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Hypothalamic expression of GnRH-I and GnIH in the Eurasian tree sparrow over a single long day

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Abstract

Seasonal reproductive cycles of most birds are regulated by photoperiod via neuroendocrine control. The present study aims to investigate the role of a single long day in triggering hypothalamic expressions of GnRH-I and GnIH in the Eurasian tree sparrow (Passer montanus). Sparrows were divided into two groups (n = 24 each) and pre-treated under short days (9L: 15D) for 4 days. On the fifth day, one group was exposed to long day (14L: 10D), while other was continued under short day for another 1 day. Birds of both the groups were sacrificed and perfused on fifth day at different time points, i.e., ZT 14, ZT 16 and ZT 18 and the expressions of GnRH-I and GnIH mRNAs and peptides were studied using real-time PCR and immunohistochemistry, respectively. In addition, testicular size was measured to know testicular development. Observations revealed that birds exposed to a single long day (14L: 10D) showed an increase in hypothalamic expressions of GnRH-I mRNA and peptide and decrease in levels of GnIH mRNA only at ZT 16 and ZT 18 with no significant change in GnIH peptide. However, no significant change in GnRH-I or GnIH expression was observed at any time point under short day and birds maintained high and low expression levels of GnIH and GnRH-I, respectively. Our results clearly indicate that the photoperiodic response system of sparrow is highly sensitive to light and responds even to single long day. Furthermore, they suggest that the GnRH-I and GnIH are expressed in the hypothalamus of tree sparrow in an anti-phasic manner and switching over of their expression occurs at late hours of exposure of birds to single long day.

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Acknowledgements

Financial supports through grants from DBT and SERB, Government of India, New Delhi are gratefully acknowledged. We thank Dr. Henryk F. Urbanski, USA and to Dr. K. Tsutsui, Japan for providing rabbit anti- GnRH antibody and anti-quail GnIH serum, respectively, used in the present study.

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  1. Department of Zoology, North-Eastern Hill University, Shillong, Meghalaya, 793022, India

    Anand S. Dixit, Sanborlang Byrsat & Bidisha Kataki

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  1. Anand S. Dixit
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ASD conceived the idea, directed the research and written the manuscript. SB and BK performed the experiment and analysed the data.

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Correspondence to Anand S. Dixit.

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Dixit, A.S., Byrsat, S. & Kataki, B. Hypothalamic expression of GnRH-I and GnIH in the Eurasian tree sparrow over a single long day. Photochem Photobiol Sci 21, 147–158 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s43630-021-00143-6

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