Expression of beta-nerve growth factor and its receptor in rat seminiferous epithelium: specific function at the onset of meiosis.

beta-Nerve growth factor (NGF) is expressed in spermatogenic cells and has testosterone-downregulated low-affinity receptors on Sertoli cells suggesting a paracrine role in the regulation of spermatogenesis. An analysis of the stage-specific expression of NGF and its low affinity receptor during the cycle of the seminiferous epithelium in the rat revealed NGF mRNA and protein at all stages of the cycle. Tyrosine kinase receptor (trk) mRNA encoding an essential component of the high-affinity NGF receptor was also present at all stages. In contrast, expression of low affinity NGF receptor mRNA was only found in stages VIIcd and VIII of the cycle, the sites of onset of meiosis. The low-affinity NGF receptor protein was present in the plasma membrane of the apical Sertoli cell processes as well as in the basal plasma membrane of these cells at stages VIIcd to XI. NGF was shown to stimulate in vitro DNA synthesis of seminiferous tubule segments with preleptotene spermatocytes at the onset of meiosis while other segments remained nonresponsive. We conclude that NGF is a meiotic growth factor that acts through Sertoli cells.

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Expression of nerve growth factor and neurotrophin receptors in testicular cells suggest novel roles for neurotrophins outside the nervous system

Reproduction Fertility and Development ◽

10.1071/rd9961075 ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 8 (7) ◽

pp. 1075 ◽

Cited By ~ 24

Author(s):

K Seidl ◽

A Buchberger ◽

C Erck

Keyword(s):

Nerve Growth Factor ◽

Growth Factor ◽

Germ Cells ◽

Sertoli Cells ◽

Leydig Cells ◽

Expression Patterns ◽

Myoid Cells ◽

Nerve Growth ◽

High Affinity ◽

Ngf Receptor

The present study was designed to clarify the non-neurotrophic role for neurotrophins in mouse testis. By means of SI nuclease protection assay we could demonstrate that the gene coding for the low-affinity nerve growth factor (NGF) receptor p75NGFR is transiently expressed during germ cell development. Gene expression for p75NGFR was detected in late-meiotic spermatocytes and early spermatids and was found to be co-expressed with trkB and trkC, two tyrosine kinase receptors, commonly regarded as the high-affinity receptors for brain-derived neurotrophic factor and neurotrophin-3. Gene transcripts for the high-affinity NGF receptor trkA were found exclusively in non-germ cells. Isolated Leydig cells, peritubular myoid cells and Sertoli cells, but not germ cells, could be identified as potential testicular NGF sources. Non-germ cells respond after incubation for several days with a sharp induction in NGF synthesis, which is accompanied by a loss of phenotypic expression patterns. The fact that p75NGFR mRNA expression was induced in cultured Sertoli cells and peritubular myoid cells suggests an autocrine mode of NGF action in these cells. Induction of NGF synthesis in cultured Leydig cells could be prevented by the glucocorticoid dexamethasone. Results indicate different roles for the individual neurotrophins in distinct testicular compartments and suggest that these neurotrophins might support testicular functions by signalling between individual cell types in an autocrine and paracrine manner.

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Efficient processing and expression of human nerve growth factor receptors in Xenopus laevis oocytes: effects on maturation

Molecular and Cellular Biology ◽

10.1128/mcb.8.5.2242-2246.1988 ◽

1988 ◽

Vol 8 (5) ◽

pp. 2242-2246

Author(s):

A Sehgal ◽

D A Wall ◽

M V Chao

Keyword(s):

Nerve Growth Factor ◽

Growth Factor ◽

Xenopus Laevis ◽

Peptide Sequence ◽

Receptor Protein ◽

Cell Surface Expression ◽

Xenopus Laevis Oocytes ◽

Signal Peptide Sequence ◽

Nerve Growth ◽

Ngf Receptor

The nerve growth factor (NGF) receptor is an integral membrane protein that is phosphorylated and heavily glycosylated. Determination of the amino acid sequence by molecular cloning indicates that the receptor is a cysteine-rich protein which contains a signal peptide sequence and spans the lipid bilayer with a single transmembrane sequence. A single mRNA of 3.8 kilobases was observed for the receptor, of which 1.5 kilobases is coding sequence. We have used microinjection of receptor RNA in Xenopus laevis oocytes to obtain cell surface expression of the receptor. The presence of NGF receptors in oocytes was verified by radioimmunoassay, specific binding of [125I]NGF, and metabolic labeling followed by immunoprecipitation. The NGF receptor protein was rapidly processed in oocytes and displayed extensive glycosylation. Furthermore, the presence of NGF receptors in oocytes potentiates the ability of progesterone to induce maturation.

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Efficient processing and expression of human nerve growth factor receptors in Xenopus laevis oocytes: effects on maturation.

Molecular and Cellular Biology ◽

10.1128/mcb.8.5.2242 ◽

1988 ◽

Vol 8 (5) ◽

pp. 2242-2246 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

A Sehgal ◽

D A Wall ◽

M V Chao

Keyword(s):

Nerve Growth Factor ◽

Growth Factor ◽

Xenopus Laevis ◽

Peptide Sequence ◽

Receptor Protein ◽

Cell Surface Expression ◽

Xenopus Laevis Oocytes ◽

Signal Peptide Sequence ◽

Nerve Growth ◽

Ngf Receptor

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Identification of a nerve growth factor receptor protein in sympathetic ganglia membranes by affinity labeling.

