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Xie W, Tang Z, Xu L, Zhong J, Zhang H, Han Y, Yuan Z, Weng Q. Seasonal expressions of SF-1, StAR and P450scc in the scent glands of the muskrats (Ondatra zibethicus). J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol 2020; 204:105766. [PMID: 32991988 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsbmb.2020.105766] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2020] [Revised: 08/23/2020] [Accepted: 09/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The steroidogenesis occurs in specific cells and tissues in the mammals which begins with the transfer and intracellular processing of cholesterol converted to pregnenolone. This study investigated the gene and protein expression levels of steroidogenic factor 1 (SF-1), steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR) and cytochrome P450 cholesterol side-chain cleavage enzyme (P450scc) in the scent glands of the muskrats during the breeding and non-breeding seasons. The immunohistochemical localizations of StAR and P450scc were identified in the glandular cells and epithelial cells while SF-1 was only expressed in glandular cells during the breeding and non-breeding seasons. The gene and protein expression levels of SF-1, StAR and P450scc in the scent glands were remarkedly higher in the breeding season than those of the non-breeding season. The interaction of micro RNAs (miRNAs) and transcriptome results showed that miR-762 and miR-4454 might be the genes encoding (Nr5a1, Star and Cyp11a1) in key biological processes. Taken together, these results suggested that the scent glands of the muskrats potentially owned ability to synthesize steroid hormones de novo, and the steroid hormones might affect the scent glandular functions of the muskrats during the breeding and non-breeding seasons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenqian Xie
- Laboratory of Animal Physiology, College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China
| | - Zeqi Tang
- Laboratory of Animal Physiology, College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China
| | - Luxia Xu
- Laboratory of Animal Physiology, College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China
| | - Jiahui Zhong
- Laboratory of Animal Physiology, College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China
| | - Haolin Zhang
- Laboratory of Animal Physiology, College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China
| | - Yingying Han
- Laboratory of Animal Physiology, College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China
| | - Zhengrong Yuan
- Laboratory of Animal Physiology, College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China
| | - Qiang Weng
- Laboratory of Animal Physiology, College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China.
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DeWitt NA, Whirledge S, Kallen AN. Updates on molecular and environmental determinants of luteal progesterone production. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2020; 515:110930. [PMID: 32610113 PMCID: PMC7484338 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2020.110930] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2019] [Revised: 06/24/2020] [Accepted: 06/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Progesterone, a critical hormone in reproduction, is a key sex steroid in the establishment and maintenance of early pregnancy and serves as an intermediary for synthesis of other steroid hormones. Progesterone production from the corpus luteum is a tightly regulated process which is stimulated and maintained by multiple factors, both systemic and local. Multiple regulatory systems, including classic mediators of gonadotropin stimulation such as the cAMP/PKA pathway and TGFβ-mediated signaling pathways, as well as local production of hormonal factors, exist to promote granulosa cell function and physiological fine-tuning of progesterone levels. In this manuscript, we provide an updated narrative review of the known mediators of human luteal progesterone and highlight new observations regarding this important process, focusing on studies published within the last five years. We will also review recent evidence suggesting that this complex system of progesterone production is sensitive to disruption by exogenous environmental chemicals that can mimic or interfere with the activities of endogenous hormones.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalie A DeWitt
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Shannon Whirledge
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Amanda N Kallen
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
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Qin C, Xia X, Fan Y, Jiang Y, Chen Y, Zhang N, Uslu B, Johnson J, Kallen AN. A novel, noncoding-RNA-mediated, post-transcriptional mechanism of anti-Mullerian hormone regulation by the H19/let-7 axis. Biol Reprod 2020; 100:101-111. [PMID: 30137224 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioy172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2018] [Accepted: 07/27/2018] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
