Localization of Class I and Class IV Alcohol Dehydrogenases in Mouse Testis and Epididymis: Potential Retinol Dehydrogenases for Endogenous Retinoic Acid Synthesis1

Deltour, Louise; Haselbeck, Robert J.; Ang, Hwee Luan; Duester, Gregg

doi:10.1095/biolreprod56.1.102

Cited by 52 publications

(38 citation statements)

References 39 publications

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“…In zebrafish, application of the ADH1 inhibitor 4-methylprazole did not interfere with development (Costaridis et al, 1996). Additionally, Adh1-and Adh4-null mice show no impairments during development when sufficient vitamin A is available for the embryo (Deltour et al, 1997;Deltour et al, 1999). Recent results indicate that Adh3, a ubiquitously expressed retinol-oxidizing enzyme, is needed for mouse development (Molotkov et al, 2002).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Provitamin A conversion to retinal via theβ,β-carotene-15,15′-oxygenase (bcox) is essential for pattern formation and differentiation during zebrafish embryogenesis

et al. 2003

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The egg yolk of vertebrates contains carotenoids, which account for its characteristic yellow color in some species. Such plant-derived compounds, e.g. β-carotene, serve as the natural precursors (provitamins) of vitamin A, which is indispensable for chordate development. As egg yolk also contains stored vitamin A, carotenoids have so far been solely discussed as pigments for the coloration of the offspring. Based on our recent molecular identification of the enzyme catalyzing provitamin A conversion to vitamin A, we address a possible role of provitamin A during zebrafish (Danio rerio) development. We cloned the zebrafish gene encoding the vitamin A-forming enzyme, a β,β-carotene-15,15′-oxygenase. Analysis of its mRNA expression revealed that it is under complex spatial and temporal control during development. Targeted

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Provitamin A conversion to retinal via theβ,β-carotene-15,15′-oxygenase (bcox) is essential for pattern formation and differentiation during zebrafish embryogenesis

et al. 2003

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“…We postulate that retinol (but not RA, which is degraded by CYP26 enzymes) passes freely from the circulation through the barrier of peritubular myoid cells into the Sertoli cells. There, the final two steps of RA production could be carried out under the control of alcohol dehydrogenases (retinol to retinal) (Deltour et al, 1997) and RALDH1/RALDH2 (retinal to RA). RA produced by the Sertoli cells could act in a paracrine manner on adjacent pre-meiotic germ cells, ranging in stages of maturity from type A spermatogonia through to preleptotene spermatocytes, all of which express RARs .…”

