Distribution of the Novel RFRP-3/receptors system in the epididymis of the seasonal desert rodent, Gerbillus tarabuli, during sexual activity

W Hamidatou Khati; A F Al Mutery; E N Moudilou; J-M Exbrayat; S Hammouche

doi:10.1016/j.morpho.2021.10.002

Distribution of the Novel RFRP-3/receptors system in the epididymis of the seasonal desert rodent, Gerbillus tarabuli, during sexual activity

Morphologie. 2021 Nov 10:S1286-0115(21)00233-2. doi: 10.1016/j.morpho.2021.10.002. Online ahead of print.

Authors

W Hamidatou Khati¹, A F Al Mutery², E N Moudilou³, J-M Exbrayat³, S Hammouche⁴

Affiliations

¹ USTHB, Arid Area Research Laboratory, Biological Sciences Faculty, University of Sciences and Technology of Houari-Boumediene, Algiers, Algeria. Electronic address: wis_usthb@hotmail.com.
² Department of Applied Biology, College of Sciences, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates; Human Genetics & Stem Cells Research Group, Research Institute of Sciences & Engineering, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates; Molecular Genetics Research Laboratory, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.
³ UMRS 449 - General Biology - Reproduction and Comparative Development, UDL; École Pratique des Hautes Études, PSL, Lyon Catholic University, Lyon, France.
⁴ USTHB, Arid Area Research Laboratory, Biological Sciences Faculty, University of Sciences and Technology of Houari-Boumediene, Algiers, Algeria.

PMID: 34774455
DOI: 10.1016/j.morpho.2021.10.002

Abstract

RFamide-related peptide (RFRP-3), the Mammalian ortholog of the Avian gonadotropin-inhibitory hormone (GnIH), is a novel neuropeptide known for its inhibitory regulatory effect on reproduction in various mammalian species. However, a stimulatory action has been reported. This paper aims to: i) study the histology of the epididymis (caput) of Gerbillus tarabuli during the breeding period; and ii) to determine the distribution of the "RFRP-3/receptors system" in the epididymis (caput) of this desert rodent during the active season, and thus, to inspect its potential local interfering in sperm maturation. For that, immunohistochemistry was performed to detect the epididymal immunolocalizations of the three molecules, RFRP-3, GPR147, and GPR74. This is the first report of the epididymis histology in Gerbillus tarabuli, as it is the first evidence of the existence of the RFRP-3/Receptor system in the same organ of the same species. During the breeding season, moderate immunostaining of the RFRP-3/receptors system was present in the caput epididymis' epithelial parts (basal and principal cells) and spermatozoa. In contrast, these three molecules were absent in the peritubular and muscle coat's myoid cells and of the interstitial part of the caput epididymis. The results suggest that the epididymis is a potential source of RFRP-3 in the desert Rodent, Gerbillus tarabuli, which may function as a paracrine and/or autocrine factor affecting the main epididymis' function: sperm maturation.

Keywords: Epididymis; GPR147; GPR74; Gerbillus tarabuli; RFRP-3; Sperm maturation.