scholarly journals Age- and cell-related gene expression of aromatase and estrogen receptors in the rat testis

2010 ◽  
Vol 45 (3) ◽  
pp. 147-159 ◽  
Author(s):  
C Bois ◽  
C Delalande ◽  
M Nurmio ◽  
M Parvinen ◽  
L Zanatta ◽  
...  

Spermatogenesis is a complex and coordinated process leading to the formation of spermatozoa. This event, which is under the control of numerous endocrine and paracrine factors, seems to also be controlled by estrogens which exert their effects via nuclear estrogen receptors (ESRs) ESR1 and ESR2. Estrogens are synthesized by aromatase which is biologically expressed in the rat testis. The objective of our study was to clarify the gene expression patterns of aromatase and ESRs according to age and in the two compartments of the adult rat testis. In the adult, transcripts of aromatase vary according to the germ cell type and to the stages of seminiferous epithelium, a maximum being observed at stage I. The ESR1 gene is highly expressed in the adult testis and in stages from VIIc–d to XIV. Moreover, both ESR mRNA levels are higher in purified round spermatids than in pachytene spermatocytes, suggesting a putative role of estrogens in the haploid steps of spermatogenesis. The variability of the results in the expression of both ESRs led us to explore the putative presence of variants in the rat testis. Concerning ESR1, we have shown the presence of the full-length form and of one isoform with exon 4 deleted. For ESR2, besides the wild type, three isoforms were observed: one with exon 3 deleted, another with an insertion of 54 nucleotides, and the last one with both modifications. Therefore, the stage-regulated expression of aromatase and ESR1 genes in the rat testis suggests a likely role of estrogens in spermatogenesis.

Development ◽  
1992 ◽  
Vol 115 (4) ◽  
pp. 1035-1043
Author(s):  
B. Staels ◽  
J. Auwerx

Liver lipoprotein lipase (LPL) and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) gene expression show similar developmental patterns. Both mRNAs are abundantly expressed in neonatal rat liver and gradually disappear upon ageing. Treatment with fibric acid derivatives, such as fenofibrate, not only delays the developmental extinction of the LPL gene, but also increases LPL mRNA levels in neonatal rat liver. Similarly, the developmental extinction of the AFP gene in the liver is clearly delayed after fenofibrate. In adult rat liver, fibric acid derivatives transcriptionally reinduce a mRNA with similar size as LPL, but no effect on AFP mRNA was detected. Sequence comparison of clones isolated from a fenofibrate-induced cDNA library demonstrates that the fenofibrate-(re)induced mRNA in adult rat liver is encoding for LPL. The induction of LPL after fenofibrate is tissue-specific, since heart and adipose tissue LPL mRNA levels remain unchanged. In conclusion, fibric acid derivatives modulate developmental expression patterns in rat liver, and may selectively reinduce the expression of extinct genes in adult rat liver.


2001 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 193-206 ◽  
Author(s):  
RP Bakshi ◽  
S Galande ◽  
P Bali ◽  
R Dighe ◽  
K Muniyappa

Type II DNA topoisomerase (topo II) is required for diverse biological functions including DNA replication, maintenance of genome stability, chromosome segregation and chromosome condensation. While the identity of topo II in rodent testis has been established, the regulation of topo II expression during the development of the postnatal testis and gametogenesis is unclear. Here, we report that rat testis topo II is developmentally and hormonally regulated. Topo IIalpha mRNA levels peaked prior to the onset of puberty, declined sharply thereafter and stabilized in adult testis. In contrast, the topo II enzyme content was lower in prepubertal testis but increased after the onset of puberty. Topo II was expressed in a cell-specific manner within germ cells, being detected only in pachytene spermatocytes. While testosterone markedly increased topo IIalpha mRNA levels in prepubertal testis, continued treatment failed to enhance topo IIalpha mRNA above postpubertal control levels. The extent of topo II activity remained steady regardless of the testosterone-induced increase in topo IIalpha mRNA levels. Inhibition of testosterone function in postpubertal animals by ethanedimethane sulphonate (EDS) and flutamide resulted in a significant decrease in topo IIalpha gene expression and topo II activity. The administration of exogenous testosterone (T) to EDS- and flutamide-treated rats restored topo IIalpha mRNA levels and topo II activity similar to the levels seen in the testis of age-matched control animals. Histochemical analyses of testes indicated that the effect of T on spermatogenesis was separable from its effect on topo IIalpha expression. Our results reveal that testosterone acts as a positive regulator of topo IIalpha gene expression and is required for the maintenance of topo IIalpha expression during the development of the postnatal testis and spermatogenesis.


Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 437
Author(s):  
Ting Gong ◽  
Weiyong Wang ◽  
Houqiang Xu ◽  
Yi Yang ◽  
Xiang Chen ◽  
...  

