1
|
Cruz-Cano N, Sánchez-Rivera U, Álvarez-Rodríguez C, Loya-Zurita R, Castro-Camacho Y, Martínez-Torres M. Immunolocalization of activin and inhibin at different stages of follicular development in the lizard Sceloporus torquatus. Heliyon 2023; 9:e19333. [PMID: 37681184 PMCID: PMC10481300 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e19333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2022] [Revised: 08/06/2023] [Accepted: 08/18/2023] [Indexed: 09/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The activins and inhibins are glycoproteins with a role in the follicular development of vertebrates, that are found in follicular fluid and somatic follicular cells, with a different pattern among taxa. The principal function of activin (Act) is to modulate the follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) synthesis and secretion, whereas inhibin (Inh) downregulates it. Both factors are modulators of intraovarian follicular recruitment, oocyte maturation, cell proliferation, and steroidogenic activity. Our aim was to characterize the immunolocalization of Act and Inh in the ovarian follicles during the reproductive cycle of the lizard Sceloporus torquatus. Act was detected in the granulosa cells and oocyte cortex in the different stages of follicular development. On the other hand, we identified Inh in the oocyte cortex and the cytoplasm of pyriform and small cells of previtellogenic follicles. Also, we found immunoreactivity in the oocyte cortex, theca, and small cells of vitellogenic and preovulatory follicles. Our data provide evidence that Act and Inh have changes related to the stage of follicular development. This dynamic appears to be conserved among vertebrates and is fundamental to ensure an adequate follicular development in this specie.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- N.B. Cruz-Cano
- Posgrado en Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Edificio D, 1° Piso, Circuito de Posgrados, Ciudad Universitaria, Coyoacán, C.P. 04510, Ciudad de México, Mexico
- Laboratorio de Biología de La Reproducción, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Iztacala, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Avenida de Los Barrios s/n, Los Reyes Iztacala, Tlalnepantla Estado de México, C.P. 54110, Mexico
| | - U.Á. Sánchez-Rivera
- Laboratorio de Biología de La Reproducción, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Iztacala, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Avenida de Los Barrios s/n, Los Reyes Iztacala, Tlalnepantla Estado de México, C.P. 54110, Mexico
| | - C. Álvarez-Rodríguez
- Laboratorio de Biología de La Reproducción, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Iztacala, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Avenida de Los Barrios s/n, Los Reyes Iztacala, Tlalnepantla Estado de México, C.P. 54110, Mexico
| | - R.E. Loya-Zurita
- Laboratorio de Biología de La Reproducción, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Iztacala, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Avenida de Los Barrios s/n, Los Reyes Iztacala, Tlalnepantla Estado de México, C.P. 54110, Mexico
| | - Y.J. Castro-Camacho
- Laboratorio de Biología de La Reproducción, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Iztacala, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Avenida de Los Barrios s/n, Los Reyes Iztacala, Tlalnepantla Estado de México, C.P. 54110, Mexico
| | - M. Martínez-Torres
- Laboratorio de Biología de La Reproducción, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Iztacala, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Avenida de Los Barrios s/n, Los Reyes Iztacala, Tlalnepantla Estado de México, C.P. 54110, Mexico
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Cruz-Cano NB, Sánchez-Rivera UÁ, Álvarez-Rodríguez C, Dávila-Govantes R, Cárdenas-León M, Martínez-Torres M. Sex steroids are correlated with environmental factors and body condition during the reproductive cycle in females of the lizard Sceloporus torquatus. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2021; 314:113921. [PMID: 34606744 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2021.113921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2020] [Revised: 09/25/2021] [Accepted: 09/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/06/2022]
Abstract
Reproduction is regulated by multiple factors that influence physiology and behavior to ensure the continuity of species. However, more work is needed to examine the complex relationships between environmental factors and endocrine transducers that modulate reproductive cycles, particularly in lizards. Here, we aimed to characterize the variation in plasma sex steroid levels in different stages of the reproductive cycle in the lizard Sceloporus torquatus and assess whether sex steroid levels were related to environmental factors (temperature, photoperiod, precipitation, and relative humidity) and body condition. Plasma concentrations of estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P4) from blood samples were quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and radioimmunoanalysis (RIA), respectively. Our results indicate that sex steroid concentrations were positively related to follicular development but negatively related to temperature and precipitation. E2 increased as the follicles grew, and its concentrations were highest in the preovulatory phase. P4 showed a similar pattern and persisted during pregnancy. Changes in body condition were non-significant and mainly unrelated to the reproductive stage and plasma sex steroids. Our findings indicate that sex steroids change depending on the season and reproductive stage. We observed high concentrations of E2 and P4 in the late vitellogenic and preovulatory stages, probably because of their role in promoting vitellogenesis and ovulation. Additionally, we observed that follicular development is correlated with temperature and photoperiod. To better understand the mechanisms underlying reproduction, future studies of captive populations where environmental factors can be manipulated are needed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Norma Berenice Cruz-Cano
- Posgrado en Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Edificio D, 1° Piso, Circuito de Posgrados, Ciudad Universitaria, Coyoacán, Ciudad de México, México; Laboratorio de Biología de la Reproducción, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Iztacala, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Avenida de los Barrios s/n, Los Reyes Iztacala, Tlalnepantla, Estado de México, C.P. 54110, México.
