Intracellular signaling pathways involved in the relaxin-induced proliferation of rat Sertoli cells.

Regulation of Sertoli cell number is a key event to determine normal spermatogenesis. We have previously shown that relaxin and its G-protein coupled receptor RXFP1 are expressed in rat Sertoli cells, and that relaxin stimulates Sertoli cell proliferation. This study examined the mechanisms underlying the mitogenic effect of relaxin in a primary culture of Sertoli cells removed from testes of immature rats.

In vivo treatments with fulvestrant and anastrozole differentially affect gene expression in the rat efferent ductules.

Estrogen plays a key role in maintaining the morphology and function of the efferent ductules. We previously demonstrated that the antiestrogen fulvestrant markedly affected gene expression in the rat efferent ductules. The mechanism of fulvestrant action to modulate gene expression may involve not only the blockade of ESR1 and ESR2 estrogen receptors, but also the activation of ESR1 and ESR2 when the receptors are tethered to AP-1 or SP1 transcription factors, or the activation of the G protein-coupled estrogen receptor 1.

Estrogen receptors and function in the male reproductive system.

A substantial advance in our understanding on the estrogen signaling occurred in the last decade. Estrogens interact with two receptors, ESR1 and ESR2, also known as ERalpha and ERbeta, respectively. ESR1 and ESR2 belong to the nuclear receptor family of transcription factors.

Locally produced relaxin may affect testis and vas deferens function in rats.

We have previously shown that the rat testis and vas deferens contain high levels of the relaxin receptor, RXFP1. The present study was undertaken to determine the expression of relaxin in these tissues, and the effect of exogenous relaxin on Sertoli cell proliferation and on the mRNA levels of some proteins that may contribute to epithelial secretion and tissue reorganization in the vas deferens. Relaxin mRNA levels in testis and vas deferens were much lower than in the prostate.

Effects of the antiestrogen fulvestrant (ICI 182,780) on gene expression of the rat efferent ductules.

The efferent ductules express the highest amount of estrogen receptors ESR1 (ERalpha) and ESR2 (ERbeta) within the male reproductive tract. Treatment of rats with the antiestrogen fulvestrant (ICI 182,780) causes inhibition of fluid reabsorption in the efferent ductules, leading to seminiferous tubule atrophy and infertility. To provide a more comprehensive knowledge about the molecular targets for estrogen in the rat efferent ductules, we investigated the effects of ICI 182,780 treatment on gene expression using a microarray approach.

Absence of oxytocin in the central nervous system of the snake Bothrops jararaca.

We used four complementary techniques to investigate the presence of oxytocin peptide in the hypophysis and brain of the snake Bothrops jararaca. A high-pressure liquid chromatographic analysis failed to show oxytocin in extracts of hypophysial and brain tissues but provided estimative values of the amounts of vasotocin (12 ng/mg hypophysis and 0.5 ng/mg brain) and mesotocin (500 pg/mg hypophysis and 8 pg/mg brain).