• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.710-716
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• 2003

Gonadotropin (GTH) is a pituitary glycoprotein hormone that regulates gonadal development in vertebrates. In teleosts, two types of gonadotropins, GTH-I and GTH-II, are produced in the pituitary, and they comprised of common ${\alpha}$ and distinct ${\beta}$ subunits. In the present study, the cDNAs encoding GTH ${\alpha}\;and\;GTH-II{\beta}$ subunits were cloned and sequenced from flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) pituitary cDNA library. The nucleotide sequence of the a subunit was 619 bp long, encoding 124 amino acids, and that of the $GTH-II{\beta}$ subunit was 538 bp long, encoding 145 amino acids. GTH subunits had well conserved cysteines, when aligned with other members of the glycoprotein family. The ${\beta}$ subunit of gonadotropin II ($GTH-II{\beta}$) had a different N-linked glycosylation site. RT-PCR analysis showed an increase of GTH II mRNA levels in association with gonadal development, and also showed that the mRNA expression of the ${\alpha}$ subunit was detected only in tissues from pituitary glands.

• Journal of Aquaculture
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.3-10
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• 1996

Ovulation of maturing female yellow puffer, Takifugu obscrus, was induced by using single injection of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) or gonadotropin releasing hormone-analogue (GnRH-A) $des-Gly^{10}[D-Ala^6]$ GnRH-ethylamide plus pimozide. The response was evaluated using the fertilization and embryo-formation rate after insemination and the gonadotropin (GTH) level in blood plasma using radioimmunoassay. In the fertilization and embryo-formation, maximal effects were recorded by using 1,000 IU/kg HCG or $10\;{mu}g/kg$ GnRH-A plus 5 mg/kr pimozide. Pimozide (1, 5 mg/kg) or GnRH-A treatment alone was not effective in elevation of GTH level, however combinations of these treatments were particularly effective. Injection of dopamine blocked the rapid elevation of plasma GTH levels of blood. These data suggest that yellow puffer secrete GnRH and gonadotropin-releasing-inhibiting factor during the spawning or the other period.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.287-292
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• 2000

The present work examined the role of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) and dopaminergic drugs on the secretion of maturational gonadotropin (GTH II) in relation to testosterone m treatment. This study provides evidence that the plasma GTH II levels are increased by T treatment in precocious males, but not in the immature animal. In addition, GnRH analogue (GnRHa) alone significantly increased the plasma GTH II secretion in immature rainbow trout treated with T, as well as in T-treated and T-untreated precocious males. However, injection with either dopamine (DA) or domperidone (DOM; DA D2 receptor antagonist) alone did not alter the basal plasma GTH 11 secretion in all experimental groups. The secretion of GTH II in the T-treated precocious males was remarkably influenced by GnRHa or combination of dopaminergic drugs. Notably, the effects of dopaminergic drugs on GnRHa-induced GTH II secretion w8s prolonged by T in precocious males. In T-treated immature animals, GnRHa-induced GTH II secretion was Increased only by a dose DOM (10$\mu$g/g body n) but not by higher dose DOM (100$\mu$/g body wt). In the T-untreated immature rainbow trout, however, plasma GTH 11 secretion was not influenced by the same treatments. Therefore, these results indicate that DA may be acting indirectly by blocking the effect of GnRH on GTH II secretion in vivo. T may act to modulate the relative contribution by the stimulatory (GnRH) and inhibitory (DA) neuroendocrine factors, which would ultimately determine the pattern of GTH II secretion.

• 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.3 no.1
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• pp.37-43
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• 2000

We used a mammalian GnRH antagonist, $[Ac-3,4-dehydro-Pro^1,\;D-p-F-Phe^2,\;D-Trp^{3.6}]$-GnRH, to examine the details of the salmon type gonadotropin-releasing hormone (sGnRH) and GnRH agonist analog $(Des-Gly^{10}$[d-Ala^6]-ethylamide GnRH; GnRHa) functions in the control of maturational gonadotropin (GTH II) secretion, in precocious male rainbow trout, in both in vivo and in vitro experiments. In the in vivo study, plasma GTH II levels increased by sGnRH or GnRHa treatment, but the response was more rapid and stronger in the GnRHa treatment group. The increase in GTH II was significantly suppressed by the GnRH antagonist, while the antagonist had no effect on basal GTH II levels in both groups. The GnRH antagonist showed stronger suppression of GTH II levels in the sGnRH treatment fish than in the GnRHa treatment fish. In addition, plasma androgenic steroid hormones (testosterone and 11-ketotestosterone) increased by the sGnRH or GnRHa treatment. The GnRH antagonist significantly inhibited the increases in plasma androgenic steroid hormone levels stimulated by the sGnRH or GnRHa, while the antagonist had no effect on basal androgenic steroid hormone levels in both groups. In the in vitro study, treatment with sGnRH or GnRHa increased GTH II release from the cultured dispersed pituitary cells, but the response was stronger in the GnRHa treatment group. The increase in GTH II release by GnRH was suppressed by adding the GnRH antagonist, dose­dependently. On the other hand, basal release of GTH II did not decrease by the GnRH antagonist treatment in both groups. These results suggest that the GnRH antagonist, $[Ac-3,4-dehydro-Pro^1,\;D-p-F-Phe^2,\;D-Trp^{3.6}]-GnRH$, used in this study is effective in blocking the action of GnRH-induced GTH II release from the pituitary gland both in vivo and in vitro.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.204-210
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• 1999

