Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) signaling regulates reproductive physiology in mammals. GnRH is released by a subset of hypothalamic neurons and binds to GnRH receptor (GnRHR) on gonadotropes in the anterior pituitary gland to control production and secretion of gonadotropins that in turn regulate the activity of the gonads. Central control of reproduction is well understood in adult animals, but GnRH signaling has also been implicated in the development of the reproductive axis. To investigate the role of GnRH signaling during development, we selectively ablated GnRHRexpressing cells in mice. This genetic strategy permitted us to identify an essential stage in male reproductive axis development, which depends on embryonic GnRH signaling. Our experiments revealed a striking dichotomy in the gonadotrope population of the fetal anterior pituitary gland. We show that luteinizing hormoneexpressing gonadotropes, but not follicle-stimulating hormoneexpressing gonadotropes, express the GnRHR at embryonic day 16.75. Furthermore, we demonstrate that an embryonic increase in luteinizing hormone secretion is needed to promote development of follicle-stimulating hormone-expressing gonadotropes, which might be mediated by paracrine interactions within the pituitary. Moreover, migration of GnRH neurons into the hypothalamus appeared normal with appropriate axonal connections to the median eminence, providing genetic evidence against autocrine regulation of GnRH neurons. Surprisingly, genetic ablation of GnRHR expressing cells significantly increased the number of GnRH neurons in the anterior hypothalamus, suggesting an unexpected role of GnRH signaling in establishing the size of the GnRH neuronal population. Our experiments define a functional role of embryonic GnRH signaling.gonadotropin-releasing hormone neurons | gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptor | gonadotrope development | diphtheria toxin | Cre recombinase R eproductive physiology in mammals is centrally regulated through the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis and depends on gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH). GnRH signaling is well understood in adult animals, but has also been implicated in the development of the reproductive axis. The hormone is produced by a subset of neurons with a scattered distribution throughout the basal forebrain and released into the hypophyseal portal vasculature from axon terminals at the median eminence (1, 2). GnRH binds to the GnRH receptor (GnRHR), which is specifically expressed on gonadotrope cells in the anterior pituitary gland (3). GnRH signaling controls biosynthesis and release of luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) that in turn regulate development and activity of the ovaries and testes (4).Studies in mice suggest that the hypothalamic-pituitarygonadal axis might already be functional during embryonic development. GnRH neurons have migrated from their place of origin in the nasal placodes to their final destination in the forebrain (5) and project neurosecretory axons to the median emi...

It has been demonstrated that dietary fat affects pubertal mammary gland development. However, the role of lauric acid (LA) in this process remains unclear. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the effects of LA on mammary gland development in pubertal mice and to explore the underlying mechanism. In vitro, 100 μM LA significantly promoted proliferation of mouse mammary epithelial cell line HC11 by regulating expression of proliferative markers (cyclin D1/3, p21, PCNA). Meanwhile, LA activated the G protein-coupled receptor 84 (GPR84) and PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. In agreement, dietary 1% LA enhanced mammary duct development, increased the expression of GPR84 and cyclin D1, and activated PI3K/Akt in mammary gland of pubertal mice. Furthermore, knockdown of GPR84 or inhibition of PI3K/Akt totally abolished the promotion of HC11 proliferation induced by LA. These results showed that LA stimulated mammary gland development of pubertal mice through activation of GPR84 and PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.

Porcine bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (pBMSCs) have the potential for application in regenerative medicine. This study aims to investigate the effects of extracellular calcium ([Ca2+]o) on pBMSCs proliferation and to explore the possible underlying mechanisms. The results demonstrated that 4 mM [Ca2+]o significantly promoted pBMSCs proliferation by reducing the G0/G1 phase cell percentage and by increasing the S phase cell proportion and the proliferation index of pBMSCs. Accordingly, [Ca2+]o stimulated the expression levels of proliferative genes such as cyclin A2, cyclin D1/3, cyclin E2, and PCNA and inhibited the expression of p21. In addition, [Ca2+]o resulted in a significant elevation of intracellular calcium and an increased ratio of p-ERK/ERK. However, inhibition of calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR) by its antagonist NPS2143 abolished the aforementioned effects of [Ca2+]o. Moreover, [Ca2+]o-induced promotion of pBMSCs proliferation, the changes of proliferative genes expression levels, and the activation of ERK1/2 signaling pathway were effectively blocked by U0126, a selective ERK kinase inhibitor. In conclusion, our findings provided evidence that the enhanced pBMSCs proliferation in response to [Ca2+]o was associated with the activation of CaSR and ERK1/2 signaling pathway, which may be useful for the application of pBMSCs in future clinical studies aimed at tissue regeneration and repair.

No abstract

Background/Aims: It has been implicated that calcium supplementation is involved in reducing body weight/fat and improving glucose homeostasis. However, the underlying mechanisms are still not fully understood. Here, we investigated the effects of calcium supplementation on adipogenesis and glucose homeostasis in porcine bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (pBMSCs) and high fat diet (HFD)-fed mice and explored the involved signaling pathways. Methods: In vitro, pBMSCs were treated with 4 mM extracellular calcium ([Ca²⁺]_o) and/or 1 μM nifedipine, 0.1 μM BAPTA-AM, 1 μM KN-93, 50 nM wortmannin for 10 days. The intracellular calcium ([Ca²⁺]_i) levels were measured using Fluo 3-AM by flow cytometry. The adipogenic differentiation of pBMSCs was determined by Oil Red-O staining and triglyceride assay. The expression of marker genes involved in adipogenesis (peroxisome proliferator activated receptor γ (PPARγ) and CCAAT/enhancer binding protein α (C/EBPα)) and glucose uptake (glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4)), as well as the activation of Ca²⁺/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) and PI3K/Akt-FoxO1/AS160 signaling pathways were determined by Western blotting. Glucose uptake and utilization were examined using 2-NBDG assay and glucose content assay, respectively. In vivo, C57BL/6J male mice were fed a HFD (containing 1.2% calcium) without or with 0.6% (w/w) calcium chloride in drinking water for 13 weeks. The adipogenesis, glucose homeostasis and the involvement of CaMKII and PI3K/Akt signaling pathway were also assessed. Results: In vitro, [Ca²⁺]_o stimulated pBMSCs adipogenesis by increasing [Ca²⁺]_i level and activating CaMKII and PI3K/Akt-FoxO1 pathways. In addition, [Ca²⁺]_o promoted glucose uptake/utilization by enhancing AS160 phosphorylation, GLUT4 expression and translocation. However, the stimulating effects of [Ca²⁺]_o on pBMSCs adipogenesis and glucose uptake/utilization were abolished by L-VGCC blocker Nifedipine, [Ca²⁺]_i chelator BAPTA-AM, CaMKII inhibitor KN-93, or PI3K inhibitor Wortmannin. In vivo, calcium supplementation decreased body weight and fat content, increased adipocyte number, and improved glucose homeostasis, with elevated PPARγ and GLUT4 expression and PI3K/Akt activation in iWAT. Conclusion: calcium supplementation enhanced adipogenesis and glucose uptake in pBMSCs, which was coincident with the increased adipocyte number and improved glucose homeostasis in HFD-fed mice, and was associated with activation of CaMKII and PI3K/Akt-FoxO1/AS160 pathways. These data provided a broader understanding of the mechanisms underlying calcium-induced body weight/fat loss and glycemic control.