The Harderian Gland as a Target for Steroid Hormone Action: Role and Characteristics of Intracellular Receptors

Vilchis, Felipe; Chávez, Bertha; Cerbón, Marco; Pérez‐Palacios, Gregorio

doi:10.1007/978-3-642-76685-5_19

Cited by 14 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 58 publications

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“…A similar cyclic pattern has been reported for the porphyrin concentrations in the female HG (Payne et al 1979). The changes in the relative expression of ferrochelatase are probably modulated by circulating ovarian steroids, since this organ has been shown to be largely responsive to oestrogenic stimuli (Payne 1994), and the presence of specific receptors for oestrogens is well documented (Vilchis & Pérez-Palacios 1989, Vilchis et al 1992. In HGs of cyclic hamsters, the maximal expression of ferrochelatase mRNA was observed at oestrus, a phase where the concentrations of oestradiol and progesterone have already declined to basal levels.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 71%

The influence of sex steroid hormones on ferrochelatase gene expression in Harderian gland of hamster (Mesocricetus auratus)

Vilchis¹,

Ramos²,

Timossi³

et al. 2006

Journal of Endocrinology

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Ferrochelatase (protohaem ferrolyase, EC 4·99·1·1), the terminal enzyme of the haem biosynthetic pathway, catalyses the insertion of ferrous iron into protoporphyrin IX to form protohaem. The Syrian hamster Harderian gland (HG) is known for its ability to produce and accumulate large amounts of protoporphyrins. In this species, the female gland contains up to 120 times more porphyrin than the male gland. Data from biochemical studies suggest that this gland possesses the enzymatic complex for haem biosynthesis but lacks ferrochelatase activity. The abundance of intraglandular haem proteins does not support this idea. To gain more insight into this process, we isolated cDNA for ferrochelatase from hamster liver, using the 5 -and 3 -rapid amplification of complementary DNA ends (RACE), and investigated its expression in HG from males and females. The full-length cDNA comprises an open reading frame of 1269 bp encoding a polypeptide of 422 amino-acid residues. Hamster DNA sequence exhibits 92% identity to mouse and 87% identity to human sequences. The predicted hamster enzyme was shown to have structural features of mammalian ferrochelatase, including a putative NH 2 -terminal presequence, a central core of about 330 amino-acid residues and an extra 30-50-amino-acid stretch at the carboxyl-terminus. RNA blotting experiments indicated that this cDNA hybridized to a liver mRNA of about 2·1 kb, while a weak hybridization signal was observed with mRNA from HG preparations. RT-PCR assays confirmed the expression of specific transcripts in both tissues. Male glands contained approximately twofold more enzyme mRNA than female glands. Likewise, the intraglandular content of mRNA varied during the oestrous cycle, with the highest levels found in the oestrous phase. These cyclic variations were less evident in liver. Ovariectomy plus treatment with progesterone or 17 -oestradiol plus progesterone increased ferrochelatase mRNA of the gland. In HG of short-or long-term castrated males, the administration of testosterone did not affect the ferrochelatase mRNA concentration. Based on mRNA expression levels, we conclude that Harderian ferrochelatase may play an active role in maintaining the physiological pool of haem required for processing cytochromes and other glandular haem proteins. Likewise, the sex-steroid hormones appear to have only a modest influence upon Harderian ferrochelatase.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 71%

The influence of sex steroid hormones on ferrochelatase gene expression in Harderian gland of hamster (Mesocricetus auratus)

Vilchis¹,

Ramos²,

Timossi³

et al. 2006

Journal of Endocrinology

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“…The presence of numerous blood vessels and mast cells in female guinea pig HG, indicates that the gland might perform an endo and/or para-crine function related to mast cells secretion which are supposed to be more active in females and under control of gonadal hormones. This suggestion is supported by the presence of sexual dimorphism, which indicates that the gland is influenced by the gonadal hormones, and the detection of estrogen and androgen receptors in guinea pig HG by Vilchis et al (1992).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 65%

Structure of the secretory cells of male and female adult guinea pigs Harderian gland

2015

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“…P450scc converts cholesterol to pregnenolone and 17b-HSD catalyzes the conversion of androstenedione to testosterone. In support of this view, it has been reported that both pregnenolone and testosterone elicit physiological effects on the HG [20]. Interestingly, Vilchis et al [52] isolated the cDNA for P450scc in the HG of Syrian hamster.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 90%

“…Numerous studies have clearly demonstrated that HG activity is influenced by steroid hormones and that androgens are responsible for sexual dimorphism in the hamster HG [2,41]. The occurrence of steroidogenic enzymes in HG tissues have not been documented to date, though studies strongly suggest a local synthesis of 5a-dihydrotestosterone due to the presence of 5a-Red activity [20,27]. The biosynthesis of steroid hormones begins upon mobilization of cholesterol from cellular stores to the mitochondrial inner membrane [42][43][44].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Furthermore, the complexity of this gland is evident in its control by many exogenous (light and temperature) and endogenous factors (such as steroid hormones). Androgen and estrogen receptors occur in the HGs of rat and golden hamster [19,20]. The androgen receptor in the hamster HG binds 5a-dihydrotestosterone with a higher affinity than testosterone [19,21], suggesting that 5a-dihydrotestosterone has a greater effect on the secretory activity of the HG and on sexual dimorphism than testosterone [22,23].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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StAR protein and steroidogenic enzyme expressions in the rat Harderian gland

Falvo

Baccaria

Spaziano

et al. 2018

Comptes Rendus. Biologies

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The Harderian gland (HG) of the rat (Rattus norvegicus) secretes copious amounts of lipids, such as cholesterol. Here we report a study of the expressions of the StAR protein and key steroidogenic enzymes in the HG of male and female rats. The objective of the present investigation was to ascertain (a) whether the rat HG is involved in steroid production starting with cholesterol, and (b) whether the pattern of gene and protein expressions together with the enzymatic activities display sexual dimorphism. The results demonstrate, for the first time, the expression of StAR gene and protein, and Cyp11a1, Hsd3b1, Hsd17b3, Srd5a1, Srd5a2 and Cyp19a1 genes in the rat HG. StAR mRNA and protein expressions were much greater in males than in females. Immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated a non-homogeneous StAR distribution among glandular cells. Hsd17b3 and Cyp19a1 mRNA levels were higher in males than in females, whereas Srd5a1 mRNA levels were higher in females than in males. No significant differences were observed in mRNA levels of Cyp11a1, Hsd3b1 and Srd5a2 between sexes. Furthermore, the in vitro experiments demonstrated a higher 5α-reductase activity in the female as compared to the male HG vice versa a higher P450 aro activity in males as compared to females. These results suggest that the Harderian gland can be classified as a steroidogenic tissue because it synthesizes cholesterol, expresses StAR and steroidogenic enzymes involved in both androgen and estrogen synthesis. The dimorphic expression and activity of the steroidogenic enzymes may suggest sex-specific hormonal effects into the HG physiology.

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The Harderian Gland as a Target for Steroid Hormone Action: Role and Characteristics of Intracellular Receptors

Cited by 14 publications

References 58 publications

The influence of sex steroid hormones on ferrochelatase gene expression in Harderian gland of hamster (Mesocricetus auratus)

The influence of sex steroid hormones on ferrochelatase gene expression in Harderian gland of hamster (Mesocricetus auratus)

Structure of the secretory cells of male and female adult guinea pigs Harderian gland

StAR protein and steroidogenic enzyme expressions in the rat Harderian gland

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