A cDNA (Sp-RPCH), cloned from the mud crab Scylla paramamosain, encodes a PRCH precursor and is expressed in nervous tissues.
Sp-RPCH expression levels in nervous tissues fluctuated along a cycle of ovarian maturation.
Synthetic RPCH evoked a Ca2+ current in dissociated brain neurons.
Synthetic RPCH in vitro significantly increased mean oocyte diameter of ovarian tissues co-cultured with nervous tissues.
Synthetic RPCH in vivo significantly increased gonad-somatic index, hepatopancreas-somatic index, and vitellogenin expression in ovary and hepatopancreas.