Work

Electrical synapses connect a network of gonadotropin releasing hormone neurons in a cichlid fish

Year: 2015

Type: article

Abstract: Initiating and regulating vertebrate reproduction requires pulsatile release of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH1) from the hypothalamus. Coordinated GnRH1 release, not simply elevated absolute levels, effects the release of pituitary gonadotropins that drive steroid production in the gonads. However, the mechanisms underlying synchronization of GnRH1 neurons are unknown. Control of synchronicity by gap junctions between GnRH1 neurons has been proposed but not previously found. We recorded simultaneously from pairs of transgenically labeled GnRH1 neurons in adult male Astatotilapia burtoni cichlid fish. We report that GnRH1 neurons are strongly and uniformly interconnected by electrical synapses that can drive spiking in connected cells and can be reversibly blocked by meclofenamic acid. Our results suggest that electrical synapses could promote coordinated spike firing in a cellular assemblage of GnRH1 neurons to produce the pulsatile output necessary for activation of the pituitary and reproduction.

Source: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1421851112

Authors: Yunyong Ma, Scott A. Juntti, Caroline K. Hu, John R. Huguenard, Russell D. Fernald

Institutions: Stanford Medicine, Stanford University

Language: English

Topic: Hypothalamic control of reproductive hormones

Subfield: Reproductive Medicine

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

Open Access status: green

Funders: National Institute of Mental Health, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development