title: Anandamide acts via kisspeptin in the regulation of testicular activity of the frog, Pelophylax esculentus.
abstract: In the frog Pelophylax esculentus, the endocannabinoid anandamide (AEA) modulates Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone (GnRH) system in vitro and down-regulates steroidogenic enzymes in vivo. Thus, male frogs were injected with AEA ± SR141716A, a cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1) antagonist, to evaluate possible effects on GnRH and Kiss1/Gpr54 systems, gonadotropin receptors and steroid levels. In frog diencephalons, AEA negatively affected both GnRH and Kiss1/Gpr54 systems. In testis, AEA induced the expression of gonadotropin receptors, cb1, gnrh2 and gnrhr3 meanwhile reducing gnrhr2 mRNA and Kiss1/Gpr54 proteins. Furthermore, aromatase (Cyp19) expression increased in parallel to testosterone decrease and estradiol increase. In vitro treatment of testis with AEA revealed direct effects on Cyp19 and induced the expression of the AEA-degrading enzyme Faah. Lastly, AEA effects on Faah were counteracted by the antiestrogen ICI182780, indicating estradiol mediated effect. In conclusion, for the first time we show in a vertebrate that AEA regulates testicular activity through kisspeptin system.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale sez "F. Bottazzi", Seconda Università di Napoli, Via Costantinopoli 16, 80138 Napoli, Italy. Electronic address: enza.ciaramella@unina2.it.
authors.forename: Vincenza
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ciaramella
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Motorie e del Benessere, Università di Napoli Parthenope, Via Medina 40, 80133 Napoli, Italy. Electronic address: rosaria.meccariello@uniparthenope.it.
authors.forename: Rosaria
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Meccariello
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale sez "F. Bottazzi", Seconda Università di Napoli, Via Costantinopoli 16, 80138 Napoli, Italy. Electronic address: teresa.chioccarelli@unina2.it.
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Chioccarelli
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Motorie e del Benessere, Università di Napoli Parthenope, Via Medina 40, 80133 Napoli, Italy. Electronic address: monica.sirleto@libero.it.
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sirleto
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale sez "F. Bottazzi", Seconda Università di Napoli, Via Costantinopoli 16, 80138 Napoli, Italy. Electronic address: silvia.fasano@unina2.it.
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fasano
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale sez "F. Bottazzi", Seconda Università di Napoli, Via Costantinopoli 16, 80138 Napoli, Italy. Electronic address: riccardo.pierantoni@unina2.it.
authors.forename: Riccardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pierantoni
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale sez "F. Bottazzi", Seconda Università di Napoli, Via Costantinopoli 16, 80138 Napoli, Italy. Electronic address: rosanna.chianese@unina2.it.
authors.forename: Rosanna
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chianese
mesh_terms: D000581:Amidohydrolases / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001095:Arachidonic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001141:Aromatase / Q000378:metabolism; D004027:Diencephalon / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D063388:Endocannabinoids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004958:Estradiol / Q000378:metabolism; D059648:Kisspeptins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D010880:Piperidines / Q000494:pharmacology; D053284:Polyunsaturated Alkamides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011720:Pyrazoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D011893:Rana esculenta / Q000378:metabolism*; D011967:Receptors, Gonadotropin / Q000378:metabolism; D000077285:Rimonabant; D013737:Testis / Q000378:metabolism*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000378:metabolism; D000099252:Fatty Acid Amide Hydrolases
chemical_list: D000581:Amidohydrolases; D001095:Arachidonic Acids; D001141:Aromatase; D063388:Endocannabinoids; D004958:Estradiol; D059648:Kisspeptins; D010880:Piperidines; D053284:Polyunsaturated Alkamides; D011720:Pyrazoles; D011967:Receptors, Gonadotropin; D000077285:Rimonabant; D013739:Testosterone; D000099252:Fatty Acid Amide Hydrolases; C078814:anandamide
keywords: Cyp19; Endocannabinoids; Faah; Kisspeptin system; gnrhrs; gnrhs