Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: EC:2.7.7.48 (transcriptase)
 9,479 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

The effects of retinoic acids (RAs) on development of seminal vesicles (SVs) of neonatal mice were investigated in vitro. SVs from 0-day-old male mice were cultured for 2-6 days in serum-free, chemically defined medium containing transferrin and BSA supplemented with 5alpha-dihydrotestosterone (DHT; 10(-8) M) and insulin (10 microg/ml), alone and in combination. Before culture, SVs from 0-day-old mice consisted of an unbranched epithelium surrounded by mesenchyme. SVs cultured in medium with DHT plus insulin or DHT alone formed numerous epithelial branches after day 2 of culture, whereas epithelial branching did not occur in SVs cultured with insulin alone. All-trans-RA or 13-cis-RA (10(-9)-10(-6) M) added to medium containing DHT plus insulin or DHT alone inhibited epithelial branching in a dose-dependent manner. This inhibitory effect was reversible after removal of the retinoids from the medium on day 4 of culture. These RAs also decreased [3H]thymidine labeling indexes of both epithelium and mesenchyme of SVs cultured in medium with DHT plus insulin or DHT alone and inhibited the increase in their protein contents. 9-Cis-RA was less inhibitory than all-trans-RA or 13-cis-RA on epithelial branching, [3H]thymidine labeling indexes of epithelium and mesenchyme, and protein content of SVs cultured in medium with DHT and insulin. In the absence of DHT (insulin alone), all-trans-RA did not affect either the [3H]thymidine labeling indexes of epithelium and mesenchyme or the protein content of cultured SVs. Reverse transcriptase-PCR demonstrated strong expression of transcripts for mouse RA receptors (RARalpha, RARgamma, and RXRalpha), with lower levels of expression of RARbeta, RXRbeta, and RXRgamma in neonatal SVs. The present results indicate that RAs reversibly inhibit androgen-dependent development of neonatal mouse SVs, most likely through RARs.
 ...
PMID:Inhibitory effects of retinoic acids on androgen-dependent development of neonatal mouse seminal vesicles in vitro. 877 Sep 10

With the central effects of serotonin (5-HT) on ejaculation having been relatively established, we investigated the peripheral effects of serotonin on the contractile responses of rat seminal vesicles and vasa deferentia. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were grouped on the basis of the agents administered: serotonin, clomipramine, or fluoxetine. The intraluminal pressures of the seminal vesicles and of the vasa deferentia were measured simultaneously. Control responses to hypogastric nerve stimulation (HNS) were recorded in each animal, and HNS was repeated after drug administration. Expression of the mRNAs of the 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) receptors (5-HT1A, 5-HT1B, and 5-HT2C), which have been suggested to be involved in the ejaculation process, were examined by semiquantitative reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Serotonergic agents resulted in the concentration-dependent inhibition of HNS-induced seminal vesicle pressure increases (clomipramine > serotonin > fluoxetine). Vasal pressure responses were effectively inhibited by clomipramine and serotonin, but fluoxetine had no effect. No significant difference was observed in the relative expression levels of 5-HT1A receptor mRNA in seminal vesicles and in the vasa deferentia. However, the expression levels of 5-HT1B and 5-HT2C receptor mRNAs were lower in the vasa deferentia than in the seminal vesicles. These in vivo and in vitro experimental results provide evidence for the peripheral role of 5-HT in the regulation of contractile responses of the seminal tract. Regional differences in the distribution of the 5-HT receptor subtypes of the seminal vesicles and the vasa deferentia might contribute to the different responses to serotonergic agents shown by these organs.
 ...
PMID:Peripheral effects of serotonin on the contractile responses of rat seminal vesicles and vasa deferentia. 1547 61