Journal of Endocrinology and Reproduction

Open Access Open Access  Restricted Access Subscription Access
Open Access Open Access Open Access  Restricted Access Restricted Access Subscription Access

Comparative Immune-reactivity Patterns of Arginine Vasotocin (AVT) and Melatonin Receptors (Mel1a & Mel1b) in Hypothalamic Regions of Male Japanese Quail Coturnix coturnix japonica: Possible Role in Water-Electrolyte Balance


Affiliations
1 Pineal Research Lab, Department of Zoology, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi – 221005, Uttar Pradesh, India
     

   Subscribe/Renew Journal


Photoperiod influences circulatory Melatonin (Mel) and hypothalamic functions via retino-hypothalamic tract. However, interrelation between Mel receptors and Arginine Vasotocin (AVT), a water-electrolyte balancing hormone receptor expression in hypothalamic regions of avian brain has never been explored. We noted the expression pattern of two Mel receptors (Mel1a & Mel1b) along with AVT, in terms of neuronal immuno-positivity, in hypothalamic region of Japanese quail under different photoperiodic conditions with/without melatonin treatment. This is interesting and equally important because both Mel and AVT levels are regulated by light/dark cycle. Confocal imaging revealed specific regional localization of Mel1a/Mel1b in Supra-Chiasmatic Nucleus (SCN), Supra-Optic Nucleus (SON) and Para-Ventricular Nucleus (PVN), the intensity of which was dependent on the photoperiodic condition (long day, LD or short day, SD) and melatonin treatment. Mel1a/Mel1b was mostly co-localized along with AVT. Mel1b was abundant in hypothalamic regions in contrast to the Mel1a as reported in mammals. Mel1a immune-positivity was detected in SCN and SON regions of brain. Compared to control birds, a high intensity of Mel1a immunoreactivity was found in hypothalamic regions of birds under short photoperiod (SD, 8h L: 16h D) after Mel treatment. Further, Mel1b immunopositivity was high only in birds exposed to long days (LD, 16h L: 8h D). In SCN, abundant Mel1a and AVT immunoreative cells were found in Mel pretreated and SDexposed birds compared to LD-exposed ones. Mel1a and AVT immunoreative cells were less in PVN of both SD and LD exposed birds. Our data of co-localization of Mel receptor(s) along with AVT in hypothalamic regions (exposed to short or long days with/without melatonin administration) strongly suggest a role for Mel along with AVT in water-electrolyte balance of birds which is important during long duration nuptial migration/flight.

Keywords

Co-Localization, Hypothalamus, Melatonin/AVT, Quail, Receptor, Water-Electrolyte Balance.
Subscription Login to verify subscription
User
Notifications
Font Size


  • Sasaki T, Shimada K, Saito N. Changes of AVT in plasma, neurohypophysis and hypothalamus in relation to oviposition in the laying hen. Comp Biochem Physiol. 1990; A121:149-53. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1095-6433(98)10116-2.

  • Panzica GC, Plumar L, Garcia-Ojeda E, Deviche P. Central vasotocin immunoreactive system in male passarine birds (Junco hyemalis). J Comp Neurol. 1999; 409:105-117. https://doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1096-9861 (19990621)409:1<105::AID-CNE8>3.0.CO;2-8.

  • Chaturvedi CM, Chaudhary A, Wall PT, Cornett LE. A sexual dimorphism in hypothalamus Arginine Vaso-Tocin (AVT) gene expression and AVT plasma levels in the Japanese quail (Coturinx coturnix japonica) in response to water deprivation. Gen Comp Endocrinol. 2000; 117:129-137. https://doi.org/10.1006/gcen.1999.7400. PMid:10620429.

  • Deviche P, Gracia-Ojeda E, Plumari L, Panzica GC. Vasotocinergic innervations in a male passerine bird (Junco hyemylis): Effect of photoperiodic condition Soc Neurosci Abs. 1996; 22:1551.

  • Grossman R, Jukevich A, Kohler A. Sex dimorphism in the avian arginin vasopressin system with special emphasis on the bed nucleus of the Stria terminalis. Comp Biochem Physiol. A. 2002; 131:833-837. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1095-6433(02)00021-1.

  • Buijs RM, Pevet P, Masson-Pevet M, et al. Seasonal variation in vasopressin innervations of the European hamster (Cricetus cricetus). Brain Res. 1986; 371:193-196. https://doi.org/10.1016/0006-8993(86)90829-2.

  • David JT, Cervantes MC, Trosky KA, Salinas JA, Delville Y. A neural network underlying individual differences in emotion and aggression in male golden hamsters. Neuroscience. 2004; 126:567-578. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroscience.2004.04.031. PMid:15183506.

  • Singh SS, Haldar C, Peripheral melatonin modulates seasonal immunity and reproduction of Indian tropical male bird Perdicula asiatica. Comp Biochem Physiol. A. 2007; 146:446-450. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cbpa.2006.12.024. PMid:17257874.

  • Yadav SK, Haldar C. Singh SS. Variation in melatonin receptor types, Mel1a and Mel1b and androgen receptor AR expression in spleen of a seasonally breeding bird, Perdicula asiatica. J Reprod Immunol. 2011; 92:54-61. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jri.2011.08.003. PMid:21963392.

