Award details

Neurobiological mechanisms controlling decreased reproductive function in birds

Reference	BBS/E/R/03780611
Principal Investigator / Supervisor	Professor Peter Sharp
Co-Investigators / Co-Supervisors
Institution	The Roslin Institute
Department	The Roslin Institute Department
Funding type	Research
Value (£)	171,601
Status	Completed
Type	Institute Project
Start date	01/04/1997
End date	31/03/1998
Duration	12 months

Abstract

The photoperiodic response underlying seasonal breeding causes a loss of reproductive efficiency in pigs sheep and poultry. This project aims to increase knowledge of the mechanisms involved with a focus on birds and the neurobiological factors regulating the function of cells producing gonadotrophin releasing hormone - I (GnRH-I). Experiments will be carried out to identify neural pathways and mechanisms mediating inhibitory inputs to (GnRH-I) neurones in prepubertal, breeding, incubating and photorefractory birds. To establish whether these inputs primarily inhibit GnRH-I gene expression or GnRH-I release. To determine whether increases in serum concentrations of prolactin or central nervous vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) play a physiological role in the development or maintenance of inhibitory inputs to GnRH-I neurones. To determine whether central nervous prolactin receptors mediate inhibitory effects of prolactin on reproductive function and if so, to identify the neurotransmitters/neuropeptides involved. Part of this work will be done in collaboration with others on non-commercial species, including the starling, a well established model for avian photorefractoriness and the emu, one of the ratites currently being evaluated for diversification projects. The project maps on to the Technology Foresight priority 'integrative bioscience' - to ensure that new knowledge from molecular and cell biology is used to improve understanding of how genes operate in the whole organism. The ultimate aim is to devise new method s in commercial farm animals, to reduce seasonality, promote early puberty and increase lifetime reproductive performance.

Summary

unavailable

Committee	Closed Committee - Animal Sciences (AS)
Research Topics	X – not assigned to a current Research Topic
Research Priority	X – Research Priority information not available
Research Initiative	X - not in an Initiative
Funding Scheme	X – not Funded via a specific Funding Scheme

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