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Photoperiod Regulates the Expression of GPx-5 in the Epididymis of Cricetulus barabensis through Androgen

  • ANIMAL AND HUMAN PHYSIOLOGY
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Abstract

For animals that breed seasonally, photoperiod is a key factor in controlling their behavior. Epididymal function is highly dependent on androgen. However, the effects of photoperiod on epididymal function and the regulatory mechanism of androgen in this process have not yet been reported. This study examined the effects of different photoperiods on androgen contents and the expression patterns of 5α-reductase, AR, and GPx-5 in the epididymis of Cricetulus barabensis to explore the role of androgens in photoperiod regulation of epididymal function and its mechanism in antioxidant stress. The results showed that in the caput epididymis, androgen content decreased with the shortening of light time, and the mRNA and protein levels of 5α-reductase 1 and androgen receptor (AR) in the long photoperiod (LP) group were significantly higher than those in the short photoperiod (SP) group. In the cauda epididymis, androgen content and the mRNA and protein level of GPx-5 were the lowest in the medium photoperiod (MP) group. In conclusion, these results suggest that androgens affected by the photoperiod may regulate the expression of GPx-5 through the androgen/AR pathway. The findings of this study will help to understand the physiological and biochemical status of the epididymis of seasonally breeding animals under different photoperiods.

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We thank Dr. Wang Zhe for his guidance and help in the experiment.

Funding

This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (nos. 32072436, 31770455, 31972283, 31800308).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Life Sciences, Qufu Normal University, 273165, Qufu, Shandong, China

    Yongzhen Feng, Shuo Wang, Xingchen Wang, Huiliang Xue, Ming Wu, Lei Chen, Chao Fan, Jinhui Xu & Laixiang Xu

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  1. Yongzhen Feng
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Yongzhen Feng and Shuo Wang contributed equally to this work.

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Correspondence to Jinhui Xu.

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Statement on the welfare of animals. The animal study was reviewed and approved by the Biomedical Ethics Committee of Qufu Normal University (Permit no. dwsc2022060). All procedures followed the Laboratory Animal Guidelines for the Ethical Review of Animal Welfare (GB/T 35892-2018) This article does not contain any studies with human participants performed by any of the authors.

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Yongzhen Feng, Wang, S., Wang, X. et al. Photoperiod Regulates the Expression of GPx-5 in the Epididymis of Cricetulus barabensis through Androgen. Biol Bull Russ Acad Sci 50, 1316–1326 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1134/S1062359023602872

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