Seasonal Expression of NGF and Its Cognate Receptors in the Ovaries of Grey Squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis)
The grey squirrel is an invasive alien species that seriously threatens the conservation of the native red squirrel species. With the aim of characterizing the reproductive physiology of this species due to its great reproductive success, the function of the ovarian nerve growth factor (NGF) system...
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doaj-6604f000c028466aa7bd6b40037c3b7d2020-11-25T03:43:14ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152020-09-01101558155810.3390/ani10091558Seasonal Expression of NGF and Its Cognate Receptors in the Ovaries of Grey Squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis)Margherita Maranesi0Francesco Alessandro Palermo1Antonello Bufalari2Francesca Mercati3Daniele Paoloni4Paolo Cocci5Giulia Moretti6Silvia Crotti7Massimo Zerani8Cecilia Dall’Aglio9Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, via San Costanzo 4, 06126 Perugia PG, ItalySchool of Bioscience and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, Via Gentile III Da Varano, I-62032 Camerino (MC), ItalyDepartment of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, via San Costanzo 4, 06126 Perugia PG, ItalyDepartment of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, via San Costanzo 4, 06126 Perugia PG, ItalyOIKOS Institute, Via Crescenzago 1, 20134 Milano MI, ItalySchool of Bioscience and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, Via Gentile III Da Varano, I-62032 Camerino (MC), ItalyDepartment of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, via San Costanzo 4, 06126 Perugia PG, ItalyExperimental Zooprophylactic Institute of Umbria and Marche “Togo Rosati”, via Gaetano Salvemini 1, 06126 Perugia PG, ItalyDepartment of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, via San Costanzo 4, 06126 Perugia PG, ItalyDepartment of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, via San Costanzo 4, 06126 Perugia PG, ItalyThe grey squirrel is an invasive alien species that seriously threatens the conservation of the native red squirrel species. With the aim of characterizing the reproductive physiology of this species due to its great reproductive success, the function of the ovarian nerve growth factor (NGF) system was analyzed in a grey squirrel population living in central Italy. During the breeding and nonbreeding seasons, the ovarian presence, distribution, and gene expression of NGF, neurotrophic tyrosine kinase receptor 1 (NTRK1), and nerve growth factor receptor (NGFR), as well as NGF plasma concentrations, were evaluated in female grey squirrels. NGF was found in the luteal cells and in the thecal and granulosa cells of follicles, while NTRK1 and NGFR were only observed in follicular thecal and granulosa cells. NGF and NGFR transcripts were almost two-fold greater during the breeding season, while no seasonal differences were observed in NTRK1 gene expression. During the breeding season, NGFR was more expressed than NTRK1. Moreover, no changes were observed in NGF plasma levels during the reproductive cycle. The NGF system seems to be involved in regulating the ovarian cycle mainly via local modulation of NGF/NGFR, thus playing a role in the reproductive physiology of this grey squirrel population.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/10/9/1558nerve growth factorneurotrophic tyrosine kinase receptor 1nerve growth factor receptoralien invasive speciesreproductionimmunohistochemistry |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Margherita Maranesi Francesco Alessandro Palermo Antonello Bufalari Francesca Mercati Daniele Paoloni Paolo Cocci Giulia Moretti Silvia Crotti Massimo Zerani Cecilia Dall’Aglio |
spellingShingle |
Margherita Maranesi Francesco Alessandro Palermo Antonello Bufalari Francesca Mercati Daniele Paoloni Paolo Cocci Giulia Moretti Silvia Crotti Massimo Zerani Cecilia Dall’Aglio Seasonal Expression of NGF and Its Cognate Receptors in the Ovaries of Grey Squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis) Animals nerve growth factor neurotrophic tyrosine kinase receptor 1 nerve growth factor receptor alien invasive species reproduction immunohistochemistry |
author_facet |
Margherita Maranesi Francesco Alessandro Palermo Antonello Bufalari Francesca Mercati Daniele Paoloni Paolo Cocci Giulia Moretti Silvia Crotti Massimo Zerani Cecilia Dall’Aglio |
author_sort |
Margherita Maranesi |
title |
Seasonal Expression of NGF and Its Cognate Receptors in the Ovaries of Grey Squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis) |
title_short |
Seasonal Expression of NGF and Its Cognate Receptors in the Ovaries of Grey Squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis) |
title_full |
Seasonal Expression of NGF and Its Cognate Receptors in the Ovaries of Grey Squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis) |
title_fullStr |
Seasonal Expression of NGF and Its Cognate Receptors in the Ovaries of Grey Squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis) |
title_full_unstemmed |
Seasonal Expression of NGF and Its Cognate Receptors in the Ovaries of Grey Squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis) |
title_sort |
seasonal expression of ngf and its cognate receptors in the ovaries of grey squirrels (sciurus carolinensis) |
publisher |
MDPI AG |
series |
Animals |
issn |
2076-2615 |
publishDate |
2020-09-01 |
description |
The grey squirrel is an invasive alien species that seriously threatens the conservation of the native red squirrel species. With the aim of characterizing the reproductive physiology of this species due to its great reproductive success, the function of the ovarian nerve growth factor (NGF) system was analyzed in a grey squirrel population living in central Italy. During the breeding and nonbreeding seasons, the ovarian presence, distribution, and gene expression of NGF, neurotrophic tyrosine kinase receptor 1 (NTRK1), and nerve growth factor receptor (NGFR), as well as NGF plasma concentrations, were evaluated in female grey squirrels. NGF was found in the luteal cells and in the thecal and granulosa cells of follicles, while NTRK1 and NGFR were only observed in follicular thecal and granulosa cells. NGF and NGFR transcripts were almost two-fold greater during the breeding season, while no seasonal differences were observed in NTRK1 gene expression. During the breeding season, NGFR was more expressed than NTRK1. Moreover, no changes were observed in NGF plasma levels during the reproductive cycle. The NGF system seems to be involved in regulating the ovarian cycle mainly via local modulation of NGF/NGFR, thus playing a role in the reproductive physiology of this grey squirrel population. |
topic |
nerve growth factor neurotrophic tyrosine kinase receptor 1 nerve growth factor receptor alien invasive species reproduction immunohistochemistry |
url |
https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/10/9/1558 |
work_keys_str_mv |
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