| | - Uriel Ángel Sánchez-Rivera
- Laboratorio de Biología de la Reproducción, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Iztacala, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Avenida de los Barrios s/n, Los Reyes Iztacala, Tlalnepantla, Estado de México, C.P. 54110, México
| | - Carmen Álvarez-Rodríguez
- Laboratorio de Biología de la Reproducción, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Iztacala, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Avenida de los Barrios s/n, Los Reyes Iztacala, Tlalnepantla, Estado de México, C.P. 54110, México
| | - Rodrigo Dávila-Govantes
- Laboratorio de Biología de la Reproducción, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Iztacala, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Avenida de los Barrios s/n, Los Reyes Iztacala, Tlalnepantla, Estado de México, C.P. 54110, México
| | - Mario Cárdenas-León
- Laboratorio de Biología de la Reproducción, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Iztacala, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Avenida de los Barrios s/n, Los Reyes Iztacala, Tlalnepantla, Estado de México, C.P. 54110, México; Laboratorio de Hormonas Proteicas, Departamento de Biología de la Reproducción, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Avenida Vasco de Quiroga No. 15, Colonia Belisario Domínguez Sección XVI, Delegación Tlalpan, C.P. 14080, Ciudad de México, México
| | - Martín Martínez-Torres
- Laboratorio de Biología de la Reproducción, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Iztacala, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Avenida de los Barrios s/n, Los Reyes Iztacala, Tlalnepantla, Estado de México, C.P. 54110, México.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Roles of Estrogens in the Healthy and Diseased Oviparous Vertebrate Liver. Metabolites 2021; 11:metabo11080502. [PMID: 34436443 PMCID: PMC8398935 DOI: 10.3390/metabo11080502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2021] [Revised: 07/27/2021] [Accepted: 07/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The liver is a vital organ that sustains multiple functions beneficial for the whole organism. It is sexually dimorphic, presenting sex-biased gene expression with implications for the phenotypic differences between males and females. Estrogens are involved in this sex dimorphism and their actions in the liver of several reptiles, fishes, amphibians, and birds are discussed. The liver participates in reproduction by producing vitellogenins (yolk proteins) and eggshell proteins under the control of estrogens that act via two types of receptors active either mainly in the cell nucleus (ESR) or the cell membrane (GPER1). Estrogens also control hepatic lipid and lipoprotein metabolisms, with a triglyceride carrier role for VLDL from the liver to the ovaries during oogenesis. Moreover, the activation of the vitellogenin genes is used as a robust biomarker for exposure to xenoestrogens. In the context of liver diseases, high plasma estrogen levels are observed in fatty liver hemorrhagic syndrome (FLHS) in chicken implicating estrogens in the disease progression. Fishes are also used to investigate liver diseases, including models generated by mutation and transgenesis. In conclusion, studies on the roles of estrogens in the non-mammalian oviparous vertebrate liver have contributed enormously to unveil hormone-dependent physiological and physiopathological processes.
Collapse
|