title: Retinoid X receptor gene expression and protein content in tissues of the rock shell Thais clavigera.
abstract: To elucidate the role of retinoid X receptor (RXR) in the development of imposex caused by organotin compounds in gastropod molluscs, we investigated RXR gene expression and RXR protein content in various tissues of male and female wild rock shells (Thais clavigera). Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, Western blotting, and immunohistochemistry with a commercial antibody against human RXR alpha revealed that RXR gene expression was significantly higher in the penises of males and imposex-exhibiting females than in the penis-forming areas of normal females (P<0.01 and P<0.05, respectively). Western blotting demonstrated that the antibody could detect rock shell RXR and showed that the male penis had the highest content of RXR protein among the analyzed tissues of males and normal females. Immunohistochemical staining revealed nuclear localization of RXR protein in the epithelial and smooth muscle cells of the vas deferens and in the interstitial or connective tissues and epidermis of the penis in males and imposex-exhibiting females. RXR could be involved in the mechanism of induction of male-type genitalia (penis and vas deferens) by organotin compounds in female rock shells.
authors: Research Center for Environmental Risk, National Institute for Environmental Studies, 16-2 Onogawa, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8506, Japan. Electronic address: thorigu@nies.go.jp.
authors: Toshihiro
authors: T
authors: Horiguchi
authors: Research Center for Environmental Risk, National Institute for Environmental Studies, 16-2 Onogawa, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8506, Japan.
authors: Tomohiro
authors: T
authors: Nishikawa
authors: Department of Veterinary Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Tottori University, 4-101 Koyamacho-Minami, Tottori 680-8553, Japan.
authors: Yasuhiko
authors: Y
authors: Ohta
authors: Research Center for Environmental Risk, National Institute for Environmental Studies, 16-2 Onogawa, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8506, Japan.
authors: Hiroaki
authors: H
authors: Shiraishi
authors: Research Center for Environmental Risk, National Institute for Environmental Studies, 16-2 Onogawa, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8506, Japan.
authors: Masatoshi
authors: M
authors: Morita
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D005260:Female; D049851:Gastropoda / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D015870:Gene Expression; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D047488:Retinoid X Receptors / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D047488:Retinoid X Receptors