title: Expression of nerve growth factor and its receptor, tyrosine kinase receptor A, in rooster testes.
abstract: Nerve growth factor (NGF), which is required for the survival and differentiation of the nervous system, is also thought to play an important role in the development of mammalian reproductive tissues. To explore the function of NGF in the male reproductive system of non-mammalian animals, we determined the presence of NGF and its receptor, tyrosine kinase receptor A (TrkA), in rooster testes and investigated the regulation of NGF and TrkA expression by follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). The mRNA and protein levels of NGF and TrkA in 6-week-old rooster testes were lower than those in 12-, 16- or 20-week age groups; levels were highest in the 16-week group. Immunohistochemistry showed that NGF and TrkA were both detected in spermatogonia, spermatocytes and spermatids. NGF immunoreactivity was observed in Leydig cells and strong TrkA signals were present in Sertoli cells. Meanwhile, FSH increased TrkA transcript levels in rooster testes in a dose-dependent manner. We present novel evidence for the developmental and FSH-regulated expression of the NGF/TrkA system, and our findings suggest that the NGF/TrkA system may play a prominent role in chicken spermatogenesis.
authors: College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Liaoning Medical University, Jinzhou 121001, Liaoning, PR China; College of Animal Science and Technology, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, Jilin, PR China.
authors: Wei
authors: W
authors: Ma
authors: College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Liaoning Medical University, Jinzhou 121001, Liaoning, PR China. Electronic address: wcqworld@126.com.
authors: Chunqiang
authors: C
authors: Wang
authors: College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Liaoning Medical University, Jinzhou 121001, Liaoning, PR China.
authors: Yuhong
authors: Y
authors: Su
authors: College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Liaoning Medical University, Jinzhou 121001, Liaoning, PR China.
authors: Yumin
authors: Y
authors: Tian
authors: College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Liaoning Medical University, Jinzhou 121001, Liaoning, PR China.
authors: Hongyan
authors: H
authors: Zhu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western / Q000662:veterinary; D002645:Chickens; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D012313:RNA / Q000378:metabolism; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D020917:Receptor, trkA / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D012313:RNA; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor; D020917:Receptor, trkA
keywords: Follicle-stimulating hormone; Nerve growth factor; Rooster testes; Tyrosine kinase receptor A