bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
In vitro evidence that LHRH stimulates the recruitment of prolactin mRNA-expressing cells during the postnatal period in the rat
Authors: Van Bael A , Huygen R , Himpens B , Denef C 
Published: December 2008

ABSTRACT
We have studied the effect of LHRH and neuropeptide Y (NPY) on prolactin (PRL) mRNA levels in pituitary reaggregate cell cultures from 14-day-old female rats, by means of in situ hybridization and Northern blot analysis. As estimated by computer-image analysis, addition of LHRH on day 5 in culture for 40 h resulted in a 37% increase in the total cytoplasmic areas of cells containing PRL mRNA, visualized using a digoxigenin-labelled PRL cRNA. The size of individual PRL-expressing cells was not influenced, nor was the content of PRL mRNA per cell. A similar effect of LHRH was found by dot blot hybridization of extracted RNA. PRL mRNA levels were not affected by NPY. LHRH induced a 29% increase in the number of PRL mRNA-expressing cells processing through the S phase of the cell cycle, visualized by the incorporation of [3H]thymidine ([3H]T) into DNA over 16 h. The fraction of [3H]T-labelled cells was 10–12% of the total cell population. NPY did not influence the number of [3H]T-positive cells expressing PRL mRNA, but completely blocked the effect of LHRH on the latter population.
The present data suggest that LHRH, probably via a paracrine action of gonadotrophs, stimulates the recruitment of new lactotrophs, an action which is negatively modulated by NPY. Since the magnitude of this effect was the same in the total pituitary cell population as in cells processing through the S phase of the cell cycle and presumably mitosis, recruitment of lactotrophs seems to be based on differentiation of progenitor or immature cells into PRL-expressing cells, rather than on a mitogenic action on pre-existing lactotrophs alone.
Lack of effect of atrial natriuretic peptide and urodilatin on vasopressin-stimulated cyclic AMP production in microdissected rat inner medullary collecting ducts
Authors: Burgess W J , Perrott M N , Balment R J 
Published: December 2008

ABSTRACT
It is unclear whether the diuretic effects of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) result, in part, from an inhibition of the renal actions of vasopressin. Moreover, accruing evidence suggests that the kidneys themselves may produce an ANP-like peptide, urodilatin, which shares many of the renal actions of ANP. The mechanism underlying the diuretic action of urodilatin has not yet been examined. Accordingly, we have investigated the potential modulatory actions of both ANP and urodilatin on vasopressin-stimulated cyclic AMP (cAMP) production in microdissected inner medullary collecting duct (IMCD) segments of rat kidney.
ANP and urodilatin alone (at 10−8 or 10−6 m) had no demonstrable effect on cAMP accumulation in IMCD segments. Moreover, neither ANP nor urodilatin (each at 10−6 m) significantly altered either the profile or the absolute magnitude of the cAMP response stimulated by vasopressin.
These findings indicate that neither ANP nor urodilatin interacts with the vasopressin-sensitive adenylate cyclase site in the rat IMCD to contribute to its diuretic actions.
Epitopic heterogeneity of human 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase in villous and extravillous human trophoblast
Authors: Hawes C S , McBride M W , Petropoulos A , Mueller U W , Sutcliffe R G 
Published: December 2008

ABSTRACT
A new monoclonal antibody (FDO26G) is described which was raised against purified human 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type I (3β-HSD type I). FDO26G reacted strongly with villous syncytiotrophoblast, weakly with some trophoblast cells in chorion laeve, and not at all with extravillous trophoblast in cytotrophoblast cell islands and decidual trophoblast. All these types of trophoblast reacted strongly with monoclonal antibody FDO161G, which has previously been shown to react with 3β-HSD type I and, like FDO26G, reacts strongly with adrenal cells.
Mapping experiments using a combination of lacZ fusion polypeptides and synthetic peptides located the FDO26G epitope to residues 354–366 at the C-terminal end of the molecule, a sequence that is identical in the type I and type II forms of the enzyme. The epitope contains a consensus for a casein kinase-II site with serine 359 as the candidate phosphorylation site. This suggested that the lack of reactivity of FDO26G to 3β-HSD in extravillous trophoblast might be due to phosphorylation at serine 359. Peptide 354–366 was synthesized with phosphoserine at residue 359 and its binding to FDO26G was compared with that of the unphosphorylated peptide. FDO26G bound the phosphopeptide at least as strongly as the unphosphorylated peptide. It is concluded that the lack of staining of extravillous trophoblast by FDO26G is due to the presence of a different sequence at residues 354–366 and that a hitherto unidentified third isoform of human 3β-HSD is expressed in these cells.
Identification of the horse epidermal growth factor (EGF) coding sequence and its use in monitoring EGF gene expression in the endometrium of the pregnant mare
Authors: Stewart F , Power C A , Lennard S N , Allen W R , Amet L , Edwards R M 
Published: December 2008

