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Zheng B, Hu X, Hu Y, Dong S, Xiao X, Qi H, Wang Y, Wang W, Wang Z. Type III adenylyl cyclase is essential for follicular development in female mice and their reproductive lifespan. iScience 2024; 27:110293. [PMID: 39050703 PMCID: PMC11267094 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.110293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2024] [Revised: 05/15/2024] [Accepted: 06/14/2024] [Indexed: 07/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Premature ovarian failure (POF) is a complex and heterogeneous disease that causes infertility and subfertility. However, the molecular mechanism of POF has not been fully elucidated. Here, we show that the loss of adenylyl cyclase III (Adcy3) in female mice leads to POF and a shortened reproductive lifespan. We found that Adcy3 is abundantly expressed in mouse oocytes. Adcy3 knockout mice exhibited the excessive activation of primordial follicles, progressive follicle loss, follicular atresia, and ultimately POF. Mechanistically, we found that mitochondrial oxidative stress in oocytes significantly increased with age in Adcy3-deficient mice and was accompanied by oocyte apoptosis and defective folliculogenesis. In contrast, compared with wild-type female mice, humanized ADCY3 knock-in female mice exhibited improved fertility with age. Collectively, these results reveal that the previously unrecognized Adcy3 signaling pathway is tightly linked to female ovarian aging, providing potential pharmaceutical targets for preventing and treating POF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Baofang Zheng
- School of Life Sciences, Institute of Life Science, Hebei University, Baoding 071002, China
| | - Xiaoyu Hu
- School of Life Sciences, Institute of Life Science, Hebei University, Baoding 071002, China
- Hebei Basic Science Center for Biotic Interaction, Hebei University, Baoding 071002, China
| | - Yuanhui Hu
- School of Life Sciences, Institute of Life Science, Hebei University, Baoding 071002, China
| | - Sheng Dong
- School of Life Sciences, Institute of Life Science, Hebei University, Baoding 071002, China
| | - Xin Xiao
- School of Life Sciences, Institute of Life Science, Hebei University, Baoding 071002, China
| | - Haoming Qi
- School of Life Sciences, Institute of Life Science, Hebei University, Baoding 071002, China
| | - Yongdi Wang
- School of Life Sciences, Institute of Life Science, Hebei University, Baoding 071002, China
| | - Weina Wang
- School of Life Sciences, Institute of Life Science, Hebei University, Baoding 071002, China
| | - Zhenshan Wang
- School of Life Sciences, Institute of Life Science, Hebei University, Baoding 071002, China
- Hebei Basic Science Center for Biotic Interaction, Hebei University, Baoding 071002, China
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McIlwraith EK, Loganathan N, Mak KWY, He W, Belsham DD. Phoenixin knockout mice show no impairment in fertility or differences in metabolic response to a high-fat diet, but exhibit behavioral differences in an open field test. J Neuroendocrinol 2024:e13398. [PMID: 38733120 DOI: 10.1111/jne.13398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2024] [Revised: 03/27/2024] [Accepted: 04/21/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024]
Abstract
Phoenixin (PNX) is a conserved secreted peptide that was identified 10 years ago with numerous studies published on its pleiotropic functions. PNX is associated with estrous cycle length, protection from a high-fat diet, and reduction of anxiety behavior. However, no study had yet evaluated the impact of deleting PNX in the whole animal. We sought to evaluate a mouse model lacking the PNX parent gene, small integral membrane protein 20 (Smim20), and the resulting effect on reproduction, energy homeostasis, and anxiety. We found that the Smim20 knockout mice had normal fertility and estrous cycle lengths. Consistent with normal fertility, the hypothalamii of the knockout mice showed no changes in the levels of reproduction-related genes, but the male mice had some changes in energy homeostasis-related genes, such as melanocortin receptor 4 (Mc4r). When placed on a high-fat diet, the wildtype and knockout mice responded similarly, but the male heterozygous mice gained slightly less weight. When placed in an open field test box, the female knockout mice traveled less distance in the outer zone, indicating alterations in anxiety or locomotor behavior. In summary, the homozygous knockout of PNX did not alter fertility and modestly alters a few neuroendocrine genes in response to a high-fat diet, especially in the female mice. However, it altered the behavior of mice in an open field test. PNX therefore may not be crucial for reproductive function or weight, however, we cannot rule out possible compensatory mechanisms in the knockout model. Understanding the role of PNX in physiology may ultimately lead to an enhanced understanding of neuroendocrine mechanisms involving this enigmatic peptide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma K McIlwraith
