title: Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) stimulates adenylate cyclase and promotes proliferation of mouse primordial germ cells.
abstract: During migration and for about 2 days after their arrival in the gonadal ridges, primordial germ cells (the embryonic precursors of gametes of the adult animal) proliferate actively. Certain growth factors, such as stem cell factor and leukemia inhibitory factor, seem to be essential for survival, proliferation and possibly differentiation of mouse primordial germ cell in vivo and/or in vitro. Similarly, increase in intracellular cAMP is followed by a marked enhancement of primordial germ cell proliferation, at least in culture. In the present study, we show that pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptides (PACAP-27 and PACAP-38), two neuropeptides of the secretin-glucagon-vasoactive intestinal polypeptide-GH-releasing hormone family, stimulate in vitro proliferation of mouse primordial germ cells, bind to primordial germ cells and gonadal somatic cells (possibly to type I PACAP receptor) and activate adenylate cyclase in the same cells. Moreover, PACAP-like immunoreactivity was found in gonadal ridges, mostly on germ cell surface. In conclusion, evidence is provided that PGC proliferation can be stimulated by certain bioactive polypeptides, thus suggesting a novel regulatory role for such compounds in early gonad development.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Cell Biology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pesce
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Canipari
authors.forename: G L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Ferri
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Siracusa
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: De Felici
mesh_terms: D000262:Adenylyl Cyclases / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000378:metabolism; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D005854:Germ Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051219:Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide; D011247:Pregnancy; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051236:Receptors, Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide; D051237:Receptors, Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide, Type I; D011979:Receptors, Pituitary Hormone / Q000235:genetics; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology*
chemical_list: C495402:Adcyap1 protein, mouse; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D009479:Neuropeptides; D051219:Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D051236:Receptors, Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide; D051237:Receptors, Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide, Type I; D011979:Receptors, Pituitary Hormone; D000242:Cyclic AMP; D000262:Adenylyl Cyclases