Development and differentiation of gonadotropin hormone-releasing hormone neuronal systems and testes in the Japanese eel (Anguilla japonica)

Gnrh3 Regulates PGC Proliferation and Sex Differentiation in Developing Zebrafish

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (Gnrh) plays important roles in reproduction by stimulating luteinizing hormone release, and subsequently ovulation and sperm release, ultimately controlling reproduction in many species. Here we report on a new role for this decapeptide. Surprisingly, Gnrh3-null zebrafish generated by CRISPR/Cas9 exhibited a male-biased sex ratio. After the dome stage, the number of primordial germ cells (PGCs) in gnrh3-/- fish was lower than that in wild-type, an effect that was partially rescued by gnrh3 overexpression. A terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) analysis revealed no detectable apoptosis of PGCs in gnrh3-/- embryos. Proliferating PGCs could be detected in wild-type embryos, while there was no detectable signal in gnrh3-/- embryos. Compared with wild type, the phosphorylation of AKT was not significantly different in gnrh3-/- embryos, but the phosphorylation of ERK1/2 decreased significantly. Treatment with a Gnrh analog (Alarelin) induced ERK1/2 phosphorylation and increased PGC numbers in both wild-type and gnrh3-/- embryos, and this was blocked by the MEK inhibitor PD0325901. The relative expression of sox9a, amh, and cyp11b were significantly upregulated, while cyp19a1a was significantly downregulated at 18 days post-fertilization in gnrh3-/- zebrafish. Taken together, these results indicate that Gnrh3 plays an important role in early sex differentiation by regulating the proliferation of PGCs through a MAPK-dependent path.

Alternative splicing of GnRH2 and GnRH2-associated peptide plays roles in gonadal differentiation of the rice field eel, Monopterus albus

The rice field eel, Monopterus albus, is a protogynous hermaphrodite fish, in which the gonads are initially female ovaries which then transform into male testes. The exact mechanisms governing sex reversal in the rice field eel are unknown. In this study, a novel alternative splicing variant of GnRH2 (GnRH2-SV), retaining the second intron, was discovered in the gonad of the rice field eel. Compared to GnRH2, GnRH2-SV may give rise to a novel truncated GnRH2-associated peptide (New GAP2). The normal transcript of GnRH2 was primarily expressed in the brain, and could also be detected in the liver, spleen, ovary, and testis. However, GnRH2-SV was only expressed in the ovary and testis. During sex reversal, GnRH2 expression levels increased significantly at late stages; however, expression levels of GnRH2-SV were lower in ovary than in ovotestis and testis. We also examined the effect of three peptides (GnRHa, GAP2, and New GAP2) on gonadal sex differentiation during the third stage of ovarian development of the rice field eel. Compared to the control group, the expression of amh increased significantly following incubation with each of the three peptides. However, only New GAP2 stimulated the expression of sox9a1 mRNA in vitro. After intraperitoneal injection of GAP2, the expression of amh, foxl2, and cyp19a1a increased significantly after 12 h; the concentration of serum 11-KT was also significantly increased at the 12 h time point. Treatment with New GAP2 significantly increased the expression of amh, dmrt1a, and sox9a1, and also increased the concentration of serum 11-KT. After treated with GnRHa, the expression of amh, dmrt1a, sox9a1, cyp19a1a, and foxl2 increased significantly, as did the level of serum E2. These results indicated that both GAP2 and New GAP2 play a crucial role in inducing expression changes of sex-differentiation related genes, and may be involved in the gonadal development and sex reversal in the rice field eel.

Mu opioid receptor in spermatozoa, eggs and larvae of gilthead sea bream (Sparus Aurata) and its involvement in stress related to aquaculture

In aquaculture, unfavourable conditions experienced during early development may have strong downstream effects on the adult phenotype and fitness. Sensitivity to stress, leading to disease, reduced growth and mortality, is higher in larvae than in adult fish. In this study, conducted on sea bream (Sparus aurata), we evidenced the presence of the mu opioid receptor in gametes and larvae at different developmental stages. Moreover, we evaluated the possibility of reducing the effects of artificially produced stress, altering temperature, salinity and pH, by naloxone (an opioid antagonist) and calcium. Results evidenced that mu opioid receptor is present in larvae and in gametes of both sexes and that, during larval growth, its expression level changes accordingly; furthermore, naloxone/calcium association is efficacious in increasing the survival period of treated larvae compared to controls. We conclude that in sea bream rearing, the use of naloxone/calcium against stress can improve fish farming techniques by reducing larval mortality and consequently increasing productivity.