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Neruja Loganathan
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Kimberly W Y Mak
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Wenyuan He
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Denise D Belsham
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Xu W, Mu R, Gegen T, Ran T, Wu Q, Wen D, Wang F, Chen Z. Transcriptome analysis of hypothalamus and pituitary tissues reveals genetic mechanisms associated with high egg production rates in Changshun green-shell laying hens. BMC Genomics 2023; 24:792. [PMID: 38124055 PMCID: PMC10734086 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-023-09895-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Changshun green-shell laying hens are unique to the Guizhou Province, China, and have high egg quality but relatively low yield. Egg production traits are regulated by the hypothalamus-pituitary-ovary axis. However, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. Thus, we conducted RNA sequencing of hypothalamic and pituitary tissues from low- and high-yielding Changshun green-shell laying hens to identify critical pathways and candidate genes involved in controlling the egg production rate. RESULTS More than 39 million clean reads per sample were obtained, and more than 82% were mapped to the Gallus gallus genome. Further analysis identified 1,817 and 1,171 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the hypothalamus and pituitary, respectively. Nineteen DEGs were upregulated in both the hypothalamus and pituitary of high-yielding chickens. The functions of these DEGs were mainly associated with ion transport or signal transduction. Gene set enrichment analysis revealed that the pathways enriched in the hypothalamus were mainly associated with gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) secretion, neurotransmitter release, and circadian rhythms. The pathways enriched in the pituitary were mainly associated with GnRH secretion, energy metabolism, and signal transduction. Five and four DEGs in the hypothalamus and pituitary, respectively, were selected randomly for qRT-PCR analysis. The expression trends determined via qRT-PCR were consistent with the RNA-seq results. CONCLUSIONS The current study identified 19 DEGs upregulated in both the hypothalamus and pituitary gland, which could provide an important reference for further studies on the molecular mechanisms underlying egg production in Changshun green-shell laying hens. In addition, enrichment analysis showed that GnRH secretion and signal transduction, especially neurotransmitter release, play crucial roles in the regulation of egg production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenbin Xu
- College of Biological Science and Agriculture, Qiannan Normal University for Nationalities, Jianjiang Road 5, Duyun, 558000, China
- Qiannan Key Laboratory of Applied Biotechnology for Livestock and Poultry, Duyun, 558000, China
- College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Ren Mu
- College of Biological Science and Agriculture, Qiannan Normal University for Nationalities, Jianjiang Road 5, Duyun, 558000, China.
- Qiannan Key Laboratory of Applied Biotechnology for Livestock and Poultry, Duyun, 558000, China.
| | - Tuya Gegen
- Qiannan Key Laboratory of Applied Biotechnology for Livestock and Poultry, Duyun, 558000, China
- Library, Qiannan Normal University for Nationalities, Duyun, 558000, China
| | - Tiantian Ran
- College of Biological Science and Agriculture, Qiannan Normal University for Nationalities, Jianjiang Road 5, Duyun, 558000, China
| | - Qi Wu
- College of Biological Science and Agriculture, Qiannan Normal University for Nationalities, Jianjiang Road 5, Duyun, 558000, China
- Qiannan Key Laboratory of Applied Biotechnology for Livestock and Poultry, Duyun, 558000, China
| | - Di Wen
- College of Biological Science and Agriculture, Qiannan Normal University for Nationalities, Jianjiang Road 5, Duyun, 558000, China
| | - Fen Wang
- College of Biological Science and Agriculture, Qiannan Normal University for Nationalities, Jianjiang Road 5, Duyun, 558000, China
| | - Zhi Chen
- College of Biological Science and Agriculture, Qiannan Normal University for Nationalities, Jianjiang Road 5, Duyun, 558000, China.
- Qiannan Key Laboratory of Applied Biotechnology for Livestock and Poultry, Duyun, 558000, China.