ABSTRACT
The PCR technique and highly degenerate oligonucleotide primers were used to amplify a 282 bp fragment of the horse (Equus caballus) epidermal growth factor (EGF) cDNA. The clone corresponded to 94 amino acids of the EGF precursor molecule. The deduced amino acid sequence of the 53 residue EGF mitogenic peptide within the precursor sequence showed 60–70% identity with five other published EGF sequences. The PCR cDNA fragment hybridized to a 4·9 kb transcript in horse kidney and endometrial RNA which was of a similar size to the mature EGF transcript found in other mammalian species.
The horse cDNA clone was used in Northern blots to monitor EGF expression in the endometrium of pregnant mares up to day 83 of gestation (term=330–340 days). The level of expression increased from day 33 and showed a further dramatic increase between days 35 and 45, which coincides with the onset of implantation and placentation in this species. Levels remained elevated up to day 83. The horse DNA sequence was used to design sense and antisense oligonucleotide probes (45-mers) for in situ hybridization studies. The antisense probe showed specific hybridization to the glandular, but not lumenal, epithelial cells of the endometrium and there was no signal in fetal membranes. The in situ hybridization signal increased between days 35 and 45 to a similar degree to that observed in the Northern blot analysis. This dramatic increase in EGF expression in the glandular epithelium of the mare's endometrium during pregnancy may provide a mitogenic stimulus to the endometrium and/or trophoblast to facilitate placental differentiation and attachment. Alternatively, the precursor could be involved in the endometrial gland secretory process which is necessary to produce uterine milk for fetal sustenance.
The PCR cloning methods used in this study should be generally applicable to the cloning of EGF cDNAs from other species.
Transcripts and CpG islands associated with the pro-opiomelanocortin gene and other neurally expressed genes
Authors: Gardiner-Garden M , Frommer M 
Published: December 2008

ABSTRACT
DNA sequences of vertebrate genes which code for neural or neuroendocrine peptides were analysed in terms of CpG dinucleotide distribution and G+C content. The vast majority of the genes were found to contain a region with the sequence characteristics of a CpG island surrounding the 5′ end. In mammalian species, the gene which codes for the neuroendocrine polypeptide pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) was shown to be associated with two separate CpG islands: a 5′ CpG island which surrounds the POMC transcription start site and a 3′ CpG island which lies approximately 5 kb downstream, encompassing the third exon of POMC. Short POMC-related transcripts, known to be transcribed in the germline, were found to initiate from a promoter within the 3′ CpG island. The start sites of the short POMC-related transcripts in mouse testis were mapped to the region coding for γMSH in exon 3, in a similar location to transcription start sites identified in other mammalian POMC genes. Similar short POMC-related transcripts were identified in both the mouse F9 embryonal carcinoma cell line and mouse embryonic stem cells, suggesting that transcription initiating within the third exon may occur very early in development. No short transcripts were detected by Northern blot hybridization in either Xenopus laevis testis or oocyte poly(A)+ RNA extracts. The Xenopus laevis POMC genes, A and B, were associated with neither a 5′ nor a 3′ CpG island. Hence, the presence of a 5′ CpG island is not required for production of full-length transcripts from the Xenopus laevis POMC gene, but the presence of a 3′ CpG island may be required for transcription to occur from the third exon.
Follistatin but not α or βA inhibin subunit mRNA is expressed in ovine fetal ovaries in late gestation
Authors: Braw-Tal R , Tisdall D J , Hudson N L , Smith P , McNatty K P 
Published: December 2008

