GONADOTROPIN-INHIBITORY HORMONE (GNIH) AND USE THEREOF TO CONTROL THE PUBERTY, REPRODUCTION, INGESTION AND GROWTH OF FISH

Sea bass, Dicentrarchus labrax, is one of the most cultivated species in the EU. A problem related to the cultivation thereof is the early onset of puberty which leads to poor growth and deterioration in the quality of the meat. The invention pertains to the sector of biotechnology (sector of application of aquaculture). The invention relates to the cloning strategy of the gonadotropin-inhibitory hormone (GnIH) of sea bass, which contains two new peptides of the RFamide family. These peptides have been synthesised and used to generate specific antibodies and have exhibited inhibitory effects on different neuroendocrine and endocrine factors which control the reproduction of sea bass. This invention can be useful for controlling the puberty, reproduction, ingestion and growth of fish.