Cloning of corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) precursor cDNA and immunohistochemical detection of CRH peptide in the brain of the Japanese eel, paying special attention to gonadotropin-releasing hormone

The stress-related corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) was first identified by isolation of its cDNA from the brain of the Japanese eel Anguilla japonica. CRH cDNA encodes a signal peptide, a cryptic peptide and CRH (41 amino acids). The sequence homology to mammalian CRH is high. Next, the distribution of CRH-immunoreactive (ir) cell bodies and fibers in the brain and pituitary were examined by immunohistochemistry. CRH-ir cell bodies were detected in several brain regions, e.g., nucleus preopticus pars magnocellularis, nucleus preopticus pars gigantocellularis and formatio reticularis superius. In the brain, CRH-ir fibers were distributed not only in the hypothalamus but also in various regions. Some CRH-ir fibers projected to adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) cells in the rostral pars distalis of the pituitary and also the α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH) cells in the pars intermedia of the pituitary. Finally, the neuroanatomical relationship between the CRH neurons and gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) neurons was examined by dual-label immunohistochemistry. CRH-ir fibers were found to be in close contact with GnRH-ir cell bodies in the hypothalamus and in the midbrain tegmentum and GnRH-ir fibers were in close contact with CRH-ir cell bodies in the nucleus preopticus pars magnocellularis. These results suggest that CRH has some physiological functions other than the stimulation of ACTH and α-MSH secretion and that reciprocal connections may exist between the CRH neurons and GnRH neurons in the brain of the Japanese eel.

Evolution of GnRH ligands and receptors in gnathostomata

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) is the final common signaling molecule used by the brain to regulate reproduction in all vertebrates. Until now, a total of 24 GnRH structural variants have been characterized from vertebrate, protochordate and invertebrate nervous tissue. Almost all vertebrates already investigated have at least two GnRH forms coexisting in the central nervous system. Furthermore, it is now well accepted that three GnRH forms are present both in early and late evolved teleostean fishes. The number and taxonomic distribution of the different GnRH variants also raise questions about the phylogenetic relationships between them. Most of the GnRH phylogenetic analyses are in agreement with the widely accepted idea that the GnRH family can be divided into three main groups. However, the examination of the gnathostome GnRH phylogenetic relationships clearly shows the existence of two main paralogous GnRH lineages: the ''midbrain GnRH" group and the "forebrain GnRH" group. The first one, represented by chicken GnRH-II forms, and the second one composed of two paralogous lineages, the salmon GnRH cluster (only represented in teleostean fish species) and the hypophysotropic GnRH cluster, also present in tetrapods. This analysis suggests that the two forebrain clades share a common precursor and reinforces the idea that the salmon GnRH branch has originated from a duplication of the hypophysotropic lineage. GnRH ligands exert their activity through G protein-coupled receptors of the rhodopsin-like family. As with the ligands, multiple GnRHRs are expressed in individual vertebrate species and phylogenetic analyses have revealed that all vertebrate GnRHRs cluster into three main receptor types. However, new data and a new phylogenetic analysis propose a two GnRHR type model, in which different rounds of gene duplications may have occurred in different groups within each lineage.

The centrifugal visual system of vertebrates: a comparative analysis of its functional anatomical organization

