Ethanolamine plasmalogens derived from whale brain stimulate both follicle‐stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone secretion by bovine gonadotrophs

Ethanolamine plasmalogens (EPls) are the only known ligands of a novel receptor, G protein‐coupled receptor 61, and bovine brain EPls stimulate follicle‐stimulating hormone (FSH) but not luteinizing hormone (LH), secreted by bovine gonadotrophs. We hypothesized that the brain EPls of whales (Balaenoptera edeni), another Cetartiodactyla with at least twice the lifespan of bovines, could stimulate FSH secretion by gonadotrophs. To test this hypothesis, bovine gonadotrophs (from approximately 2‐year‐old Japanese Black heifers) were cultured for 3.5 days and treated with increasing concentrations of brain EP1s from whales (approximately 22 years old). FSH and LH secretion was stimulated by all tested concentrations of whale EPls (p