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Intracerebroventricular PROK2 infusion could increase the secretion of male reproductive hormones by stimulating the HPG axis

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Abstract

Background

Prokineticin 2 (PROK2), an important neuropeptide that plays a key role in the neuronal migration of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) in the hypothalamus, is known to have regulatory effects on the gonads. In the present study, the impact of intracerebroventricular (icv) PROK2 infusion on hypothalamic-pituitary–gonadal axis (HPG) hormones, testicular tissues, and sperm concentration was investigated.

Methods and results

Rats were randomly divided into four groups: control, sham, PROK2 1.5 and PROK2 4.5. Rats in the PROK2 1.5 and PROK2 4.5 groups were administered 1.5 nmol and 4.5 nmol PROK2 intracerebroventricularly for 7 days via an osmotic mini pump (1 µl/h), respectively. Rat blood serum follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH) and testosterone hormone levels were determined with the ELISA method in the blood samples after 7 days of infusion. GnRH mRNA expression was determined with the RT-PCR in hypothalamus tissues. analyze Sperm concentration was determined, and testicular tissue was examined histologically with the hematoxylin–eosin staining method. It was observed that GnRH mRNA expression increased in both PROK2 infusion groups. Serum FSH, LH and testosterone hormone levels also increased in these groups. Although sperm concentration increased in PROK2 infusion groups when compared to the control and sham, the differences were not statistically significant. Testicular tissue seminiferous epithelial thickness was higher in the PROK2 groups when compared to the control and sham groups.

Conclusion

The present study findings demonstrated that icv PROK2 infusion induced the HPG axis. It could be suggested that PROK2 could be a potential agent in the treatment of male infertility induced by endocrinological defects.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Assoc. Dr. Meryem Çolak (Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Karabuk University, Karabuk, Turkey) and Dr. Kevser Tanbek (Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Inonu University, Malatya, Turkey) for their technical assistance.

Funding

The present study (Project no: KBÜBAP-22-ABP-099) was sponsored by the Karabük University Scientific Research Projects Department.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Karabuk University, Karabuk, Turkey

    Nesibe Yilmaz

  2. Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Inonu University, Malatya, Turkey

    Azibe Yildiz

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  1. Nesibe Yilmaz
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  2. Azibe Yildiz
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Contributions

Conceptualization: NY. Methodology, formal analysis and research: NY and AY. Original draft: NY and AZ. All authors read, critically analyzed and provided their feedback before submission.

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Correspondence to Nesibe Yilmaz.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical approval

The present study was approved by the Karabuk University Animal Experiments Local Ethics Committee on 09.06.2022 (22/6/8).

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Yilmaz, N., Yildiz, A. Intracerebroventricular PROK2 infusion could increase the secretion of male reproductive hormones by stimulating the HPG axis. Mol Biol Rep 51, 656 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11033-024-09604-4

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