cGnRH II involvement in pyriform cell apoptosis |
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Authors: | Stefania Tammaro Palma Simoniello Silvana Filosa Chiara M Motta |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Biological Sciences, Evolutionary and Comparative Biology Unit, University of Naples Federico II, Via Mezzocannone 8, 80134 Naples, Italy |
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Abstract: | We have investigated whether gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) is involved in triggering the apoptotic death of pyriforms,
the nurse cells that cooperate in oocyte growth during mid- to late previtellogenesis in the lizard Podarcis sicula. Our immunocytochemical analyses demonstrate that pyriforms express GnRH receptors and that, in late previtellogenesis, they
are up-regulated by cGnRH II. The hormone however does not trigger receptor synthesis and activation, events that therefore
must be under the control of other regulatory factors. Our results also indicate that in vitro treatment of pyriforms with
cGnRH II induces DNAse I activation and DNA laddering, clear cytological evidence of apoptosis, but not Fas/Fas-L synthesis
or caspase activation. We conclude that cGnRH II is pro-apoptotic to pyriform cells and that it exerts its effects by activating
an alternative cell death pathway, probably involving calcium as first messenger and DNase I as first executioner.
This work was financed by a Progetto Giovani Ricercatori entitled “Le vie della morte nelle cellule follicolari nutrici di
Podarcis sicula ” to S.T. and by a PRIN grant (2007) to Prof. Piero Andreuccetti. |
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Keywords: | GnRH receptors Fas/Fas-L DNase I Caspase 3 p17 Reptiles Podarcis sicula (Lacertilia) |
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