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Histological organization of the central nervous system and distribution of a gonadotropin-releasing hormone-like peptide in the blue crab, Portunus pelagicus

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Abstract

We present a detailed histological description of the central nervous system (CNS: brain, subesophageal ganglion, thoracic ganglia, abdominal ganglia) of the blue crab, Portunus pelagicus. Because the presence of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) in crustaceans has been disputed, we examine the presence and localization of a GnRH-like peptide in the CNS of the blue crab by using antibodies against lamprey GnRH (lGnRH)-III, octopus GnRH (octGnRH) and tunicate GnRH (tGnRH)-I. These antibodies showed no cross-reactivity with red-pigment-concentrating hormone, adipokinetic hormone, or corazonin. In the brain, strong lGnRH-III immunoreactivity (−ir) was detected in small (7–17 μm diameter) neurons of clusters 8, 9 and 10, in medium-sized (21–36 μm diameter) neurons of clusters 6, 7 and 11 and in the anterior and posterior median protocerebral neuropils, olfactory neuropil, median and lateral antenna I neuropils, tegumentary neuropil and antenna II neuropil. In the subesophageal ganglion, lGnRH-III-ir was detected in medium-sized neurons and in the subesophageal neuropil. In the thoracic and abdominal ganglia, lGnRH-III-ir was detected in medium-sized and small neurons and in the neuropils. OctGnRH-ir was observed in neurons of the same clusters with moderate staining, particularly in the deutocerebrum, whereas tGnRH-I-ir was only detected in medium-sized neurons of cluster 11 in the brain. Thus, anti-lGnRH-III shows greater immunoreactivity in the crab CNS than anti-octGnRH and anti-tGnRH-I. Moreover, our functional bioassay demonstrates that only lGnRH-III has significant stimulatory effects on ovarian growth and maturation. We therefore conclude that, although the true identity of the crab GnRH eludes us, crabs possess a putative GnRH hormone similar to lGnRH-III. The identification and characterization of this molecule is part of our ongoing research.

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Acknowledgments

We extend our gratitude to Thanapong Kriangkum and Piyachat Chansela for their technical advice.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Rama 6 Road, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand

    Jirawat Saetan, Thanyaporn Senarai, Wattana Weerachatyanukul, Jittipan Chavadej, Peter J. Hanna, Prasert Sobhon & Prapee Sretarugsa

  2. Coastal Fisheries Research and Development Bureau, Department of Fisheries, Coastal Aquatic Feed Research Institute, Petchaburi, 76130, Thailand

    Montakan Tamtin

  3. Pro Vice-Chancellor’s Office, Faculty of Science and Technology, Deakin University, Locked Bag 20000, Geelong, VIC, 3220, Australia

    Peter J. Hanna

  4. Brain Research Institute, Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University Sunway Campus, Selangor, Malaysia

    Ishwar Parhar

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  1. Jirawat Saetan
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  2. Thanyaporn Senarai
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  3. Montakan Tamtin
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  8. Prasert Sobhon
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  9. Prapee Sretarugsa
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Correspondence to Prapee Sretarugsa.

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We acknowledge the financial support of a Distinguished Research Professor Grant (co-funded by The Thailand Research Fund, The Commission on Higher Education and Mahidol University) to Prasert Sobhon and of a Ph.D. Scholarship to Jirawat Saetan by the Development and Promotion of Science and Technology Talent Project.

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Saetan, J., Senarai, T., Tamtin, M. et al. Histological organization of the central nervous system and distribution of a gonadotropin-releasing hormone-like peptide in the blue crab, Portunus pelagicus . Cell Tissue Res 353, 493–510 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00441-013-1650-6

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