Insulin-like peptide 3 stimulates testosterone secretion in mouse Leydig cells via cAMP pathway

International Union of Basic and Clinical Pharmacology. XCV. Recent Advances in the Understanding of the Pharmacology and Biological Roles of Relaxin Family Peptide Receptors 1–4, the Receptors for Relaxin Family Peptides

“…In rat gubernacular cells , in a human osteoblast cell line (MG-63) (Ferlin et al, 2008), and in mouse primary Leydig cells (Pathirana et al, 2012), INSL3 stimulation of RXFP2 leads to increased cAMP accumulation, probably involving Ga s . However, and in contrast, primary cultures of testicular germ cells and oocytes respond to INSL3 activation of RXFP2 with a PTX-sensitive inhibition of cAMP accumulation (Kawamura et al, 2004), consistent with RXFP2 coupling to Ga oB .…”

“…RXFP2 receptors are expressed on Leydig cells (Anand-Ivell et al, 2006) and on germ cells in the seminiferous tubules (Kawamura et al, 2004;AnandIvell et al, 2006;Filonzi et al, 2007). A recent study suggested that INSL3 influences steroid production by Leydig cells (Pathirana et al, 2012), and studies in male rats suggest that INSL3 is a paracrine factor involved in male germ cell survival (Kawamura et al, 2004). However, it should be noted that androgen production is normal in INSL3 and RXFP2 knockout mice (Nef and Parada, 1999;Zimmermann et al, 1999;Overbeek et al, 2001;Gorlov et al, 2002).…”

Expression profiles of relaxin family peptides and their receptors indicate their influence on spermatogenesis in the domestic cat (Felis catus)

“…Hombach-Klonisch et al could not find a temporal connection between testicular testosterone and INSL3 content in seasonal roe deer. In contrast to this, testosterone synthesis was stimulated in isolated mouse Leydig cells by INSL3 of different species [26]. As described for other species [56], the feline testis could secrete INSL3 into the blood circulation.…”

“…Peptide INSL3 was also proposed to regulate testicular function by acting as a survival factor for germ cells [24] and by increasing Leydig cell proliferation [25]. Furthermore, INSL3 significantly stimulated testosterone production by isolated Leydig cells [26], and is considered to be a biomarker of Leydig cell functionality [27]. In contrast to relaxin and INLS3, the reproductive function of relaxin-3 remains almost unknown.…”

Characterizing the reproductive transcriptomic correlates of acute dehydration in males in the desert-adapted rodent,Peromyscus eremicus

“…Within adult rodent testes, luteinizing hormone (LH) stimulates expression of Insl3 in Leydig cells, and Insl3 binds to Lrg8 in seminiferous tubules, which results in inhibited apoptosis of germ-line cells, thus increasing their availability [90]. In addition, a study using murine Leydig cells demonstrated that Insl3 administration increased testosterone production [109]. The precise mechanistic role of Insl3 in modulating fertility is still being elucidated; however, researchers assert that this hormone is an important regulator of fertility in males and females (reviewed in [88]).…”