Photoperiod regulate gonad development via kisspeptin/kissr in hypothalamus and saccus vasculosus of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar)

PLoS One. 2017 Feb 15;12(2):e0169569. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0169569. eCollection 2017.

Abstract

Atlantic salmon exhibit seasonal reproduction. However, the mechanisms governing this are still unclear. Generally speaking, kisspeptin has been recognized as a regulator of reproduction. Here, we report a relationship between kisspeptin, GnRH and photoperiod in Atlantic salmon. The results demonstrated that the expression of the Atlantic salmon kisspeptin-receptor (skissr) was not always consistent with the expression pattern of Atlantic salmon GnRH3 (sGnRH3) during all developmental processes. Kisspeptin may exert its influence primarily in the early and later stages of gonad development by promoting the secretion of sGnRH3. Meanwhile, the expression levels of kissr were higher in fish with gonads at stage II and stage V under the long-day photoperiod regime than under the short-day regime. In addition, both skissr and sGnRH3 were also expressed in the saccus vasculosus (SV), an organ only found in fish. The SV might be a seasonal sensor regulating reproduction in addition to the hypothalamus (Hyp).

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Female
  • Fish Proteins / biosynthesis*
  • Gene Expression Regulation / physiology*
  • Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / biosynthesis
  • Gonads / growth & development*
  • Hypothalamus / growth & development*
  • Male
  • Photoperiod*
  • Pyrrolidonecarboxylic Acid / analogs & derivatives
  • Receptors, Neuropeptide / biosynthesis*
  • Salmo salar / growth & development*

Substances

  • Fish Proteins
  • Receptors, Neuropeptide
  • gonadotropin-releasing hormone-III
  • Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone
  • Pyrrolidonecarboxylic Acid

Grants and funding

This research was supported by the National Natural Science Fund of China (No 31402283, 31472312, 41306152),the fund of Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, China (No.OF2015N001), the Qingdao Innovation Talents Program (13-CX-16), the National Key Technologies R&D Program (2014BAD08B09), and the earmarked fund for Modern Agro-industry Technology Research System (CARS-48).