Testosterone Regulates NUCB2 mRNA Expression in Male Mouse Hypothalamus and Pituitary Gland

Abstract

Nesfatin-1/NUCB2 is known to take part in the control of the appetite and energy metabolism. Recently, many reports have shown nesfatin-1/NUCB2 expression and function in various organs. We previously demonstrated that nesfatin-1/NUCB2 expression level is higher in the pituitary gland compared to other organs and its expression is regulated by 17β-estradiol and progesterone secreted from the ovary. However, currently no data exist on the expression of nesfatin-1/NUCB2 and its regulation mechanism in the pituitary of male mouse. Therefore, we examined whether nesfatin-1/NUCB2 is expressed in the male mouse pituitary and if its expression is regulated by testosterone. As a result of PCR and western blotting, we found that a large amount of nesfatin-1/NUCB2 was expressed in the pituitary and hypothalamus. The NUCB2 mRNA expression level in the pituitary was decreased after castration, but not in the hypothalamus. In addition, its mRNA expression level in the pituitary was increased after testosterone treatment in the castrated mice, whereas, the expression level in the hypothalamus was significantly decreased after the treatment with testosterone. The in vitro experiment to elucidate the direct effect of testosterone on NUCB2 mRNA expression showed that NUCB2 mRNA expression was significantly decreased with testosterone in cultured hypothalamus tissue, but increased with testosterone in cultured pituitary gland. The present study demonstrated that nesfatin-1/NUCB2 was highly expressed in the male mouse pituitary and was regulated by testosterone. This data suggests that reproductive-endocrine regulation through hypothalamus-pituitary-testis axis may contribute to NUCB2 mRNA expression in the mouse hypothalamus and pituitary gland.

Contingent role of phoenixin and nesfatin‐1 on secretions of the male reproductive hormones

“…In testicular explants ex vivo, nesfatin‐1 has been shown to induce a rise in human chorionic gonadotropin‐stimulated testosterone secretion (Garcia‐Galiano et al, ). Moreover, testosterone treatment reduced NUCB‐2 mRNA expression in hypothalamic tissue cultures but elevated the expression levels in pituitary gland tissue cultures (Seon et al, ). In the same literature, it has been demonstrated as well that castration provoked a reduction in NUCB‐2 mRNA expression in the pituitary gland tissue culture, yet testosterone treatment successfully reversed this reduction (Seon et al, ).…”

“…Moreover, testosterone treatment reduced NUCB‐2 mRNA expression in hypothalamic tissue cultures but elevated the expression levels in pituitary gland tissue cultures (Seon et al, ). In the same literature, it has been demonstrated as well that castration provoked a reduction in NUCB‐2 mRNA expression in the pituitary gland tissue culture, yet testosterone treatment successfully reversed this reduction (Seon et al, ). Those reports undoubtedly explain that nesfatin‐1 is involved in testosterone secretion, but the effect of the nesfatin‐1 in the neuroendocrine control of the male HPGA is still debatable.…”

Effect of Sex Hormones on Serum Levels of Nesfatin-1 in Experimental Rats

“…Additionally, Hatef & Unniappan found that the expression of NUCB2 mRNA and protein was increased in cultured hypothalamic and pituitary cells of mice in vitro treated with testosterone [25] . Also, the study by Seon et al, demonstrated the reduction of NUCB2 mRNA expression level in the pituitary gland of orchidectomized mice, which increased after testosterone replacement; while, the expression level was significantly reduced after testosterone replacement in the hypothalamus [26] . In contrast to the previous studies, the study by Bertucci et al, demonstrated the decrease in the expression of NUCB2 in the gut and pituitary gland of goldfish treated with testosterone [27] .…”

FTX contributes to cell proliferation and migration in lung adenocarcinoma via targeting miR-335-5p/NUCB2 axis

“…Nucleobindin 2 (NUCB2) was featured as active regulators in the biological movements [34,35]. In colorectal cancer, up-regulation of NUCB2 was reported to associate with metastasis and aggravate the carcinoma progression [36].…”