The present review is a detailed survey of our present knowledge of the centrifugal visual system (CVS) of vertebrates. Over the last 20 years, the use of experimental hodological and immunocytochemical techniques has led to a considerable augmentation of this knowledge. Contrary to long-held belief, the CVS is not a unique property of birds but a constant component of the central nervous system which appears to exist in all vertebrate groups. However, it does not form a single homogeneous entity but shows a high degree of variation from one group to the next. Thus, depending on the group in question, the somata of retinopetal neurons can be located in the septo-preoptic terminal nerve complex, the ventral or dorsal thalamus, the pretectum, the optic tectum, the mesencephalic tegmentum, the dorsal isthmus, the raphé, or other rhombencephalic areas. The centrifugal visual fibers are unmyelinated or myelinated, and their number varies by a factor of 1000 (10 or fewer in man, 10,000 or more in the chicken). They generally form divergent terminals in the retina and rarely convergent ones. Their retinal targets also vary, being primarily amacrine cells with various morphological and neurochemical properties, occasionally interplexiform cells and displaced retinal ganglion cells, and more rarely orthotopic ganglion cells and bipolar cells. The neurochemical signature of the centrifugal visual neurons also varies both between and within groups: thus, several neuroactive substances used by these neurons have been identified; GABA, glutamate, aspartate, acetylcholine, serotonin, dopamine, histamine, nitric oxide, GnRH, FMRF-amide-like peptides, Substance P, NPY and met-enkephalin. In some cases, the retinopetal neurons form part of a feedback loop, relaying information from a primary visual center back to the retina, while in other, cases they do not. The evolutionary significance of this variation remains to be elucidated, and, while many attempts have been made to explain the functional role of the CVS, opinions vary as to the manner in which retinal activity is modified by this system.

Chromosomal Organization, Evolutionary Relationship, and Expression of Zebrafish GnRH Family Members

Multiple forms of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) are found in different vertebrates. In this study, we have cloned cDNA encoding the full-length gnrh3 and gnrh2 from zebrafish brain and characterized their structure and expression patterns. We performed phylogenetic analysis and compared conserved syntenies in the region surrounding the GnRH genes from human, chicken, pufferfish, and zebrafish genores. The gnrh3 and gnrh2 genes were mapped to LG17 and LG21, respectively. The zebrafish genome appears to lack an ortholog to human GNRH1, and the human genome appears to lack an ortholog of gnrh3. Expression of gnrh3 began in the olfactory pit at 24-26 h postfertilization and expanded to the olfactory bulb during early larval stage. Expression of gnrh2 is always in the midbrain. In addition, GnRH is also expressed in boundary cells surrounding seminiferous cysts of the testis. Thus, this detailed phylogenetic, chromosomal comparison, and expression study defines the identity and the evolutionary relationship of two zebrafish gnrh genes. We propose a model describing the evolution of gnrh genes involving ancestral duplication of the genes followed by selective loss of one gene in some teleosts.

Developmental Expression of Three Forms of Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone and Ontogeny of the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Gonadal Axis in Gilthead Seabream (Sparus aurata)1

To address the complexity of the origin of the GnRH system in perciforms, we investigated the ontogenic expression of three GnRHs in gilthead seabream. Using in situ hybridization, chicken (c) GnRH-II mRNA-expressing cells were detected in the hindbrain at 1.5 days postfertilization (DPF) and in the midbrain at 2 DPF and thereafter; the hindbrain signals became undetectable after 10 DPF. Salmon (s) GnRH mRNA-expressing cells were first seen in the olfactory placode at 3 DPF, started caudal migration at 14 DPF, and reached the preoptic areas at 59 DPF. Seabream (sb) GnRH mRNA-expressing cells were first detected in the terminal nerve ganglion cells (TNgc), ventral part of the ventral telencephalon, nucleus preopticus parvocellularis, and thalamus at 39 DPF, and extended to the nucleus preopticus magnocellularis at 43 DPF, ventrolateral hypothalamus at 51 DPF, and nucleus lateralis tuberis and posterior tuberculum at 59 DPF. Coexpression of sbGnRH and sGnRH transcripts was found in the TNgc. Using real-time fluorescence-based quantitative polymerase chain reaction, transcript levels of cGnRH-II and sGnRH were first detected at 1 and 1.5 DPF, respectively, and increased and remained high thereafter. Transcript levels of sbGnRH remained low after first detection at 1 DPF. Furthermore, these GnRH expression profiles were correlated with the expression profiles of reproduction-related genes in which at least four concomitant increases of GnRH, GnRH receptor, gonadotropin, gonadotropin receptor, and Vasa transcripts were found at 5, 8, 14, and 28 DPF. Our data provide an expanded view of the ontogeny of the GnRH system and reproductive axis in perciforms.

