U.S.-Japan Cooperative Science: Studies on the Control and Actions of Prolactin in Teleost Fishes

该奖项支持夏威夷大学马诺阿分校Gordon Grau教授和日本广岛大学安藤正明教授之间为期三年的合作研究项目。研究人员将对硬骨鱼体内催乳素的控制和作用进行研究。已知催乳素（PRL）对电解质平衡、生长发育、生殖、代谢、行为和免疫系统有影响。鱼类为研究PRL的作用和控制PRL的释放提供了很好的模型。从四种系统发育不同的鱼类中鉴定和表征催乳素释放肽（PRPs）是本提案的科学目标。这将涉及：1)PRPs对盐度适应的影响；2)环境盐度对PRP mRNA表达及循环PRP和PRL水平的影响；3) PRPs与其他影响PRO释放的因素的相互作用；4) PRPs刺激PRL释放的机制。要研究的四种鱼是罗非鱼、鲤鱼、鳗鱼和弹涂鱼。该项目汇集了两个具有互补专业知识和研究能力的实验室的努力。实验结果将显著促进对鱼类PRL释放的理解，并为一般脊椎动物物种的PRL释放提供见解。本研究通过博士后和研究生的参与促进了国际人力资源的发展。通过思想和技术的交流，该项目将扩大我们的基础知识基础，促进国际了解与合作。研究人员计划在科学期刊上发表研究结果

9910115GrauThis award supports a three year collaborative research project between Professor Gordon Grau of the University of Hawaii at Manoa and Professor Masaaki Ando of Hiroshima University in Japan. The researchers will be undertaking a study on the control and actions of prolactin in teleost fishes. Prolactin (PRL) is known to have effects on electrolyte balance, growth and development, reproduction, metabolism, behavior, and the immune system. Fish present excellent models for the study of action of PRL and the control of PRL release. Identifying and characterizing prolactin-releasing peptides (PRPs) from four phylogenetically diverse fish species are the scientific goals of this proposal. This will involve: 1) the effect of PRPs on salinity adaptation; 2) the effect of environmental salinity on the expression of PRP mRNA and on circulating PRP and PRL levels; 3) the interaction of PRPs with other factors that influence PRO release; and 4) the mechanism(s) through which PRPs stimulate PRL release. The four fish to be studied are the tilapia, carp, eel and mudskipper.The project brings together the efforts of two laboratories that have complementary expertise and research capabilities. The results of the experiments should significantly advance the understanding of PRL release in fish and provide insights into PRL release in vertebrate species in general. This research advances international human resources through the participation of postdoc and graduate students. Through the exchange of ideas and technology, this project will broaden our base of basic knowledge and promote international understanding and cooperation. The researchers plan to publish results of the research in scientific journals