title: Locally produced relaxin may affect testis and vas deferens function in rats.
abstract: We have previously shown that the rat testis and vas deferens contain high levels of the relaxin receptor, RXFP1. The present study was undertaken to determine the expression of relaxin in these tissues, and the effect of exogenous relaxin on Sertoli cell proliferation and on the mRNA levels of some proteins that may contribute to epithelial secretion and tissue reorganization in the vas deferens. Relaxin mRNA levels in testis and vas deferens were much lower than in the prostate. Sertoli cells seem to be an important source of relaxin mRNA in testis. Relaxin immunoreactivity was detected in the seminiferous epithelium but not in the interstitial compartment. The relaxin precursor was expressed in the vas deferens, and relaxin immunoreactivity was detected in apical cells of the vas deferens. Castration, but not treatment with the anti-estrogen ICI 182,780, dramatically reduced relaxin mRNA levels in the prostate and vas deferens, and this effect was prevented by testosterone. Rxfp1 mRNA levels in the vas deferens and prostate were not affected by castration or treatment with ICI 182,780. Exogenous relaxin increased the incorporation of (3)H-thymidine in cultured Sertoli cells, and treatment of the vas deferens with 100 ng/ml relaxin increased the mRNA levels for the cystic fibrosis chloride channel (cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator) about three times, and doubled mRNA levels for the inducible form of nitric oxide synthase and metalloproteinase 7. These results suggest that locally produced relaxin acts as an autocrine or paracrine agent in the testis and vas deferens to affect spermatogenesis and seminal fluid composition.
authors.affiliation: Section of Experimental Endocrinology, Department of Pharmacology, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Rua Três de maio 100, INFAR, Vila Clementino, SP 04044-020 São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Lais Cavalca
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Cardoso
authors.forename: Aline Rosa
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Nascimento
authors.forename: Carine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Royer
authors.forename: Catarina Segreti
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Porto
authors.forename: Maria Fatima Magalhaes
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Lazari
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D019005:Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator / Q000378:metabolism; D004965:Estrogen Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D020783:Matrix Metalloproteinase 7 / Q000378:metabolism; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D009919:Orchiectomy; D009928:Organ Specificity; D010053:Ovary / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy; D011467:Prostate / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / Q000378:metabolism; D018000:Receptors, Peptide / Q000378:metabolism; D012065:Relaxin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012708:Sertoli Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D013737:Testis / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000494:pharmacology; D014649:Vas Deferens / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D004965:Estrogen Antagonists; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; D018000:Receptors, Peptide; C033395:relaxin receptors; D019005:Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator; D013739:Testosterone; D012065:Relaxin; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; D020783:Matrix Metalloproteinase 7