Effects of castration on the immunoreactivity to NGF, BDNF and their receptors in the pelvic ganglia of the male rat

Abstract

Nerve growth factor (NGF) and brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and are members of the neurotrophin family, a family of neurotrophic factors that also includes neurotrophin (NT) 3 and NT4/5. Neurotrophins have essential roles in the survival, development and differentiation of neurons in the central and peripheral nervous systems. Neurotrophins exert their effects by binding to corresponding receptors which are formed by the tyrosine protein kinases TrkA, TrkB and TrkC, and the low affinity neurotrophic receptor (p75 NTR ). In the present study, using immunohistochemistry and quantitative analysis, we have investigated immunoreactivity to BDNF, NGF, TrkB, p75 NTR and TrkA in the pelvic ganglia of normal and castrated rats. Neurons of the pelvic ganglia expressed both these neurotrophins and their receptors. After castration the immunoreactivity persisted. However, the number of BDNF-and p75 NTR -IR cells statistically significant decreased after castration. These results suggest that castration modulates the expression of neurotrophins and their receptors in pelvic autonomic neurons.

Role of Estrogens in the Size of Neuronal Somata of Paravaginal Ganglia in Ovariectomized Rabbits

“…Indeed, such hypothesis should be tested approaching the organization of dendrites of paravaginal neurons. In addition, it would be also worthy to explore other neurotrophins and their receptors that could be involved in the estrogen-induced plasticity of neuronal soma of pelvic neurons [16, 44]. Otherwise, our findings suggest that the preservation of the neuronal soma size requires an increase in the GDNF of the SGC.…”

Differential regulation of BDNF, synaptic plasticity and sprouting in the hippocampal mossy fiber pathway of male and female rats

“…In the striatum and frontal cortex of C57bl/6 mice, the rise in serum androgen levels during adolescence were positively correlated with BDNF mRNA and protein levels (by ELISA), although BDNF expression (mRNA and protein) in hippocampus was not (Hill, 2012; Wu et al, 2012) (discussed further below). Similarly, in the pelvic ganglia, androgen levels were correlated with BDNF protein expression, because castration decreased the number of BDNF-immunoreactive neurons (Squillacioti et al, 2008). However, in the prostate gland, castration increases BDNF (Mirabella et al, 2006).…”

Innervation and Immunohistochemical Characteristics of Epididymis in Alpaca Camelid (Vicugna Pacos)

“…The autonomic innervation plays a key role in regulation of male genital functions. Anatomical, pharmacological and physiological data (Hib, 1976;Laitinen and Talo, 1981;Pholpramool and Triphon, 1984;Mirabella et al, 2006Mirabella et al, , 2008Squillacioti et al, 2008Squillacioti et al, , 2009 suggest that the role of adrenergic and cholinergic inner- (Farrel and Lyman, 1937;Sjostrand, 1965;Mirabella et al, 2007) and blood flow (Baumgarten and Holstein, 1968;Kuwahara and Frick, 1974;Damber et al, 1982;Billups et al, 1990;Santamaria et al, 1995). Epithelial exo/endocytic events and ionic exchange between cellular and luminal compartments are other processes that are influenced by autonomic innervations (Mayerhofer et al, 1992;Chan et al, 1994;Kempinas et al, 1995;Lamano-Carvalho et al, 1996;Zhu et al, 1998).…”