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Ratto MH, Paiva L, Carrasco R, Silva ME, Ulloa-Leal C, Ratto VF, Goicochea J. Review: Unveiling the effect of beta-nerve growth factor on the reproductive function in llamas and cows. Animal 2023; 17 Suppl 1:100754. [PMID: 37567661 DOI: 10.1016/j.animal.2023.100754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2022] [Revised: 02/17/2023] [Accepted: 02/23/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023] Open
Abstract
The actions of the beta-nerve growth factor (β-NGF) on the neuroendocrine and reproductive system have challenged classical views on the control of reproductive function. After endometrial absorption, β-NGF triggers ovulation and promotes the development of functional corpora lutea in camelids. In this article, we review evidence showing that, in camelids, β-NGF exerts its actions by acting in both the hypothalamus and the ovary. In the hypothalamus, β-NGF may induce gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) release by interacting with neurons or glial cells expressing receptors for β-NGF. The LH surge occurs under the influence of ovarian estradiol and requires the release of GnRH into the portal vessels to reach the pituitary gland. In the ovary, β-NGF may be promoting the differentiation of follicular to luteal cells by modifying the steroidogenic profile of ovarian follicular cells in both camelids and ruminants. Although the mechanisms for these actions are largely undetermined, we aim to offer an update on the current understanding of the effects of β-NGF controlling reproductive function in camelids and ruminants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcelo H Ratto
- Instituto de Ciencia Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile
| | - Luis Paiva
- Escuela de Medicina Veterinaria, Facultad de Agronomía e Ingeniería Forestal, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas y Facultad de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
| | - Rodrigo Carrasco
- Department of Chemistry, College of Arts and Science, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada
| | - Mauricio E Silva
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinaria y Salud Publica, Facultad de Recursos Naturales, Universidad Católica de Temuco, Temuco, Chile
| | - Cesar Ulloa-Leal
- Instituto de Ciencia Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile
| | - Vicente F Ratto
- Instituto de Ciencia Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile
| | - Jose Goicochea
- Departamento de Cirugía y Biotecnología Reproductiva, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional Hermilio Valdizán, Huánuco, Perú
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Paiva L, Silva M, Carrasco R, Ratto V, Goicochea J, Ratto M. Seminal plasma nerve growth factor signaling on the reproductive physiology of female llamas. Anim Reprod 2023; 19:e20220116. [PMID: 36819481 PMCID: PMC9924769 DOI: 10.1590/1984-3143-ar2022-0116] [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: 11/12/2022] [Accepted: 01/23/2023] [Indexed: 02/19/2023] Open
Abstract
The ovulation mechanism is one of the fascinating physiological processes in reproductive biology in mammals. From the reproductive point of view, the species have been classified as spontaneous or induced ovulators. Although the release of GnRH followed by the preovulatory LH surge is shared between both types of ovulation, the stimulus to initiate GnRH release varies between both categories. In spontaneous ovulators, ovulation depends on the systemic concentration of ovarian steroids, however, in induced ovulators, different stimuli such as copulation, environmental, and social cues can facilitate or induce ovulation regardless of the increases in systemic estradiol concentration. In this review, we document evidence that a male-derived protein is the main factor responsible for inducing ovulation and also modulating the ovarian function in the domestic South American camelid, the llama. The neurotrophin beta-Nerve Growth Factor (β-NGF) is the principal factor present in the semen of llamas responsible for inducing ovulation in this species. After the intrauterine deposit of semen during mating, β-NGF is absorbed through the endometrium to reach the circulatory system, where it reaches the hypothalamus and stimulates GnRH release. The potential site of action of this neurotrophin at the brain has not been elucidated, however, hypotheses are raised that the factor may cross the blood-brain barrier and stimulate upstream neuronal networks that lead to the stimulation of GnRH-secreting neurons. It is possible that β-NGF could be sensed at the median eminence without crossing the blood-brain barrier. Finally, it has been observed that this factor is not only a powerful stimulator of ovulation but also has a luteotrophic effect, resulting in the development of a corpus luteum capable of secreting more progesterone when compared to other ovulation-stimulating analogues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis Paiva
