title: Gene Expression and Localization of NGF and Its Cognate Receptors NTRK1 and NGFR in the Sex Organs of Male Rabbits.
abstract: Experiments were devised to characterize the expression of nerve growth factor, beta polypeptide (NGF), and its cognate receptors neurotrophic tyrosine kinase receptor type 1 (NTRK1) and nerve growth factor receptor (NGFR) in rabbit male sex organs, as well as the concentrations of NGF in both seminal and blood plasma of sexually mature male rabbits. Immunoreactivity and gene expression for NGF and cognate receptors were detected in testis, prostate gland and seminal vesicle. The highest levels of NGF and NTRK1 transcripts were found in the prostate, while intermediate expressions were found in the testis. NGFR transcripts were expressed at the same levels in both testis and prostate and were more abundant than in seminal vesicles. The widespread distribution of NGF in all prostate glandular cells, together with its relative high mRNA abundance, confirms that the prostate of rabbits is the main source of this neurotrophin. In conclusion, the present data suggest that the NGF system is involved in the testicular development and spermatogenesis of rabbits and that NGF may act as a potential ovulation-inducing factor being abundantly present in the seminal plasma.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Perugia, Perugia, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maranesi
authors.affiliation: Scuola di Bioscienze e Medicina Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Camerino, Matelica, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zerani
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Perugia, Perugia, Italy.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Leonardi
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Chirurgiche e Biomediche, Sezione di Anatomia Umana, Clinica e Forense, Università degli Studi di Perugia, Perugia, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pistilli
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Arruda-Alencar
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Chirurgiche e Biomediche, Sezione di Anatomia Umana, Clinica e Forense, Università degli Studi di Perugia, Perugia, Italy.
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Stabile
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Chirurgiche e Biomediche, Sezione di Anatomia Umana, Clinica e Forense, Università degli Studi di Perugia, Perugia, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rende
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie, Alimentari e Ambientali, Università degli Studi di Perugia, Perugia, Italy.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Castellini
authors.affiliation: Scuola di Bioscienze e Medicina Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Camerino, Matelica, Italy.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Petrucci
authors.affiliation: Scuola di Bioscienze e Medicina Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Camerino, Matelica, Italy.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Parillo
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Moura
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Perugia, Perugia, Italy.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Boiti
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D015870:Gene Expression; D008297:Male; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor / Q000235:genetics*; D011467:Prostate / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics*; D011817:Rabbits / Q000235:genetics*; D020917:Receptor, trkA / Q000235:genetics*; D017475:Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor / Q000235:genetics*; D013737:Testis / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D017475:Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor; D020917:Receptor, trkA