The present studies were conducted to evaluate the effects of activin-A on gonadotropins (GTHs) release in testosterone-treated immature rainbow trout Oncorhpynchus mykiss. The administration of testosterone elevated pituitary level of GTH II but not of GTH I. In this study using primary cultures of dispersed pituitary cells in static incubation, dose-dependent increases in GTH II release was observed in the activin-treated group at day 3 of incubation (long-term incubation), but not at day 1 of incubation (short-term incubation). Dopamine, a potent inhibitor of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH)-stimulated GTH II release in rainbow trout, was only partially effective in decreasing actvin-induced GTH II release. Furthermore, salmon GnRH (sGnRH)-stimulated GTH II release was not potentiated by the pretreatment with activin. However, the control mechanisms of GTH I release by activin and other hormones were not observed in the all tested experiments. The results of these studies support the contention that in contrast with the usual stimulatory effects of activin on GTH release in mammals, activin exerts long-term stimulatory actions on GTH II release in rainbow trout. The control mechanism of GTH I release, however, is a question that remains to be elucidated.

• 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.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.55-59
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• 2000

A specific and sensitive sandwich enzyme-immunoassay (EIA) using Avidin-Biotin complex was developed for the measurement of GTH II levels in pituitary content and pituitary cell culture medium of the rainbow trout-(Oncorhpchus mykiss). Biotin-salmon GTH II rabbit IgG (sefondary antibody) wai purified by a protein A sepharose affinity chromatography column and that was biotinylated by using Biotin-N-hydroxysuccinimide ofter (BNHS). Non-biotin salmon GTH II rabbit IgG (first antibody) was obtained only through a protein A sepharose affinity chromatography column. The assay was performed by the so-called 'sandwich' method using a microtiter plate, A dose-response curve was obtained between $0.12 to 125 ng/ml$ of salmon GTH II. The displacement curves for pituitary extraction and pituitary cell culture medium of testosterone-treated rainbow trout were Parallel to the standard curie. The intra-assay and inter-assay coefficients of variation (CV) were $8.2{\%} (N=5) and 12.5{\%} (N=6)$, respectively, This assay system was used to measure the amount of GTH II that accumulated in the culture medium of dispersed pituitary cells in testosterone-treated immature rainbow trout, The accumulation was increased with the amount or salmon gonadotropin-releasing hormone. GTH II values determined by the present method were well correlated with those determined by radioimmunoassay. As a result, this assay system was found to be suitable for the measurement of GTH II for pituitary extraction and pituitary culture medium in many salmonid fishes.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.50 no.6
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• pp.770-776
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• 2017

This study investigated the effects of recombinant eel gonadotropin hormone (rJeGTH) produced in silkworms, with and without a carboxyl-terminal peptide from equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG), on the induction of sexual maturation in female eels Anguilla japonica. Experiments were conducted both in vivo and in vitro. In in vitro trials, germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD) induction did not significantly differ between rJeFSH and $rJeFSH{\cdot}eCG$ treatments and the control group. However, previous studies did find that rJeLH and $rJeLH{\cdot}eCG$ treatments induced GVBD in female eels. Our in vitro exploration of $estradiol-17{\beta}$ ($E_2$) levels in immature ovarian tissues revealed significantly higher $E_2$ levels in the group treated with $rJeFSH{\cdot}eCG$ $1{\mu}g/mL$ than in the control group. In contrast, the in vivo experiments showed no effect of recombinant hormones on the sexual maturation of feminized eels. Previous studies and our own in vitro results have clearly shown that rJeGTH and $rJeGTH{\cdot}eCG$ have a positive effect on the sexual maturation of feminized eels. To develop the activity of rJeGTH in vivo, further studies should confirm circulation time and activity of these hormones in eels' bloodstream, modify the structure of the recombinant gene, and implement additional glycosylation.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.379-388
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• 2011

The mechanism by which gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) and dopamine (DA) control gonadotropin (GTH) release was studied in male and female rainbow trout using cultured pituitary cells obtained at different reproductive stages. The mechanisms of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) release by GnRH and DA could not be determined yet. However, basal and salmon-type GnRH (sGnRH)- or chicken-II-type GnRH (cGnRH-II)- induced luteinizing hormone (LH) release increased with gonadal maturation in both sexes. LH release activity was higher after sGnRH stimulation than cGnRH-II stimulation at maturing stages in both sexes. The GnRH antagonist ([Ac-3, 4-dehydro-$Pro^1$, D-p-F-$Phe^2$, D-$Trp^{3,6}$] GnRH) suppressed LH release by sGnRH stimulation in a dose-dependent manner, although the effect was weak in maturing fish. The role of DA as a GTH-release inhibitory factor differs during the reproductive cycle: the inhibition of sGnRH-stimulated LH release by DA was stronger in immature fish than in maturing, ovulating, or spermiated fish. DA did not completely inhibit sGnRH-stimulated LH release, and DA alone did not alter basal LH release. Relatively high doses ($10^{-6}$ or $10^{-5}M$) of domperidone (DOM, a DA D2 antagonist) increased LH release, which did not change with reproductive stage in either sex. The potency of DOM to enhance sGnRH-stimulated LH release was higher in maturing and ovulated fish than in immature fish. These data suggest that LH release from the pituitary gland is controlled by dual neuroendocrine mechanisms by GnRH and DA in rainbow trout, as has been reported in other teleosts. The mechanism of control of FSH release, however, remains unknown.