Animal Husbandry and Feed Science ›› 2023, Vol. 44 ›› Issue (6): 82-87.doi: 10.12160/j.issn.1672-5190.2023.06.010

• Animal Genetics,Reproduction and Breeding • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Research Progress in Biological Roles of GnRH and Application of Its Analogues in Equine Animals

LI Zeting1, SU Shaofeng1, ZHAO Junli1, SUN Peipei2, BAI Jinyu3, WU Haiqing1   

  1. 1. Inner Mongolia Academy of Agricultural and Animal Husbandry Sciences,Hohhot 010031,China;
    2. Inner Mongolia Caoyuan Yulyu Science and Technology Animal Husbandry Co.,Ltd.,Hohhot 010020,China;
    3. Inner Mongolia Caoyuan Tongyuan Animal Husbandry Co.,Ltd.,Hohhot 010020,China
  • Received:2021-07-28 Revised:2023-08-31 Online:2023-11-30 Published:2024-01-11

Abstract: The low reproductive rate is a bottleneck that restricts the development of the equine animal industry, and the inadequate technology for reproductive regulation is the primary cause for the slow growth of the industry. Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), a neurohormone released by the hypothalamus, plays essential roles in the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal-axis pathway. GnRH can effectively promote follicular development and ovulation in equine animals. It is a decapeptide-containing compound that can be synthesized into many GnRH analogues by varying the amino acids at different locations within the decapeptide structure. GnRH and its analogues affect animal reproductive performance by stimulating the secretion of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH), and inhibiting the synthesis of estrogen receptors. It has been demonstrated that GnRH and its analogues could improve the reproductive performance of equine animals. This article reviews the structural characteristics and biological functions of GnRH and gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptor (GnRHR) as well as the research progress in the application of GnRH analogues in the reproduction of equine animals, in hoping to provide references for exploring the molecular mechanisms behind the biological effects of GnRH and the scientific application of GnRH analogues in the reproductive regulation of equine animals.

Key words: gonadotropin-releasing hormone, gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptor, gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogue, biological function, equine animal, reproductive regulation

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