Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Effects of the expression of bovine growth hormone on the testes and male accessory reproductive glands in transgenic mice

  • Published:
Transgenic Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The effects of physiological and excessive levels of growth hormone (GH) on reproductive functions are poorly understood, and impairment of fertility is frequently observed in transgenic animals overexpressing GH genes. The present study was undertaken to determine the effects of chronic exposure to heterologous bovine GH (bGH) on the testes and accessory reproductive glands in transgenic mice. Endocrine function of the testes was evaluated by measuring the activities of two steroidogenic enzymes, δ5-3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (δ5-3β-HSD) and 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17β-HSD). The activities of acid phosphatase, alkaline phosphatase and β-glucuronidase, important hydrolytic enzymes of lysosomal origin, were measured in testes, seminal vesicles and ventral prostates in normal and transgenic mice. Testicular δ5-3β-HSD activity was higher in transgenic than in normal mice, while testicular 17β-HSD activity in transgenic mice was not altered. Acid phosphatase activity was elevated in both seminal vesicles and ventral prostates of transgenic mice, while alkaline phosphatase activity was increased only in the prostate. The activity of β-glucuronidase was elevated in the testes, seminal vesicles and ventral prostate gland of transgenic mice. These results suggest that chronic exposure to bGH is associated with significant stimulation of some hydrolytic enzymes in the testes and in the accessory reproductive glands of transgenic mice.

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

  • Al-Haboby, A.H., Loseth, K.J., Wheaton, J.E. and Crabo, B.G. (1988) Neonatal hemiorchiectomy of bulls alters plasma growth hormone levels and advances onset of pubertal testosterone secretion.Dom. Anim. Endocrinol. 5, 61–9.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bartke, A. (1965) The response of two types of dwarf mice to growth hormone, thyrotropin and thyroxine.Gen. Comp. Endocrinol. 5, 418–26.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bartke, A., Steger, R.W., Hodges, S.L., Parkening, T.A., Collins, T.J., Yun, J.S. and Wagner, T.E. (1988) Infertility in transgenic female mice with human growth hormone expression: evidence for luteal failure.J. Exp. Zool. 248, 212–4.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bartke, A., Naar, E.M., Johnson, L., May, M.R., Cecim, M., Yun, J.S. and Wagner, T.E. (1992) Effects of expression of human or bovine growth hormone genes on sperm production and male reproductive performance in four lines of transgenic mice.J. Reprod. Fert. 95, 109–18.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bracey, L.I. and Paigen, K. (1988) Androgen induction of β-glucuronidase translational yield in submaxillary gland of B6-N mice.Mol. Endocrinol. 2, 701–5.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cecim, M. (1990) Growth allometry of skin, carcass and organs in mice transgenic for bovine growth hormone. In:Proceedings of the 72nd Annual Meeting of Endocrine Society, p. 252.

  • Chandrashekar, V., Bartke, A. and Wagner, T.E. (1988) Endogenous human growth hormone (GH) modulates the effects of gonadotropin releasing hormone on pituitary function and the gonadotropin response to the negative feedback effect of testosterone in adult male transgenic mice bearing hGH gene.Endocrinol. 123, 2717–22.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chandrashekar, V., Bartke, A. and Wagner, T.E. (1989) Effects of gonadotropin-releasing hormone on luteinizing hormone and testosterone secretion in male transgenic mice with bovine growth hormone gene expression. In:Proceedings of the 71st Annual Meeting of Endocrine Society, p. 81.

  • Fishman, W.H. (1974) β-glucuronidase. In: Bergmeyer, H.U. ed.,Methods of Enzymatic Analysis, pp. 929–43. New York: Academic Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ghosh, S.P., Chatterjee, T.K. and Ghosh, J.J. (1983) Synergistic role of prolactin and testosterone in the regulation of acid phosphatase activity and isozyme pattern in the accessory sex organs of adult male rat.J. Reprod. Fer. 61, 235–8.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ghosh, P.K., Debeljuk, L., Wagner, T.E. and Bratke, A. (1991) Effect of immunoneutralization of neuropeptide Y on gonadotropin and prolactin secretion in normal mice and in transgenic mice bearing bovine growth hormone gene.Endocrinol. 129, 597–602.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hafiez, A.A., Philpott, J.E. and Bartke, A. (1971) The role of prolactin in the regulation of testicular function: the effect of prolactin and luteinizing hormone on 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity in the testis of mice and rats.J. Endocrinol. 50, 619–23.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Handelsman, D.J., Spalviero, J.A., Scott, C.D. and Baxter, R.C. (1987) Hormonal regulation of the peripubertal surge of insulin-like growth factor-I in the rat.Endocrinol. 120, 491–6.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jadresic, A., Banks, L.M., Child, D.F., Diamant, L., Doyle, F.H., Fraser, T.R. and Joplin, G.F. (1982) The acromegaly syndrome.Quart. J. Med. 202, 189–204.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jarabak, J., Adams, J.A., Williams-Ashman, H.W. and Talalay, P. (1962) Purification of a 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase of human placenta and studies on its transhydrogenase function.J. Biol. Chem. 237, 345–57.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Malamy, M. and Horecker, B.L. (1966) Alkaline phosphatase. In: Wood, W.A. ed.,Methods in Enzymology Vol. 9, pp. 639–42. New York: Academic Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Naar, E.M., Bartke, A., Majumdar, S., Buonomo, F.C., Yun, J.S. and Wagner, T.E. (1991) Fertility of transgenic female mice expressing bovine growth hormone or human growth hormone variant genes.Biol. Reprod. 45, 178–87.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Palmiter, R.D., Brinster, R.L., Hammer, R.E., Trumbauer, M.E., Rosenfeld, M.G., Brinberg, N.C. and Evans, R.M. (1982) Dramatic growth of mice that develop from eggs microinjected with metallothioncin-growth hormone fusion genes.Nature 300, 611–5.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Saxena, A.K. and Sarin, K. (1980) Pathological and biochemical changes in liver and testis of the desert gerbilMeriones hurrianae (Jerdon): effect of single intraperitoneal injection of phorate (Thimet).Ind. J. Exp. Biol. 18, 1001–7.

    Google Scholar 

  • Talalay, P. (1962) Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase. In: Colowick, S.P. and Kaplan, N.O. eds,Methods in Enzymology, vol. 5, p. 512. New York: Academic Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tenniswood, M.P., Abrahams, P.P., Bird, C.E. and Clark, A.F. (1978) Effect of castration and androgen replacement in acid phosphatase activity in the adult rat prostate gland.J. Endocrinol. 77, 301–8.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Vanha-Pertulla, T. and Nikkanen, V. (1973) Acid phosphatase of the rat testis in experimental conditions.Acta Endocrinol. 72, 376–90.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wagner, T.E., Hoppe, P.C., Jollick, J.D., Scholl, D.R., Hodinka, R.L. and Gault, J.B. (1981) Microinjection of a rabbit beta globulin gene into zygotes and its subsequent expression in adult mice and their offspring.Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA. 78, 6376–80.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Watson, C.S. and Catterall, J.F. (1986) Genetic regulation of androgen-induced accumulation of mouse renal β-glucuronidase messenger ribonucleic acid.Endcrinol. 118, 1081–6.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yun, J.S. and Wagner, T.E. (1987) Study of human growth hormone transgenic mice: female reproductive system. In:Program of the 10th Korean Symposium on Science and Technology (Seoul, Korea) 3, 279–82.

  • Zipf, W.B., Payne, A.H. and Kelch, R.P. (1978) Prolactin, growth hormone and luteinizing hormone in the maintenance of testicular luteinizing hormone receptors.Endocrinol 103, 595–600.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Southern Illinois University, 62901, Carbondale, IL, USA

    P. K. Ghosh & A. Bartke

Authors
  1. P. K. Ghosh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. A. Bartke
    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

Ghosh, P.K., Bartke, A. Effects of the expression of bovine growth hormone on the testes and male accessory reproductive glands in transgenic mice. Transgenic Research 2, 79–83 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01969380

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01969380

Keywords

Search

Navigation