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Zhang J, Wang C, Li X, Zhang Y, Xing F. Expression and functional analysis of GnRH at the onset of puberty in sheep. Arch Anim Breed 2022; 65:249-257. [PMID: 36035881 PMCID: PMC9399933 DOI: 10.5194/aab-65-249-2022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2022] [Accepted: 06/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) is a key factor at the onset
of puberty. This decapeptide has been found in mammalian ovaries, but its
regulatory mechanism in the ovary of sheep at the onset of puberty is not
clear. This study investigated the coding sequence (CDS) of the GnRH gene in the
ovary of Duolang sheep and the expression of GnRH mRNA in different tissues at
the onset of puberty, and analyzed the effect of GnRH on ovarian granulosa
cells (GCs) of Duolang sheep. The results showed that the GnRH CDS of sheep was
cloned, the full length of the GnRH CDS in sheep ovary was 279 bp, and the
nucleotide sequence was completely homologous to that in the hypothalamus. The
expression of GnRH mRNA was highest in the hypothalamus and ovary. The expression of
related hormones and receptors in GCs of Duolang sheep treated with
different concentrations of GnRH for 24 h was affected. GnRH
significantly inhibited LH synthesis and LHR expression in GCs. Low
concentration (100 ng mL-1) had the most obvious therapeutic effect on follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and
FSHR. Higher concentration (250 ng mL-1) significantly promoted estradiol and
ERβ mRNA. These findings provide strong evidence that ovarian GnRH is
an important regulatory factor at the onset of puberty in sheep.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jihu Zhang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Tarim University, Alar,
Xinjiang 843300, China
- Key laboratory of Tarim, Animal Husbandry Science and Technology,
Xinjiang Production & Construction Corps, Alar, Xinjiang 843300, China
| | - Chenguang Wang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Tarim University, Alar,
Xinjiang 843300, China
- Key laboratory of Tarim, Animal Husbandry Science and Technology,
Xinjiang Production & Construction Corps, Alar, Xinjiang 843300, China
| | - Xiaojun Li
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Tarim University, Alar,
Xinjiang 843300, China
- Key laboratory of Tarim, Animal Husbandry Science and Technology,
Xinjiang Production & Construction Corps, Alar, Xinjiang 843300, China
| | - Yongjie Zhang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Tarim University, Alar,
Xinjiang 843300, China
- Key laboratory of Tarim, Animal Husbandry Science and Technology,
Xinjiang Production & Construction Corps, Alar, Xinjiang 843300, China
| | - Feng Xing
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Tarim University, Alar,
Xinjiang 843300, China
- Key laboratory of Tarim, Animal Husbandry Science and Technology,
Xinjiang Production & Construction Corps, Alar, Xinjiang 843300, China
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Lv W, Jin S, Cao D, Wang N, Jin X, Zhang Y. Effects of Luteinizing Hormone Releasing Hormone A2 on Gonad Development in Juvenile Amur Sturgeon, Acipenser schrenckii, Revealed by Transcriptome Profiling Analysis. Front Genet 2022; 13:859965. [PMID: 35401695 PMCID: PMC8989137 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.859965] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2022] [Accepted: 02/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Acipenser schrenckii is an economically important aquatic species whose gonads require particularly long times to reach sexual maturity. Luteinizing hormone plays important roles in gonad development, and luteinizing hormone releasing hormone A2 (LH-A2) is used as an oxytocin to promote ovulation in aquaculture of A. schrenckii. In this study, we aimed to determine the effects of LH-A2 on gonad development in juvenile A. schrenckii through transcriptome profiling analysis of the pituitary and gonads after LH-A2 treatment at a dose of 3 μg/kg. The 17β-estradiol (E2) levels gradually increased with LH-A2 treatment time, and significantly differed from those of the control group on days 5 and 7 (p < 0.01). However, the content of testosterone (Testo) gradually decreased with LH-A2 treatment time and showed significant differences on day 3 (p < 0.05), and on days 5 and 7 (p < 0.01), compared to those in the control group. Thus, LH-A2 promotes the secretion of E2 and inhibits the secretion of Testo. Transcriptome profiling analysis revealed