ABSTRACT
The present study demonstrates the expression of adrenomedullin (ADM) in the reproductive system of the female rat and its effect on the secretion of estradiol and progesterone. Ovarian ADM and Adm mRNA levels were decreased at estrus, whereas oviductal Adm mRNA levels were low at proestrus. Both tissues were shown to coexpress mRNAs encoding the calcitonin receptor-like receptor and receptor activity-modifying protein 1 (Ramp1), Ramp2, and Ramp3. Gel filtration chromatography of ovarian extracts showed two peaks, with the predominant one eluting at the position of authentic rat ADM (1-50) at estrus and at the position of ADM precursor at diestrus. Positive ADM immunostaining was localized in the granulosa and theca cells of the follicle and corpora lutea of the ovary. Adrenomedullin inhibited FSH-induced estradiol secretion in 2-day-old follicles and also suppressed eCG-stimulated progesterone release in corpora lutea. The inhibitory effect of ADM on the follicles and the corpora lutea was abolished by calcitonin gene-related peptide (8-37) and ADM (22-52), respectively. The presence of ADM and the gene expression of ADM and its receptor components in the female reproductive system suggest a paracrine effect of ADM on ovarian steroidogenesis.
Subject(s)
Adrenomedullin/genetics , Genitalia, Female/metabolism , Gonadal Steroid Hormones/metabolism , Ovary/metabolism , Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled/genetics , Adrenomedullin/blood , Adrenomedullin/metabolism , Animals , Estradiol/metabolism , Estrous Cycle/blood , Estrous Cycle/genetics , Estrous Cycle/metabolism , Female , Models, Biological , Paracrine Communication/genetics , Paracrine Communication/physiology , Progesterone/metabolism , Rats , Rats, Sprague-Dawley , Receptors, Adrenomedullin , Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled/metabolismABSTRACT
Adrenomedullin (ADM) has been shown to be present in the human and rat male reproductive systems. This study demonstrates the expression of ADM in the rat testis and its effect on the secretion of testosterone. Whole testicular extracts had 5.43 +/- 0.42 fmol of immunoreactive ADM per milligram of protein and 84 +/- 8 fg of ADM mRNA per picogram of Actb (beta-actin) mRNA. Immunocytochemical studies showed positive ADM immunostaining in the Leydig cells and in the Sertoli cells. Gel filtration chromatography of testicular extracts showed two peaks, with the predominant one eluting at the position of the ADM precursor. Furthermore, the testis was shown to coexpress mRNAs encoding the calcitonin receptor-like receptor and receptor activity modifying protein 1 (Ramp1), Ramp2, and Ramp3. These account for the specific binding of ADM to the testis, which was partially inhibited by human ADM (22-52) and by human calcitonin gene-related peptide (8-37), the ADM and calcitonin gene-related peptide receptor antagonists, respectively. Administration of ADM to testicular blocks in vitro resulted in a dose-dependent inhibition of hCG-stimulated release of testosterone, which was abolished by the administration of ADM (22-52). Our results suggest a paracrine effect of ADM on testicular steroidogenesis.
Subject(s)
Adrenomedullin/genetics , Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins/genetics , Membrane Proteins/genetics , Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled/genetics , Testis/metabolism , Testosterone/metabolism , Adrenomedullin/metabolism , Adrenomedullin/pharmacology , Animals , Binding Sites , Calcitonin Receptor-Like Protein , Chorionic Gonadotropin/pharmacology , Chromatography, Gel , Dose-Response Relationship, Drug , Gene Expression Regulation , In Vitro Techniques , Male , Rats , Rats, Sprague-Dawley , Receptor Activity-Modifying Protein 1 , Receptor Activity-Modifying Protein 2 , Receptor Activity-Modifying Protein 3 , Receptor Activity-Modifying Proteins , Receptors, Adrenomedullin , Receptors, Calcitonin/genetics , Receptors, Calcitonin/metabolism , Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled/metabolism , Testis/drug effectsABSTRACT
This study was undertaken to determine AM expression in carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced liver cirrhosis developed with peritoneal ascites. Sprague-Dawley rats received subcutaneous injections of CCl4 twice weekly in olive oil (1:1, 0.3 ml per kg body weight) for 6 or 12 weeks until ascites developed, or saline in olive oil as control. At 6 weeks, fibrosis developed and at 12 weeks cirrhosis developed with ascites formation. At both 6 and 12 weeks, increases in plasma renin and AM were evident, as was the gene expression of AM. At 12 weeks after CCl4 injection, the gene expression of calcitonin-like-receptor (CRLR) and receptor activity modifying proteins (RAMP1, RAMP2 and RAMP3) were all elevated when compared to the control. The results suggest that liver cirrhosis increases mRNA expressions of AM, CRLR and RAMP1, RAMP2 and RAMP3 and that the increase in AM gene expression precedes the development of cirrhosis. The increase in AM synthesis as reflected by an increase in AM gene expression, together with a lack of increase in AM peptide at both 6 and 12 weeks may suggest an elevation of AM release. Given the potent vasodilatory action of AM, the increase in the synthesis and release of AM in the cirrhotic liver may also contribute to peripheral vasodilatation in liver cirrhosis.
