Possible functions of adrenomedullin from the seminal fluid in the female reproductive tract of the rat

Abstract

Adrenomedullin (ADM) is found in male accessory sex glands and is part of the seminal secretion. It plays an important role in protecting the sperm in the female reproductive tract. In this study, we investigated the roles of ADM in inflammation and oxidative stress in the endometrium and in leukocyte and macrophage infiltration in the endometrial stroma. The expression of the ADM gene in the ventral prostate, coagulating gland, and seminal vesicle was determined by real time PCR. The peptide levels in the tissue and secretion were measured using an EIA Kit. The highest ADM mRNA and peptide levels were found in the ventral prostate. Most of the ADM in the seminal vesicle was stored in the tissue while little was secreted. The expression of the IL-1β gene and the secretion of TNFα and IL-6 in uterine tissue decreased significantly after treatment with ADM for 4 hours. Using an immunostaining method, the levels of leukocyte and macrophage infiltration were found to be lower at 24 hours post coitus than 1.5 hours post coitus. The infusion of ADM receptor antagonist reduced the infiltration of leukocyte and macrophages in the endometrial stroma at 24 hours post coitus. As to the anti-oxidative effect of ADM in the female tract, the reactive oxygen species (ROS) level in isolated endometrial epithelial cells was significantly decreased after treatment with ADM or seminal fluid. Our findings demonstrated that ADM in the seminal secretion may modify the inflammatory responses, play an anti-oxidative role, and increase leukocyte and macrophage infiltration in the uterus.

Roles of CLR/RAMP Receptor Signaling in Reproduction and Development

“…In support of this proposition, ADM was shown to be expressed in endometrium, endometrial stroma, myometrium, feto-placental tissues, and implantation sites in humans [67, 83, 84]. Immunoreactive IMD was found in syncytiotrophoblasts, cytotrophoblasts, and endothelial cells throughout human pregnancy [76, 85]; immunoreactive CGRP, however, was mainly localized in the villous and extravillous trophoblasts, and decidual cells in the first-trimester villous tissues [86].…”

Adrenomedullin increases the short‐circuit current in the rat prostate: Receptors, chloride channels, the effects of cAMP and calcium ions and implications on fluid secretion

“…This agrees with the finding of Liao et al . of a much higher ADM level inside the gland than in the gland fluid (Liao et al ., ,b).…”

“…The fluid secreted by the prostate makes up a significant amount of the seminal fluid (Marinoni et al ., ) and it contains various components that are important for sperm activation. The ADM in the seminal plasma may also help to protect the spermatozoa against oxidation, which is important for fertility, as previously noted (Liao et al ., ,b). In conclusion, ADM secreted by the prostate may regulate seminal fluid secretion and the concentration of ADM in the seminal fluid and this may have an effect on the spermatozoa and fertility.…”

Effects of adrenomedullin on the expression of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines in oviducts from women with tubal ectopic pregnancy: an in-vitro experimental study

“…After collection, the oviductal tissue was immersed in ice-cold DMEM/F12 with 10 % FBS (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, CA) and processed in the laboratory within 24 h. After washing several times in DMEM/F12 culture medium to remove all visible blood, the oviducts were incubated in estradiol, progesterone and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) for use as controls as described above. To study the effect of ADM, the oviducts from patients with tEP were incubated with 100 nM ADM (the dose used in our previous functional studies, [ 1 , 2 , 20 – 22 ] for 24 h. The mRNA expression of five selected genes in the oviductal tissues from the control group and the tEP groups with and without ADM treatment were determined by real-time quantitative PCR, and the protein expression of inflammatory cytokines/chemokines were measured by a cytokine microarray method as detailed below.…”