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Are the Cannabinoids Involved in Bony Fish Reproduction?
Author(s) -
COTTONE ERIKA,
CAMPANTICO EZIO,
GUASTALLA ALDA,
ARAMU STEFANIA,
POLZONETTIMAGNI ALBERTA M.,
FRANZONI MARIAFOSCA
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
annals of the new york academy of sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.712
H-Index - 248
eISSN - 1749-6632
pISSN - 0077-8923
DOI - 10.1196/annals.1327.041
Subject(s) - danio , fugu , biology , takifugu rubripes , zebrafish , endocannabinoid system , cannabinoid receptor , cerebrum , reproduction , fish <actinopterygii> , zoology , medicine , anatomy , endocrinology , receptor , fishery , central nervous system , gene , ecology , genetics , agonist
A bstract : Following the discovery of two CB1 genes in the fish Fugu rubripes , investigations on the phylogeny of endocannabinoids have indicated that this system is highly conserved. Our study demonstrated that CB1 receptors are expressed in the CNS and gonads of two teleosts, Carassius auratus and Pelvicachromis pulcher , and they show a high percentage of sequence identity with Fugu rubripes CB 1A and Danio rerio CB1. By means of immunohistochemistry for CB1, sGnRH, and TH, we found a codistribution of these signaling molecules in the basal telencephalon/preoptic area, which are key centers for gonadotropic regulation. We therefore suggest that endocannabinoids are possibly involved in modulating fish reproduction at both the central and peripheral levels.