title: Role of PACAP on testosterone and 17β-estradiol production in the testis of wall lizard Podarcis sicula.
abstract: Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating peptide (PACAP) is a neuropeptide that in mammalian testis is involved in the control of testosterone and 17β-estradiol synthesis. A similar involvement was recently postulated in the testis of a nonmammalian vertebrate, the wall lizard Podarcis sicula. Indeed, we reported the presence of PACAP and its receptors throughout the reproductive cycle within both germ and somatic cells. Now, we investigated the effects of PACAP on steroidogenesis in significant periods of Podarcis reproductive cycle: winter stasis, reproductive period and summer stasis. Using different in vitro treatments, in the absence or presence of receptor antagonists, we demonstrated that in P. sicula testis PACAP is involved in the control of testosterone and 17β-estradiol production. In particular we demonstrated that treatment with PACAP induced a testosterone increase only in stasis periods (winter and summer stasis); differently they induced a 17β-estradiol production in all periods analyzed (summer stasis, winter stasis and reproductive period).
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Biologia, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rosati
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Biologia, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Prisco
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Ambientali, Biologiche e Farmaceutiche, Seconda Università degli Studi di Napoli, Caserta, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Maddalena
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Di Fiore
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Ambientali, Biologiche e Farmaceutiche, Seconda Università degli Studi di Napoli, Caserta, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Santillo
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Biologia, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Valiante
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Biologia, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Naples, Italy. Electronic address: piero.andreuccetti@unina.it.
authors.forename: Piero
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Andreuccetti
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Biologia, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Marisa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Agnese
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004958:Estradiol / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008116:Lizards / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D051219:Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051236:Receptors, Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D012098:Reproduction / Q000187:drug effects; D012621:Seasons; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000096:biosynthesis*
chemical_list: D051219:Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide; D051236:Receptors, Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide; D013739:Testosterone; D004958:Estradiol
keywords: PACAP; PACAP receptor antagonists; Reptiles; Sex steroid hormones; Steroidogenesis