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Nonreproductive role of gonadotropin‐releasing hormone in the control of ascidian metamorphosis
Author(s) -
Kamiya Chisato,
Ohta Naoyuki,
Ogura Yosuke,
Yoshida Keita,
Horie Takeo,
Kusakabe Takehiro G.,
Satake Honoo,
Sasakura Yasunori
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
developmental dynamics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.634
H-Index - 141
eISSN - 1097-0177
pISSN - 1058-8388
DOI - 10.1002/dvdy.24176
Subject(s) - metamorphosis , biology , tunicate , ciona intestinalis , ciona , larva , medicine , hormone , endocrinology , receptor , microbiology and biotechnology , ecology , gene , genetics
Background: Gonadotropin‐releasing hormones (GnRHs) are neuropeptides that play central roles in the reproduction of vertebrates. In the ascidian Ciona intestinalis , GnRHs and their receptors are expressed in the nervous systems at the larval stage, when animals are not yet capable of reproduction, suggesting that the hormones have non‐reproductive roles. Results: We showed that GnRHs in Ciona are involved in the animal′s metamorphosis by regulating tail absorption and adult organ growth. Absorption of the larval tail and growth of the adult organs are two major events in the metamorphosis of ascidians. When larvae were treated with GnRHs, they completed tail absorption more frequently than control larvae. cAMP was suggested to be a second messenger for the induction of tail absorption by GnRHs. tGnRH‐3 and tGnRH‐5 (the “t” indicates “tunicate”) inhibited the growth of adult organs by arresting cell cycle progression in parallel with the promotion of tail absorption. Conclusions: This study provides new insights into the molecular mechanisms of ascidian metamorphosis conducted by non‐reproductive GnRHs. Developmental Dynamics 243:1524–1535, 2014 . © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.