ABSTRACT
The aim of this study was to investigate the sites of follistatin and α and βA inhibin mRNA expression in the ovaries of female sheep fetuses at 90, 100, 120 and 135 days of gestation (term=day 147). At 90 and 100 days primordial follicles were formed, followed by the appearance of primary follicles at 100 days of gestation. At days 120 and 135, primordial, primary and preantral (i.e. secondary) follicles were present in the ovaries, but antral (i.e. tertiary) follicles were not observed at any of these gestational ages. Two Booroola genotypes were studied: homozygous carriers (BB) and non-carriers (++) of the fecundity gene (FecB). Irrespective of genotype no specific hybridization of the α and βA inhibin riboprobes was detected in any ovarian cells at days 90, 100, 120 or 135 of gestation. In control mature ovaries, on the other hand, strong hybridization in the granulosa cells of antral follicles was observed. In contrast to α and βA inhibin, follistatin antisense (but not sense) riboprobes hybridized specifically to the granulosa cells of preantral follicles with two or more layers of cells at days 120 and 135 of gestation. Moreover, hybridization was also evident in the cells of the ovarian rete at days 120 and 135, but not at 90 or 100 days. No follistatin mRNA expression was observed in the granulosa cells of primordial or primary follicles or in any other ovarian cell type at any of the gestational ages examined. No FecB-specific differences in follistatin expression were noted with respect to stage of preantral follicular development and there were no obvious differences in the intensity of expression.
These results show that follistatin mRNA is expressed specifically in the granulosa cells and intraovarian rete. Expression of follistatin in rete cells was coincident with the increasing numbers of growing follicles within the fetal ovary, indicating that rete cell function may have a role in the ontogeny of early follicular growth. Our results suggest that follistatin and α and βA inhibin may not be important for the initiation of follicle growth in the sheep ovary, since these genes are not expressed during the transformation of a primordial follicle to a primary structure. However, the evidence for follistatin mRNA expression in the ovine fetal ovary implies that this hormone is likely to play a role during the early stages of follicle growth.
Growth hormone induces tyrosine phosphorylation but does not alter insulin-like growth factor-I gene expression in human IM9 lymphocytes
Authors: Clayton P E , Day R N , Silva C M , Hellmann P , Day K H , Thorner M O 
Published: December 2008

ABSTRACT
GH induces hepatic IGF-I synthesis by increasing transcription of its gene. IGF-I is synthesized, however, in many other tissues where the effect of GH on its gene expression is less well characterized. IGF-I and GH are produced by human lymphocytes and may function as autocrine regulators of lymphoproliferation. We have therefore used the human IM9 lymphocyte cell line to (A) define the IGF-I gene transcripts expressed and (B) investigate the effect of GH on early (protein tyrosine phosphorylation) and late (changes in IGF-I mRNA levels) events in intracellular signal transduction. Multiple IGF-I mRNA species, ranging in size from 0·9 to 5·8 kb, were detected by Northern hybridization of poly(A)+ mRNA from IM9 cells. The human IGF-I gene contains at least six exons and alternative splicing produces a number of transcripts. Solution hybridization with exon-specific riboprobes and amplification by PCR using exon-specific primers revealed that multiple transcripts were expressed in IM9 cells, and that exon 2 was the dominant leader exon.
Treatment of IM9 cells with 200 ng recombinant human (rh)GH/ml led to the specific tyrosine phosphorylation of three intracellular proteins (93, 120 and 134 kDa), which are involved in the initial signalling of the GH transduction pathway. However a solution hybridization assay using the IGF-IA specific riboprobe on IM9 cell RNA from similar experiments revealed that GH treatment did not change IGF-I gene expression.
This study has demonstrated (A) that the IGF-I gene is expressed in human IM9 lymphocytes, (B) that in contrast to other human tissue, exon 2 is the major leader exon, and (C) that rhGH induces tyrosine phosphorylation of 93, 120 and 134 kDa proteins but does not alter IGF-I gene expression. The IM9 cell may form an important model to investigate a GH transduction pathway not coupled to the IGF-I gene.
Evidence that a calmodulin-like calcium-binding domain of the FSH β-subunit is involved in FSH-induced calcium uptake by Sertoli cells
Authors: Grasso P , Reichert L E 
Published: December 2008

