Studies on chorionic gonadotropins in dolphins

2013 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 23580266
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: General fisheries
• Research Institution: Nihon University
• Principal Investigator: ASAHINA Kiyoshi 日本大学, 生物資源科学部, 教授 (10147671)
• Project Period (FY): 2011 – 2013
• Keywords: 鯨類 / 胎盤 / 濾胞刺激ホルモン / 黄体形成ホルモン

Research Abstract

The function of placenta in cetaceans is still unclear. Some cetaceans, such as dolphins, have a long gestational period almost comparable with that of humans. In the previous study, we demonstrated that luteinizing hormone (LH) like substances exist in a bottle nose dolphin placenta. In the present study, we obtained the evidence that dolphin placenta also produces and secretes follicle stimulating hormone (FSH). Dolphin placentae and pituitaries were collected from wild pregnant (early, middle, and late stages) bottlenose dolphin captured in the traditional drive fisheries at Taiji, Wakayama prefecture. We cloned cDNAs encoding FSHbeta subunit. The FSHbeta cDNA could be detected in the placentae from all the stages, although the expression was much weaker than that in the pituitaries. Immunohistochemical observations employing anti-canine FSH revealed positive staining in both the maternal and fetal villositical tissues, showing much stronger reaction in the latter.

Research Products

• [Journal Article] Larval pufferfish protected by maternal tetrodotoxin (2014)
  • Author(s): Itoi, S., Yoshikawa, S., Asahina, K., Suzuki, M., Ishizuka, K., Takimoto, N., Mitsuoka, R., Yokoyama, N., Detake, A., Takayanagi, C., Eguchi, M., Tatsuno, R., Kawane, M., Kokubo, S., Takanashi, S., Miura, A., Suitoh, K., Takatani, T., Arakawa, O., Sakakura, Y., Sugita, H.
  • Journal Title: Toxicon Volume: 78 Pages: 35-40
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Journal Article] N-methyltaurine N-acyl amidated bile acids and deoxycholic acid in the bile of angelfish (Pomacanthidae): a novel bile acid profile in Perciform fish (2014)
  • Author(s): Okihara, R.S.n., Saito, T., Ogata, H., Ohsaki, A., Iida, T., Asahina, K., Mitamura, K., Ikegawa, S., Hofmann, A.E., and Hagey, L.R.
  • Journal Title: Steroids Volume: 80 Pages: 15-23
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Journal Article] Parentage assessment of incomplete ossification in larval Japanese flounder by microsatellite DNA markers (2014)
  • Author(s): Sawayama, E., Asahina, K., Takagi, M.
  • Journal Title: Aquaculture Pages: 420-421, 509-5013
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Presentation] バンドウイルカの胎盤性性腺刺激ホルモンにおける産生動態と分布 (2011)
  • Author(s): 立石綾香、鈴木美和、川添一郎、朝比奈潔
  • Organizer: 平成23年度日本水産学会秋季大会
  • Place of Presentation: 長崎大学(長崎)
  • Year and Date: 2011-09-29
• [Presentation] バンドウイルカ胎盤における濾胞刺激ホルモンの産生動態 (2011)
  • Author(s): 立石綾香、鈴木美和、川添一郎、朝比奈潔
  • Organizer: 平成23年度日本水産学会春季大会
  • Place of Presentation: 東京海洋大学(東京)
  • Year and Date: 2011-03-30
• [Book] 水族館と海の生き物たち (2014)
  • Author(s): 朝比奈潔
  • Total Pages: 88-98
  • Publisher: 厚生社恒星閣