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Dexamethasone acutely regulates endocrine parameters in stallions and subsequently affects gene expression in testicular germ cells.
Abstract: Testicular steroidogenesis and spermatogenesis are negatively impacted by stress-related hormones such as glucocorticoids. The effects of two injections of a therapeutic dose of dexamethasone (a synthetic glucocorticoid, 0.1mg/kg; i.v.) given 24h apart to each of three stallions were investigated and compared to three saline-injected control stallions. Dexamethasone decreased circulating concentrations of cortisol by 50% at 24h after the initial injection. Serum testosterone decreased by a maximum of 94% from 4 to 20h after the initial injection of dexamethasone. Semen parameters of the dexamethasone-treated stallions were unchanged in the subsequent two weeks. Two weeks after treatment, stallions were castrated. Functional genomic analyses of the testes revealed that, of eight gene products analyzed, dexamethasone depressed concentrations of heat shock protein DNAJC4 and sperm-specific calcium channel CATSPER1 mRNAs by more than 60%. Both genes are expressed in germ cells during spermiogenesis and have been related to male fertility in other species, including humans. This is the first report of decreased DNAJC4 and CATSPER1 mRNA concentrations in testes weeks after dexamethasone treatment. Concentrations of these mRNAs in sperm may be useful as novel markers of fertility in stallions.
Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Publication Date: 2014-12-02 PubMed ID: 25487569DOI: 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2014.11.007Google Scholar: Lookup The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.
The study investigates the impact of the synthetic glucocorticoid dexamethasone on the endocrine system of stallions, as well as on the gene expression within their testicular germ cells. The researchers found that dexamethasone significantly reduced the concentrations of cortisol and testosterone in the stallions, and negatively affected the levels of specific genes related to male fertility.
Objectives and Methods
- The research aimed to probe the effects of glucocorticoids, stress-related hormones known to negatively affect steroidogenesis and spermatogenesis, on stallions. Dexamethasone, a synthetic glucocorticoid, was administered to stallions to examine its impact.
- The study involved administering a therapeutic dose of dexamethasone to three stallions, while three others were given a saline-injection control. The dexamethasone was delivered via two intravenous injections 24h apart.
Results
- Dexamethasone was found to decrease the circulating concentrations of cortisol, an important steroid hormone, by 50% after 24 hours of the initial injection.
- Moreover, dexamethasone also significantly reduced serum testosterone levels by up to 94% between 4 to 20 hours following the initial injection. Despite this, the semen parameters of the treated stallions remained unchanged for the following two weeks.
- In a post-treatment investigation of the stallions’ testes, the researchers discovered that dexamethasone reduced the concentrations of certain gene products, heat shock protein DNAJC4 and sperm-specific calcium channel CATSPER1, by over 60%.
Significance of Findings
- Both the DNAJC4 and CATSPER1 genes are expressed in germ cells during spermiogenesis and have been linked to male fertility in various species, including humans.
- This study is the first to report a decline in the concentrations of DNAJC4 and CATSPER1 mRNA in testes following dexamethasone treatment. The findings suggest that the levels of these mRNAs in sperm may serve as new fertility markers in stallions.
Cite This Article
APA
Ing NH, Brinsko SP, Curley KO, Forrest DW, Love CC, Hinrichs K, Vogelsang MM, Varner DD, Welsh TH.
(2014).
Dexamethasone acutely regulates endocrine parameters in stallions and subsequently affects gene expression in testicular germ cells.
Anim Reprod Sci, 152, 47-54.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anireprosci.2014.11.007 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M AgriLife Research, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-2471, United States. Electronic address: ning@cvm.tamu.edu.
- Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biosciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-2471, United States.
- Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M AgriLife Research, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-2471, United States.
- Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M AgriLife Research, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-2471, United States.
- Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biosciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-2471, United States.
- Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biosciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-2471, United States.
- Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M AgriLife Research, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-2471, United States.
- Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biosciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-2471, United States.
- Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M AgriLife Research, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-2471, United States.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Calcium Channels / genetics
- Calcium Channels / metabolism
- Cloning, Molecular
- Dexamethasone / administration & dosage
- Dexamethasone / pharmacology
- Drug Administration Schedule
- Gene Expression Regulation / drug effects
- Gene Expression Regulation / physiology
- Glucocorticoids / administration & dosage
- Glucocorticoids / pharmacology
- HSP40 Heat-Shock Proteins / genetics
- HSP40 Heat-Shock Proteins / metabolism
- Horses / blood
- Horses / physiology
- Male
- RNA, Messenger / genetics
- RNA, Messenger / metabolism
- Semen / physiology
- Testis / drug effects
- Testis / metabolism
- Testosterone / blood
- gamma-Glutamyltransferase / genetics
- gamma-Glutamyltransferase / metabolism
Citations
This article has been cited 3 times.- Chaimontri C, Iamsaard S, Sawatpanich T, Uabundit N, Chaiyamoon A, Samrid R, Kamollerd T, Taoto C, Lapyuneyong N, Innoi S, Chawalchitiporn T, Kerdsang P, Koedbua N, Patjorn Y, Poodendaen C, Duangchit S, Arun S. Preventive Effects of Tri Garn Pis Polyherbal Extract on Sexual Performance, Testicular Apoptosis, and Sperm Quality in a Dexamethasone-Induced Chronic Stress in Mice. Life (Basel) 2026 Jan 13;16(1).
- Aziz RLA, Abdel-Wahab A, Abdel-Razik AH, Kamel S, Farghali AA, Saleh R, Mahmoud R, Ibrahim MA, Nabil TM, El-Ela FIA. Physiological roles of propolis and red ginseng nanoplatforms in alleviating dexamethasone-induced male reproductive challenges in a rat model. Mol Biol Rep 2024 Jan 4;51(1):72.
- Hubert SM, Samollow PB, Lindström H, Mannervik B, Ing NH. Conservation of Glutathione Transferase mRNA and Protein Sequences Similar to Human and Horse Alpha Class GST A3-3 across Dog, Goat, and Opossum Species. Biomolecules 2023 Sep 20;13(9).
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