Journal of Biological Chemistry ◽

10.1016/s0021-9258(19)68777-6 ◽

1981 ◽

Vol 256 (18) ◽

pp. 9419-9424 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

J. Massague ◽

B.J. Guillette ◽

M.P. Czech ◽

C.J. Morgan ◽

R.A. Bradshaw

Keyword(s):

Nerve Growth Factor ◽

Growth Factor ◽

Growth Factor Receptor ◽

Sympathetic Ganglia ◽

Nerve Growth Factor Receptor ◽

Receptor Protein ◽

Affinity Labeling ◽

Nerve Growth

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CRK protein binds to two guanine nucleotide-releasing proteins for the Ras family and modulates nerve growth factor-induced activation of Ras in PC12 cells

Molecular and Cellular Biology ◽

10.1128/mcb.14.8.5495-5500.1994 ◽

1994 ◽

Vol 14 (8) ◽

pp. 5495-5500

Author(s):

M Matsuda ◽

Y Hashimoto ◽

K Muroya ◽

H Hasegawa ◽

T Kurata ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Nerve Growth Factor ◽

Growth Factor ◽

Pc12 Cells ◽

Sh2 Domain ◽

Single Amino Acid ◽

Guanine Nucleotide ◽

Nerve Growth ◽

Tyrosine Residues ◽

Ngf Receptor ◽

Ras Family

It has been reported that growth factors activate Ras through a complex of an adaptor type SH2-containing molecule, Grb2, and a Ras guanine nucleotide-releasing protein (GNRP), mSos. We report on the involvement of another adaptor molecule, CRK, in the activation of Ras. Overexpression of wild-type CRK proteins CRK-I and CRK-II enhanced the nerve growth factor (NGF)-induced activation of Ras in PC12 cells, although the basal level of GTP-bound active Ras was not altered. In contrast, mutants with a single amino acid substitution in either the SH2 or SH3 domain of the CRK-I protein inhibited the NGF-induced activation of Ras. Two GNRPs for the Ras family, mSos and C3G, were coimmunoprecipitated with the endogenous Crk proteins in PC12 cells. The association between C3G and the CRK mutants was dependent upon the presence of intact SH3. The SH2 domain of CRK bound to the SHC protein phosphorylated on tyrosine residues by NGF stimulation. The results demonstrate that, in addition to Grb2, CRK participates in signaling from the NGF receptor and that two GNRPs appear to transmit signals from these adaptor molecules to Ras.

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Nerve growth factor (NGF) receptor expression in human gut associated lymphoid tissues

Advances in Mucosal Immunology ◽

10.1007/978-94-009-1848-1_192 ◽

1990 ◽

pp. 624-625

Author(s):

P Pezzati ◽

J S Marshall ◽

A Stanisz ◽

J Bienenstock ◽

R H Stead

Keyword(s):

Nerve Growth Factor ◽

Growth Factor ◽

Receptor Expression ◽

Lymphoid Tissues ◽

Human Gut ◽

Nerve Growth ◽

Ngf Receptor

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Seasonal Expression of NGF and Its Cognate Receptors in the Ovaries of Grey Squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis)

Animals ◽

10.3390/ani10091558 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (9) ◽

pp. 1558

Author(s):

Margherita Maranesi ◽

Francesco Alessandro Palermo ◽

Antonello Bufalari ◽

Francesca Mercati ◽

Daniele Paoloni ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gene Expression ◽

Nerve Growth Factor ◽

Growth Factor ◽

Breeding Season ◽

Granulosa Cells ◽

Reproductive Physiology ◽

Tyrosine Kinase Receptor ◽

Grey Squirrel ◽

Nerve Growth ◽

Grey Squirrels

The grey squirrel is an invasive alien species that seriously threatens the conservation of the native red squirrel species. With the aim of characterizing the reproductive physiology of this species due to its great reproductive success, the function of the ovarian nerve growth factor (NGF) system was analyzed in a grey squirrel population living in central Italy. During the breeding and nonbreeding seasons, the ovarian presence, distribution, and gene expression of NGF, neurotrophic tyrosine kinase receptor 1 (NTRK1), and nerve growth factor receptor (NGFR), as well as NGF plasma concentrations, were evaluated in female grey squirrels. NGF was found in the luteal cells and in the thecal and granulosa cells of follicles, while NTRK1 and NGFR were only observed in follicular thecal and granulosa cells. NGF and NGFR transcripts were almost two-fold greater during the breeding season, while no seasonal differences were observed in NTRK1 gene expression. During the breeding season, NGFR was more expressed than NTRK1. Moreover, no changes were observed in NGF plasma levels during the reproductive cycle. The NGF system seems to be involved in regulating the ovarian cycle mainly via local modulation of NGF/NGFR, thus playing a role in the reproductive physiology of this grey squirrel population.

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