a total of 2,883 and 8,476 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the pituitary and gonads, respectively, thus indicating that LH-A2 has more regulatory effects on the gonads than the pituitary in A. schrenckii. Signal transduction, global and overview maps, immune system, endocrine system and lipid metabolism were the main enriched metabolic pathways in both the pituitary and gonads. Sixteen important genes were selected from these metabolic pathways. Seven genes were co-DEGs enriched in both signal transduction and endocrine system metabolic pathways. The other co-DEGs were selected from the immune system and lipid metabolism metabolic pathways, and showed mRNA expression changes of >7.0. The expression of five DEGs throughout LH-A2 treatment was verified to show the same patterns of change as those observed with RNA-seq, indicating the accuracy of the RNA-seq in this study. Our findings provide valuable evidence of the regulation of gonad development of juvenile A. schrenckii by LH-A2 and may enable the establishment of artificial techniques to regulate gonad development in this species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weihua Lv
- Key Open Laboratory of Cold Water Fish Germplasm Resources and Breeding of Heilongjiang Province, Heilongjiang River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Harbin, China
| | - Shubo Jin
- Key Open Laboratory of Cold Water Fish Germplasm Resources and Breeding of Heilongjiang Province, Heilongjiang River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Harbin, China
| | - Dingchen Cao
- Key Open Laboratory of Cold Water Fish Germplasm Resources and Breeding of Heilongjiang Province, Heilongjiang River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Harbin, China
| | - Nianmin Wang
- Key Open Laboratory of Cold Water Fish Germplasm Resources and Breeding of Heilongjiang Province, Heilongjiang River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Harbin, China
| | - Xing Jin
- Key Open Laboratory of Cold Water Fish Germplasm Resources and Breeding of Heilongjiang Province, Heilongjiang River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Harbin, China
| | - Ying Zhang
- Key Open Laboratory of Cold Water Fish Germplasm Resources and Breeding of Heilongjiang Province, Heilongjiang River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Harbin, China
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Chen X, Xiao Z, Cai Y, Huang L, Chen C. Hypothalamic mechanisms of obesity-associated disturbance of hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis. Trends Endocrinol Metab 2022; 33:206-217. [PMID: 35063326 DOI: 10.1016/j.tem.2021.12.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2021] [Revised: 12/20/2021] [Accepted: 12/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Ovulatory disorders are the most common clinical feature exhibited among obese women. Initiation of ovulation physiologically requires a surge of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) released from GnRH neurons located in the hypothalamus. These GnRH neurons receive metabolic signals from circulation and vicinal neurons to regulate GnRH release. Leptin acts indirectly on GnRH via adjacent leptin receptor (LEPR)-expressing neurons such as proopiomelanocortin (POMC), neuropeptide Y (NPY)/agouti-related peptide (AgRP), and neuronal nitric oxide (NO) synthase (nNOS) neurons to affect GnRH neuronal activities. Additionally, hypothalamic inflammation also affects ovulation independent of obesity. Therefore, this review focuses on hypothalamic mechanisms that underlie the disturbance of hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian (HPO) axis during obesity with an attempt to promote future studies and/or novel therapeutic strategies for ovulatory disorders in obesity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaolin Chen
- Department of Endocrinology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuchang District, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Zhuoni Xiao
- Reproductive Medical Center, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuchang District, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Yuli Cai
- Department of Endocrinology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuchang District, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Lili Huang
- School of Biomedical Science, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Chen Chen
- School of Biomedical Science, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia.
