title: Tissue expression of the nuclear progesterone receptor in male non-human primates and men.
abstract: In females, progesterone is associated with reproductive functions. In males, its role and the expression of its genomic receptor are not very well understood. In attempts to achieve a hormonal male contraceptive method, gestagens are used to downregulate gonadotropin and sperm production. It is therefore essential to understand the mechanism of action of progesterone at the molecular level in males, especially in primates. This investigation was undertaken: (a) to determine whether the genomic progesterone receptor is expressed in males; and (b) to locate it in various organs that are potential targets of gestagens. Human tissues were obtained at surgery for benign prostatic hyperplasia or prostate cancer and at autopsy. Non-human primate tissues were obtained at autopsy. This study was performed by analyzing the genomic progesterone receptor by immunohistochemistry, Western blot and RT-PCR. The nuclear progesterone receptor was expressed in pituitary and hypothalamus of both monkeys and men. In the testis progesterone receptor expression was found in a few peritubular and interstitial cells, but not in germ cells. In addition, expression was detected in the epididymis, prostate and male mammary gland. Reverse transcriptase (RT)-PCR experiments indicated that progesterone receptor A and B are expressed in all tissues analyzed. These data exclude direct genomic effects of gestagens at the spermatogenic level but indicate that a male contraceptive based on gestagens might have some effects on other tissues, such as the epididymis, prostate and mammary gland.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Reproductive Medicine, University Hospitals, Domagk-Strasse 11, D-48149 Münster, Germany.
authors.forename: C Marc
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Luetjens
authors.forename: Aditya
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Didolkar
authors.forename: Sabine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kliesch
authors.forename: Werner
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Paulus
authors.forename: Astrid
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jeibmann
authors.forename: Werner
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Böcker
authors.forename: Eberhard
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nieschlag
authors.forename: Manuela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Simoni
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western / Q000379:methods; D003272:Contraceptive Agents, Male; D004822:Epididymis / Q000737:chemistry; D005837:Genitalia, Male / Q000737:chemistry*; D000882:Haplorhini; D006801:Humans; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000737:chemistry; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008321:Mammary Glands, Animal / Q000737:chemistry*; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000737:chemistry; D011467:Prostate / Q000737:chemistry*; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013737:Testis / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D003272:Contraceptive Agents, Male; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone