Hormonal control of reproduction in goldfish

拟议的研究将继续进行中的工作，并启动新的调查路线有关激素控制的垂体和性腺功能，使用金鱼作为主要的实验模型。重点介绍了脑-垂体-性腺轴对金鱼生殖的综合调控以及金鱼性腺发育和分化的自分泌/旁分泌调节。主要目标是： 1)金鱼脑垂体促性腺激素（GTH）和生长激素（GH）产生的神经内分泌调节。重点放在促性腺激素释放激素（GnRH），性腺类固醇，和下丘脑RFamide相关家族的肽，抑制GTH的生产。我们建议充分研究RFamides及其受体在垂体和垂体外的功能特征及其与GnRH和性腺类固醇的相互作用。 2)我们继续测试的主要假设，GnRH在金鱼的性腺功能的自分泌/旁分泌调节中发挥作用。重点放在调控基因参与早期卵巢和睾丸的发展和分化及其相互作用与当地生产的GnRH和类固醇。 3)性类固醇激素在调节垂体和性腺功能中起着重要作用。因此，重要的是要阐明核受体的结构和功能特性，介导的雌激素，雄激素和甲状腺激素的行动。这项研究的目的是探讨我实验室最近发现的新型核受体形式的调节和功能意义。 这项研究将产生关于金鱼生殖的内分泌和旁分泌控制的新信息，并为更好地理解脊椎动物垂体和性腺功能的神经内分泌控制提供框架。

The proposed research will continue work in progress and initiate new lines of inquiry concerning hormonal control of pituitary and gonadal function, using goldfish as primary experimental model. Emphasis is placed on integrated control of reproduction involving brain-pituitary-gonadal axis as well as autocrine/ paracrine regulation of gonadal development and differentiation in goldfish. The main objectives are:     1) Neuroendocrine regulation of gonadotropin (GTH) and growth hormone (GH) production in the goldfish pituitary. Emphasis is placed on gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH), gonadal steroids, and hypothalamic RFamide-related family of peptides that inhibit GTH production. We propose to fully investigate functional characterization of RFamides and their receptors in the pituitary and extrapituitary and  their interaction with GnRH and gonadal steroids.    2) We continue testing the main hypothesis that GnRH plays a role in autocrine/paracrine regulation of gonadal function in goldfish. Emphasis is placed on the regulation of genes involved in early ovarian and testicular development and differentiation and their interaction with locally produced GnRH and steroids.    3) Sex steroids play critical role in the regulation of pituitary and gonadal function. It is therefore important to elucidate structural and functional characterization of nuclear receptors that mediate actions of estrogen, androgen, and thyroid hormones. The objective of the proposed study is to investigate the regulation and functional significance of novel nuclear receptor forms discovered recently in my laboratory.     The propose research will generate novel information on endocrine and paracrine control of reproduction in goldfish as well as providing a framework for better understanding of neuroendocrine control of pituitary and gonadal function in vertebrates.