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Expression of VIP and its Receptors in the Testis of the Spotted Ray Torpedo marmorata (Risso 1880)

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Abstract

The aim of this work was to study, by immunoprecipitation, in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry, and the expression of the vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and of its receptors (VPAC1R and VPAC2R) in the testis of a nonmammalian vertebrate, the cartilaginous fish Torpedo marmorata. We demonstrated that, differently from mammals, VIP and VPAC2R were widely distributed in the testicular cells while the VPAC1R had a limited distribution. In details, we showed that VIP and VPAC2R were present in mitotic and differentiating germ cells as well as in the cells involved in the steroidogenesis, i.e., Leydig, Sertoli cells, and prespermatogonia and spermatogonia. The possibility that VIP is involved in the spermatogenesis and particularly in the steroidogenesis of T. marmorata is discussed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biological Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Via Mezzocannone 8, 80134, Naples, Italy

    Marisa Agnese, Luigi Rosati, Francesco Muriano, Salvatore Valiante, Vincenza Laforgia, Piero Andreuccetti & Marina Prisco

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  1. Marisa Agnese
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  2. Luigi Rosati
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  3. Francesco Muriano
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  4. Salvatore Valiante
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  5. Vincenza Laforgia
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  6. Piero Andreuccetti
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  7. Marina Prisco
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Correspondence to Piero Andreuccetti.

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Agnese, M., Rosati, L., Muriano, F. et al. Expression of VIP and its Receptors in the Testis of the Spotted Ray Torpedo marmorata (Risso 1880). J Mol Neurosci 48, 638–646 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12031-012-9857-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12031-012-9857-7

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