Introduction: Gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) is a crucial regulator of gonadal development and reproduction in fish. In addition, it is a possible secretagogue of somatolactin (SL) in teleosts. Little is known about the possible association of GnRH and SL during reproduction of Liza ramada.
Aim of the work: The present study was designed to investigate the GnRH and SL immunoreactivities during inducing the final stages of maturation, ovulation and spawning of Liza ramada; to assess the possible actions of these hormones on sexual maturation and spawning of teleosts.
Materials and Methods: Histological and immunohistochemical techniques were generally performed to describe the immunoreactivity of both GnRH and SL during ovarian maturation and spawning of Liza ramada.
Results: The mammalian GnRH (mGnRH) cell bodies were observed in the medulla oblongata. However, SL-immunoreactive (-IR) cells were detected in the pars intermedia (PI) of the pituitary gland. The GnRH-IR nerve terminals are in close contact with SL-IR pituitary cells. Importantly, the activity of both mGnRH-IR neurons and SL-IR pituitary cells were increased as reflected with the increased cell number and size during sexual maturation and spawning. The activity of these cells was more pronounced as indicated by the increased cells number and size with more immunoreactivity in pre-spawning female. During final maturation and spawning, mGnRH-IR neurons and SL cells showed an increase in the secretory activity as reflected by their small sizes, vacuolated appearance and weak immunoreactivity.
Conclusions: Taken together, these findings suggest that the close contact of mGnRH-IR terminals with SL-IR cells in the pituitary, together with the concomitant changes of GnRH and SL immunoreactivity in response to progress in the reproductive events suggest that GnRH may regulate SL release and the regulation of reproductive activity in L. ramada.