Neuropeptide involved in reproduction. May be an important hormone in the regulation of gonadal maturation. Expressed in the visceral ganglia at the gonadal early development stage in both sexes. Expressed significantly higher in the female gonad of early development stage (stage 1) than the indifference stage (stage 0). Males have higher expression in stage 1 compared with stage 0. Expression levels decrease during the late development stage (stage 2) and ripe stage (stage 3). There are positive significant correlations between the levels of this protein and progesterone as well as this protein and testosterone throughout the gonadal maturation.