Endocrinology, Vol 128, 2110-2117, Copyright © 1991 by Endocrine Society

ARTICLES

Testicular oxytocin gene expression in seminiferous tubules of cattle and transgenic mice

HL Ang, H Ungefroren, F De Bree, NC Foo, D Carter, JP Burbach, R Ivell and D Murphy
Neuropeptide Laboratory, National University of Singapore.

We are using transgenic mice to study the regulation of the bovine vasopressin (VP) and oxytocin (OT) genes. Prompted by the observation that mice bearing a bovine OT transgene express bovine OT RNA in their testes, we investigated the expression of the VP-OT locus in normal mice and cattle. Normal wild-type mice do not have detectable levels of either VP or OT RNA in their testes. Normal cattle are also devoid of detectable VP transcripts, but have relatively high levels of testicular OT RNA. Additionally, OT, but not VP, peptide is detectable by HPLC. In situ hybridization to RNA in bovine testicular tissue sections localized OT transcripts to seminiferous tubules, with a distribution similar to that of alpha-inhibin, suggesting expression in Sertoli cells. Interestingly, the bovine OT RNAs in the transgenic mouse testes were also shown by in situ hybridization to have the same distribution. These data suggest that the cis-acting regulatory sequences responsible for expression of the OT gene in bovine Sertoli testis reside within the limits of the transgene used in this study. Further, the trans-acting factors present in murine testicular cells are able to recognize these elements, although they do not express the endogenous mouse OT gene in this tissue.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				H. Thackare, H. D. Nicholson, and K. Whittington Oxytocin--its role in male reproduction and new potential therapeutic uses Hum. Reprod. Update, July 1, 2006; 12(4): 437 - 448. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Charron, J. S. Folmer, and W. W. Wright A 3-Kilobase Region Derived from the Rat Cathepsin L Gene Directs In Vivo Expression of a Reporter Gene in Sertoli Cells in a Manner Comparable to That of the Endogenous Gene Biol Reprod, May 1, 2003; 68(5): 1641 - 1648. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. P. H. Burbach, S. M. Luckman, D. Murphy, and H. Gainer Gene Regulation in the Magnocellular Hypothalamo-Neurohypophysial System Physiol Rev, July 1, 2001; 81(3): 1197 - 1267. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. Gimpl and F. Fahrenholz The Oxytocin Receptor System: Structure, Function, and Regulation Physiol Rev, April 1, 2001; 81(2): 629 - 683. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S.-L. SI-HOE, D. CARTER, and D. MURPHY Species- and tissue-specific physiological regulation of vasopressin mRNA poly(A) tail length Physiol Genomics, February 7, 2001; 5(1): 1 - 9. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				B. Venkatesh, S. L. Si-Hoe, D. Murphy, and S. Brenner Transgenic rats reveal functional conservation of regulatory controls between the Fugu isotocin and rat oxytocin genes PNAS, November 11, 1997; 94(23): 12462 - 12466. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. Gnessi, A. Fabbri, and G. Spera Gonadal Peptides as Mediators of Development and Functional Control of the Testis: An Integrated System with Hormones and Local Environment Endocr. Rev., August 1, 1997; 18(4): 541 - 609. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M.-Y. Ho, D. A. Carter, H.-L. Ang, and D. Murphy Bovine Oxytocin Transgenes in Mice J. Biol. Chem., November 10, 1995; 270(45): 27199 - 27205. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]