Mechanism of action of GnRH: the participation of calcium mobilization and activation of protein kinase C in gonadotropin secretion

Research progress on the role of melatonin and its receptors in animal reproduction: A comprehensive review

Melatonin and its receptors play a crucial role in the regulation of the animal reproductive process, primarily in follicular development. However, the role that melatonin performs in regulating hormones related with reproduction remains unclear. Melatonin and its receptors are present both in female and male animals' organs, such as ovaries, heart, brain and liver. Melatonin regulates ovarian actions and is a key mediator of reproductive actions. Melatonin has numerous effects on animal reproduction, such as protection of gametes and embryos, response to clock genes, immune-neuroendocrine, reconciliation of seasonal variations in immune function, and silence or blockage of genes. The growth ratio of reproductive illnesses in animals has raised a remarkable concern for the government, animal caretakers and farm managers. In order to resolve this challenging issue, it is very necessary to conduct state-of-the-art research on melatonin and its receptors because melatonin has considerable physiognomies. This review article presents a current contemporary research conducted by numerous researchers from the entire world on the role of melatonin and its receptors in animal reproduction, from the year 1985 to the year 2017. Furthermore, this review shows scientific research challenges related to melatonin receptors and their explanations based on the findings of 172 numerous research articles, and also represents significant proficiencies of melatonin in order to show enthusiastic study direction for animal reproduction researchers.

Melatonin and male reproduction

Melatonin is a neurohormone secreted by the pineal gland whose concentrations in the body are regulated by both the dark-light and seasonal cycles. The reproductive function of seasonal breeding animals is clearly influenced by the circadian variation in melatonin levels. Moreover, a growing body of evidence indicates that melatonin has important effects in the reproduction of some non-seasonal breeding animals. In males, melatonin affects reproductive regulation in three main ways. First, it regulates the secretion of two key neurohormones, GnRH and LH. Second, it regulates testosterone synthesis and testicular maturation. Third, as a potent free radical scavenger that is both lipophilic and hydrophilic, it prevents testicular damage caused by environmental toxins or inflammation. This review summarizes the existing data on the possible biological roles of melatonin in male reproduction. Overall, the literature data indicate that melatonin affects the secretion of both gonadotropins and testosterone while also improving sperm quality. This implies that it has important effects on the regulation of testicular development and male reproduction.

The relationship between pulsatile GnRH secretion and cAMP production in immortalized GnRH neurons

In perifused immortalized GnRH neurons (GT1-7), simultaneous measurements of GnRH and cAMP revealed that the secretory profiles for both GnRH and cAMP are pulsatile. An analysis of GnRH and cAMP pulses in 16 independent experiments revealed that 25% of pulses coincide. Inversion of the peak and nadir levels was found in 33% and random relationship between GnRH and cAMP found in 42% of analyzed pulses. The random relation between GnRH and cAMP pulse resets to synchronous after an inverse relation between pulses occurred during the major GnRH release, indicating that GnRH acts as a switching mechanism to synchronize cAMP and GnRH release in perifused GT1-7 neurons. Activation of GnRH receptors with increasing agonist concentrations caused a biphasic change in cAMP levels. Low nanomolar concentrations increased cAMP production, but at high concentrations the initial increase was followed by a rapid decline to below the basal level. Blockade of the GnRH receptors by peptide and nonpeptide antagonists generated monotonic nonpulsatile increases in both GnRH and cAMP production. These findings indicate that cAMP positively regulates GnRH secretion but does not participate in the mechanism of pulsatile GnRH release.

The origin and function of the pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP)/glucagon superfamily

The pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP)/ glucagon superfamily includes nine hormones in humans that are related by structure, distribution (especially the brain and gut), function (often by activation of cAMP), and receptors (a subset of seven-transmembrane receptors). The nine hormones include glucagon, glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), GLP-2, glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP), GH-releasing hormone (GRF), peptide histidine-methionine (PHM), PACAP, secretin, and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP). The origin of the ancestral superfamily members is at least as old as the invertebrates; the most ancient and tightly conserved members are PACAP and glucagon. Evidence to date suggests the superfamily began with a gene or exon duplication and then continued to diverge with some gene duplications in vertebrates. The function of PACAP is considered in detail because it is newly (1989) discovered; it is tightly conserved (96% over 700 million years); and it is probably the ancestral molecule. The diverse functions of PACAP include regulation of proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis in some cell populations. In addition, PACAP regulates metabolism and the cardiovascular, endocrine, and immune systems, although the physiological event(s) that coordinates PACAP responses remains to be identified.

