Xiao Ping. / "September 2004." / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 153-176) / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Mode of access: World Wide Web. / Abstracts in English and Chinese.

Yuen Chi Wai. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2001. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 84-106). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Abstract (in English) --- p.ii / Abstract (in Chinese) --- p.iv / Acknowledgement --- p.vi / Table of Contents --- p.vii / List of Figures --- p.xii / Symbols and Abbreviations --- p.xv / Scientific names --- p.xvii / Chapter Chapter 1 --- General Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- Pituitary --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2 --- Gonadotropins (GTHs) --- p.3 / Chapter 1.2.1 --- Structure --- p.3 / Chapter 1.2.2 --- Function --- p.5 / Chapter 1.2.3 --- Regulation --- p.7 / Chapter 1.2.3.1 --- Neuroendocrine hypothalamic regulators --- p.9 / Chapter 1.2.3.1.1 --- Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) --- p.9 / Chapter 1.2.3.1.2 --- Dopamine (DA) --- p.11 / Chapter 1.2.3.2 --- Endocrine regulators from the gonads --- p.12 / Chapter 1.2.3.2.1 --- Gonadal steroids (T and E2) --- p.12 / Chapter 1.2.3.2.2 --- Negative steroid effect on pituitary GTH regulation --- p.12 / Chapter 1.2.3.2.3 --- Positive steroid effect on pituitary GTH regulation --- p.13 / Chapter 1.2.3.3 --- Paracrine regulators from within the pituitary --- p.14 / Chapter 1.3 --- Activin --- p.14 / Chapter 1.3.1 --- Structure --- p.14 / Chapter 1.3.2 --- Function --- p.16 / Chapter 1.4 --- Follistatin (FS) --- p.17 / Chapter 1.4.1 --- Structure --- p.17 / Chapter 1.4.2 --- Function --- p.19 / Chapter 1.5 --- Temporal Variations in the GTH Expressional and Releasing Profile and Sex Steroid Level in the Goldfish --- p.19 / Chapter 1.5.1 --- Hormone changes during annual cycle --- p.20 / Chapter 1.5.2 --- Hormone changes during ovulatory cycle --- p.21 / Chapter 1.6 --- Objectives of the Present Study --- p.23 / Chapter Chapter 2 --- "Effects of Dopamine on the Expression of Gonadotropin (GTH) Subunits in the Dispersed Pituitary Cells of the Goldfish, Carassius auratus" --- p.26 / Chapter 2.1 --- Introduction --- p.26 / Chapter 2.2 --- Materials and Methods --- p.27 / Chapter 2.2.1 --- Materials --- p.27 / Chapter 2.2.2 --- Primary culture of dispersed goldfish pituitary cells --- p.28 / Chapter 2.2.3 --- mRNA analysis --- p.29 / Chapter 2.2.4 --- Data analysis --- p.30 / Chapter 2.3 --- Results --- p.30 / Chapter 2.3.1 --- Effects of DA on GTH-Iβ and GTH-IIβ expression --- p.30 / Chapter 2.3.2 --- Effects of DA D1 and D2 agonists on GTH-Iβ expression --- p.33 / Chapter 2.3.3 --- Effects of DA D1 and D2 antagonists on DA- inhibited GTH-Iβ expression --- p.33 / Chapter 2.3.4 --- Effects of α-adrenergic agonists on GTH-Iβ expression --- p.33 / Chapter 2.4 --- Discussion --- p.37 / Chapter Chapter 3 --- Seasonal Variation of Activin-regulated Goldfish Pituitary GTH-Ip and GTH-IIβ Expression and Evidence for the Involvement of Gonadal Steroids --- p.40 / Chapter 3.1 --- Introduction --- p.40 / Chapter 3.2 --- Materials and Methods --- p.42 / Chapter 3.2.1 --- Materials --- p.42 / Chapter 3.2.2 --- Gonadectomy of the goldfish --- p.42 / Chapter 3.2.3 --- Primary culture of dispersed pituitary cells --- p.43 / Chapter 3.2.4 --- mRNA analysis --- p.43 / Chapter 3.2.5 --- Data analysis --- p.44 / Chapter 3.3 --- Results --- p.44 / Chapter 3.3.1 --- Effects of goldfish activin B on the expression of GTH-Iβ and GTH-IIβ --- p.44 / Chapter 3.3.2 --- Seasonal variation of activin-regulated expression of GTH-Iβ and GTH-IIβ --- p.45 / Chapter 3.3.3 --- Effects of gonadectomy on basal and activin- regulated expression of GTH-Iβ and GTH-IIβ --- p.45 / Chapter 3.3.4 --- Effects of sex steroids on basal and activin- regulated expression of GTH-Iβ and GTH-IIβ in vitro --- p.50 / Chapter 3.4 --- Discussion --- p.57 / Chapter Chapter 4 --- Evidence for the Autocrine/Paracrine Regulation of Gonadotropin Expression by Activin in the Goldfish Pituitary --- p.61 / Chapter 4.1 --- Introduction --- p.61 / Chapter 4.2 --- Materials and Methods --- p.63 / Chapter 4.2.1 --- RNA isolation --- p.63 / Chapter 4.2.2 --- Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) --- p.63 / Chapter 4.2.3 --- Primary culture of goldfish pituitary cells --- p.63 / Chapter 4.2.4 --- Slot-blot analysis --- p.64 / Chapter 4.2.5 --- Data analysis --- p.64 / Chapter 4.3 --- Results --- p.65 / Chapter 4.3.1 --- Expression of activin βB subunit and activin type IEB receptor in the goldfish pituitary --- p.65 / Chapter 4.3.2 --- Effects of human activin A on goldfish GTH-Iβ and GTH-IIβ expression --- p.65 / Chapter 4.3.3 --- Effects of follistatin on basal and activin- regulated GTH-Iβ and GTH-IIβ expression --- p.69 / Chapter 4.4 --- Discussion --- p.69 / Chapter Chapter 5 --- General Discussion --- p.77 / Chapter 5.1 --- Overview --- p.77 / Chapter 5.2 --- Contribution of the Present Study --- p.78 / Chapter 5.2.1 --- Dopamine as a potential neuroendocrine regulator in the differential regulation of GTH-Iβ and GTH-IIβ expression --- p.78 / Chapter 5.2.2 --- Seasonal variation of the effects of activin on GTH-Iβ and GTH-IIβ expression --- p.79 / Chapter 5.2.3 --- Autocrine/paracrine regulation of GTH expression by activin --- p.79 / Chapter 5.3 --- Future Prospects --- p.81 / References --- p.84