Molecular Polymorphism of Native Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone (GnRH) Is Restricted to Mammalian GnRH and [Hydroxyproline9] GnRH in the Developing Rat Brain

Abstract

Although chicken gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH)-II is thought to occur in most animal species, its presence and that of two other variants (lamprey GnRH-III, salmon GnRH) is questionable in rodents. Here we report on the GnRH peptides present in the hypothalamus and the remaining brain of rat of both sexes during development. No immunoreactivity was detected in the elution zone of either native or hydroxylated forms of the above three variants in any of brain extracts chromatographed. The main peptides detected were mammalian GnRH (mGnRH) and m[hydroxyproline⁹]GnRH (mHypGnRH). In the hypothalamus, these peptides were associated with their free acid and precursor forms. N-terminal fragments from both native decapeptides ([1–5]GnRH) and mGnRH ([1–9]GnRH) were observed only in the hypothalamus. C-terminal fragments were detected in both tissues. The relative proportions of mGnRH and mHypGnRH showed no developmental changes in the remaining brain. The hypothalamic proportions of mHypGnRH were high on day 5, and decreased from day 15 onwards. The [Gly¹¹]-precursor to mHypGnRH molar ratio was twofold lower than with the non-hydroxylated peptides. The mGnRH to [1–9]GnRH molar ratio increased in males but decreased in females during development. No sex-related differences were observed in the native decapeptide to [1–5]GnRH molar ratio. It was concluded that (1) chicken GnRH-II is not present in all mammals, (2) mGnRH and mHypGnRH are the main GnRH isoforms present in the rat brain, (3) the processing of [Gly¹¹]-precursor into mHypGnRH occurs at a higher rate than that of mGnRH, and (4) the catabolism does not interfere with the developmental changes undergone by the mGnRH and mHypGnRH brain contents.