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“Red pigment concentrating hormone (RPCH) is a member of the chromatophorotropic hormones and, in crustaceans, it is synthesized in the eyestalk. We have isolated a full-length cDNA for a RPCH preprohormane gene (Scyol-RPCH) from the eyestalks of female mud crabs, Scylla olivacea.

HKI-272 The open reading frame consists of 642 nucleotides, and encodes a deduced 108 amino acid precursor protein, which includes a signal peptide, the RPCH (pQLNESPGWamide), and an associated peptide. We show that the mud crab RPCH peptide exhibits 100% identity with 15 other decapods. Expression of Scyol-RPCH within adult mud crab takes place in the eyestalk, brain, and ventral nerve cord, comprising subesophageal ganglion, thoracic ganglion, and abdominal ganglion. In situ hybridization demonstrates SN-38 DNA Damage inhibitor specific expression within neuronal clusters

1, 2, 3, and 4 of the eyestalk X-organ, clusters 6, 8, 9, 10, and 17 of the brain, and in neuronal clusters of the ventral nerve cord. We found that administration of 5-HT up-regulates RPCH gene expression in the eyestalk, suggesting that RPCH may play a role as a downstream hormone of 5-HT. (C) 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.”
“Aim: To investigate the influence of low androgen levels and high-fat diet on the structure of pituitary and penis in male rats. Methods: Ten-week-old adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 2 groups, one fed a high-fat diet the other fed a normal diet; each group consisted of 3 subgroups: controls, castrated rats (with low androgen), and castrated rats given undecanoate replenishment. After 11 weeks, the structure of pituitary and penis were observed under light microcopy. Immunohistochemistry

was used to assess the expression of FSH in pituitary and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in corpora cavernosa penis. Results: The structures of pituitary and CBL0137 penis in castrated rats were injured, and were more damaged in castration together with high-fat diet. Immunohistochemistry showed FSH expression in castrated rats pituitary while castrated rats on a high-fat diet had less positive staining than those on a normal diet. Vascular structure of corpora cavernosa penis, showed a strongly positive COX-2 expression in high-fat diet rats. Conclusions: Castration and high-fat diet could induce structural damages of pituitary and penis in male rats. Replacement with testosterone could partially restore the impaired structure. The positive expression of COX-2 implied inflammatory pathway existence on vascular structure of penis in high-fat diet and low-androgen male rats. (J. Endocrinol. Invest. 34: 111-116, 2011) (C)2011, Editrice Kurtis”
“The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is a ligand-activated transcription factor, which mediates toxic responses to environmental pollutants, such as 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) and related compounds.