TY - JOUR
T1 - Novel identification of peripheral dopaminergic D2 receptor in male germ cells
AU - Rodríguez-Gil, Joan Enric
AU - Otth, Carola
AU - Torres, Mauricio
AU - Ramírez, Alfredo
AU - Fernandez, Juan Carlos
AU - Castro, Maite
AU - Rauch, M. Cecilia
AU - Brito, Mónica
AU - Yañez, Alejandro J.
AU - Slebe, Juan Carlos
AU - Concha, Ilona I.
PY - 2007/1/1
Y1 - 2007/1/1
N2 - Dopamine is a recognized modulator in the central nervous system (CNS) and peripheral organ functions. The presence of peripheral dopamine receptors outside the CNS has suggested an intriguing interaction between the nervous system and other functional systems, such as the reproductive system. In the present study we analyzed the expression of D2R receptors in rat testis, rat spermatogenic cells and spermatozoa, in different mammals. The RT-PCR analysis of rat testis mRNA showed specific bands corresponding to the two dopamine receptor D2R (L and S) isoforms previously described in the brain. Using Western blot analysis, we confirmed that the protein is present in rat testis, isolated spermatogenic cells and also in spermatozoa of a range of different mammals, such as rat, mouse, bull, and human. The immunohistochemistry analysis of rat adult testis showed that the receptor was expressed in all germ cells (pre- and post-meiotic phase) of the tubule with staining predominant in spermatogonia. Confocal analysis by indirect immunofluorescence revealed that in non-capacitated spermatozoa of rat, mouse, bull, and human, D2R is mainly localized in the flagellum, and is also observed in the acrosomal region of the sperm head (except in human spermatozoa). Our findings demonstrate that the two D2 receptor isoforms are expressed in rat testis and that the receptor protein is present in different mammalian spermatozoa. The presence of D2R receptors in male germ cells implies new and unsuspected roles for dopamine signaling in testicular and sperm physiology. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
AB - Dopamine is a recognized modulator in the central nervous system (CNS) and peripheral organ functions. The presence of peripheral dopamine receptors outside the CNS has suggested an intriguing interaction between the nervous system and other functional systems, such as the reproductive system. In the present study we analyzed the expression of D2R receptors in rat testis, rat spermatogenic cells and spermatozoa, in different mammals. The RT-PCR analysis of rat testis mRNA showed specific bands corresponding to the two dopamine receptor D2R (L and S) isoforms previously described in the brain. Using Western blot analysis, we confirmed that the protein is present in rat testis, isolated spermatogenic cells and also in spermatozoa of a range of different mammals, such as rat, mouse, bull, and human. The immunohistochemistry analysis of rat adult testis showed that the receptor was expressed in all germ cells (pre- and post-meiotic phase) of the tubule with staining predominant in spermatogonia. Confocal analysis by indirect immunofluorescence revealed that in non-capacitated spermatozoa of rat, mouse, bull, and human, D2R is mainly localized in the flagellum, and is also observed in the acrosomal region of the sperm head (except in human spermatozoa). Our findings demonstrate that the two D2 receptor isoforms are expressed in rat testis and that the receptor protein is present in different mammalian spermatozoa. The presence of D2R receptors in male germ cells implies new and unsuspected roles for dopamine signaling in testicular and sperm physiology. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
KW - D2 receptors
KW - Male germ cells
KW - Spermatozoa
U2 - https://doi.org/10.1002/jcb.21037
DO - https://doi.org/10.1002/jcb.21037
M3 - Article
VL - 100
SP - 141
EP - 150
JO - Journal of Cellular Biochemistry
JF - Journal of Cellular Biochemistry
SN - 0730-2312
ER -