title: Expression of orexin A and its receptor 1 in the bovine urethroprostatic complex.
abstract: Orexin A (oxA) and orexin B are recently discovered peptides derived from the proteolytic cleavage of the common precursor prepro-orexin. They bind two G protein-coupled receptors, defined orexin 1 (ox1R) and orexin 2 receptor. Both peptides are highly expressed in the lateral hypothalamic area of the brain and are involved in the regulation of many functions of the body, the best investigated of which is food intake. Recent data described the presence of orexins in peripheral organs such as the adrenal glands, stomach, bowel, pancreas, and testis. Here, we report the detection of oxA and ox1R in the exocrine and endocrine cytotypes of the cattle urethroprostatic complex by using immunohistochemistry. The expression of prepro-orexin and ox1R mRNA transcripts in the prostatic tissue was assessed by reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction, while the presence of both the proteins in the tissue was confirmed by Western blotting analysis. Our findings provide the first evidence for the presence of oxA and ox1R in the urethroprostatic complex of the cattle and demonstrate that both proteins are locally synthesized, thus suggesting a role for oxA on both physiological and pathological functioning of the complex.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Structures, Functions, and Technologies, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Finizia
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Russo
authors.forename: Luigi Michele
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Pavone
authors.forename: Simona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tafuri
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Avallone
authors.forename: Norma
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Staiano
authors.forename: Alfredo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vittoria
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002417:Cattle; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000378:metabolism*; D064446:Orexin Receptors; D000068797:Orexins; D011467:Prostate / Q000378:metabolism*; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / Q000378:metabolism*; D018013:Receptors, Neuropeptide / Q000378:metabolism*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014521:Urethra / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D009479:Neuropeptides; D064446:Orexin Receptors; D000068797:Orexins; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; D018013:Receptors, Neuropeptide