Molecular Investigations of GnRH in Lamprey Reproduction

生殖的调节是由激素控制的，对所有脊椎动物来说，重要的是促性腺激素释放激素，GnRH。 近年来，对无颌脊椎动物七鳃鳗的研究表明，它的GnRH有不止一种分子形式，七鳃鳗是脊椎动物中最原始的谱系。 该项目利用分子技术和免疫细胞化学染色来分离和表征编码其中两种形式的基因组序列，以及对GnRH有反应的脑细胞上的分子受体分子。 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。

Regulation of reproduction is controlled by hormones, 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. This project utilizes molecular techniques and immunocytochemical staining to isolate and characterize the genomic sequences that encode two of these forms, and the molecular receptor molecules on cells in the brain 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. 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.