title: Circadian clock and steroidogenic-related gene expression profiles in mouse Leydig cells following dexamethasone stimulation.
abstract: Previous studies have shown that circadian clock genes are expressed in mammalian testes; however, it remains unclear if the expression patterns of these genes are cyclic. Furthermore, it is unknown whether Leydig cells, the primary androgen secreting cells in the testis, play a role in the rhythmicity of circadian clock and steroidogenic-related gene transcription. Here, we examine the circadian clock of mouse Leydig cells, and the link to steroidogenic-related gene transcription. We confirm, via sampling over a full circadian time (CT) period, a lack of circadian rhythmicity in mouse testes in comparison with the robust gene expression cycling of circadian clock genes in mouse livers. Immunofluorescence imaging of mouse testes collected at CT0 and CT12 show that the BMAL1 protein is exclusively expressed in mouse Leydig cells, and clearly linked to the circadian oscillation. Furthermore, dexamethasone treatment synchronized the expression of several of these canonical circadian clock and steroidogenic-related genes. Bioinformatic analyses revealed the presence of several circadian clock-related sequence motifs in the promoters of these steroidogenic-related genes. Our results suggest mouse Leydig cells may contain a functional circadian oscillator and the circadian clockwork in mouse Leydig cells regulates steroidogenic-related gene transcription by binding to the E-box, RORE, and D-box motifs in their promoters. However, additional research is required to determine the specific molecular mechanisms involved.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, Shaanxi, China; Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology of the Ministry of Agriculture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, Shaanxi, China. Electronic address: htchen@nwsuaf.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Huatao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, Shaanxi, China; Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology of the Ministry of Agriculture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, Shaanxi, China.
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, Shaanxi, China; Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology of the Ministry of Agriculture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, Shaanxi, China.
authors.forename: Yongjie
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xiong
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, Shaanxi, China; Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology of the Ministry of Agriculture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, Shaanxi, China.
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, Shaanxi, China; Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology of the Ministry of Agriculture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, Shaanxi, China.
authors.forename: Cuimei
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology of the Ministry of Agriculture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, Shaanxi, China; Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, Shaanxi, China.
authors.forename: Aihua
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, Shaanxi, China; Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology of the Ministry of Agriculture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, Shaanxi, China. Electronic address: yapingjin@163.com.
authors.forename: Yaping
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Jin
mesh_terms: D056930:ARNTL Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D057906:Circadian Clocks; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D056931:Cryptochromes / Q000378:metabolism; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D007985:Leydig Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D056953:Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 1, Group D, Member 1 / Q000378:metabolism; D056950:Period Circadian Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D013256:Steroids / Q000494:pharmacology; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D059467:Transcriptome
chemical_list: D056930:ARNTL Transcription Factors; C538961:Bmal1 protein, mouse; C538964:Cry1 protein, mouse; D056931:Cryptochromes; C498262:Nr1d1 protein, mouse; D056953:Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 1, Group D, Member 1; C539023:Per1 protein, mouse; C513312:Per2 protein, mouse; D056950:Period Circadian Proteins; D013256:Steroids; D003907:Dexamethasone
keywords: BMAL1; Circadian rhythm; Leydig cells; Testis; Testosterone