Expression of group III metabotropic glutamate receptors in the reproductive system of male mice
Marcin Marciniak A C , Barbara Chruścicka A , Tomasz Lech A , Grzegorz Burnat A and Andrzej Pilc A B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Department of Neurobiology, Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Smętna 12, 31-343 Kraków, Poland.
B Faculty of Health Sciences, Collegium Medicum, Jagiellonian University, Grzegórzecka 20, 31-531 Kraków, Poland.
C Corresponding author. Email: mmar@if-pan.krakow.pl
Reproduction, Fertility and Development 28(3) 369-374 https://doi.org/10.1071/RD14132
Submitted: 17 April 2014 Accepted: 12 June 2014 Published: 28 July 2014
Abstract
Although the presence of metabotropic glutamate (mGlu) receptors in the central nervous system is well documented, they have recently been found in peripheral and non-neuronal tissues. In the present study we investigated the expression of group III mGlu receptors in the reproductive system of male mice. Reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction analysis revealed the presence of mGlu6, mGlu7 and mGlu8 (but not mGlu4) receptor transcripts in testes and epididymides from adult mice. In addition, expression of mGlu6 (Grm6) and mGlu8 receptor (Grm8) mRNA was detected in spermatozoa isolated from the vas deferens. The vas deferens was found to contain only mGlu7 receptor (Grm7) mRNA, which was particularly intense in 21-day-old male mice. In penile homogenates, only the mGlu7 receptor signal was detected. Genetic ablation of the mGlu7 receptor in males led to fertility disorders manifested by decreased insemination capability as well as deterioration of sperm parameters, particularly sperm motility, vitality, sperm membrane integrity and morphology, with a simultaneous increase in sperm concentration. These results indicate that constitutively expressed mGlu receptors in the male reproductive system may play an important role in ejaculation and/or erection processes, as well as in the formation and maturation of spermatozoa.
Additional keywords: fertility, sperm quality.
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