title: Reproductive and metabolic responses of desert adapted common spiny male mice (Acomys cahirinus) to vasopressin treatment.
abstract: Sufficient amounts of water and food are important cues for reproduction in an unpredictable environment. We previously demonstrated that increased osmolarity levels, or exogenous vasopressin (VP) treatment halt reproduction of desert adapted golden spiny mice Acomys russatus. In this research we studied gonad regulation by VP and food restriction (FR) in desert adapted common spiny mouse (A. cahirinus) males, kept under two different photoperiod regimes-short (SD-8L:16D) and long (LD-16L:8D) days. Mice were treated with VP, FR, and VP+FR for three weeks. Response was assessed from changes in relative testis mass, serum testosterone levels and mRNA receptor gene expression of VP, aldosterone and leptin in treated groups, compared with their controls. SD-acclimation increased testosterone levels, VP treatment decreased expression of aldosterone mRNA receptor in the testes of SD-acclimated males. FR under SD-conditions resulted in testosterone decrease and elevation of VP- receptor gene expression in testes. Aldosterone receptor mRNA expression was also detected in WAT. These results support the idea that water and food availability in the habitat may be used as signals for activating the reproductive system through direct effects of VP, aldosterone and leptin on the testes or through WAT by indirect effects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Evolutionary and Environmental Biology, University of Haifa, Mount Carmel, Haifa 31905, Israel. dvorkinae@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bukovetzky
authors.forename: Fuad
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fares
authors.forename: Hagit
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Schwimmer
authors.forename: Abraham
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Haim
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D052436:Adipose Tissue, White / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D003889:Desert Climate; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified / Q000097:blood; D005508:Food Deprivation / Q000502:physiology; D015870:Gene Expression; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D009115:Muridae / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D009929:Organ Size; D017440:Photoperiod; D054411:Receptors, Leptin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018161:Receptors, Mineralocorticoid / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D017483:Receptors, Vasopressin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012098:Reproduction; D013737:Testis / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood; D014667:Vasopressins / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified; D020738:Leptin; D054411:Receptors, Leptin; D018161:Receptors, Mineralocorticoid; D017483:Receptors, Vasopressin; D014667:Vasopressins; D013739:Testosterone