Testicular expression of taste receptor type 1 subunit 3 (T1R3), a sweet/umami taste receptor, has been implicated in spermatogenesis and steroidogenesis in mice. We explored the role of testicular T1R3 in porcine postnatal development using the Congjiang Xiang pig, a rare Chinese miniature pig breed. Based on testicular weights, morphology, and testosterone levels, four key developmental stages were identified in the pig at postnatal days 15–180 (prepuberty: 30 day; early puberty: 60 day; late puberty: 90 day; sexual maturity: 120 day). During development, testicular T1R3 exhibited stage-dependent and cell-specific expression patterns. In particular, T1R3 levels increased significantly from prepuberty to puberty (p < 0.05), and expression remained high until sexual maturity (p < 0.05), similar to results for phospholipase Cβ2 (PLCβ2). The strong expressions of T1R3/PLCβ2 were observed at the cytoplasm of elongating/elongated spermatids and Leydig cells. In the eight-stage cycle of the seminiferous epithelium in pigs, T1R3/PLCβ2 levels were higher in the spermatogenic epithelium at stages II–VI than at the other stages, and the strong expressions were detected in elongating/elongated spermatids and residual bodies. The message RNA (mRNA) levels of taste receptor type 1 subunit 1 (T1R1) in the testis showed a similar trend to levels of T1R3. These data indicate a possible role of T1R3 in the regulation of spermatid differentiation and Leydig cell function.


Blood ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 107 (5) ◽  
pp. 2090-2093 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dirk Kienle ◽  
Axel Benner ◽  
Alexander Kröber ◽  
Dirk Winkler ◽  
Daniel Mertens ◽  
...  

The mutation status and usage of specific VH genes such as V3-21 and V1-69 are potentially independent pathogenic and prognostic factors in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). To investigate the role of antigenic stimulation, we analyzed the expression of genes involved in B-cell receptor (BCR) signaling/activation, cell cycle, and apoptosis control in CLL using these specific VH genes compared to VH mutated (VH-MUT) and VH unmutated (VH-UM) CLL not using these VH genes. V3-21 cases showed characteristic expression differences compared to VH-MUT (up: ZAP70 [or ZAP-70]; down: CCND2, P27) and VH-UM (down: PI3K, CCND2, P27, CDK4, BAX) involving several BCR-related genes. Similarly, there was a marked difference between VH unmutated cases using the V1-69 gene and VH-UM (up: FOS; down: BLNK, SYK, CDK4, TP53). Therefore, usage of specific VH genes appears to have a strong influence on the gene expression pattern pointing to antigen recognition and ongoing BCR stimulation as a pathogenic factor in these CLL subgroups.


Epigenomics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Beatriz Garcia-Ruiz ◽  
Manuel Castro de Moura ◽  
Gerard Muntané ◽  
Lourdes Martorell ◽  
Elena Bosch ◽  
...  

Aim: To investigate DDR1 methylation in the brains of bipolar disorder (BD) patients and its association with DDR1 mRNA levels and comethylation with myelin genes. Materials & methods: Genome-wide profiling of DNA methylation (Infinium MethylationEPIC BeadChip) corrected for glial composition and DDR1 gene expression analysis in the occipital cortices of individuals with BD (n = 15) and healthy controls (n = 15) were conducted. Results: DDR1 5-methylcytosine levels were increased and directly associated with DDR1b mRNA expression in the brains of BD patients. We also observed that DDR1 was comethylated with a group of myelin genes. Conclusion: DDR1 is hypermethylated in BD brain tissue and is associated with isoform expression. Additionally, DDR1 comethylation with myelin genes supports the role of this receptor in myelination.


2004 ◽  
Vol 16 (8) ◽  
pp. 763 ◽  
Author(s):  
Han-Seung Kang ◽  
Chae-Kwan Lee ◽  
Ju-Ran Kim ◽  
Seong-Jin Yu ◽  
Sung-Goo Kang ◽  
...  

