| Project/Area Number |
25650118
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| Research Category |
Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
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| Allocation Type | Multi-year Fund |
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| Research Field |
Animal physiology/Animal behavior
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| Research Institution | Konan University |
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Principal Investigator |
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| Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha) |
KUHARA Atsushi 甲南大学, 理工学部, 准教授 (00402412)
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| Project Period (FY) |
2013-04-01 – 2016-03-31
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| Project Status |
Completed (Fiscal Year 2015)
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| Budget Amount *help |
¥4,160,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,200,000、Indirect Cost: ¥960,000)
Fiscal Year 2014: ¥2,080,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,600,000、Indirect Cost: ¥480,000)
Fiscal Year 2013: ¥2,080,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,600,000、Indirect Cost: ¥480,000)
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| Keywords | GnRH / メダカ / ホヤ / 中枢神経系 / プラコード / 網膜 |
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| Outline of Final Research Achievements |
Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) is a neuroendocrine peptide that plays a central role in the control of vertebrate reproductive functions. Three major GnRH systems have been characterized in vertebrates: the conventional hypophysiotropic GnRH system and two extrahypothalamic GnRH systems. Whether hypophysiotropic or extrahypothalamic, most functions of the GnRH systems have been implicated in the control of reproductive activities. The tunicate Ciona intestinalis has in its non-reproductive larval stage a prominent GnRH system spanning the entire length of the nervous system. We have found evidence for localization of cells producing GnRH in the hindbrain, spinal cord, and retina of vertebrates, suggesting that GnRH also plays a non-reproductive role in vertebrates. Our results demonstrate that the GnRH system is deeply associated with the chordate-specific characteristics and suggest a non-reproductive role of GnRH both in tunicates and vertebrates.
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