Biomaterial Database

Regulation of follistatin messenger ribonucleic acid levels in the rat pituitary. 1993

U B Kaiser, and W W Chin

Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston, Massachusetts 02115.

Follistatin is a glycoprotein, originally isolated from the gonads, that specifically inhibits follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) biosynthesis and secretion. We have previously detected follistatin mRNA in rat pituitary gonadotropes. To assess the potential physiologic role of follistatin in the rat pituitary, we have investigated the effects of gonadectomy (GDX) and of sex steroid replacement on pituitary follistatin gene expression. Follistatin mRNA levels in individual rat pituitaries were measured by a quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction assay. Female and male rats 21 d old underwent surgical GDX and were then killed 21 d after GDX. Follistatin mRNA levels in rat pituitary increased 3.2 +/- 1.5-fold (P < 0.01) in GDX female rats and 8.2 +/- 2.0-fold (P < 0.005) in GDX male rats, compared with intact female and male controls, respectively. Replacement therapy with 17 beta-estradiol-3-benzoate (10 micrograms/100 g body weight) subcutaneously daily for 7 d in GDX female rats resulted in a slight further increase in follistatin mRNA levels compared to GDX females. In contrast, therapy with testosterone propionate (500 micrograms/100 g body weight) subcutaneously daily for 7 d in GDX male rats resulted in a decrease in follistatin mRNA levels, towards but not completely back to baseline levels in intact males. Time-course studies in adult male and female rats showed that the increase in follistatin mRNA levels after GDX is rapid, with significant increases occurring within 24 h after GDX, and parallels or precedes increases in FSH beta mRNA levels and FSH secretion. The regulation of follistatin mRNA levels in the rat pituitary by GDX and by sex steroids suggests that follistatin may be important as an autocrine or paracrine factor in the regulation of FSH.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008297	Male		Males
D008954	Models, Biological	Theoretical representations that simulate the behavior or activity of biological processes or diseases. For disease models in living animals, DISEASE MODELS, ANIMAL is available. Biological models include the use of mathematical equations, computers, and other electronic equipment.	Biological Model,Biological Models,Model, Biological,Models, Biologic,Biologic Model,Biologic Models,Model, Biologic
D009693	Nucleic Acid Hybridization	Widely used technique which exploits the ability of complementary sequences in single-stranded DNAs or RNAs to pair with each other to form a double helix. Hybridization can take place between two complimentary DNA sequences, between a single-stranded DNA and a complementary RNA, or between two RNA sequences. The technique is used to detect and isolate specific sequences, measure homology, or define other characteristics of one or both strands. (Kendrew, Encyclopedia of Molecular Biology, 1994, p503)	Genomic Hybridization,Acid Hybridization, Nucleic,Acid Hybridizations, Nucleic,Genomic Hybridizations,Hybridization, Genomic,Hybridization, Nucleic Acid,Hybridizations, Genomic,Hybridizations, Nucleic Acid,Nucleic Acid Hybridizations
D010902	Pituitary Gland	A small, unpaired gland situated in the SELLA TURCICA. It is connected to the HYPOTHALAMUS by a short stalk which is called the INFUNDIBULUM.	Hypophysis,Hypothalamus, Infundibular,Infundibular Stalk,Infundibular Stem,Infundibulum (Hypophysis),Infundibulum, Hypophyseal,Pituitary Stalk,Hypophyseal Infundibulum,Hypophyseal Stalk,Hypophysis Cerebri,Infundibulum,Cerebri, Hypophysis,Cerebrus, Hypophysis,Gland, Pituitary,Glands, Pituitary,Hypophyseal Stalks,Hypophyses,Hypophysis Cerebrus,Infundibular Hypothalamus,Infundibular Stalks,Infundibulums,Pituitary Glands,Pituitary Stalks,Stalk, Hypophyseal,Stalk, Infundibular,Stalks, Hypophyseal,Stalks, Infundibular
D002369	Castration	Surgical removal or artificial destruction of gonads.	Gonadectomy,Castrations,Gonadectomies
D004967	Estrogens	Compounds that interact with ESTROGEN RECEPTORS in target tissues to bring about the effects similar to those of ESTRADIOL. Estrogens stimulate the female reproductive organs, and the development of secondary female SEX CHARACTERISTICS. Estrogenic chemicals include natural, synthetic, steroidal, or non-steroidal compounds.	Estrogen,Estrogen Effect,Estrogen Effects,Estrogen Receptor Agonists,Estrogenic Agents,Estrogenic Compounds,Estrogenic Effect,Estrogenic Effects,Agents, Estrogenic,Agonists, Estrogen Receptor,Compounds, Estrogenic,Effects, Estrogen,Effects, Estrogenic,Receptor Agonists, Estrogen
D005260	Female		Females
D005640	Follicle Stimulating Hormone	A major gonadotropin secreted by the adenohypophysis (PITUITARY GLAND, ANTERIOR). Follicle-stimulating hormone stimulates GAMETOGENESIS and the supporting cells such as the ovarian GRANULOSA CELLS, the testicular SERTOLI CELLS, and LEYDIG CELLS. FSH consists of two noncovalently linked subunits, alpha and beta. Within a species, the alpha subunit is common in the three pituitary glycoprotein hormones (TSH, LH, and FSH), but the beta subunit is unique and confers its biological specificity.	FSH (Follicle Stimulating Hormone),Follicle-Stimulating Hormone,Follitropin
D005786	Gene Expression Regulation	Any of the processes by which nuclear, cytoplasmic, or intercellular factors influence the differential control (induction or repression) of gene action at the level of transcription or translation.	Gene Action Regulation,Regulation of Gene Expression,Expression Regulation, Gene,Regulation, Gene Action,Regulation, Gene Expression
D006023	Glycoproteins	Conjugated protein-carbohydrate compounds including MUCINS; mucoid, and AMYLOID glycoproteins.	C-Glycosylated Proteins,Glycosylated Protein,Glycosylated Proteins,N-Glycosylated Proteins,O-Glycosylated Proteins,Glycoprotein,Neoglycoproteins,Protein, Glycosylated,Proteins, C-Glycosylated,Proteins, Glycosylated,Proteins, N-Glycosylated,Proteins, O-Glycosylated