Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Changes in glucocorticoid receptor immunoreactivity after adrenalectomy and corticosterone treatment in the rat testis

  • Published:
Journal of Endocrinological Investigation Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The distribution of glucocorticoid receptor (GR) in the rat testis was investigated by means of immunocytochemistry (IR) and computer-assisted image analysis. A monoclonal antibody against rat liver GR showed the presence of GR IR selectively in the nuclei of interstitial and tubular cells. The semiquantitative microdensitometry of GR IR revealed that 77% of the specific staining was localized in the tubular compartment of rat testis. After adrenalectomy, GR IR was greatly reduced both in interstitial and tubular cells, roughly at the same degree. Corticosterone treatment (50 mg/kg, for 5 d) of adrenalectomized animals yielded a recovery of nuclear immunopositivity without changing the cellular distribution of GR, as observed in control rats. Nevertheless, the high dose of corticosterone administered produced a significant (p<0.01) decrease of GR IR with respect to control rats. These results provide evidence for a prevalent nuclear binding of GR in the tubular compartment in basal conditions. On the other hand, adrenalectomy or repeated corticosterone treatment seem to affect GR similarly in all positive cells without changing significantly the proportion of GR IR in the different testicular compartments. This uneven distribution of GR IR suggests that tubular cells can be a major target of corticosterone when affecting directly testicular functions in the rat.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Rabin D., Gold P. W., Margioris A.N., Chrousos G.P. Stress and reproduction: physiologic and pathophysiologic interactions between the stress and reproductive axes. Adv. Exp. Med. Biol. 245: 377, 1988.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Rivier C., Rivest S. Effect of stress on the activity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. Peripheral and central mechanisms. Biol. Reprod. 45: 523, 1991.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Eik-Nes K.B. Production and secretion of testicular steroids. Recent Prog. Horm. Res. 27: 517, 1971.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Jezova D., Vigas M. Testosterone response to exercise during blockade and stimulation of adrenergic receptors in man. Horm. Res. 15: 141, 1981.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Sapolsky R.M. Stress-induced elevation of testosterone concentrations in high ranking baboons: Role of catecholamines. Endocrinology 118: 1630, 1986.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Frankel A.T., Ryan E.L. Testicular innervation is necessary for the response of plasma testosterone levels to acute stress. Biol. Reprod. 19: 927, 1981.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Armario A., Castellanos J.M. Effect of acute and chronic stress on testosterone secretion in male rats. J. Endocrinol. Invest 7: 659, 1984.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Sapolsky R.M. Stress-induced suppression of testicular function in the wild baboon: Role of glucocorticoids. Endocrinology 116: 2273, 1985.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Orr T.E, Mann D.R. Role of glucocorticoids in the stress-induced suppression of testicular steroidogenesis in adult male ra Horm. Behav. 26: 350, 1992.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Bambino T.H., Hsueh A.J.W. Direct inhibitory effect of glucocorticoids upon testicular luteinizing hormone receptor and steroidogenesis in vivo and in vitro. Endocrinology 108: 2142, 1981.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Mann D.R., Free C., Scott C., Collins D.C. Mutually independent effects of adrenocorticotropin on luteinizing hormone and testosterone secretion. Endocrinology 120: 1545, 1987.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Orr T.E, Mann D.R. Effects of restraint stress on plasma LH and testosterone concentrations, Leydig cell LH/HCG receptors, and in vitro testicular steroidogenesis in adult rats. Horm. Behav. 24: 324, 1990.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. MacAdams M.R., White R.H., Chipps B.E. Reduction in serum testosterone levels during chronic glucocorticoid therapy. Ann. Inter. Med. 104: 648, 1986.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. McKenna T.M., Lorber D., Lacroix A., Rabin D. Testicular activity in Cushing’s disease. Acta Endocrinol. (Copenh.) 91: 501, 1979.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Evain D., Morera A.M., Saez J.M. Glucocorticoid receptors in interstitial cells of the rat testis. J. Steroid. Biochem. 7: 1135, 1976.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Stalker A., Hermo L., Antalky T. Covalent affinity labeling, radioautography, and immunocytochemistry localize the glucocorticoid receptor in rat testicular Leyding cells. Am. J. Anat. 186: 369, 1989.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Levy F.O., Ree A.H., Eikvar L., Govindan M.V., Jahnsen T., Hansson V. Glucocorticoid receptors and glucocorticoid effects in rat Sertoli cells. Endocrinology 124: 430, 1989.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Levy F.O., Eikvar L., Piotrowska B., Øyen O., Jahnsen T., Hansson V. Characterization and cellular localization of glucocorticoid receptors in rat seminiferous tubules. Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci. 513: 438, 1987.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Okret S., Wikström A.-C., Wränge Ö., Andersson B., Gustafsson J.-Å Monoclonal antibodies against the rat liver glucocorticoid receptor. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 81: 1609, 1984.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Gustafsson J-Å., Carlstedt-Duke J., Poellinger L., Okret S., Wikström A.-C., Brönnengård M., Gillner M., Dong Y., Fuxe K., Cintra A., Hårfstrand A., Agnati L.F. Biochemistry, molecular biology, and physiology of the glucocorticoid receptor. Endocr. Rev. 8: 185, 1987.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Chao H.M., Choo P.H., McEwen B.S. Glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid mRNA expression in rat brain. Neuroendocrinology 50: 365, 1989.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Paxinos G., Watson C. The rat brain in stereotaxic coordinates. Academic Press, London, 1982.