New insights in developmental origins of different GnRH (gonadotrophin-releasing hormone) systems in perciform fish: an immunohistochemical study in the European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax)

The knowledge of the roles and origins of different gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) systems could greatly contribute to improve the understanding of mechanisms involved in the physiological control of early development, puberty and spawning. Thus, in this study, we have analyzed the distribution of the cells expressing salmon GnRH, seabream GnRH and chicken GnRH-II forms in the brain and pituitary of developing sea bass using specific antibodies to their corresponding GnRH-associated peptides. The first prepro-chicken GnRH-II-immunoreactive cells arose in the germinal zone of the third ventricle at 4 days after hatching, increasing their number from days 10 to 30, in which they adopted their adult position. The prepro-chicken GnRH-II-immunoreactive fibers became conspicuous in the first week and from day 26 they reached almost all brain areas, especially the hindbrain, being never detected in the pituitary. First prepro-salmon GnRH-immunoreactive cells were detected in the olfactory placode at day 7 after hatching and reached the olfactory bulbs at day 10. Migrating prepro-salmon GnRH cells arrived at the ventral telencephalon at day 15, and became apparent in the preoptic area from day 45. The prepro-salmon GnRH innervation was more evident in the forebrain and increased notably between 10 and 30 days, at which fibers already extended from the olfactory bulbs to the medulla. A few prepro-salmon GnRH-immunoreactive fibers were observed in the pituitary from day 30. The prepro-seabream GnRH-immunoreactive cells were first detected at day 26 in the rostral olfactory bulbs. On day 30, prepro-seabream GnRH-immunoreactive cells were also present in the ventral telencephalon, reaching the preoptic area and the hypothalamus at 45 and 60 days, respectively. The prepro-seabream GnRH innervation appeared restricted to the ventral forebrain, increasing notably during the sixth week, when fibers also reached the pituitary. A significant prepro-seabream GnRH innervation was not detected in the pituitary until day 60.

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone neuronal development during the sensitive period of temperature sex determination in the pejerrey fish, Odontesthes bonariensis

The development of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) neurons was studied in relation to the sensitive period of thermolabile sex determination in the pejerrey Odontesthes bonariensis, an atherinid fish from South America. Fish were raised from hatching at three different temperatures: 17 degrees C (100% females), 24 degrees C (70% females), and 29 degrees C (100% males). Three groups of immunoreactive GnRH (ir-GnRH) neurons were identified at the terminal nerve ganglion (TNG), the midbrain tegmentum (MT), and the preoptic area (POA). Immunoreactive GnRH (ir-GnRH) neurons were identified in the TNG at hatching (day 0) and in the MT at day 3 at all the experimental temperatures. In the POA ir-GnRH neurons were identified in the nucleus preopticus periventricularis simultaneously with the first appearance of ir-GnRH fibers in the pituitary on days 11, 14, and 17 for larvae kept at 29, 24, and 17 degrees C, respectively. The number of ir-GnRH neurons in the TNG did not show any statistical difference between temperatures. The number of ir-GnRH neurons in the MT increased in number during the experiment for larvae kept at 17 and 24 degrees C but decreased between days 17 and 31 in larvae kept at 29 degrees C. The number of ir-GnRH neurons in the POA increased during development with a peak at day 28 for all temperatures studied and the magnitude of this peak showed a correlation with incubation temperature. These results reinforce the notion that the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal axis is active during sex determination in pejerrey suggesting a possible role of the central nervous system and GnRH in this process. It is also suggested that GnRH neurons located in the preoptic area might be the physiological transducers of temperature during the temperature sensitive period in this species.

Evolutionary aspects of cellular communication in the vertebrate hypothalamo-hypophysio-gonadal axis

This review emphasizes the comparative approach for developing insight into knowledge related to cellular communications occurring in the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal axis. Indeed, research on adaptive phenomena leads to evolutionary tracks. Thus, going through recent results, we suggest that pheromonal communication precedes local communication which, in turn, precedes communication via the blood stream. Furthermore, the use of different routes of communication by a certain mediator leads to a conceptual change related to what hormones are. Nevertheless, endocrine communication should leave out of consideration the source (glandular or not) of mediator. Finally, we point out that the use of lower vertebrate animal models is fundamental to understanding general physiological mechanisms. In fact, different anatomical organization permits access to tissues not readily approachable in mammals.

