Kisspeptin and its receptor Gpr54 play an important role in mammalian reproduction. To date, up to three distinct kiss and four gpr54 genes have been identified in vertebrates. In fish, the kiss1and/or kiss2 and their cognate kisspeptin receptors (gpr54-1b and/or gpr54-2b) have been characterized in a number of teleosts including, Beloniformes, Cypriniformes, Mugiliforms, Pleuronectiforms, Tetraodontiforms, Gasterosteiforms and other Perciforms such as sea bass. From them, only the medaka, zebrafish, goldfish and sea bass have two kiss and two gpr54 genes whereas other fish possess one form of ligand and receptor. Because these genes possess conserved structural organization, it is suggested that these genes originated from a common ancentral form. Phylogenetic and synteny analyses support this hypothesis. Evidence exits this neuroendrocrine system plays a relevant role in fish reproduction. Presently studies in sea bass include the characterization of this system in the brain and the ligand-receptor interactions as well as quantitative monitoring of kiss/gpr54 gene expression patterns under different environmental/physiological conditions.

Este trabajo fue financiado por los proyectos GV06/268 y PROMETEO/2010/003 de la Generalitat Valenciana, LIFECYCLE (FP7222719) de la Comunidad Europea y AGL2009-11086 del MICINN.

Ponencia presentada en el XIII Congreso Nacional de Acuicultura celebrado en Barcelona del 21 al 24 de noviembre de 2011

Peer Reviewed