Research Planning Grant: Comparative Actions of Somato- lactin, Prolactin, and Growth Hormone on Reproductive Function in Fundulus heteroclitus

一些研究结果表明，生长激素（GH）、催乳素（PRL）和生长激素（SL）等结构相关蛋白参与了鱼类性成熟的某些方面。为了研究SL的生理作用，需要一种已经被广泛研究并能提供大量动物和卵供研究的模式鱼类。mummichog, Fundulus heteroclitus，就是这样一种物种，Safford博士的初步研究旨在开始将其作为比较SL， PRL和GH作用的模型。该初步项目的目标是：(1)确定从异花瓢虫垂体提取物中提取的适当分子量的蛋白质是否与抗SL、PRL和GH的抗体结合；(2)确定这些免疫反应蛋白是否存在于异交梭菌垂体内的适当区域；(3)确定异交梭菌基因组中是否存在与鱼类SL保守区域相对应的基因序列。后续项目的实验将重点研究SL、PRL和GH对异交梭菌生殖功能的比较作用。由于对SL的研究更多地关注于生殖而不是其他过程，并且有文献证据表明PRL和GH也具有生殖功能。如果这三种激素在异阴囊中被证明有一定的功能，那么将克隆SL、PRL和GH，从而重组异阴囊激素。将可用于在同源系统中进行更详细的研究。

Results from several studies suggest that somatolactin (SL), prolactin (PRL), and growth hormone (GH), structurally related proteins, are involved in some aspects of sexual maturation in fishes. To investigate the physiological roles of SL, a model fish species is needed which has been extensively studied and can provide numerous animals and eggs for study. The mummichog, Fundulus heteroclitus, is such a species, and Dr. Safford's preliminary research is designed to begin to develop it as a model for comparing the actions of SL, PRL, and GH. The objectives of the preliminary project are (1) to determine if proteins of the appropriate molecular weights from F. heteroclitus pituitary extracts bind to antibodies against SL, PRL, and GH; (2) to determine if these immunoreactive proteins are found in the appropriate areas within the F. heteroclitus pituitary, and (3) to determine if the F. heteroclitus genome has gene sequences corresponding to conserved regions of fish SL. The experiments for the follow-up project will focus on comparative actions of SL, PRL, and GH on reproductive function in F. heteroclitus, as more studies on SL focus on reproduction than on other processes and there is evidence from the literature that PRL and GH also have reproductive functions. If these three hormones are shown to have some functions in F. heteroclitus, then SL, PRL, and GH will be cloned so that recombinant F. heteroclitus hormones.will be available for more detailed studies in a homologous system.