- Escuela de Medicina Veterinaria, Facultad de Agronomía e Ingeniería Forestal, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas y Facultad de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Mauricio Silva
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinaria y Salud Publica, Facultad de Recursos Naturales, Universidad Católica de Temuco, Temuco, Chile
| | - Rodrigo Carrasco
- Department of Chemistry, College of Arts and Science, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada
| | - Vicente Ratto
- Instituto de Ciencia Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile
| | - José Goicochea
- Departamento de Cirugía y Biotecnología Reproductiva, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional Hermilio Valdizán, Huánuco, Perú
| | - Marcelo Ratto
- Instituto de Ciencia Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile,Corresponding author:
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Paiva L, Silva M, Carrasco R, Ratto MH. The ovulatory and luteotropic actions of the male-derived beta-nerve growth factor in South American camelids. Anim Front 2022; 12:87-94. [PMID: 35974784 PMCID: PMC9374510 DOI: 10.1093/af/vfac037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Luis Paiva
- Escuela de Medicina Veterinaria, Facultad de Agronomía e Ingeniería Forestal, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas y Facultad de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Mauricio Silva
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinaria y Salud Pública, Núcleo de Investigación en Producción Agroalimentaria, Facultad de Recursos Naturales, Universidad Católica de Temuco, Temuco, Chile
| | - Rodrigo Carrasco
- Department of Chemistry, College of Arts and Science, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK,Canada
| | - Marcelo Héctor Ratto
- Instituto de Ciencia Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile
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Carrasco RA, Ratto MH, Adams GP. Differential Effects of Estradiol on Reproductive Function in Camelids. Front Vet Sci 2021; 8:646700. [PMID: 33681337 PMCID: PMC7929994 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2021.646700] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2020] [Accepted: 01/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Rodrigo A Carrasco
- Department of Veterinary Biomedical Sciences, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
| | - Marcelo H Ratto
- Department of Animal Science, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile
| | - Gregg P Adams
- Department of Veterinary Biomedical Sciences, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
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Berland M, Paiva L, Santander LA, Ratto MH. Distribution of GnRH and Kisspeptin Immunoreactivity in the Female Llama Hypothalamus. Front Vet Sci 2021; 7:597921. [PMID: 33604362 PMCID: PMC7884347 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2020.597921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2020] [Accepted: 11/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Llamas are induced non-reflex ovulators, which ovulate in response to the hormonal stimulus of the male protein beta-nerve growth factor (β-NGF) that is present in the seminal plasma; this response is dependent on the preovulatory gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) release from the hypothalamus. GnRH neurones are vital for reproduction, as these provide the input that controls the release of luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) from the pituitary gland. However, in spontaneous ovulators, the activity of GnRH cells is regulated by kisspeptin neurones that relay the oestrogen signal arising from the periphery. Here, we investigated the organisation of GnRH and kisspeptin systems in the hypothalamus of receptive adult female llamas. We found that GnRH cells exhibiting different shapes were distributed throughout the ventral forebrain and some of these were located in proximity to blood vessels; sections of the mediobasal hypothalamus (MBH) displayed the highest number of cells. GnRH fibres were observed in both the organum vasculosum laminae terminalis (OVLT) and median eminence (ME). We also detected abundant kisspeptin fibres in the MBH and ME; kisspeptin cells were found in the arcuate nucleus (ARC), but not in rostral areas of the hypothalamus. Quantitative analysis of GnRH and kisspeptin fibres in the ME revealed a higher innervation density of kisspeptin than of GnRH fibres. The physiological significance of the anatomical findings reported here for the ovulatory mechanism in llamas is still to be determined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Berland
- Departamento de Ciencias Veterinarias y Salud Pública, Facultad de Recursos Naturales, Universidad Católica de Temuco, Temuco, Chile
| | - Luis Paiva
- Instituto de Ciencia Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile
| | - Lig Alondra Santander
