Demonstration of Novel Brain Molecular Mechanisms Regulating Reproduction

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 22227002
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (S)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Research Field: Morphology/Structure
• Research Institution: Waseda University
• Principal Investigator: TSUTSUI KAZUYOSHI 早稲田大学, 教育・総合科学学術院, 教授 (20163842)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): OGATA Tsutomu 浜松医科大学, 医学部, 教授 (40169173)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): OSUGI Tomohiro 公益財団法人サントリー生命科学財団, 生物有機科学研究所, 研究員 (50507986)
• Research Collaborator: UBUKA Takayoshi ; BENTLEY George ; KRIEGSFELD Lance ; SOWER Stacia
• Project Period (FY): 2010-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: 視床下部ホルモン / 脳下垂体ホルモン / 発現制御 / シグナル伝達 / 生殖 / 生殖行動 / 生殖機能異常 / 分子進化

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We have provided a new concept on the basis of the discovery of gonadotropin-inhibitory hormone (GnIH), a hypothalamic neuropeptide inhibiting pituitary gonadotropin release. Our studies have demonstrated that GnIH acts on gonadotropes in the pituitary and gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) neurons in the hypothalamus via GnIH receptor to reduce reproduction by the decrease of gonadotropin release. We have further demonstrated that GnIH has an evolutionarily conserved role in controlling reproduction across chordates, from amphioxus to human. Following the discovery of GnIH in humans, we have shown that GnIH is a player for induction of reproductive dysfunction. We have also demonstrated that GnIH inhibits not only reproduction but also reproductive behavior. It appears that GnIH acts on the pituitary and the brain to serve physiological and behavioral functions. Thus, our studies focused on GnIH have demonstrated novel brain molecular mechanisms regulating reproduction.

Free Research Field

生物学；　科研費の分科・細目：基礎生物学・形態・構造