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Liu Y, Wang P, Zhou Z, He X, Tao L, Jiang Y, Lan R, Hong Q, Chu M. Expression Profile Analysis to Identify Circular RNA Expression Signatures in the Prolificacy Trait of Yunshang Black Goat Pituitary in the Estrus Cycle. Front Genet 2022; 12:801357. [PMID: 35140742 PMCID: PMC8820483 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2021.801357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2021] [Accepted: 12/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The pituitary gland is an important organ. It is a complex area of the brain involved in endocrine function and reproductive regulation. However, the function of the pituitary in goat reproduction is still unclear. Herein, RNA sequencing was used to explore the expression patterns of circle RNAs (circRNAs) in the pituitary of Yunshang black goats during the various estrus phases. Then the host genes of the circRNAs were predicted, and a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network was constructed. The results showed a total of 6,705 circRNAs in the pituitary of Yunshang black goats, among which 388 differentially expressed (DE) circRNAs (214 were upregulated, while 174 were downregulated) were identified between high- and low-yield Yunshang black goats in the follicular phase (HF vs. LF); moreover, 361 DE circRNAs (136 were upregulated, while 225 were downregulated) were identified between high- and low-yield Yunshang black goats in the luteal phase (HL vs. LL). There were 65 DE circRNAs targeting 40 miRNAs in the HF vs. LF comparison and 46 DE circRNAs targeting 31 miRNAs in the HL vs. LL comparison. We identified chi_circ_0030920, chi_circ_0043017, chi_circ_0008353, chi_circ_0041580, and chi_circ_0016478 as the key circRNAs through functional enrichment analysis. The ceRNA network analysis showed that chi_circ_0031209 and chi_circ_0019448 might play an important role in reproduction by influencing the expression of prolactin receptor (PRLR) in high- and low-yielding goats during the luteal phase, whereas chi_circ_0014542 regulates the expression of WNT5A during the follicular phase. Our study provided the overall expression profiles of circRNAs in the goat pituitary during the estrus phase, which provides new insight into the mechanism of high-yield goats, which can be helpful to guide goat breeding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yufang Liu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
- College of Life Sciences and Food Engineering, Hebei University of Engineering, Handan, China
| | - Peng Wang
- College of Life Sciences and Food Engineering, Hebei University of Engineering, Handan, China
| | - Zuyang Zhou
- College of Life Sciences and Food Engineering, Hebei University of Engineering, Handan, China
| | - Xiaoyun He
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Lin Tao
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yanting Jiang
- Yunnan Animal Science and Veterinary Institute, Kunming, China
| | - Rong Lan
- Yunnan Animal Science and Veterinary Institute, Kunming, China
| | - Qionghua Hong
- Yunnan Animal Science and Veterinary Institute, Kunming, China
- *Correspondence: Qionghua Hong, ; Mingxing Chu,
| | - Mingxing Chu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
- *Correspondence: Qionghua Hong, ; Mingxing Chu,
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8
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Spexin: Its role, regulation, and therapeutic potential in the hypothalamus. Pharmacol Ther 2021; 233:108033. [PMID: 34763011 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2021.108033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2021] [Revised: 11/03/2021] [Accepted: 11/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Spexin is the most recently discovered member of the galanin/kisspeptin/spexin family of peptides. This 14-amino acid peptide is highly conserved and is implicated in homeostatic functions including, but not limited to, metabolism, energy homeostasis, and reproduction. Spexin is expressed by neurons in the hypothalamus, which coordinate energy homeostasis and reproduction. Critically, levels of spexin appear to be altered in disorders related to energy homeostasis and reproduction, such as obesity, diabetes, and polycystic ovarian syndrome. In this review, we discuss the evidence for the involvement of spexin in the hypothalamic control of energy homeostasis and reproduction. The anorexigenic properties of spexin have been attributed to its effects on the energy-regulating neuropeptide Y/agouti-related peptide neurons and proopiomelanocortin neurons. While the role of spexin in reproduction remains unclear, there is evidence that gonadotropin-releasing hormone expressing neurons may produce and respond to spexin. Furthermore, we discuss the disorders and concomitant treatments, which have been reported to alter spexin expression, as well as the underlying signaling mechanisms that may be involved. Finally, we discuss the biochemical basis of spexin, its interaction with its cognate receptors, and how this information can be adapted to develop therapeutics for disorders related to the alteration of energy homeostasis and reproduction.
