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

Abstract

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. Sertoli cells seem to be an important source of relaxin mRNA in testis. Relaxin immunoreactivity was detected in the seminiferous epithelium but not in the interstitial compartment. The relaxin precursor was expressed in the vas deferens, and relaxin immunoreactivity was detected in apical cells of the vas deferens. Castration, but not treatment with the anti-estrogen ICI 182,780, dramatically reduced relaxin mRNA levels in the prostate and vas deferens, and this effect was prevented by testosterone. Rxfp1 mRNA levels in the vas deferens and prostate were not affected by castration or treatment with ICI 182,780. Exogenous relaxin increased the incorporation of 3 H-thymidine in cultured Sertoli cells, and treatment of the vas deferens with 100 ng/ml relaxin increased the mRNA levels for the cystic fibrosis chloride channel (cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator) about three times, and doubled mRNA levels for the inducible form of nitric oxide synthase and metalloproteinase 7. These results suggest that locally produced relaxin acts as an autocrine or paracrine agent in the testis and vas deferens to affect spermatogenesis and seminal fluid composition.

Estrogen receptors and function in the male reproductive system

“…Although the literature refers that, in most species, ESR2 but not ESR1 is present in the epithelium of the vas deferens (3), using real time PCR we have been able to detect the mRNA for both receptors, as well as for the GPER in the vas deferens of adult rats (64). Using immunohistochemistry study in vas deferens from rats at different ages, Atanassova and cols.…”

Expression and regulation of the estrogen receptors in PC-3 human prostate cancer cells

“…Actb was used as an endogenous control and to normalize cDNA amount and PCR efficiency. Primers for all target genes and actin were designed to have approximately the same amplification efficiency (=1), which was calculated as previously described [32]. Controls without cDNA were included in each assay.…”

Mesangial Cells Cultured from Pregnant Rats Display Reduced Reactivity to Angiotensin II: the Role of Relaxin, Nitric Oxide and AT2 Receptor

“…It was allowed [Ca]i to return to basal levels when Ang II was added and [Ca]i estimated again. Human relaxin (RLX) was purchased from Phoenix Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (CA, USA) and the dose of 100ng/ml corresponds to maximum concentration in the blood of pregnant rats [16][17][18]. PD123319, L-NAME and Angiotensin II were from Sigma-Aldrich Chemical Co. (St. Louis, MO, USA) and the doses used as previously determined [19][20][21][22].…”