Galanin is a neuropeptide known for its appetite stimulating properties and for the regulation of energy metabolism. There are some evidence that in mammals it may have an important role in the regulation of puberty and reproductive functions but little is known about its possible function in the regulation of fish reproductive cycle. In this study, we have characterized the galaninergic system in sea bass, an important species for aquaculture, through cloning several forms of galanin (GAL) and galanin receptors (GALRs). Their expression was detected in brain and gonads of adult male and female sea bass, with sex dimorphism for some of the transcripts that had higher expression in testis than ovary. Through the normal first reproductive season of male sea bass, galanin forms presented a differential expression pattern in hypothalamus, while no differences throughout the cycle were detected for GALRs. In pituitary galanin expression was very low and high expression and regulation throughout the cycle was detected for type 1 receptors. These results support roles for the galaninergic system in the reproductive cycle of male sea bass, which will be interesting to explore in the future.

Comunicación presentada en el XV Congreso Nacional de Acuicultura / I Congreso Ibérico de Acuicultura, celebrado en Huelva, España, del 13 al 16 de octubre de 2015

Peer Reviewed