Cell migration and evolutionary significance of GnRH subtypes

Hypothetically it can be assumed that in advanced teleost fishes, GnRH-III and GnRH-IV neurons migrate along the 'telencephalonic' (anterior) and 'diencephalonic' (posterior) migratory route, which perhaps fuses in primitive teleost fishes and land vertebrates to form the 'ancient migratory route' (in all probability = nervus terminalis; see Von Bartheld et al., 1988) of GnRH-I neurons. The difference in distribution pattern of GnRH forms in the vertebrate brain is due to distinct embryonic origins: (1) Cells of olfactory origin, which give rise to GnRH-I (salmon, catfish, chicken I, mammalian GnRH) are distributed along the olfactory system and the basal forebrain in primitive fishes and in land vertebrates; GnRH-I might be pivotal for LH/FSH synthesis-release, olfaction and metamorphosis in lower vertebrates. In advanced teleost fishes, neurons synthesizing GnRH-III ('salmon' GnRH) originate from the olfactory system; they are distributed along the basal olfactory bulbs, with distinct ganglia (NOR) at the caudalmost part of the olfactory bulbs and few scattered cells in the basal telencephalon. The NOR might function as a neuromodulator, hypophysiotropic hormone and regulate visual associated reproductive behaviors. (2) Cells of mesencephalonic origin, which give rise to GnRH-II (chicken-II GnRH) are evolutionarily conserved; might function as a neuromodulator involved in motor-associated reproductive behaviors and acid-base balance. (3) Cells of diencephalonic origin, which give rise to GnRH-IV (seabream, medaka GnRH); they are localized in the anterior-basal OVLT-POA area and present only in advanced teleost fishes. GnRH-IV has been implicated in gonadal sex differentiation, gonadal maturation, LH/FSH secretion and territorial behavior. Advance teleost fishes for yet unknown functions might have acquired GnRH-IV. Although all GnRH subtypes participate in some aspect of reproduction; the precise function of each GnRH form still remains unclear.

Spatio-temporal expression of gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptor subtypes in gonadotropes, somatotropes and lactotropes in the cichlid fish

The description of two or more forms of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) in most vertebrates suggests multiple roles for this family of peptide hormones. In order to verify these functions, we analysed the anatomical location, time of initial expression and ontogenic changes in three distinct GnRH receptors (GnRH-Rs) in developing and sexually mature tilapia, using antisera raised against the extracellular loop three of the receptor, which is a determinant in ligand-selectivity and receptor coupling to signalling pathways. In all age groups, including males and females, using in situ hybridization and double-label immunological methods, GnRH-R type IA was colocalized in cells containing luteinizing hormone (LH) beta-subunit in the pituitary. GnRH-R type IB was visualized in prolactin cells and LH cells. The type III GnRH-R was expressed in growth hormone cells. On day 8 after fertilization, GnRH-R type III was first seen in growth hormone cells and, subsequently, on day 15, GnRH-Rs type IA and type IB were first seen in LH and prolactin cells, respectively. On day 25, the receptor occupied area per pituitary and the staining intensity of GnRH-R type IA increased significantly, consistent with the hypothesis that differentiation of GnRH neurones and their inputs to the pituitary coincide precisely with gonadal sex differentiation and steroidogenesis in tilapia. The differential distribution of GnRH-Rs in the pituitary provides the first clear evidence that the three native GnRH variants in tilapia have cognate receptors, each capable of regulating different pituitary endocrine cells.