In the present study, differential gene expression in the uteri of ovariectomised (OVX) and pro-oestrous rats (OVX v. pro-oestrus pair) was investigated using cDNA expression array analysis. Differential uterine gene expression in OVX rats and progesterone (P4)-injected OVX rats (OVX v. OVX + P4 pair) was also examined. The uterine gene expression profiles of these two sets of animals were also compared for the effects of P4 treatment. RNA samples were extracted from uterine tissues and reverse transcribed in the presence of [α32P]-dATP. Membrane sets of rat arrays were hybridised with cDNA probe sets. Northern blot analysis was used to validate the relative gene expression patterns obtained from the cDNA array. Of the 1176 cDNAs examined, 23 genes showed significant (>two-fold) changes in expression in the OVX v. pro-oestrus pair. Twenty of these genes were upregulated during pro-oestrus compared with their expression in the OVX rat uterus. In the OVX v. OVX + P4 pair, 22 genes showed significant (>two-fold) changes in gene expression. Twenty of these genes were upregulated in the OVX + P4 animals. The genes for nuclear factor I–XI, afadin, neuroligin 2, semaphorin Z, calpain 4, cyclase-associated protein homologue, thymosin β-4X and p8 were significantly upregulated in the uteri of the pro-oestrus and OVX + P4 rats of both experimental pairs compared with the OVX rat uteri. These genes appear to be under the control of P4. One of the most interesting findings of the present study is the unexpected and marked expression of the neuroligin 2 gene in the rat uterus. This gene is expressed at high levels in the central nervous system and acts as a nerve cell adhesion factor. According to Northern blot analysis, neuroligin 2 gene expression was higher during the pro-oestrus and metoestrus stages than during the oestrus and dioestrus stages of the oestrous cycle. In addition, neuroligin 2 mRNA levels were increased by both 17β-oestradiol (E2) and P4, although P4 administration upregulated gene expression to a greater extent than injection of E2. These results indicate that neuroligin 2 gene expression in the rat uterus is under the control of both E2 and P4, which are secreted periodically during the oestrous cycle.


Animals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 462 ◽  
Author(s):  
George Ramirez ◽  
Jaime Palomino ◽  
Karla Aspee ◽  
Monica De los Reyes

The competence to undergo expansion is a characteristic of cumulus cells (CCs). The aim was to investigate the expression of GDF-9 and BMP-15 mRNA in canine cumulus cells in relation to cumulus expansion and meiotic development over the estrous cycle. CCs were recovered from nonmatured and in vitro-matured (IVM) dog cumulus oocyte complexes (COCs), which were obtained from antral follicles at different phases of the estrous cycle. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (q-PCR) was used to evaluate the relative abundance of GDF-9 and BMP-15 transcripts from the CCs with or without signs of expansion. The results were evaluated by ANOVA and logistic regression. The maturity of the oocyte and the expansion process affected the mRNA levels in CCs. There were differences (p < 0.05) in GDF-9 and BMP-15 gene expression in CCs isolated from nonmatured COCs when comparing the reproductive phases. Lower mRNA levels (p < 0.05) were observed in anestrus and proestrus in comparison to those in estrus and diestrus. In contrast, when comparing GDF-9 mRNA levels in IVM COCs, no differences were found among the phases of the estrous cycle in expanded and nonexpanded CCs (p < 0.05). However, the highest (p < 0.05) BMP-15 gene expression in CCs that did not undergo expansion was exhibited in anestrus and the lowest (p < 0.05) expression was observed in estrus in expanded CCs. Although the stage of the estrous cycle did not affect the second metaphase (MII )rates, the expanded CCs obtained at estrus coexisted with higher percentages of MII (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the differential expression patterns of GDF-9 and BMP-15 mRNA transcripts might be related to cumulus expansion and maturation processes, suggesting specific regulation and temporal changes in their expression.


2003 ◽  
Vol 285 (3) ◽  
pp. L593-L601 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hong Hao ◽  
Christine H. Wendt ◽  
Gurpreet Sandhu ◽  
David H. Ingbar

Na+-K+-ATPase plays an essential role in active alveolar epithelial fluid resorption. In fetal and adult alveolar epithelial cells, glucocorticoids (GC) increase Na+-K+-ATPase activity and mRNA levels. We sought to define the mechanism of Na+-K+-ATPase gene upregulation by GC. In a rat alveolar epithelial cell line (RLE), dexamethasone (Dex) increased β1-subunit Na+-K+-ATPase mRNA expression two- to threefold within 3 h after exposure to the GC. The increased gene expression was due to increased transcription as demonstrated by nuclear run-on assays, whereas mRNA stability remained unchanged. Transient transfection of 5′ deletion mutants of a β1promoter-reporter construct demonstrated a 1.5- to 2.2-fold increase in promoter activity by Dex. All of the 5′ deletion constructs contained partial or palindromic GC regulatory elements (GRE) and responded to GC. The increased expression of promoter reporter was inhibited by RU-486, a GC receptor (GR) antagonist, suggesting the involvement of GR. The palindromic GRE at -631 demonstrated Dex induction in a heterologous promoter construct. Gel mobility shift assays using RLE nuclear extracts demonstrated specific binding to this site and the presence of GR. We conclude that GC directly stimulate transcription of Na+-K+-ATPase β1gene expression in adult rat lung epithelial cells through a GR-dependent mechanism that can act at multiple sites.


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