d-Aspartate Uptake into Cultured Rat Pinealocytes and the Concomitant Effect onl-Aspartate Levels and Melatonin Secretion

Takigawa, Yuki; Homma, Hiroshi; Lee, Jen Ai; Fukushima, Takeshi; Santa, Tomofumi; Iwatsubo, Takeshi; Imai, Kazuhiro

doi:10.1006/bbrc.1998.8971

Cited by 105 publications

(69 citation statements)

References 44 publications

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“…Maximal content and transient emergence of -Asp in these tissues correspond to their morphological and functional maturation (Hashimoto et al 1993. In the adenohypophysis, pineal gland and testis in particular, -Asp is involved in hormone synthesis and release (Dunlop et al 1986, Fisher et al 1991, Hashimoto et al 1993, Hashimoto & Oka 1997, D'Aniello et al 1998b, 2000a,b, Ishio et al 1998, Takigawa et al 1998, Wang et al 2002. The relationship between -Asp and endocrine activity has been well documented.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…In addition, -Asp may participate in brain development, differentiation and functioning (Hashimoto et al 1993, Hashimoto & Oka, 1997, Sakai et al 1998a or may be a novel messenger in neuronal and neuroendocrine organs (Schell et al 1997. Most recent investigations have examined the endocrine system of mammals where -Asp is well represented in the pineal gland (Imai et al 1995, Lee et al 1997, Takigawa et al 1998, hypothalamus (Fisher et al 1994, Wang et al 2002, pituitary (D'Aniello et al 2000a,b), adrenals (Hamase et al 1997, Lee et al 2001 and gonads (D'Aniello et al 1996, Sakai et al 1998b. Maximal content and transient emergence of -Asp in these tissues correspond to their morphological and functional maturation (Hashimoto et al 1993.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Endocrine roles of d-aspartic acid in the testis of lizard Podarcis s. sicula

Raucci¹,

D’Aniello²,

Fiore³

2005

Journal of Endocrinology

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In the lizard Podarcis s. sicula, a substantial amount of -aspartate (-Asp) is endogenous to the testis and shows cyclic changes of activity connected with sex hormone profiles during the annual reproductive phases. Testicular -Asp content shows a direct correlation with testosterone titres and a reverse correlation with 17 -estradiol titres.In vivo experiments, consisting of i.p. injections of 2·0 µmol/g body weight of -Asp or other amino acids, in lizards collected during the three main phases of the reproductive cycle (pre-reproductive, reproductive and post-reproductive period), revealed that the testis can specifically take up and accumulate -Asp alone. Moreover, this amino acid influences the synthesis of testosterone and 17 -estradiol in all phases of the cycle. This phenomenon is particularly evident during the pre-and post-reproductive period, when endogenous testosterone levels observed in both testis and plasma were the lowest and 17 -estradiol concentrations were the highest. -Asp rapidly induces a fall in 17 -estradiol and a rise in testosterone at 3 h post-injection in the testis and at 6 h post-injection in the blood. In vitro experiments show that testicular tissue converted -Asp into -Asp through an aspartate racemase. -Asp synthesis was measured in all phases of the cycle, but was significantly higher during the reproductive period with a peak at pH 6·0. The exogenous -Asp also induces a significant increase in the mitotic activity of the testis at 3 h (P<0·05) and at 6 h (P<0·01). Induction of spermatogenesis by -Asp is recognized by an intense immunoreactivity of the germinal epithelium (spermatogonia and spermatids) for proliferation cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). The effects of -Asp on the testis appear to be specific since they were not seen in lizards injected with other -or -forms of amino acids with known excitatory effects on neurosecretion. Our results suggest a regulatory role for -Asp in the steroidogenesis and spermatogenesis of the testis of the lizard Podarcis s. sicula.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Endocrine roles of d-aspartic acid in the testis of lizard Podarcis s. sicula

Raucci¹,

D’Aniello²,

Fiore³

2005

Journal of Endocrinology

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“…18,20,21 For example, about half of the Asp present in the rat pineal gland is D-form (higher than 1000 nmol/g tissue), 21 and is reported to inhibit melatonin synthesis in the gland. 40 Large amounts of D-Asp are also found in the testis, pituitary gland and adrenal gland, and the material is reported to regulate the synthesis and/or secretion of hormones such as testosterone and prolactin in the tissues. 5,6,[22][23][24][25][26][27][28]40 D-Ala is one of the D-amino acids present in small amounts in mammalian tissues; its physiological function has not yet been clarified.…”

Section: Tissue Distribution Of D-alanine In Rodentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…40 Large amounts of D-Asp are also found in the testis, pituitary gland and adrenal gland, and the material is reported to regulate the synthesis and/or secretion of hormones such as testosterone and prolactin in the tissues. 5,6,[22][23][24][25][26][27][28]40 D-Ala is one of the D-amino acids present in small amounts in mammalian tissues; its physiological function has not yet been clarified. To obtain fundamental knowledge of its function, we have investigated the tissue distribution of D-Ala in the brain and periphery of rodents.…”

Section: Tissue Distribution Of D-alanine In Rodentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Analysis of Small Amounts of d-Amino Acids and the Study of Their Physiological Functions in Mammals

et al. 2009

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D-Amino acids, the enantiomers of L-amino acids, are candidates to be novel physiologically active substances and the biomarkers in mammals. However, the amounts of D-amino acids in the tissues and physiological fluids are extremely small in most cases, and sensitive and selective analytical methods are needed for their determination. In the present manuscript, we review the analytical technologies including our recent advances for the determinations of small amounts of D-amino acids in mammals and the applications to clarify their physiological meanings.

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“…These results suggested that D-Asp has some physiological functions in mammalian cells. Indeed, D-Asp suppresses norepinephrine-induced melatonin secretion in cultured rat pinealocytes, which contain significant levels of the amino acid in vivo [8].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Stimulation of steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (STAR) geneexpression by D‐aspartate in rat Leydig cells

et al. 1999

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n-aspartate and human ehorionic gonadotropin act synergistically to increase testosterone production in purified rat Leydig cells, and n-aspartate stimulates testosterone synthesis even in the absence of human chorionic gonadotropin stimulation. In addition, D-aspartate enhances steady-state cellular mRNA and protein levels of steroidogenic acute regulatory protein, which is a key regulatory factor in gonadal and adrenal steroidogenesis, n-aspartate therefore appears to increase testosterone production in rat Leydig cells by stimulating steroidogenic acute regulatory protein gene expression. To our knowledge, this is the first report demonstrating a direct effect of D-aspartate on gene expression in mammalian cells.

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d-Aspartate Uptake into Cultured Rat Pinealocytes and the Concomitant Effect onl-Aspartate Levels and Melatonin Secretion

Cited by 105 publications

References 44 publications

Endocrine roles of d-aspartic acid in the testis of lizard Podarcis s. sicula

Endocrine roles of d-aspartic acid in the testis of lizard Podarcis s. sicula

Analysis of Small Amounts of d-Amino Acids and the Study of Their Physiological Functions in Mammals

Stimulation of steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (STAR) geneexpression by D‐aspartate in rat Leydig cells

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