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9
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Sakae Y, Tanaka M. Metabolism and Sex Differentiation in Animals from a Starvation Perspective. Sex Dev 2021; 15:168-178. [PMID: 34284403 DOI: 10.1159/000515281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2020] [Accepted: 02/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Animals determine their sex genetically (GSD: genetic sex determination) and/or environmentally (ESD: environmental sex determination). Medaka (Oryzias latipes) employ a XX/XY GSD system, however, they display female-to-male sex reversal in response to various environmental changes such as temperature, hypoxia, and green light. Interestingly, we found that 5 days of starvation during sex differentiation caused female-to-male sex reversal. In this situation, the metabolism of pantothenate and fatty acid synthesis plays an important role in sex reversal. Metabolism is associated with other biological factors such as germ cells, HPG axis, lipids, and epigenetics, and supplys substances and acts as signal transducers. In this review, we discuss the importance of metabolism during sex differentiation and how metabolism contributes to sex differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuta Sakae
- Division of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Minoru Tanaka
- Division of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
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10
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Lv W, Jin S, Wang N, Cao D, Jin X, Zhang Y. Identification of important proteins from the gonads and pituitary involved in the gonad development of Amur sturgeon, Acipenser schrenckii, regulated by GnRH-a treatment by iTRAQ-based analysis. COMPARATIVE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY D-GENOMICS & PROTEOMICS 2021; 39:100831. [PMID: 33933834 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbd.2021.100831] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2020] [Revised: 02/16/2021] [Accepted: 03/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Weihua Lv
- Heilongjiang River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Haebin, China
| | - Shubo Jin
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Fisheries and Germplasm Resources Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture, Freshwater Fisheries Research Center, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Wuxi, China
| | - Nianmin Wang
- Heilongjiang River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Haebin, China
| | - Dingchen Cao
- Heilongjiang River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Haebin, China
| | - Xing Jin
- Heilongjiang River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Haebin, China.
| | - Ying Zhang
- Heilongjiang River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Haebin, China.
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Scagliotti V, Esse R, Willis TL, Howard M, Carrus I, Lodge E, Andoniadou CL, Charalambous M. Dynamic Expression of Imprinted Genes in the Developing and Postnatal Pituitary Gland. Genes (Basel) 2021; 12:genes12040509. [PMID: 33808370 PMCID: PMC8066104 DOI: 10.3390/genes12040509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2021] [Revised: 03/22/2021] [Accepted: 03/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
In mammals, imprinted genes regulate many critical endocrine processes such as growth, the onset of puberty and maternal reproductive behaviour. Human imprinting disorders (IDs) are caused by genetic and epigenetic mechanisms that alter the expression dosage of imprinted genes. Due to improvements in diagnosis, increasing numbers of patients with IDs are now identified and monitored across their lifetimes. Seminal work has revealed that IDs have a strong endocrine component, yet the contribution of imprinted gene products in the development and function of the hypothalamo-pituitary axis are not well defined. Postnatal endocrine processes are dependent upon the production of hormones from the pituitary gland. While the actions of a few imprinted genes in pituitary development and function have been described, to date there has been no attempt to link the expression of these genes as a class to the formation and function of this essential organ. This is important because IDs show considerable overlap, and imprinted genes are known to define a transcriptional network related to organ growth. This knowledge deficit is partly due to technical difficulties in obtaining useful transcriptomic data from the pituitary gland, namely, its small size during development and cellular complexity in maturity. Here we utilise high-sensitivity RNA sequencing at the embryonic stages, and single-cell RNA sequencing data to describe the imprinted transcriptome of the pituitary gland. In concert, we provide a comprehensive literature review of the current knowledge of the role of imprinted genes in pituitary hormonal pathways and how these relate to IDs. We present new data that implicate imprinted gene networks in the development of the gland and in the stem cell compartment. Furthermore, we suggest novel roles for individual imprinted genes in the aetiology of IDs. Finally, we describe the dynamic regulation of imprinted genes in the pituitary gland of the pregnant mother, with implications for the regulation of maternal metabolic adaptations to pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valeria Scagliotti
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, King’s College London, London SE19RT, UK; (V.S.); (R.C.F.E.); (I.C.)
| | - Ruben Esse
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, King’s College London, London SE19RT, UK; (V.S.); (R.C.F.E.); (I.C.)
| | - Thea L. Willis
- Centre for Craniofacial and Regenerative Biology, Faculty of Dentistry, Oral and Craniofacial Sciences, King’s College London, London SE19RT, UK; (T.L.W.); (E.L.); (C.L.A.)
| | - Mark Howard
- MRC Centre for Transplantation, Peter Gorer Department of Immunobiology, School of Immunology & Microbial Sciences, King’s College London, London SE19RT, UK;
| | - Isabella Carrus
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, King’s College London, London SE19RT, UK; (V.S.); (R.C.F.E.); (I.C.)
| | - Emily Lodge
- Centre for Craniofacial and Regenerative Biology, Faculty of Dentistry, Oral and Craniofacial Sciences, King’s College London, London SE19RT, UK; (T.L.W.); (E.L.); (C.L.A.)
| | - Cynthia L. Andoniadou
- Centre for Craniofacial and Regenerative Biology, Faculty of Dentistry, Oral and Craniofacial Sciences, King’s College London, London SE19RT, UK; (T.L.W.); (E.L.); (C.L.A.)
