Expressions of melanopsins in telencephalon imply their function in synchronizing semilunar spawning rhythm in the mudskipper Boleophthalmus pectinirostris.

The mudskipper Boleophthalmus pectinirostris inhabits intertidal mudflats, exhibiting semilunar reproductive rhythms. To investigate whether melanopsin is possibly involved in the synchronization of the semilunar spawning rhythm in the female mudskipper, we first cloned all four melanopsin subtypes (opn4m1, opn4m3, opn4x1, opn4x2) in B. pectinirostris. Results from RTq-PCR showed that significantly higher transcription levels of all four melanopsin subtypes were observed in the eyes rather than other tissues. In brain, all four melanopsin subtypes were also detectable in different regions, including the telencephalon, in which the expression of melanopsin has not been reported in other teleosts. The transcription levels of opn4m3 and opn4x1 in the telencephalon exhibited a daily fluctuation pattern. When females entered the spawning season, opn4m1 and opn4x1 transcript levels increased significantly in the telencephalon. During the spawning season, the transcript levels of opn4m3 and opn4x1 in the telencephalon appeared to have a cyclic pattern associated with semilunar periodicity, exhibiting two cycles with a peak around the first or the last lunar quarters. Results from ISH showed that, opn4x1 mRNA was localized in the medial of dorsal telencephalic area, dorsal nucleus of ventral telencephalic area (Vd), ventral nucleus of ventral telencephalic area (Vv), anterior part of parvocellular preoptic nucleus, magnocellular part of the magnocellular preoptic nucleus (PMmc), habenular and ventral zone of hypothalamus. Intriguingly, gnrh3 mRNA was also located in Vd, Vv and PMmc. Taken together, our results suggested that melanopsins, e.g. opn4x1, expressed in the telencephalon might mediate semilunar spawning activity in the female mudskipper.