Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating peptide (PACAP) and its receptors in Mus musculus testis

Marina Prisco; Luigi Rosati; Eliana Morgillo; Maria Pina Mollica; Marisa Agnese; Piero Andreuccetti; Salvatore Valiante

doi:10.1016/j.ygcen.2019.113297

Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating peptide (PACAP) and its receptors in Mus musculus testis

Gen Comp Endocrinol. 2020 Jan 15:286:113297. doi: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2019.113297. Epub 2019 Oct 8.

Authors

Marina Prisco¹, Luigi Rosati², Eliana Morgillo², Maria Pina Mollica², Marisa Agnese², Piero Andreuccetti², Salvatore Valiante²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy. Electronic address: marina.prisco@unina.it.
² Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy.

PMID: 31604076
DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2019.113297

Abstract

To enlighten the involvement of PACAP/receptors system in the control of mammal testis, we investigated the expression of PACAP and the localization of PACAP and its receptors PAC1, VPAC1, and VPAC2 in the testis of Mus musculus. By molecular and immunohistochemical investigations, we highlighted that PACAP and its receptors are widely represented in germ cells of Mus testis, particularly in spermatocytes I, spermatids, and spermatozoa, strongly suggesting their involvement in spermatogenesis process. Moreover, for the first time in the adult mouse testis we highlighted that PACAP is present within Leydig cells, as PACAP receptors, confirming its involvement in the control of steroidogenesis in mouse.

Keywords: Male gametogenesis control; Mus musculus; PACAP receptors; Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating peptide (PACAP).

MeSH terms

Animals
Male
Mice
Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide / metabolism*
Testis / metabolism*

Substances

Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide