Steroidogenesis during prenatal testicular development in Spix's cavy Galea spixii

Autor(es)

Santos, A. C. ^[1] ; Conley, A. J. ^[2] ; Oliveira, M. F. ^[3] ; Assis Neto, A. C. ^[1]

Afiliação do(s) autor(es)

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Sch Vet Med & Anim Sci, Ave Prof Dr Orlando de Marques Paiva 87, BR-05508270 Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[2] Univ Calif Davis, Sch Vet Med, Populat Hlth & Reprod, 3223 VM3B, Davis, CA 95616 - USA

^[3] Fed Rural Univ Semiarid, Dept Anim Sci, Ave Francisco Mota 572, BR-59625900 Mossoro, RN - Brazil

• Tipo de documento: Artigo Científico
• Fonte: REPRODUCTION FERTILITY AND DEVELOPMENT; v. 33, n. 6 MAR 2021.
• Citações Web of Science: 0

Resumo

Spix's cavy is a potentially good experimental model for research on reproductive biology and sexual development. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the ontogeny of the steroidogenic enzymes involved in testicular androgen synthesis during prenatal development. Testes were investigated on Days 25, 30, 40 and >50 of gestation. Immunohistochemistry and immunoblotting were used to establish the site and relative amount of androgenic enzymes, including 5 alpha-reductase, cytosolic 17 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17 beta-HSDI) and mitochondrial microsomal 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3 beta-HSDII), throughout prenatal development. The testicular parenchyma began to organise on Day 25 of gestation, with the development of recognisable testicular cords. The mesonephros was established after Day 25 of gestation and the ducts differentiated to form the epididymis, as testicular cords were beginning to proliferate and the interstitium to organise by Day 30 of gestation, continuing thereafter. The androgen-synthesising enzymes 5a-reductase, 17 beta-HSDI and 3 beta-HSDII were evident in Leydig cells as they differentiated at all subsequent gestational ages studied. In addition, immunoblotting showed an increase in immunoreactivity for the enzymes at Days 30 and 40 of gestation (P < 0.05) and a decrease at Day 50 of gestation (P < 0.05). It is concluded that the increase in androgenic enzymes in Leydig cells coincides with the functional differentiation of the testes, and with the stabilisation and differentiation of mesonephric ducts forming the epididymis. (AU)

• Processo FAPESP: 16/24040-0 - Parâmetros morfológicos, morfométricos e esteroidogênicos da diferenciação sexual da genitália externa de Galea spixii
• Beneficiário: Amilton Cesar dos Santos
• Modalidade de apoio: Bolsas no Brasil - Pós-Doutorado
• Processo FAPESP: 13/02535-9 - Controle esteroidogênico da diferenciação sexual intrauterina em Galea spixii
• Beneficiário: Amilton Cesar dos Santos
• Modalidade de apoio: Bolsas no Brasil - Doutorado