Sex differences in the brain of goldfish: gonadotropin-releasing hormone and vasotocinergic neurons

The differences between male and female behaviors are reflected in sexual dimorphism of brain structures and are found throughout the nervous system in a variety of vertebrates. The present study examined neurons immunolabeled for gonadotropin-releasing hormone and arginine vasotocin in the brain of the goldfish Carassius auratus to determine if these neurons are sexually dimorphic. There was no sex difference or influence of sex steroids on the neuronal volume and optical density of staining of arginine vasotocin neurons. Similarly, gonadotropin-releasing hormone neurons of the terminal nerve and midbrain tegmentum did not differ between sexually mature males, females and maturing females replaced with sex steroids with respect to distribution, numbers, optical density of staining, or gross morphology. In maturing females, testosterone specifically recruited additional preoptic gonadotropin-releasing hormone neurons to equal those in sexually mature individuals. Since estrogen had no effect, the influence of testosterone on gonadotropin-releasing hormone neuronal numbers appears to be independent of aromatization. Specifically, the preoptic gonadotropin-releasing hormone neuronal size was significantly larger in sexually mature males than females. 11-Ketotestosterone-replacement to ovariectomized maturing females induced male-typical secondary characters and male-type courtship behavior but did not masculinize the preoptic gonadotropin-releasing hormone neuronal size. Our results show that the sexually dimorphic preoptic gonadotropin-releasing hormone neuronal size is determined by factors (genetic) other than gonadal steroids. Further, we propose the hypothesis that phenotypic and behavioral sex differences need not be accompanied by structural differences in gonadotropin-releasing hormone and arginine vasotocin in the brain.

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone-immunoreactive neurons and associated nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-diaphorase-positive neurons in the brain of a teleost, Rhodeus amarus

Using combined nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-diaphorase (NADPHd) histochemistry and salmon gonadotropin-releasing hormone (sGnRH) immunocytochemistry, it is reported for the first time that possible potential contacts occur between the nitric oxide (NO)- and the GnRH-containing neurons in the brain of a freshwater teleost, Rhodeus amarus. GnRH-immunoreactive (ir) neurons were observed in the olfactory nerve (OLN), olfactory bulb (OB), medial olfactory tract (MOT), ventral telencephalon (VT), nucleus preopticus periventricularis (NPP), nucleus lateralis tuberis (NLT), and midbrain tegmentum (MT). Although NADPHd neurons were widely distributed in the brain, only those having an association with GnRH-ir neurons are described. Based on the nature of the association between the GnRH and the NADPHd neurons, the former were classified into three types. The Type I GnRH neurons were characterized by the presence of NADPHd-positive granules in the perikarya and processes and occurred in the OLN, OB, MOT, and VT. The Type II GnRH neurons, having soma-soma or soma-process contacts with the NADPHd neurons, were restricted to the MT; the long processes of NADPHd cells crossed over either the perikarya or the thick processes of GnRH cells. However, the Type III GnRH neurons, found in the NPP and NLT, did not show direct contact, but a few NADPHd fibers were present in the vicinity. The terminal-soma contacts in the olfactory system and the VT and the soma-soma contacts in the MT represent the sites of possible potential contacts indicating a direct NO involvement in GnRH function, although NO action by diffusion remains possible. NO may influence the NPP and NLT GnRH cells by diffusion only, since a direct contact was not observed.

Molecular cloning and tissue-specific expression of a gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptor in the Japanese eel

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) is a key regulatory neuropeptide involved in the control of reproduction in vertebrates. In the Japanese eel, one of the most primitive teleost species, two molecular forms of GnRH, mammalian-type GnRH and chicken-II-type GnRH (cGnRH-II), have been identified. This study has isolated a full-length cDNA for a GnRH receptor from the pituitary of the eel. The 3233-bp cDNA encodes a 380-amino acid protein which contains seven hydrophobic transmembrane domains and N- and C-terminal regions. The exon/intron organization of the open reading frame of the eel GnRH receptor gene was also determined. The open reading frame consists of three exons and two introns. The exon-intron splice site is similar to that of the GnRH receptor genes of mammals reported so far. Expression of the eel GnRH receptor was detected in various parts of the brain, pituitary, eye, olfactory epithelium, and testis. This result suggests that GnRH has local functions in these tissues in addition to its actions on gonadotropin synthesis and release in the pituitary. This tissue-specific expression pattern is similar to that of the eel cGnRH-II. Furthermore, the present eel receptor shows very high amino acid identity with the catfish and goldfish GnRH receptors, which are highly selective for the cGnRH-II. These results suggest that the cGnRH-II acts through binding to the present receptor in the eel.