Neuroendocrine basis of lunar-synchronized spawning migration in grass puffer

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To establish molecular basis of neuroendocrine control of lunar-synchronized spawning migration in grass puffer, we assessed changes in magnitudes of gene expression for various neurohormones and their receptors in the hypothalamus and pineal gland. In the hypothalamus, the expressions of those genes significantly increased during the spawning period and showed diurnal and circadian variations in association with changes in expression of melatonin receptor gene. In the pineal gland, melatonin receptor gene showed unique rhythmic expressions with 14 hours cyclicity and monthly variations. Observations of spawning behavior in spawning grounds and in aquarium revealed that the spawning rhythm is endogenously maintained possibly under the control of the circalunar clock in the pineal gland.