Central administration of growth hormone-releasing hormone triggers downstream movement and schooling behavior of chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) fry in an artificial stream.

Anadromous salmonids migrate downstream to the ocean (downstream migration). The neuroendocrine mechanism of triggering the onset of downstream migration is not well known. We investigated the effects of 14 chemicals, including neuropeptides, pineal hormones, neurotransmitters, and neuromodulators (growth hormone-releasing hormone: GHRH, thyrotropin-releasing hormone, corticotropin-releasing hormone: CRH, gonadotropin-releasing hormone, melatonin, N-acetyl serotonin, serotonin, beta-endorphin, enkephalin, dopamine, norepinephrine, epinephrine, acetylcholine, and histamine) on the onset of downstream migration in chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) fry. We defined downstream migration as a downstream movement (negative rheotaxis) with schooling behavior and counted the number of downstream movements and school size in experimental circulation tanks. An intracerebroventricular injection of GHRH, CRH, melatonin, N-acetyl serotonin, or serotonin stimulated the number of downstream movements. However, GHRH was the only chemical that also stimulated an increase in schooling behavior. These results suggest that CRH, melatonin, N-acetyl serotonin, and serotonin are involved in the stimulation of downstream movement in chum salmon, while GHRH stimulates both downstream movement and schooling behavior.