Melatonin: A potent candidate in the regulation of fish oocyte growth and maturation

Recent studies on several fish species, especially carp, implicated pineal hormone melatonin (N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine) as a potent candidate in the regulatory mechanism of seasonal reproduction. Under natural conditions, the temporal pattern of serum melatonin varied with daily light–dark cycle and the reproductive status of the fish as well. Carefully controlled study revealed that exogenous administration of melatonin may result in stimulation or inhibition or no influences at all on the gonadal functions depending on the reproductive status of fish. Cross-talk between the melatonin and ovarian steroid has been evident from in vitro study, in which melatonin accelerated the action of 17α,20β-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one or maturation inducing hormone (MIH) on meiotic cell cycle resumption in carp oocytes by formation of maturation promoting factor (MPF) – a complex of two proteins, cyclin B and cyclin dependant kinase Cdk1. While several lines of evidence suggest melatonin effects on hypothalamo-hypophyseal–gonadal axis, localization and dynamics of a 37-kDa melatonin receptor protein in carp oocytes argued in favor of extra-hypothalamic direct action of melatonin on fish reproduction. A recent study in carp indicated that influences of an identical regimen of photoperiods in different parts of annual cycle on ovarian functions vary in relation to the profiles of serum melatonin, but not to any rhythm parameters of MT1 or MT2 receptors on the gonad or brain. The purpose of this short review is to bring together the current knowledge on the biological effects of melatonin on fish reproduction mainly focusing the recent findings on carp.

► Daily rhythms of serum melatonin vary with reproductive status of free-living fish.
► Exogenous melatonin depending on reproductive season may be pro-, or anti-gonadal.
► Melatonin accelerates the action of MIH on fish oocyte maturation by MPF formation.
► Presence of melatonin receptor in carp oocytes argues for extra-hypothalamic action.
► We used current data to explain mechanism of melatonin actions on fish reproduction.