<Emphasis Type="SmallCaps">d</Emphasis>-Aspartate affects secretory activity in rat Harderian gland: molecular mechanism and functional significance |
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Authors: | Rossella Monteforte Alessandra Santillo Marcello Di Giovanni Antimo D’Aniello Antimo Di Maro Gabriella Chieffi Baccari |
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Institution: | Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita, Seconda Università degli Studi di Napoli, via Vivaldi, 43-81100, Caserta, Italy. |
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Abstract: | In this paper, the role of d-aspartate in the rat Harderian gland (HG) was investigated by histochemical, ultrastructural, and biochemical analyses. In
this gland, substantial amounts of endogenous d-Asp were detected, along with aspartate racemases that convert d-Asp to l-Asp and vice versa. We found that the gland was capable of uptaking and accumulating exogenously administered d-Asp. d-Asp acute treatment markedly increased lipid and porphyrin secretion and induced a powerful hyperaemia in inter-acinar interstitial
tissue. Since d-Asp is known to be recognized by NMDA receptors, the expression of such receptors in rat HG led us to the hypothesis that
d-Asp acute treatment induced the activation of the extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK) and nitric oxide synthase
(NOS) pathways mediated by NMDA. Interestingly, as a result of enhanced oxidative stress due to increased porphyrin secretion,
the revealed activation of the stress-activated protein kinase/c-jun N-terminal kinase (SAPK/JNK) pro-apoptotic pathway was
probably triggered by the gland itself to preserve its cellular integrity. |
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