title: Are aryl hydrocarbon receptor and G-protein-coupled receptor 30 involved in the regulation of seasonal testis activity in photosensitive rodent-the bank vole (Myodes glareolus)?
abstract: Within the reproductive system both aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) and G-protein-coupled receptor 30 (GPR30) contribute to estrogen signaling and controlling of reproductive physiology. The specific question is whether and how AHR and GPR30 are involved in regulation of testis function in seasonally breeding rodents. Bank vole testes were obtained from animals reared under 18 hours light:6 hours dark (LD) and 6 hours light:18 hours dark (SD) conditions. Aryl hydrocarbon receptor and GPR30 expression were analyzed by quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction, Western blot, and immunohistochemistry and/or immunofluorescent staining. In addition, the activity of enzymes involved in the intracellular signal transduction; extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), protein kinase (PKA), matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP 9) and the concentrations of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP), cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP), and calcium (Ca(2+)) were examined by immunohistochemical, immunoenzymatic, and colorimetric assays, respectively. Aryl hydrocarbon receptor and GPR30 were expressed in testes of actively reproducing voles and regressed ones although their expression at the messenger RNA and AHR also at protein level appeared to be photoperiod-dependent. A specific cellular localization and expression of AHR and GPR30 correlated with the expression of ERK, PKA, and MMP 9. Moreover, we found robust differences in the levels of cAMP, cGMP, and Ca(2+) in testicular homogenates between LD and SD voles. In the testes of LD voles, the levels of second messengers were always higher compared to SD. In vole testis, AHR and GPR30 can induce signaling pathways that involve ERK, PKA, MMP 9 and cAMP, cGMP, Ca(2+). In addition, in AHR, signaling the engagement of both photoperiod and estrogens, whereas in GPR30, signaling only estrogens is reported. It is likely that in vole, because of a differential activity of signaling molecules, signal transduction via AHR rather than through GPR30 plays a role in regulation of seasonal changes of testis physiology.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Institute of Zoology, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland.
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zarzycka
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Institute of Zoology, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland.
authors.forename: Ewelina
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gorowska-Wojtowicz
authors.affiliation: Department of Developmental Biology and Morphology of Invertebrates, Institute of Zoology, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland.
authors.forename: Waclaw
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Tworzydlo
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Institute of Zoology, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland.
authors.forename: Aleksandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Klak
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Institute of Zoology, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland.
authors.forename: Klaudia
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kozub
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Institute of Zoology, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hejmej
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Institute of Zoology, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bilinska
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Institute of Zoology, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland. Electronic address: malgorzata.kotula-balak@uj.edu.pl.
authors.forename: Malgorzata
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kotula-Balak
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003411:Arvicolinae / Q000502:physiology*; D017868:Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D017440:Photoperiod; D018336:Receptors, Aryl Hydrocarbon / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012098:Reproduction / Q000502:physiology; D012621:Seasons; D013737:Testis / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D018336:Receptors, Aryl Hydrocarbon; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; D017868:Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9
keywords: Aryl hydrocarbon receptor; Bank vole; G-protein–coupled receptor; Signal transduction molecules; Testis