title: Orexin 1 receptor in the seminiferous tubules of boar testis: an immunohistochemical study.
abstract: Orexin receptor 1 (OX₁R) and orexin receptor 2 (OX₂R) are two G-protein-coupled receptors that bind their ligands, orexin A (OXA) and B (OXB), with different affinities. The male genital system represents an important target for OXA, which appears to play a role in the control of steroidogenesis and germ cell development in the testis. It is known that among domestic breeding animals, in the boar the number of Leydig cells is very high and OXA appears to have stimulatory activity on testosterone production. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the presence of OX₁R in the boar testis in order to extend our knowledge concerning the distribution and a potential functional role of the orexinergic system in the male reproductive tract of farm animals. The presence of OX₁R immunopositive cells in seminiferous tubules of the boar testis enables us to hypothesize a possible role of OXA on male germ cells cycle in pig. Further investigations, involving functional and ultrastructural analysis, may contribute to our understanding of the role of orexins in the boar genital system.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Sannio, Via Port'Arsa 11, 82100 Benevento, Italy.
authors.forename: Finizia
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Russo
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, University of "Federico II", Via Veterinaria 1, 80137 Napoli, Italy. Electronic address: lucianna.maruccio@unina.it.
authors.forename: Lucianna
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Maruccio
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, University of "Federico II", Via Veterinaria 1, 80137 Napoli, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Calamo
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, University of "Federico II", Via Veterinaria 1, 80137 Napoli, Italy.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: de Girolamo
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Sannio, Via Port'Arsa 11, 82100 Benevento, Italy.
authors.forename: Ettore
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Varricchio
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D064446:Orexin Receptors / Q000378:metabolism*; D012671:Seminiferous Tubules / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D034421:Sus scrofa / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D064446:Orexin Receptors
keywords: Immunohistochemistry; Male genital tract; Orexin receptor 1; Pig