Melanocortin-4 receptor regulation of reproductive function in black rockfish (Sebastes schlegelii)

•Black rockfish MC4R cDNA was cloned.•The mc4r expression in the brain increased with ovarian development.•Black rockfish mc4r was expressed in ovarian follicles.•MC4R could regulate the expression of several genes important for reproduction. Melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) is a G protein-coupled receptor with multiple functions in mammals. However, the functions of MC4R in fish have not been investigated extensively. The purpose of this study was to determine potential regulation of reproduction by the MC4R. We cloned the black rockfish MC4R and analyzed its tissue distribution and function. The results showed that black rockfish mc4r cDNA consisted of 981 nucleotides encoding a protein of 326 amino acids. The quantitative PCR data showed that mc4r mRNA was primarily expressed in the brain, gonad, stomach and intestine. In the brain, mc4r was found to be primarily located in the hypothalamus. Both α-MSH and β-MSH increased gnih expression and decreased sgnrh and cgnrh expression (P