title: Expression of insulin-like factor 3 hormone-receptor system in the reproductive organs of male goats.
abstract: Relaxin-like factor (RLF), generally known as insulin-like factor 3 (INSL3), is essential for testis descent during fetal development. However, its role in adult males is not fully understood. We investigate the function of INSL3 in male Saanen goats by identifying cell types expressing its receptor, relaxin/insulin-like family peptide receptor (RXFP)2 and by characterizing the developmental expression pattern of INSL3 and RXFP2 and the binding of INSL3 to target cells in the male reproductive system. A highly specific RXFP2 antibody that co-localizes with an anti-FLAG antibody in HEK-293 cells recognizes RXFP2-transcript-expressing cells in the testis. INSL3 and RXFP2 mRNA expression is upregulated in the testis, starting from puberty. INSL3 mRNA and protein expression has been detected in Leydig cells, whereas RXFP2 mRNA and protein localize to Leydig cells, to meiotic and post-meiotic germ cells and to the epithelium and smooth muscle of the cauda epididymis and vas deferens. INSL3 binds to all of these tissues and cell types, with the exception of Leydig cells, in a hormone-specific and saturable manner. These results provide evidence for a functional intra- and extra-testicular INSL3 ligand-receptor system in adult male goats.
authors.affiliation: Animal Reproduction and Physiology, Faculty of Agriculture, Shizuoka University, Shizuoka, 422-8529, Japan.|Division of Animal Resource Production, United Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Gifu University, Gifu, 501-1193, Japan.
authors.forename: Ali Mohammed
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Pitia
authors.affiliation: Animal Reproduction and Physiology, Faculty of Agriculture, Shizuoka University, Shizuoka, 422-8529, Japan.|Division of Animal Resource Production, United Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Gifu University, Gifu, 501-1193, Japan.
authors.forename: Itaru
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Minagawa
authors.affiliation: Animal Reproduction and Physiology, Faculty of Agriculture, Shizuoka University, Shizuoka, 422-8529, Japan.
authors.forename: Naoto
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Uera
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Agriculture, Shinshu University, Minami-Minowa, Nagano, 399-4598, Japan.
authors.forename: Koh-Ichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hamano
authors.affiliation: Livestock Breeding Division, National Livestock Breeding Center, Nagano Station, Saku, 385-007, Japan.
authors.forename: Yasushi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sugawara
authors.affiliation: Livestock Breeding Division, National Livestock Breeding Center, Nagano Station, Saku, 385-007, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshio
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nagura
authors.affiliation: Animal Science High-Tech Research Center, Kitasato University School of Veterinary Medicine, Towada, 034-8628, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshihisa
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hasegawa
authors.affiliation: Veterinary Pathology, Kitasato University School of Veterinary Medicine, Towada, 034-8628, Japan.
authors.forename: Toshifumi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Oyamada
authors.affiliation: Animal Reproduction, Kitasato University School of Veterinary Medicine, Towada, 034-8628, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sasada
authors.affiliation: Animal Reproduction and Physiology, Faculty of Agriculture, Shizuoka University, Shizuoka, 422-8529, Japan. t-kohsaka@agr.shizuoka.ac.jp.|Division of Animal Resource Production, United Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Gifu University, Gifu, 501-1193, Japan. t-kohsaka@agr.shizuoka.ac.jp.|Animal Reproduction and Physiology, Department of Applied Biological Chemistry, Faculty of Agriculture, Shizuoka University, 836 Ohya, Suruga-ku, Shizuoka, 422-8529, Japan. t-kohsaka@agr.shizuoka.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Tetsuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kohsaka
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006041:Goats / Q000378:metabolism*; D057809:HEK293 Cells; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism*; D007985:Leydig Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D008297:Male; D011506:Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / Q000235:genetics*; D018000:Receptors, Peptide / Q000235:genetics*; D013737:Testis / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D007328:Insulin; C084797:Leydig insulin-like protein; D011506:Proteins; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; D018000:Receptors, Peptide; C033395:relaxin receptors
keywords: Goat; INSL3; INSL3 hormone-receptor system; Male reproductive organs; RXFP2