The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, Department of Animal Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot 76100, Israel.
authors.forename: Matan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Golan
authors.affiliation: Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Agriculture, Food, and Environment, The Hebrew University, Rehovot 76100, Israel.
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Gutnick
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences and Zlotowski Center for Neuroscience, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva 84105, Israel.
authors.forename: Ilya A
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Fleidervish
authors.affiliation: The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, Department of Animal Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot 76100, Israel. Electronic address: berta.sivan@mail.huji.ac.il.
authors.forename: Berta
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Levavi-Sivan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004594:Electrophysiology; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000378:metabolism*; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000378:metabolism*; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D017210:Tilapia / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone
keywords: Fish; GnRH; Gonadotrophs; Organotypic slice-culture