In reproductive age women, the pool of primordial follicles is continuously depleted through the process of cyclic recruitment. Anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) both inhibits the initial recruitment of primordial follicles into the growing pool and modulates the sensitivity of growing follicles to follicle stimulating hormone. Thus, AMH may be an important modulator of female infertility and ovarian reserve; however, the mechanisms regulating AMH remain unclear.To evaluate AMH levels in the absence of H19 lncRNA, H19 knockout (H19KO) mice were evaluated for analysis of ovarian AMH gene expression, protein production, and reproductive function, including assessment of follicle numbers and litter size analysis. To further investigate regulation of AMH by the H19/let-7 axis, let-7 binding sites on AMH were predicted, and in vitro studies of the effect of H19 knockdown/overexpression with let-7 rescue were performed. Lastly, response to superovulation was assessed via oocyte counts and estradiol measurements.The H19KO mouse demonstrates subfertility and accelerated follicular recruitment with increased spontaneous development of secondary, preantral, and antral follicles. Ovaries of H19KO mice have decreased AMH mRNA and protein, and AMH mRNA has a functional let-7 binding site, suggesting a plausible ncRNA-mediated mechanism for AMH regulation by H19/let-7. Lastly, in the absence of H19, superovulation results in higher estradiol and more oocytes, suggesting that H19 functions to limit the number of follicles that mature, produce estradiol, and ovulate. Thus, AMH's inhibitory actions are regulated at least in part by H19, likely via let-7, marking this ncRNA pair as important regulators of the establishment and maintenance of the follicular pool.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunrong Qin
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Affiliated Shenzhen City Maternity and Child Healthcare, Hospital of Southern Medical University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Xi Xia
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, P.R. China
| | - Yanhong Fan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Third Hospital of Beijing University, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Ying Jiang
- Department of Obstetrics, Women's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yong Chen
- Department of Human Anatomy and Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian Province, PR China
| | - Na Zhang
- Department of Genetics and Developmental Biology, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, Connecticut, USA
| | - Bahar Uslu
- Quinnipiac University, Frank H. Netter School of Medicine, North Haven, CT
| | - Joshua Johnson
- Division of Reproductive Sciences, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Colorado Denver (AMC), Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Amanda N Kallen
- Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Department of Obstetrics, Yale School of Medicine, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
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Medwid S, Guan H, Yang K. Bisphenol A stimulates steroidogenic acute regulatory protein expression via an unknown mechanism in adrenal cortical cells. J Cell Biochem 2019; 120:2429-2438. [PMID: 30206973 DOI: 10.1002/jcb.27574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2018] [Accepted: 08/02/2018] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Bisphenol A (BPA) is one of the most widespread endocrine disrupting chemicals in the environment. Exposure to BPA is known to be associated with disruption of steroidogenesis in reproductive tissues, but little is known about its effects on the adrenal gland. We previously showed that prenatal BPA exposure resulted in elevated plasma corticosterone levels concomitant with increased adrenal levels of steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR), the rate-limiting step in steroidogenesis, in adult female mouse offspring. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the BPA-induced StAR protein expression in the adrenal gland remain unknown. Therefore, the current study was designed to address this important question using the human cortical cell line, H295A cells, as an in vitro model system. We found that: (1) BPA increased StAR protein levels in a dose-dependent manner; (2) both estrogen receptor alpha (ERα)- and ERβ-specific agonists mimicked while the ER antagonist ICI abrogated the stimulatory effects of BPA on StAR protein levels; and (3) BPA did not alter StAR messenger RNA, 37kDa preprotein or protein half-life. Taken together, these findings demonstrate that BPA increases StAR protein levels through an unknown mechanism independent of StAR gene transcription, translation, and protein half-life. Furthermore, such effects are likely mediated by ERα and/or ERβ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha Medwid
- Departments of Obstetrics & Gynaecology and Physiology & Pharmacology, Children's Health Research Institute & Lawson Health Research Institute, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Haiyan Guan
- Departments of Obstetrics & Gynaecology and Physiology & Pharmacology, Children's Health Research Institute & Lawson Health Research Institute, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Kaiping Yang
- Departments of Obstetrics & Gynaecology and Physiology & Pharmacology, Children's Health Research Institute & Lawson Health Research Institute, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
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