Molecular and Functional Investigations of GnRH in Lamprey Reproduction

GnRH 在七鳃鳗繁殖中的分子和功能研究

• 批准号: 0421923
• 负责人: Stacia Sower
• 金额: --
• 依托单位: University of New Hampshire
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2004
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2004-07-15 至 2009-06-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0421923&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Molecular; Functional; Investigations; GnRH; Lamprey

The brain controls reproduction through chemical mediators called hormones. The brain hormone that is known as the master control of reproduction, and an important one for all vertebrates is gonadotropin-releasing hormone, GnRH. Studies in recent years on the jawless vertebrate called the lamprey, representing the most primitive lineage of vertebrates, show that its GnRH has more than one molecular form that acts at a gland called the pituitary that sits at the base of the brain. This project utilizes molecular and physiological techniques to isolate and characterize the genomic sequences that encode the molecular receptor molecules on cells in the pituitary and the hormones (gonadotropins) produced by the pituitary that respond to GnRH. Results will tell whether lamprey GnRHs share common functional and developmental features with the GnRH found in other vertebrates, and how these multiple forms of GnRH are used by lampreys to regulate reproduction at different life stages under different environmental conditions. The comparative approach allows inferences about how the control of reproduction arose in the evolution of vertebrates. This project will increase our understanding of reproductive control and how it evolved, and so will have an impact beyond neuroscience on endocrinology and vertebrate biology in general. This project also has potential for developing controls for a predatory animal that affects commercial fisheries, has strongly integrated educational and training opportunities for graduate and undergraduate students, and has a strong component of international collaboration.

大脑通过称为激素的化学介质控制生殖。 促性腺激素释放激素（GnRH）是一种脑激素，被认为是生殖的主要控制者，对所有脊椎动物都很重要。近年来，对无颌脊椎动物七鳃鳗（代表最原始的脊椎动物谱系）的研究表明，其GnRH具有不止一种分子形式，作用于位于大脑底部的垂体腺。该项目利用分子和生理学技术分离和表征编码垂体细胞上的分子受体分子和垂体产生的对GnRH有反应的激素（促性腺激素）的基因组序列。结果将告诉七鳃鳗GnRH是否与其他脊椎动物中发现的GnRH具有共同的功能和发育特征，以及七鳃鳗如何使用这些多种形式的GnRH来调节不同环境条件下不同生命阶段的生殖。比较的方法允许推断如何控制生殖出现在脊椎动物的进化。这个项目将增加我们对生殖控制及其进化的理解，因此将对神经科学以外的内分泌学和脊椎动物生物学产生影响。该项目也有可能为影响商业渔业的掠食性动物制定控制措施，为研究生和本科生提供了强有力的教育和培训机会，并具有很强的国际合作成分。