- Departamento de Ciencias Veterinarias y Salud Pública, Facultad de Recursos Naturales, Universidad Católica de Temuco, Temuco, Chile
| | - Marcelo Héctor Ratto
- Instituto de Ciencia Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile
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Carrasco RA, Pezo S, Adams GP. Evidence for the LH-releasing pathway of seminal plasma NGF in male camelids. Theriogenology 2021; 164:100-104. [PMID: 33582512 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2021.01.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2020] [Revised: 01/19/2021] [Accepted: 01/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
In the female camelid, systemic administration of NGF induces a preovulatory LH surge that results in ovulation, but the effects of seminal NGF in the male are unknown. In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that the LH-releasing pathway of NGF is present in male camelids. In Experiment 1, male llamas and alpacas were treated with NGF or GnRH (n = 2 llamas and 3 alpacas) and blood samples were collected from 1 h before to 3 h after treatment. Plasma LH concentrations increased after treatment in a surge-like fashion in both GnRH- and NGF-treated groups, but concentrations reached a maximum 2.5 times higher and remained elevated for at least 2 h longer in the NGF-treated group (treatment-by-time interaction, P = 0.01). In Experiment 2, we evaluated the LH and testosterone response to NGF vs saline treatment (n = 3 llamas and 3 alpacas). The LH response to NGF was similar to that in Experiment 1, and plasma testosterone concentrations were higher in the NGF group than in the saline group at 2, 4 and 6 h after treatment (P < 0.05). Results support the hypothesis that the LH-releasing pathway for NGF exists in male South American camelids. The LH response to NGF sustained circulating testosterone concentrations in llamas, suggesting a moderate role of NGF in testosterone secretion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodrigo A Carrasco
- Department of Veterinary Biomedical Sciences, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, 52 Campus drive, Saskatoon, S7N5B4, Canada
| | - Sergio Pezo
- Department of Veterinary Biomedical Sciences, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, 52 Campus drive, Saskatoon, S7N5B4, Canada
| | - Gregg P Adams
- Department of Veterinary Biomedical Sciences, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, 52 Campus drive, Saskatoon, S7N5B4, Canada.
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Carrasco RA, Singh J, Ratto MH, Adams GP. Neuroanatomical basis of the nerve growth factor ovulation-induction pathway in llamas†. Biol Reprod 2020; 104:578-588. [PMID: 33331645 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioaa223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2020] [Revised: 11/19/2020] [Accepted: 12/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The objective of the study was to characterize the anatomical framework and sites of action of the nerve growth factor (NGF)-mediated ovulation-inducing system of llamas. The expression patterns of NGF and its receptors in the hypothalamus of llamas (n = 5) were examined using single and double immunohistochemistry/immunofluorescence. We also compare the expression pattern of the P75 receptor in the hypothalamus of llama and a spontaneous ovulator species (sheep, n = 5). Both NGF receptors (TrkA and P75) were highly expressed in the medial septum and diagonal band of Broca, and populations of TrkA cells were observed in the periventricular and dorsal hypothalamus. Unexpectedly, we found NGF immunoreactive cell bodies with widespread distribution in the hypothalamus but not in areas endowed with NGF receptors. The organum vasculosum of the lamina terminalis (OVLT) and the median eminence displayed immunoreactivity for P75. Double immunofluorescence using vimentin, a marker of tanycytes, confirmed that tanycytes were immunoreactive to P75 in the median eminence and in the OVLT. Additionally, tanycytes were in close association with GnRH and kisspeptin in the arcuate nucleus and median eminence of llamas. The choroid plexus of llamas contained TrkA and NGF immunoreactivity but no P75 immunoreactivity. Results of the present study demonstrate sites of action of NGF in the llama hypothalamus, providing support for the hypothesis of a central effect of NGF in the ovulation-inducing mechanism in llamas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodrigo A Carrasco
- Department of Veterinary Biomedical Sciences, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - Jaswant Singh
- Department of Veterinary Biomedical Sciences, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - Marcelo H Ratto
- Department of Animal Science, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile
| | - Gregg P Adams
- Department of Veterinary Biomedical Sciences, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
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