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¹ Guangxi University, College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanning 530005, China
² Guangxi Key Laboratory of Aquatic Genetic Breeding and Healthy Aquaculture, Gaungxi Academy of Fishery Sciences, Nanning City 530021, Guangxi Province, China DOI : 10.4194/1303-2712-v19_4_03 Viewed : 3348 - Downloaded : 2387 The effects of a gonadotropin releasing hormone analogue (GnRH-a, alarelin) on ovarian development and the associated gene expression in the tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) pituitary gland were investigated for 60 days. Eighty sexually mature female tilapia were randomly divided into group I (GI, 10 μg alarelin), group II (GII, 15 μg alarelin), group III (GIII, 20 μg alarelin), and control group (GC). Anti-GnRH antibody levels peaked on day 30 in GI, days 40–50 in GII, and day 40 in GIII, and were highest in GII (P<0.05). The highest follicle stimulating hormone β (FSH-β) and luteinizing hormone β (LH-β) concentrations occurred in GII and GIII on day 40, and were higher in GII than in the other groups (P<0.05). No significant differences in FSH-β or LH-β concentrations were observed between GI and CG. FSH-β and GnRH receptor mRNA levels declined significantly in the pituitary after alarelin treatment, whereas LH-β mRNA increased by day 60. Alarelin treatment promoted ovarian and follicular development, which has implications for novel GnRH-based techniques established to regulate sexual maturation in tilapia. Keywords : Alarelin, Tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus, GnRH receptor, FSH-β, LH-β