Opioid regulation of gonadotropin release: role of signal transduction cascade

The present investigation elucidates the opioidergic modulation of gonadotropin releasing hormone release mechanism by signal transduction cascade in discrete brain regions from estrogen-progesterone primed ovariectomized rats. The effects of mu-opioid agonist morphine and its antagonist naloxone followed by morphine were studied (in two different groups of rats) on protein kinase A, adenosine 3',5' cyclic monophosphate, protein kinase C and calcium/calmodulin protein kinase-II as well as phospholipase C, phospholipase A(2), diacylglycerol and inositol 1,4, 5-triphosphate. Significant decline in phosphoinositide metabolism was observed after morphine treatment as depicted by decrease in phospholipase C and phospholipase A2 activities as well as inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate and diacylglycerol contents from discrete brain regions. Protein kinase A activity showed translocation from membrane bound to cytosolic form along with a decrease in its activator adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate levels in morphine-treated group. Calcium/calmodulin dependent protein kinase II activity also declined, whereas, protein kinase C activity increased in the cytosolic fraction after 45 min of morphine administration. Naloxone was seen to counteract the changes induced by morphine in most of the brain regions studied. Morphine also suppressed luteinizing hormone levels, whereas, follicle stimulating hormone level did not change. The present investigation provides evidence for opioidergic mediated suppression of gonadotropin release through the downregulation of signal transduction cascade.

Cellular mechanisms of melatonin action

The pineal hormone melatonin is involved in photic regulations of various kinds, including adaptation to light intensity, daily changes of light and darkness, and seasonal changes of photoperiod lengths. The melatonin effects are mediated by the specific high-affinity receptors localized on plasma membrane and coupled to GTP-binding protein. Two different G proteins coupled to the melatonin receptors have been described, one sensitive to pertussis toxin and the other sensitive to cholera toxin. On the basis of the molecular structure, three subtypes of the melatonin receptors have been described: Mel1A, Mel1B, and Mel1C. The first two subtypes are found in mammals and may be distinguished pharmacologically using selective antagonists. Melatonin receptor regulates several second messengers: cAMP, cGMP, diacylglycerol, inositol trisphosphate, arachidonic acid, and intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i). In many cases, its effect is inhibitory and requires previous activation of the cell by a stimulatory agent. Melatonin inhibits cAMP accumulation in most of the cells examined, but the indole effects on other messengers have been often observed only in one type of the cells or tissue, until now. Melatonin also regulates the transcription factors, namely, phosphorylation of cAMP-responsive element binding protein and expression of c-Fos. Molecular mechanisms of the melatonin effects are not clear but may involve at least two parallel transduction pathways, one inhibiting adenylyl cyclase and the other regulating phospholipide metabolism and [Ca2+]i.

Age-related changes in the mechanisms of LHRH-stimulated LH release from pituitary cells in vitro

In vitro release of LH in response to LHRH, phorbol myristate acetate (PMA), the ionophore A23187, and nifedipine was evaluated in primary cultures of anterior pituitary cells from intact mature (6 to 7 month) and old (23 to 24 month) male Wistar rats. LH release from pituitary cells is reduced approximately 30% and 60% after 4 and 48 h of 10(-7) M LHRH stimulation in cells of old rats, respectively. This impairment may be secondary to a loss of LHRH receptors. LHRH-stimulated LH release from cells of mature rats was inhibited 70% by the voltage-gated calcium channel blocker, nifedipine (10(-6) M), whereas LHRH-stimulated LH release from cells of old rats was too low to detect the effects of this drug. Age changes can be partially reversed by A23187 and PMA during 4 h, but not 48 hrs of stimulation. It therefore appears that short- and long-term (4 h and 48 h, respectively) stimulation of LH release may proceed through separate mechanisms that are differentially affected by aging.

Inhibition of protein kinase C activity in cultured pituitary cells attenuates both cyclic AMP-independent and -dependent secretion of ACTH

The present study examines the effect of reduction of protein kinase C (PKC) activity, as induced by either phorbol ester (PMA) down-regulation or staurosporine inhibition, on the secretion of ACTH from cultured anterior pituitary (AP) cells. Short-term (3 h) exposure of cells to 5 nM PMA resulted in almost complete desensitization to both PMA and vasopressin (AVP), while there was only a minor incidence on the effect of corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF). In contrast, long-term (12-24 h) exposure of cells to PMA, as well as pretreatment with staurosporine, dramatically reduced the stimulatory influence of CRF. This was shown not to be due to a decline in ACTH cells' stores, nor to the toxicity of phorbol ester or to a negative autofeedback of ACTH. Pretreatment of corticotrophs with PMA failed to dampen the CRF-induced cyclic AMP formation, while it caused a decline in the effects of forskolin and 8-bromoadenosine cyclic AMP. Stimulated ACTH secretion subsequent to either veratridine- or high K(+)-induced cell depolarization was likewise decreased. We conclude that in corticotrophs the stimulatory action of not only AVP, but also of that of CRF on ACTH secretion strongly relies on PKC activity. In the case of CRF, however, this may not be a primary consequence of receptor occupation, as evidence suggests an indirect relationship which may involve PKC regulation of Ca2+ channels and/or the ion's intracellular messenger function.