ABSTRACT
We have previously shown that a synthetic peptide amide corresponding to residues 1–15 of the human FSH β-subunit (hFSH-β-(1–15)) possesses structural characteristics and calcium-binding properties similar to the calcium-binding loops of calmodulin (CaM). The calcium-binding property of hFSH-β-(1–15) correlated well with its ability to stimulate uptake of calcium (as45 Ca2+) by cultured rat Sertoli cells and proteoliposomes enriched with bovine calf testis FSH receptors. A sequence found in the calcium-binding loops of CaM and a number of other calcium-binding proteins can be represented by the motif +−+−+−+−+−−+, where + represents a calcium-binding residue and − represents a non-binding residue. A sequence containing a similar motif appears in hFSHβ-(1–15) between residues 4 and 15: +−++−+−−−+−+. Using a synthetic peptide strategy, we undertook to determine whether the first three residues of hFSH-β-(1–15) were required to induce uptake of calcium by cultured rat Sertoli cells and FSH receptor-enriched proteoliposomes, and to assess whether rearrangement of the putative calcium-binding ligands (+) of hFSH-β-(1–15) to correspond to their linear sequence in CaM would enhance the ability of hFSH-β-(1–15) to induce calcium uptake in these two model systems. Our results indicate that (1) the amino terminal tripeptide of hFSH-β-(1–15), NSC, is not required for its effects on calcium influx and (2), although the putative calcium-binding loop of hFSH-β-(1–15) does not strictly adhere to the structural motif present in the calcium-binding loops of CaM, this does not adversely affect the potency of hFSH-β-(1–15) in the systems studied. In addition to providing a structural basis for understanding the affinity of hFSH-β-(1–15) for calcium, these studies suggest that the effects of FSH on calcium flux in Sertoli cells may involve a CaM-like region of its β-subunit.
Restricted expression of a zinc finger protein in male germ cells
Authors: Hosseini R , Marsh P , Pizzey J , Leonard L , Ruddy S , Bains S , Dudley K 
Published: December 2008

ABSTRACT
Zfp-37 is a zinc finger protein gene expressed in male germ cells. The cDNA detected two transcripts on Northern blots of testis RNA, with expression first detected at around day 19. To establish the pattern of expression of the protein we have raised antibodies to ZFP-37 and used them on thin sections of testis and on Western blots. On Western blots the antibody detected two proteins exclusively in testis extracts, confirming the previous mRNA expression data. A time-course study revealed that the larger of the two proteins appears at about day 22 but the smaller one is not detected until day 34. Analysis of the expression of these two proteins in purified germ cell preparations revealed that the smaller protein is only detectable in the elongating spermatids or residual bodies. Data from thin sections showed that most, but not all, of the protein recognized by the antibody is in the nucleus, a result further confirmed by Western blotting. These results are discussed in the light of the possible role of this protein in regulating spermatogenesis.
'Liver-type' 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase cDNA encodes reductase but not dehydrogenase activity in intact mammalian COS-7 cells
Authors: Low S C , Chapman K E , Edwards C R W , Seckl J R 
Published: December 2008