- Department of Medicine III, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Marika Charalambous
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, King’s College London, London SE19RT, UK; (V.S.); (R.C.F.E.); (I.C.)
- Correspondence:
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12
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Nonneman D, Lents CA, Rempel LA, Rohrer GA. Potential functional variants in AHR signaling pathways are associated with age at puberty in swine. Anim Genet 2021; 52:284-291. [PMID: 33667011 DOI: 10.1111/age.13051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Puberty in female pigs is defined as age at first estrus and gilts that have an earlier age at puberty are more likely to have greater lifetime productivity. Because age at puberty is predictive for sow longevity and lifetime productivity, but not routinely measured in commercial herds, it would be beneficial to use genomic or marker-assisted selection to improve these traits. A GWAS at the US Meat Animal Research Center (USMARC) identified several loci associated with age at puberty in pigs. Candidate genes in these regions were scanned for potential functional variants using sequence information from the USMARC swine population founder animals and public databases. In total, 135 variants (SNP and insertion/deletions) in 39 genes were genotyped in 1284 phenotyped animals from a validation population sired by Landrace and Yorkshire industry semen using the Agena MassArray system. Twelve variants in eight genes were associated with age at puberty (P < 0.005) with estimated additive SNP effects ranging from 1.6 to 5.3 days. Nine of these variants were non-synonymous coding changes in AHR, CYP1A2, OR2M4, SDCCAG8, TBC1D1 and ZNF608, two variants were deletions of one and four codons in aryl hydrocarbon receptor, AHR, and the most significant SNP was near an acceptor splice site in the acetyl-CoA carboxylase alpha, ACACA. Several of the loci identified have a physiological and a genetic role in sexual maturation in humans and other animals and are involved in AHR-mediated pathways. Further functional validation of these variants could identify causative mutations that influence age at puberty in gilts and possibly sow lifetime productivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan Nonneman
- USDA, ARS, U.S. Meat Animal Research Center, Clay Center, NE, 68933, USA
| | - Clay A Lents
- USDA, ARS, U.S. Meat Animal Research Center, Clay Center, NE, 68933, USA
| | - Lea A Rempel
- USDA, ARS, U.S. Meat Animal Research Center, Clay Center, NE, 68933, USA
| | - Gary A Rohrer
- USDA, ARS, U.S. Meat Animal Research Center, Clay Center, NE, 68933, USA
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13
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Estienne A, Bongrani A, Ramé C, Kurowska P, Błaszczyk K, Rak A, Ducluzeau PH, Froment P, Dupont J. Energy sensors and reproductive hypothalamo-pituitary ovarian axis (HPO) in female mammals: Role of mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin), AMPK (AMP-activated protein kinase) and SIRT1 (Sirtuin 1). Mol Cell Endocrinol 2021; 521:111113. [PMID: 33301839 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2020.111113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2020] [Revised: 12/02/2020] [Accepted: 12/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
In female, energy metabolism influences reproductive function by modulating the Hypothalamic Pituitary Ovarian axis including the hypothalamic GnRH neuronal network, the pituitary gonadotropin secretion and the ovarian follicle growth and steroidogenesis. Several hormones and neuropeptides or metabolites are important signals between energy balance and reproduction. These energy sensors mediate their action on reproductive cells through specific kinases or signaling pathways. This review focuses on the role of three main enzymes-specifically, mTOR, AMPK, and SIRT1 at the hypothalamic pituitary and ovarian axis in normal female fertility and then we discuss their possible involvement in some women reproductive disorders known to be associated with metabolic complications, such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and premature ovarian failure (POF).
