Semen Modulates the Expression of NGF, ABHD2, VCAN, and CTEN in the Reproductive Tract of Female Rabbits

Semen changes the gene expression in endometrial and oviductal tissues modulating important processes for reproduction. We tested the hypothesis that mating and/or sperm-free seminal plasma deposition in the reproductive tract affect the expression of genes associated with sperm-lining epithelium interactions, ovulation, and pre-implantation effects (nerve growth factor, NGF; α/β hydrolase domain-containing protein 2, ABHD2; C-terminal tensin-like protein, CTEN or TNS4; and versican, VCAN) in the period 10–72 h post-mating. In Experiment 1, does (n = 9) were treated with gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) (control), GnRH-stimulated, and vaginally infused with sperm-free seminal plasma (SP-AI), or GnRH-stimulated and naturally mated (NM). In Experiment 2, does (n = 15) were GnRH-stimulated and naturally mated. Samples were retrieved from the internal reproductive tracts (cervix-to-infundibulum) 20 h post-treatment (Experiment 1) or sequentially collected at 10, 24, 36, 68, or 72 h post-mating (Experiment 2, 3 does/period). All samples were processed for gene expression analysis by quantitative PCR. Data showed an upregulation of endometrial CTEN and NGF by NM, but not by SP-AI. The findings suggest that the NGF gene affects the reproductive tract of the doe during ovulation and beyond, influencing the maternal environment during early embryonic development.

Effects of Swimming Training and Royal Jelly on BDNF and NGF Gene Expression in Hippocampus Tissue of Rats with Alzheimer’s Disease

Background: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is an age-related neurodegenerative disorder. Evidence from neuropathological studies indicates that the levels of neurotrophins brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and nerve growth factor (NGF) are compromised in AD. Objectives: The present study aimed to review the effects of swimming training and royal jelly (RJ) on BDNF and NGF gene expression in the hippocampus tissue of rats with AD. Methods: In the present experimental study, 25 rats with AD were divided into five groups, including (1) control, (2) sham, (3) RJ, (4) training, and (5) training with RJ. Five healthy rats were selected as the healthy control group to examine the effect of AD induction by 8 mg/kg trimethyltin chloride (TMT) intra-peritoneally on BDNF and NGF. During eight weeks, groups 3 and 5 received 100 mg/kg RJ daily intra-peritoneally, and groups 4 and 5 swam in a rat swimming tank three sessions per week. One-way ANOVA with Tukey’s post hoc test was used for data analysis in SPSS 20 software (P < 0.05). Results: The induction of AD by TMT had a significant effect on the reduction of BDNF (P = 0.001) and NGF (P = 0.001). However, RJ had a significant effect on the increase of NGF (P = 0.03). Nevertheless, RJ (P = 0.99), training (P = 0.99), and training with RJ (P = 0.94) had no significant effect on BDNF and training (P = 0.99) and training with RJ (P = 0.97) had no significant effect on NGF. Conclusions: It appears that RJ has a significant effect on the increase of NGF gene expression in the hippocampus tissue of rats with AD. Nevertheless, RJ consumption simultaneously with swimming training has no significant effect on BDNF and NGF.

Concomitant Nrf2- and ATF4-activation by Carnosic Acid Cooperatively Induces Expression of Cytoprotective Genes

: Carnosic acid (CA) is a phytochemical found in some dietary herbs, such as Rosmarinus officinalis L., and possesses antioxidative and anti-microbial properties. We previously demonstrated that CA functions as an activator of nuclear factor, erythroid 2 (NF-E2)-related factor 2 (Nrf2), an oxidative stress-responsive transcription factor in human and rodent cells. CA enhances the expression of nerve growth factor (NGF) and antioxidant genes, such as HO-1 in an Nrf2-dependent manner in U373MG human astrocytoma cells. However, CA also induces NGF gene expression in an Nrf2-independent manner, since 50 μM of CA administration showed striking NGF gene induction compared with the classical Nrf2 inducer tert-butylhydroquinone (tBHQ) in U373MG cells. By comparative transcriptome analysis, we found that CA activates activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4) in addition to Nrf2 at high doses. CA activated ATF4 in phospho-eIF2α- and heme-regulated inhibitor kinase (HRI)-dependent manners, indicating that CA activates ATF4 through the integrated stress response (ISR) pathway. Furthermore, CA activated Nrf2 and ATF4 cooperatively enhanced the expression of NGF and many antioxidant genes while acting independently to certain client genes. Taken together, these results represent a novel mechanism of CA-mediated gene regulation evoked by Nrf2 and ATF4 cooperation.