Relationship between estradiol-17 beta seasonal profile and annual vitellogenin content of liver, fat body, plasma, and ovary in the frog (Rana esculenta).
The seasonal plasma estradiol-17 beta (E2-17 beta) profile and annual vitellogenin content of liver, fat body, plasma, and ovary were investigated in Rana esculenta. Concomitant with the increase in E2-17 beta, vitellogenin peaked in liver, plasma, and ovary during autumn and winter, while it remained at a relatively high concentration in fat body during spring. In vitro experiments showed that E2-17 beta (10(-9) M) is ineffective in inducing vitellogenin production in fat body, but is effective in inducing vitellogenin production in liver. As fat bodies do not produce the vitellogenin they contain, we suggest that fat bodies are involved in the transfer of vitellogenin to the ovary.
Varriale
B
B
Istituto di Biologia Generale, I Facoltà di Medicina e Chirurgia, Università di Napoli, Italy.
Pierantoni
R
R
Di Matteo
L
L
Minucci
S
S
Milone
M
M
Chieffi
G
G
D000818:Animals; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood* / Q000494:pharmacology; D005216:Fat Body / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D010053:Ovary / Q000378:metabolism; D011893:Rana esculenta / Q000378:metabolism*; D012621:Seasons; D014819:Vitellogenins / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*
D014819:Vitellogenins; D004958:Estradiol