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony Estienne
- INRAE UMR85 Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, F-37380, Nouzilly, France; CNRS UMR7247 Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, F-37380, Nouzilly, France; Université François Rabelais de Tours, F-37041, Tours, France; IFCE, F-37380, Nouzilly, France
| | - Alice Bongrani
- INRAE UMR85 Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, F-37380, Nouzilly, France; CNRS UMR7247 Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, F-37380, Nouzilly, France; Université François Rabelais de Tours, F-37041, Tours, France; IFCE, F-37380, Nouzilly, France
| | - Christelle Ramé
- INRAE UMR85 Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, F-37380, Nouzilly, France; CNRS UMR7247 Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, F-37380, Nouzilly, France; Université François Rabelais de Tours, F-37041, Tours, France; IFCE, F-37380, Nouzilly, France
| | - Patrycja Kurowska
- Department of Physiology and Toxicology of Reproduction, Institute of Zoology and Biomedical Research, Jagiellonian University in Krakow, 30-387, Krakow, Poland
| | - Klaudia Błaszczyk
- Department of Physiology and Toxicology of Reproduction, Institute of Zoology and Biomedical Research, Jagiellonian University in Krakow, 30-387, Krakow, Poland
| | - Agnieszka Rak
- Department of Physiology and Toxicology of Reproduction, Institute of Zoology and Biomedical Research, Jagiellonian University in Krakow, 30-387, Krakow, Poland
| | - Pierre-Henri Ducluzeau
- INRAE UMR85 Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, F-37380, Nouzilly, France; CNRS UMR7247 Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, F-37380, Nouzilly, France; Université François Rabelais de Tours, F-37041, Tours, France; IFCE, F-37380, Nouzilly, France
| | - Pascal Froment
- INRAE UMR85 Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, F-37380, Nouzilly, France; CNRS UMR7247 Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, F-37380, Nouzilly, France; Université François Rabelais de Tours, F-37041, Tours, France; IFCE, F-37380, Nouzilly, France
| | - Joëlle Dupont
- INRAE UMR85 Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, F-37380, Nouzilly, France; CNRS UMR7247 Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, F-37380, Nouzilly, France; Université François Rabelais de Tours, F-37041, Tours, France; IFCE, F-37380, Nouzilly, France.
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Abstract
The incidence of congenital hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (HH) is approximately 1-10 in 100,000 live births. Known syndromes, such as Kallman syndrome, caused by a mutation in the KAL-1 gene, and other genes listed in the Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man database, account for 2/3 of the cases. The rest of these cases where there is no known genetic cause for HH are termed idiopathic. In this editorial, I describe each of the articles in the Special Issue on Hypogonadotropic Hypogonadism, with a focus on new genes that might be included in future screens of idiopathic patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deborah J Good
- Department of Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise, 1981 Kraft Drive (0913), Integrated Life Sciences Building, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, 24060, USA.
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15
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Shpakov AO. Improvement Effect of Metformin on Female and Male Reproduction in Endocrine Pathologies and Its Mechanisms. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2021; 14:ph14010042. [PMID: 33429918 PMCID: PMC7826885 DOI: 10.3390/ph14010042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2020] [Revised: 01/02/2021] [Accepted: 01/06/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Metformin (MF), a first-line drug to treat type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), alone and in combination with other drugs, restores the ovarian function in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and improves fetal development, pregnancy outcomes and offspring health in gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and T2DM. MF treatment is demonstrated to improve the efficiency of in vitro fertilization and is considered a supplementary drug in assisted reproductive technologies. MF administration shows positive effect on steroidogenesis and spermatogenesis in men with metabolic disorders, thus MF treatment indicates prospective use for improvement of male reproductive functions and fertility. MF lacks teratogenic effects and has positive health effect in newborns. The review is focused on use of MF therapy for restoration of female and male reproductive functions and improvement of pregnancy outcomes in metabolic and endocrine disorders. The mechanisms of MF action are discussed, including normalization of metabolic and hormonal status in PCOS, GDM, T2DM and metabolic syndrome and restoration of functional activity and hormonal regulation of the gonadal axis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander O Shpakov
- I.M. Sechenov Institute of Evolutionary Physiology and Biochemistry of Russian Academy of Sciences, 194223 Saint Petersburg, Russia
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