    Google Scholar 

  23. Wränge Ö, Carlstedt-Duke J., Gustafsson J.-Å. Purification of the glucocorticoid receptor from rat liver cytosol. J. Biol. Chem. 254: 9284, 1979.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Fuxe K., Wikström A.-C. Okret S., Agnati L.F., Härfstrand A., Yu Z.-Y., Granholm L., Zoli M., Vale W., Gustafsson J -Å. Mapping of glucocorticoid receptor immunoreactive neurons in the rat tel — and diecephalon using a monoclonal antibody against rat liver glucocorticoid receptor. Endocrinology 85: 1803, 1985.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Hsu S.M., Raine L., Fanger H. Use of avidin-biotin -peroxidase complex (ABC) in immunoperoxidase techniques: A comparison between ABC and unlabeled antibody (PAP procedures). J. Histochem. Cytochem. 29: 577, 1981.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Benno, R.H., Tucker L.W. Joh T.H., Reis D.J. Quantitative immunocytochemistry of tyrosine hydroxylase in rat brain. I. Development of a computer assisted method using the peroxidase anti-peroxidase technique. Brain Res. 246: 225, 1982.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Bigbee J.W., Kosek J.C., Eng L.F. Effect of primary antiserum dilution on staining of antigen-rich tissues with the peroxidase antiperoxidase technique. J. Histochem. Cytochem. 25: 443, 1977.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Agnati L.F., Fuxe K., Zoli M., Zini I., Härfstrand A., Toffano G., Goldstein M. Morphometrical and microdensitometrical studies on phenylethanolamine-N-methyltransferase and neuropeptide Y immunoreactive neurons in the rostral medulla oblongata of the adult and old rats. Neuroscience 26: 461, 1988.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Zoli M., Zini I., Agnati L.F., Guidolin D., Ferraguti F., Fuxe K. Aspect of neural plasticity in the central nervous system -I. Computer-assisted image analysis methods Neurochem. Int. 16: 383, 1990.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Snedecor G.W., Cochran W.G. Statistical methods. The Iowa State University Press, 1967.

  31. Beato M., Feigelson P. Glucocorticoid-binding of rat liver cytosol. J. Biol. Chem. 247: 7890,1972.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Ballard P.L., Baxter J.D., Higgins S.J. Rousseau G.G., Tomkins G.M. General presence of glucocorticoids receptors in mammalian tissues. Endocrinology 94: 998, 1974.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Kalimi M., Shen J., Hubbard J. Biochemical characterization of glucocorticoid receptor of rat testis J. Steroid Biochem. 19: 1265, 1983.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Schultz R., Isola J., Parvinen M., Honkaniemi J., Wikstrom A.C., Gustafsson J.-Å., Peltohuikko M. Localization of the glucocorticoid receptor in testis and accessory sexual organs of male rat. Mol. Cell. Endocrinol. 95: 115, 1993.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Ortlip S.A., Li S.A., Li J.J. Characterization of specific glucocorticoids receptor in the Syrian hamster testis. Endocrinology 109: 1331, 1981.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. Van Eekelen J.A.M., Kiss J.Z., Westphal H.M., De Kloet E.R. Immunocytochemical study of the intracellular localization of the type 2 glucocorticoid receptor in the rat brain. Brain Res. 436: 120, 1987.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Phillips D.M., Lakshmi V., Monder C. Corticosteroid 11, β-dehydrogenase in rat testis. Endocrinology 125: 209, 1989.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. Monder C., Miroff Y., Marandici A., Hardy M.P. 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase alleviates glucocorticoid-mediated inhibition of steroidogenesis in rat Leydig cells. Endocrinology 134: 1199, 1994.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. Whorwood C.B., Franklyn J.A., Sheppard M.C., Stewart P.M. Tissue localization of 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase and its relationship to the glucocorticoid receptor. J. Steroid Biochem. Molec. Biol. 41: 21, 1992.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  40. Fischer B., Rausch U., Wollny P., Westphal H., Seitz J., Aumüller G. Immunohistochemical localization of the glucocorticoid receptor in pancreatic β-cells of the rat. Endocrinology 126: 2635, 1990.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  41. Zoli M., Agnati L.F., Fuxe K., Ferraguti F., Biagini G., Cintra A., Gustafsson J.-Å Long-lasting reduction of glucocorticoid receptor immunoreactivity in the hippocampal field CA1 but not in the dentate gyrus after neonatal treatment with corticosterone in the rat. Acta Physiol. Scand. 138: 577, 1990.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  42. Okret S., Poellinger L., Dong Y., Gustafsson J.-Å. Down-regulation of glucocorticoid receptor mRNA by glucocorticoid hormones and recognition by the receptor of a specific binding sequence within a receptor cDNA clone. Proc. Natl. Acad, Sci. U.S.A. 83: 5899, 1986.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  43. Sapolsky R.M. Glucocorticoids toxicity in the hippocampus: Reversal by supplementation with brain fuels. J. Neurosci. 6: 2240, 1986.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  44. Sapolsky R.M., Krey L.C., McEwen B.S. Stress down-regulates corticosterone receptors in a site-specific manner in the brain. Endocrinology 114: 287, 1984.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche Sezione di Fisiologia, Universitá di Modena, via Campi 287, 41100, Modena, Italy

    G. Biagini &  Luigi F. Agnati

  2. Department of Internal Medicine, Chair of Endocrinology, University of Modena, Modena, Italy

    E. Merlo Pich, A. Frasoldati & P. Marrama

Authors
  1. G. Biagini
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. E. Merlo Pich
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. A. Frasoldati
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Luigi F. Agnati
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. P. Marrama
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Biagini, G., Merlo Pich, E., Frasoldati, A. et al. Changes in glucocorticoid receptor immunoreactivity after adrenalectomy and corticosterone treatment in the rat testis. J Endocrinol Invest 18, 384–390 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03347843

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03347843

Key-words

Search

Navigation