HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: 74/5/945    most recent biolreprod.105.048165v2 biolreprod.105.048165v1 Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Anand-Ivell, R. J.K. Articles by Ivell, R. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Anand-Ivell, R. J.K. Articles by Ivell, R. Agricola Articles by Anand-Ivell, R. J.K. Articles by Ivell, R.

Expression of the Insulin-Like Peptide 3 (INSL3) Hormone-Receptor (LGR8) System in the Testis¹

School of Molecular and Biomedical Science,³ University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia 5005, Australia Institute for Hormone and Fertility Research,⁴ University of Hamburg, 20246 Hamburg, Germany Inserm,⁵ U 625, GERHM; IFR 140; University of Rennes I, Campus de Beaulieu, F-35042 Rennes, France Male Health Care,⁶ Schering AG, 13353 Berlin, Germany Howard Florey Institute,⁷ University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia

ABSTRACT

The new peptide hormone insulin-like peptide 3 (INSL3) is a member of the insulin-relaxin family, yet, unlike insulin, it signals through a new G-protein coupled receptor, LGR8, distantly related to the receptors for LH and FSH. INSL3 is produced in large amounts by the Leydig cells of the testis in both fetal and adult mammals. Using a combination of mRNA analysis by RT-PCR, immunohistochemistry, ligand-binding, and/or bioactivity assays, the distribution of LGR8 expression was assessed in testicular tissues and cells and in the epididymis. There was consistent agreement that LGR8 was expressed in meiotic and particularly postmeiotic germ cells and in Leydig cells, though not in Sertoli or peritubular cells. Leydig cells appear to express only a low level of the LGR8 gene product; other transcripts may be present, representing nonfunctional products. Messenger RNA analysis suggested that LGR8 transcripts in germ cells represented mostly full-length forms. LGR8 mRNA was also expressed in the epididymis, though no function can yet be ascribed to this expression. Therefore, the INSL3/LGR8 system represents a further paracrine hormone-receptor system in the testis, which conveys information about Leydig cell status to germ cells, and possibly as part of an autocrine feedback loop.

Leydig cells, relaxin, spermatogenesis, testis

¹ Supported in part by a stipendium of the Graduirtenkolleg 336 of the German Research Council (DFG) to R.J.K.A-I., and subsequently by the small grant scheme of the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Adelaide, as well as by funds of BioInnovation SA, Adelaide, to R.I. Studies at the HFI were supported by a National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC; 300012) to R.A.D.B. Part of this project was supported by the EDN consortium of the EU 5th framework (QLK4-CT-2002-00603).

² Correspondence. FAX: 61 8 8303 3356; ravinder.anand-ivell{at}adelaide.edu.au

This article has been cited by other articles:

				K. Heng, R. Ivell, P. Wagaarachchi, and R. Anand-Ivell Relaxin signalling in primary cultures of human myometrial cells Mol. Hum. Reprod., October 1, 2008; 14(10): 603 - 611. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. A. L. Bayne, T. Forster, S. T. G. Burgess, M. Craigon, M. J. Walton, D. T. Baird, P. Ghazal, and R. A. Anderson Molecular Profiling of the Human Testis Reveals Stringent Pathway-Specific Regulation of RNA Expression Following Gonadotropin Suppression and Progestogen Treatment J Androl, July 1, 2008; 29(4): 389 - 403. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. Anand-Ivell, R. Ivell, D. Driscoll, and J. Manson Insulin-like factor 3 levels in amniotic fluid of human male fetuses Hum. Reprod., May 1, 2008; 23(5): 1180 - 1186. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. Bay, H. E. Virtanen, S. Hartung, R. Ivell, K. M. Main, N. E. Skakkebaek, A.-M. Andersson, The Nordic Cryptorchidism Study Group, and J. Toppari Insulin-Like Factor 3 Levels in Cord Blood and Serum from Children: Effects of Age, Postnatal Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Gonadal Axis Activation, and Cryptorchidism J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., October 1, 2007; 92(10): 4020 - 4027. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Feng, N. V Bogatcheva, A. Truong, B. Korchin, C. E Bishop, T. Klonisch, I. U Agoulnik, and A. I Agoulnik Developmental Expression and Gene Regulation of Insulin-like 3 Receptor RXFP2 in Mouse Male Reproductive Organs Biol Reprod, October 1, 2007; 77(4): 671 - 680. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. K. Amory, S. T. Page, B. D. Anawalt, A. D. Coviello, A. M. Matsumoto, and W. J. Bremner Elevated End-of-Treatment Serum INSL3 Is Associated With Failure to Completely Suppress Spermatogenesis in Men Receiving Male Hormonal Contraception J Androl, July 1, 2007; 28(4): 548 - 554. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				N. V. Bogatcheva, A. Ferlin, S. Feng, A. Truong, L. Gianesello, C. Foresta, and A. I. Agoulnik T222P mutation of the insulin-like 3 hormone receptor LGR8 is associated with testicular maldescent and hinders receptor expression on the cell surface membrane Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab, January 1, 2007; 292(1): E138 - E144. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Ferlin, A. Garolla, F. Rigon, L. Rasi Caldogno, A. Lenzi, and C. Foresta Changes in Serum Insulin-Like Factor 3 during Normal Male Puberty J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., September 1, 2006; 91(9): 3426 - 3431. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]