• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.135-142
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• 2000

In order to clarify the role of gonadal sex steroids in the synthesis of gonadotropin (GTH) subunits in immature rainbow trout, we examined in vitro and in vivo effects of testosterone (T) on the pituitary mRNA levels of GTH I $\beta$, GTH II$\beta$ and a subunits by Northern blot analysis and on the pituitary content levels of GTH I$\beta$ and GTH II$\beta$by radioimmunoassay (RIA). The mRNA levels of the a subunit in T-treated fish were not changed more dramatically than those in control fish both in vivo and in vitro. Interestingly, the mRNA levels of GTH I$\beta$ in T-treated fish were shown to be slightly lower than those in the control fish under these experimental conditions, but no differences were observed in pituitary GTH I$\beta$ contents. In contrast, the mRNA levels and pituitary contents of GTH II$\beta$ subunit were strongly increased by T both in vivo and in vitro. These results demonstrate that the expressions of GTH I$\beta$ and II$\beta$ subunit genes in immatue rainbow trout pituitary are subjected to differential regulation by T.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.176-181
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• 1999

The variations of gene expression and pituitary contents of GTH subunits during the ovarian development of masu salmon, Oncorhynchus masou, were investigated. The pituitary GTHs contents was measured by radioimmunoassays (RIAs) using purified GTH subunits and their antibodies. Pituitary contents of GTH $I\beta$ gradually increased from April through August, and reached the maximum in October. On the other hand, pituitary contents of GTH $II\beta$ remained low until August, but they rapidly increased in October. Total RNAs were prepared from pooled pituitaries and the GTH subunits mRNA in pituitaries was quantified by Northern blot hybridization using masu salmon cDNA probes for each GTH subunit. GTH $I\beta$ mRNA level increased with the progression of ovarian maturity. However, GTH $II\beta$ mRNA was detected only at a more advanced stage, and were extremly high at ovulation. A high levels for GTH a mRNA was detected only at ovulation stage. The synchronous increase in pituitary contents and mRNA levels suggested that ovarian maturity in masu salmon was regulated by both GTH I and GTH II.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.31-38
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• 2012

Kisspeptin has been implicated in the process of puberty onset in various animal groups. This peptide is encoded by a gene, Kiss1 in avian and mammalian species. Contrary to these higher vertebrates, however, fish appeared to have another gene, Kiss2 that also codes for the precursor peptide of kisspeptin. To figure out biological significance of this gene during the puberty onset in fish, the expression profile of Kiss2 gene was investigated in the brain of Nile tilapia together with genes of GPR54, GnRH receptorI (rGnRHI) and GTH subunits ($LH{\beta}$ and $FSH{\beta}$). Expression of Kiss2 mRNA significantly increased at 2 weeks post hatch (wph) and 13 wph ($P$<0.05). This increase coincided with the increases of GPR54 and rGnRH I gene expression. Detection of $LH{\beta}$ and $FSH{\beta}$ subunit gene expression was possible later than 13 wph, indicating the activation of gonadotrophs in the pituitary. Data obtained from this study strongly suggest that, in addition to Kiss1 gene, Kiss2 gene is deeply associated with the onset of puberty by the activation of hypothalamus pituitary gonadal axis in Nile tilapia.