ABSTRACT
11β-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11β-HSD) catalyses the metabolism of corticosterone to inert 11-dehydrocorticosterone, thus preventing glucocorticoid access to otherwise non-selective renal mineralocorticoid receptors (MRs), producing aldosterone selectivity in vivo. At least two isoforms of 11β-HSD exist. One isoform (11β-HSD1) has been purified from rat liver and an encoding cDNA cloned from a rat liver library. Transfection of rat 11β-HSD1 cDNA into amphibian cells with a mineralocorticoid phenotype encodes 11 β-reductase activity (activation of inert 11-dehydrocorticosterone) suggesting that 11β-HSD1 does not have the necessary properties to protect renal MRs from exposure to glucocorticoids. This function is likely to reside in a second 11β-HSD isoform. 11β-HSD1 is co-localized with glucocorticoid receptors (GRs) and may modulate glucocorticoid access to this receptor type. To examine the predominant direction of 11β-HSD1 activity in intact mammalian cells, and the possible role of 11β-HSD in regulating glucocorticoid access to GRs, we transfected rat 11β-HSD1 cDNA into a mammalian kidney-derived cell system (COS-7) which has little endogenous 11β-HSD activity or mRNA expression.
Homogenates of COS-7 cells transfected with increasing amounts of 11β-HSD cDNA exhibited a dose-related increase in 11 β-dehydrogenase activity. In contrast, intact cells did not convert corticosterone to 11-dehydrocorticosterone over 24 h, but showed a clear dose-related 11β-reductase activity, apparent within 4 h of addition of 11-dehydrocorticosterone to the medium. To demonstrate that this reflected a change in functional intracellular glucocorticoids, COS-7 cells were co-transfected with an expression vector encoding GR and a glucocorticoid-inducible MMTV-LTR luciferase reporter construct, with or without 11β-HSD. Corticosterone induced MMTV-LTR luciferase expression in the presence or absence of 11β-HSD. 11-Dehydrocorticosterone was without activity in the absence of 11β-HSD, but induced MMTV-LTR luciferase activity in the presence of 11β-HSD. These results indicate that rat 11β-HSD1 can behave exclusively as a reductase in intact mammalian cells. Thus in some tissues in vivo, 11β-HSD1 may regulate ligand access to GRs by reactivating inert glucocorticoids.
Localization of the response elements of a gene induced by intermittent growth hormone stimulation
Authors: Johnson D , Harrison S , Pineda N , Heinlein C , Al-Shawi R , Bishop J O 
Published: December 2008

ABSTRACT
Three regions required for the expression of a mouse major urinary protein (MUP) transgene were identified by a deletion analysis. One of these was located upstream of the cap site between −2139 and −1800, another was the proximal promoter region downstream of −324 and the third lay within the 338 nucleotide intron 1. Both the proximal promoter and intron 1 are involved in sexually dimorphic expression of the transgene (male/female ratio 20), which is dictated by the different temporal profiles of circulating GH in the two sexes. The data also indicated that the region between exons 3 and 7 may contribute to full expression in males and that a region between −718 and −324 may contribute towards the low expression level that obtains in females, but compared with the three principal regions the effects of these regions are relatively minor. We propose (1) that full expression of the transgene requires the co-operation of transcription factors binding to the three principal regions and (2) that the difference in expression between the sexes relates to interactions between transcription factors bound to the proximal promoter and to sites in intron 1. Our results complement earlier in vitro footprinting and gel-retardation studies of the homologous rat α2u-globulin genes. These identified a number of response elements, including putative C/EBP and AP1 sites in the proximal promoter and intron 1 respectively and three putative ΨNF-1 sites, two in the proximal promoter and one in intron 1, but proof of the functionality of these sites in regulating transcription was lacking. The proximal promoter also contained a 34 nucleotide sequence that has 70% identity with the SPI GH response element.
Interaction of LHRH with growth hormone-releasing factor-dependent and -independent postnatal development of somatotrophs in rat pituitary cell aggregates
Authors: Van Bael A , Proesmans M , Tilemans D , Denef C 
Published: December 2008

ABSTRACT
Addition of LHRH for 40 h to aggregate cell cultures of 14-day-old rat pituitary significantly decreased the number of [3H]thymidine ([3H]T)-incorporating cells which immunostained for GH protein as well as the number of [3H]T-labelled cells expressing GH mRNA detectable by in situ hybridization with a digoxigenin-labelled riboprobe. The effect at the level of GH protein was seen at a dose of 1 nm LHRH. However, the effect at the GH mRNA level required a higher dose of LHRH (10 nm) or a longer incubation time (64 h). Treatment of the cultures for 40 h with 0·1 nm GH-releasing factor (GRF) provoked a 54% increase in the number of [3H]T-labelled cells containing GH mRNA and a 30% increase in the number of cells immunostained for GH protein. The latter effects of GRF were completely blocked by simultaneous addition of LHRH (1 nm) to the cultures. In the absence of GRF, LHRH (1 nM) also had an inhibitory effect on the total number of cells containing GH mRNA and a comparable effect on the total number of cells stained for GH protein. The present data show that LHRH is capable of inhibiting the GRF-independent as well as the GRF-dependent development of somatotrophs in postnatal rat pituitary in culture.