title: P450 aromatase: a key enzyme in the spermatogenesis of the Italian wall lizard, Podarcis sicula.
abstract: P450 aromatase is a key enzyme in steroidogenesis involved in the conversion of testosterone into 17β-estradiol. We investigated the localization and the expression of P450 aromatase in Podarcis sicula testes during the different phases of the reproductive cycle: summer stasis (July-August), early autumnal resumption (September), middle autumnal resumption (October-November), winter stasis (December-February), spring resumption (March-April) and the reproductive period (May-June). Using immunohistochemistry, we demonstrated that the P450 aromatase is always present in somatic and germ cells of P. sicula testis, particularly in spermatids and spermatozoa, except in early autumnal resumption, when P450 aromatase is evident only within Leydig cells. Using real-time PCR and semi-quantitative blot investigations, we also demonstrated that both mRNA and protein were expressed in all phases, with two peaks of expression occurring in summer and in winter stasis. These highest levels of P450 aromatase are in line with the increase of 17β-estradiol, responsible for the spermatogenesis block typical of this species. Differently, in autumnal resumption, the level of P450 aromatase dramatically decreased, along with 17β-estradiol levels, and testosterone titres increased, responsible for the subsequent renewal of spermatogenesis not followed by spermiation. In spring resumption and in the reproductive period we found intermediate P450 aromatase amounts, low levels of 17β-estradiol and the highest testosterone levels determining the resumption of spermatogenesis needed for reproduction. Our results, the first collected in a non-mammalian vertebrate, indicate a role of P450 aromatase in the control of steroidogenesis and spermatogenesis, particularly in spermiogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Biologia, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, 80134 Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rosati
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Biologia, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, 80134 Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Marisa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Agnese
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Ambientali, Biologiche e Farmaceutiche, Seconda Università degli Studi di Napoli, 81010 Caserta, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Maddalena
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Di Fiore
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Biologia, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, 80134 Naples, Italy piero.andreuccetti@unina.it.
authors.forename: Piero
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-0651-2272
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Andreuccetti
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Biologia, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, 80134 Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Prisco
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001141:Aromatase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000378:metabolism; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008116:Lizards / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012098:Reproduction / Q000502:physiology; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000235:genetics; D013737:Testis / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D001141:Aromatase
keywords: Non-mammalian vertebrates; P450 aromatase; Spermatogenesis; Steroidogenesis