title: Dopaminergic inhibition of gonadotropin-releasing hormone neurons in the cichlid fish Astatotilapia burtoni.
abstract: Dopamine regulates reproduction in part by modulating neuronal activity within the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis. Previous studies suggested numerous mechanisms by which dopamine exerts inhibitory control over the HPG axis, ultimately changing the levels of sex steroids that regulate reproductive behaviors. However, it is not known whether these mechanisms are conserved across vertebrate species. In particular, it is unknown whether mechanisms underlying dopaminergic control of reproduction are shared between mammals and teleost fish. In mammals, dopamine directly inhibits gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH1) hypothalamic neurons, the gatekeepers for activation of the HPG axis. Here, we demonstrate, for the first time in teleost fish, dopaminergic control of GnRH1 neurons via direct dopamine type-2-like receptor (D2R)-mediated inhibition within the hypothalamus. These results suggest that direct dopaminergic control of GnRH1 neurons via interactions in the hypothalamus is not exclusive to tetrapod reproductive control, but is likely conserved across vertebrate species.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA astra.bryant@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Astra S
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-0887-2044
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Bryant
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
authors.forename: Anna K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Greenwood
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
authors.forename: Scott A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Juntti
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
authors.forename: Allie E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Byrne
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
authors.forename: Russell D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Fernald
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D023681:Cichlids / Q000502:physiology*; D004298:Dopamine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D011301:Preoptic Area / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology; D017447:Receptors, Dopamine D1 / Q000378:metabolism; D017448:Receptors, Dopamine D2 / Q000378:metabolism; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D017447:Receptors, Dopamine D1; D017448:Receptors, Dopamine D2; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase; D004298:Dopamine
keywords: Dopamine; GnRH; HPG axis; Hypothalamus; Reproduction