Kisspeptins and its role in reproduction and gonadal development in teleost fish.

• Grant number: 18/16595-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: April 01, 2019
• End date: August 01, 2020
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Fishery Resources and Fishery Engineering - Marine Fishing Resources
• Principal Investigator: Rafael Henrique Nóbrega
• Grantee: Juliana Morena Bonita Ricci
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IBB). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Botucatu. Botucatu , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 14/07620-7 - Spermatogonial stem cell bank to preserve the genotype of endangered and valuable teleost species, AP.JP
• Associated scholarship(s): 19/19874-7 - Transcriptome analysis of common snook (Centropomus undecimalis) gonadal development under sex steroid treatments, BE.EP.DR

Abstract

The reproduction of vertebrates is controlled by a complex network of regulatory signals along the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. However, a recent finding showed the presence of a new regulator acting on this axis, the kisspeptin. Kisspeptin is a neuropeptide that acts as an intermediary between the feedback of gonadal steroids and the regulation of gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) secreting neurons. The function of this hormone is closely related to the onset of puberty, when there is an increase in GnRH levels and also during gonadal maturation. In this context, the project aims to characterize the kisspeptin system during gonadal development in a protandrous specie, Centropomus undecimalis, as well as to evaluate the effect of androgen 17-alpha methyltestosterone and estrogen 11-beta estradiol on the hypothalamic-pituitary gonadal axis. To do so, the reproductive phases will be classified by morphology and the hormonal profile of the individuals will be traced as well as gene expression analysis. The information obtained in this project will contribute to the understanding of the biological mechanisms in the kisspeptin system, making possible new tools in the control of reproduction, particularly in the control of puberty. In addition, it will provide information on the role of the kisspeptin system during gonadal development and differentiation.

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

RICCI, Juliana Morena Bonita. Effect of sex steroids on the Kisspeptins system and on gonadal differentiation of Centropomus undecimalis.. 2020. Doctoral Thesis - Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp). Instituto de Biociências. Botucatu Botucatu.