Section: Does Ra Induce Meiosis In the Pubertal Testis?mentioning

confidence: 99%

Retinoic acid, meiosis and germ cell fate in mammals

2007

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DEVELOPMENT 3401Although mammalian sex is determined genetically, the sexspecific development of germ cells as sperm or oocytes is initiated by cues provided by the gonadal environment. During embryogenesis, germ cells in an ovary enter meiosis, thereby committing to oogenesis. By contrast, germ cells in a testicular environment do not enter meiosis until puberty. Recent findings indicate that the key to this sex-specific timing of meiosis entry is the presence or absence of the signaling molecule retinoic acid. Although this knowledge clarifies a long-standing mystery in reproductive biology, it also poses many new questions, which we discuss in this review. IntroductionAs cells go, germ cells are undeniably idiosyncratic. The founder population of primordial germ cells (PGCs) is established remarkably far in advance of the functional differentiation of gametes, and the colonization of the gonads by PGCs involves a long and perilous journey. During this time, PGCs must retain the capacity to differentiate into either oocytes or sperm, depending on whether they end up in an ovary or a testis. Germ cells clearly play a unique role as the carriers of genetic information between generations. To fulfill this role, germ cells are able to partition their genetic material in such a way as to generate haploid cells via a unique type of cell division known as meiosis (see Box 1). Not surprisingly, the origins, properties and behavior of germ cells continue to fascinate developmental and reproductive biologists.This review focuses on how mammalian germ cells are directed towards the alternative pathways of oogenesis or spermatogenesis, and the role of retinoic acid (RA), the active derivative of vitamin A, in this process. The sex differentiation of germ cells is determined not by their chromosomal constitution but by cues from their environment (McLaren, 1995;McLaren, 2003). Recent studies have shown that the initial choice of male or female identity is governed in mice by exposure to RA in the fetal gonad (Bowles et al., 2006;Koubova et al., 2006). These studies reported that, although RA induces germ cells to enter meiosis in the ovary at around 13.5 days post coitum (dpc), its degradation protects germ cells from entering meiosis in males at that time. We argue here that these findings reconcile two substantial bodies of data that have led to opposing theories about how germ cell sexual fate is specified. We also review evidence that suggests that the role of RA might be reprised during the regulation of entry of male germ cells into meiosis in the postnatal testis.Germ cell specification, proliferation, migration and maturation Much of our knowledge regarding germ cell behavior in mammals has been gleaned from studies in mice. At around 7.2 dpc in mice, somatic signals earmark a small cohort of proximal epiblast cells as potential germ cell precursors (Ginsburg et al., 1990;Lawson et al., 1999;Lawson and Hage, 1994;Tam and Zhou, 1996;Ying et al., 2000). This group of cells moves into the extraembryonic tissues at the...

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“…Crystal structures of ADH class I and class IV revealed a conserved active site that can accommodate long chain alcohols such as retinol [18][19][20]. ADH class I is expressed at high levels in many retinoid target tissues of embryos [15,21] and in adult epithelia, such as intestine, kidney, adrenal gland, testis, epididymis, uterus and ovary [15,[22][23][24][25]. Retinoid signaling is thought to function in an autocrine or paracrine fashion via the local production of RA at the site of action.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evidence for the Expression of Alcohol Dehydrogenase Class I Gene in Rat Uterus and Its Up-regulation by Progesterone

et al. 2008

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Abstract. The endometrium is one of the target tissues of the ovarian steroid hormones, estrogen and progesterone. In order to elucidate the mechanism of gene regulation in the endometrium, suppressive subtraction hybridization was performed to isolate the candidate genes controlled by progesterone in rat uterus. Alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) class I gene was one of the candidate genes. Here we investigated the expression and regulation of ADH class I gene in rat uterus. The mRNA of ADH class I was detected in uterus by RT-PCR using specific primers. Using specific probe for ADH class I, in situ hybridization was performed to investigate localization in rat uterus. Positive signals were detected in the endometrial stromal cells of rat uterus by in situ hybridization and were not detected in endometrial epithelial cells and myometrium in rat uterus. Ovariectomized rats were treated with 17-β estradiol and progesterone and the uteri of these rats were used for Northern blot analysis and assay of the ADH activity. Northern blot analysis revealed that the expression of ADH class I mRNA in rat uteri was up-regulated approximately two-fold after progesterone treatment, but not estrogen. Likewise, ADH activity was approximately two-fold higher in progesterone-treated rat uteri compared with controls. This study demonstrated that ADH class I gene is progesterone-responsive in the uterus. This implies that progesterone might be involved with retinoic acid synthesis in the uterus, since ADH is the key enzyme for retinoic acid synthesis.

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Localization of Class I and Class IV Alcohol Dehydrogenases in Mouse Testis and Epididymis: Potential Retinol Dehydrogenases for Endogenous Retinoic Acid Synthesis1

Cited by 52 publications

References 39 publications

Provitamin A conversion to retinal via theβ,β-carotene-15,15′-oxygenase (bcox) is essential for pattern formation and differentiation during zebrafish embryogenesis

Provitamin A conversion to retinal via theβ,β-carotene-15,15′-oxygenase (bcox) is essential for pattern formation and differentiation during zebrafish embryogenesis

Retinoic acid, meiosis and germ cell fate in mammals

Evidence for the Expression of Alcohol Dehydrogenase Class I Gene in Rat Uterus and Its Up-regulation by Progesterone

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