title: Effect of photoperiod and 6-methoxybenzoxazolinone (6-MBOA) on the reproduction of male Brandt's voles (Lasiopodomys brandtii).
abstract: Plant secondary metabolite 6-methoxybenzoxazolinone (6-MBOA) has been suggested to stimulate animal reproduction. 6-MBOA is detected in Leymus chinensis, a main diet of Brandt's vole (Lasiopodomys brandtii). We have previously reported a stimulatory effect of 6-MBOA on reproduction of male Brandt's voles under a short-day photoperiod. The goal of this study was to investigate the effect of 6-MBOA on reproductive physiology of male Brandt's voles under a long-day photoperiod and examine if 6-MBOA under this photoperiodic regime altered the reproductive status of male Brandt's voles differently than the short-day photoperiod. Under the long-day photoperiod, a high dose of 6-MBOA decreased KiSS-1 mRNA in the arcuate nucleus (ARC), and we also saw a decrease in circulating levels of luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and testosterone (T). Steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR) and cytochrome P45011a1(CYP11a1) in the testes, and relative testis weight also decreased with 6-MBOA administration. Compared to the short-day photoperiod, animals under the long-day photoperiod exhibited increased body weight as well as all other reproductive parameters. Our results showed that 6-MBOA inhibited the reproduction of male Brandt's vole under a long-day photoperiod, a stark contrast from its stimulatory effects under a short-day photoperiod. The paradoxical effects of 6-MBOA suggest it may act as a partial agonist of melatonin. These results provide insight into the complex interactions between environmental factors such as photoperiod and diet in the control of Brandt's vole reproduction.
authors.affiliation: College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Yangzhou University, 48 East Wenhui Road, Yangzhou 225009, PR China; Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, PR China.
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Dai
authors.affiliation: College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Yangzhou University, 48 East Wenhui Road, Yangzhou 225009, PR China.
authors.forename: Jia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.affiliation: College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Yangzhou University, 48 East Wenhui Road, Yangzhou 225009, PR China.
authors.forename: Mei
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Yangzhou University, 48 East Wenhui Road, Yangzhou 225009, PR China.
authors.forename: Ai Qin
authors.initials: AQ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Yangzhou University, 48 East Wenhui Road, Yangzhou 225009, PR China; Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, PR China.
authors.forename: Wan Hong
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.affiliation: College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Yangzhou University, 48 East Wenhui Road, Yangzhou 225009, PR China; Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, PR China. Electronic address: smyang@yzu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Sheng Mei
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003411:Arvicolinae / Q000502:physiology*; D001583:Benzoxazoles / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004032:Diet; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000187:drug effects; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008550:Melatonin / Q000378:metabolism; D017440:Photoperiod; D012098:Reproduction / Q000187:drug effects*; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D013739:Testosterone / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D001583:Benzoxazoles; D013739:Testosterone; C031896:6-methoxybenzoxazolinone; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D008550:Melatonin
keywords: 6-MBOA; Brandt’s vole; KiSS-1/GPR54 system; Photoperiod; Reproductive activity