<i>KISS1</i> Gene Expression in the Developing Brain of Female Pigs in Pre- and Peripubertal Periods

  • IEDA Nahoko
    Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University, Nagoya 464-8601, Japan
  • UENOYAMA Yoshihisa
    Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University, Nagoya 464-8601, Japan
  • TAJIMA Yoko
    Aichi Agricultural Research Center, Nagakute 480-1193, Japan
  • NAKATA Tomoko
    Aichi Agricultural Research Center, Nagakute 480-1193, Japan
  • KANO Masatoshi
    Aichi Agricultural Research Center, Nagakute 480-1193, Japan
  • NANIWA Yousuke
    Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University, Nagoya 464-8601, Japan
  • WATANABE Youki
    Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University, Nagoya 464-8601, Japan
  • MINABE Shiori
    Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University, Nagoya 464-8601, Japan
  • TOMIKAWA Junko
    Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University, Nagoya 464-8601, Japan
  • INOUE Naoko
    Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University, Nagoya 464-8601, Japan
  • MATSUDA Fuko
    Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University, Nagoya 464-8601, Japan
  • OHKURA Satoshi
    Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University, Nagoya 464-8601, Japan
  • MAEDA Kei-ichiro
    Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan
  • TSUKAMURA Hiroko
    Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University, Nagoya 464-8601, Japan

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  • KISS1 Gene Expression in the Developing Brain of Female Pigs in Pre- and Peripubertal Periods

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Abstract

Puberty is associated with an increase in gonadotropin secretion as a result of an increase in gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) secretion. Kisspeptin is considered to play a key role in puberty onset in many mammalian species, including rodents, ruminants and primates. The present study aimed to determine if changes in hypothalamic expression of the KISS1 gene, encoding kisspeptin, are associated with the onset of puberty in pigs. The animals (n=4 in each group) were perfused with 4% paraformaldehyde at 0, 1, 2, 3 and 4 months old, as prepubertal stages, and at 5 months old, as the peripubertal stage, following each blood sampling. KISS1 gene expressions in coronal sections of brains were visualized by in situ hybridization. Plasma luteinizing hormone (LH) was measured by radioimmunoassay. KISS1 mRNA signals were observed in the arcuate nucleus (ARC) at all ages examined without any significant difference in the number of KISS1-expressing cells, indicating that the KISS1 gene is constantly expressed in the ARC throughout pubertal development in pigs. The plasma LH concentration was the highest in 0-month-old piglets and significantly decreased in the 1- and 2 month-old groups (P<0.05), suggesting a developing negative feedback mechanism affecting gonadotropin release during the prepubertal period. Considering the potent stimulating effect of kisspeptin on gonadotropin release in prepubertal pigs, kisspeptin secretion rather than kisspeptin synthesis may be responsible for the onset of puberty in pigs.

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