Functional analysis of a neurohypophysial hormone using transgenic ascidian ovaries

CI-VP是从海鞘中发现的催产素/加压素超家族多肽。我们获得了一个含有Ci-VP启动子区域和一个荧光蛋白基因的转基因海鞘。在转基因幼虫的卵巢中检测到Ci-VP启动子调控的荧光蛋白。事实上，在野生幼体海鞘的卵巢中也检测到Ci-VP mRNA，卵巢中的几个小细胞含有Ci-Vp mRNA。此外，将Ci-Vp注射到年轻的海鞘动物的卵巢中，诱导了几个促进细胞增殖的基因的表达。这些结果表明，Ci-VP不仅是一种神经肽，而且是一种参与卵巢发育或成熟的卵巢因子。

Ci-VP is an oxytocin/vasopressin superfamily peptide identified from an ascidian, Ciona intestinalis. We generated a transgenic ascidian that contains Ci-VP promoter region conjugated with a fluorescence protein gene. The Ci-VP promoter-regulated fluorescence protein was detected in the ovary of the young transgenic ascidian. Indeed, Ci-VP mRNA was also detected in the ovary of wild young ascidians, and several small cells in the ovary contain Ci-VP mRNA. Moreover, administration of Ci-VP to the ovary of young ascidians induced expression of several genes promoting cell prolification. These results suggest that Ci-VP serves as not only a neuropeptide but also an ovarian factor involved in the development or maturation of the ovary.