  • Fraley GS, Steiner RA, Lent KL, Brenowitz EA. Seasonal changes in androgen receptor mRNA in the brain of the white-crowned sparrow. Gen Comp Endocrinol. 2010; 166:66-71. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1439-0310.1986. tb00581.x.

  • Maitra SK, Dey M. Castration and testosterone induced changes in the pinealocytes of roseringed parakeet, Psittacula krameri, during different phases of the annual testicular cycle. Ann Anat.1994; 176(4):363-368. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0940-9602(11)80520-0.

  • Skotonica E, Alyneak AJ. Melatonin and its possible role in regulation of water and electrolyte metabolism. Med Water. 2001; 57(5):299-303.

  • Singh SS, Haldar C, Melatonin prevents testosteroneinduced suppression of Immune parameters and splenocyte proliferation in Indian tropical jungle bush quail, Perdicula asiatica. Gen Comp Endocrinol. 2005; 141:226-232. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ygcen.2005.01.005. PMid:15804509.

  • Reghunandanan V, Reghunandanan R. Neurotransmitters of the suprachiasmatic nuclei. J Circadian Rhythms. 2006; 4:2. doi:10.1186/1740-3391-4-2. https://doi.org/10.1186/1740-3391-4-2. PMid:16480518 PMCid:PMC1402333.

  • Howard CM, Lutterschmidt DI. The Effects of Melatonin on Brain Arginine Vasotocin: Relationship with Sex and Seasonal Differences in Melatonin Receptor Type 1 in Green Treefrogs (Hylacinerea). J Neuroendocrinol. 2015; 27(8):670-679. https://doi.org/10.1111/jne.12292. PMid:25967351.

  • Lutterschmidt DI, Wilczynski W. Sexually dimorphic effects of melatonin on brain arginine vasotocin immunoreactivity in green tree frogs (Hyla cinerea). Brain Behav Evol. 2012; 80(3):222-232. https://doi.org/10.1159/000341238. PMid:22906877 PMCid:PMC3506391.

  • Mühlbauer E, Hammann D, Xu B, et al. Arginine vasotocine gene expression during osmotic challanges in chicken. J. Neuroendocrinol. 1992; 4:347-351. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2826.1992.tb00178.x. PMid:21554616.

  • Prusik M, Lewczuk B. Roles of direct photoreception and the internal circadian oscillator in the regulation of melatonin secretion in the pineal organ of the domestic turkey. A novel in vitro clock and calendar model. Int J Mol Sci. 2019; 20(16):4022. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms20164022. PMid:31426535 PMCid:PMC6721154.

  • Kuenzel WJ, Masson MA. Stereotaxic Atlas of the Brain of the Chick (Gallus domesticus). Johns Hopkins University Press; 1988.

  • Shipley MT, Luna J, McLean JH. Processing and Analysis of Neuroanatomical Images. In: Heimer L, Zaborsky L. editors. Neuroanatomical Tract Tracing Methods 2. Plenum Press; New York; 1989. p. 331-390. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-2055-6.

  • Bayle JD, Ramade F, Oliver J. Stereotaxic topography of the brain of the quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica).J Physiol Paris.1974; 682:219-241.

  • Foidart A, Harada N, Balthazart J. Effects of steroidal and non-steroidal aromatase inhibitors on sexual behavior and aromatase-immunoreactive cells and fibers in the quail brain. Brain Res. 1994; 657(1-2):105-123. https://doi.org/10.1016/0006-8993(94)90958-X.

  • Taziaux M, Cornil CA, Dejace C, et al. Neuroanatomical specificity in the expression of the immediate early gene c-fos following expression of appetitive and consummatory male sexual behaviour in Japanese quail. Eur J Neurosci. 2006; 237:1869-1887. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1460- 9568.2006.04719.x. PMid:16623844.

  • Gray DA, Simon E. Mammalian and avian antidiuretic hormone: Studies related to possible species variation in osmoregulatory systems. J Comp Physiol. A. 1993; 151:2416.

  • Rollag MD, Niswender GD. Radioimmunoassay of melatonin in sheep exposed to different light regimes. Endocrinology. 1976; 98:482-488. https://doi.org/10.1210/endo-98-2-482. PMid:1248456.

  • Brydon L, Roka F, Petit L, et al. Dual signalling of human Mel1a melatonin receptors via G(i2), G(i3) and G(q/11) proteins. Mol Endocrinol. 1999; 13:2025-2038.

  • Angeloni D, Longhi R, Fraschini E. Production and characterization of antibodies directed against the human melatonin receptors Mel-1a (mt1) and Mel-1b (MT2). Eur J Histochem. 2000; 44:199-204.

  • Savaskan E, Ayoub MA, Ravid R, et al. Reduced hippocampal MT2 melatonin receptor expression in Alzheimer’s disease. J Pineal Res. 2005; 38(1):10-16. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-079X.2004.00169.x. PMid:15617532.

  • Wu YH, Zhou JN, Balesar R, et al. Distribution of MT1 melatonin receptor immunoreactivity in human hypothalamus and pituitary gland: Co-localization of MT1 with vasopressin, oxytocin and corticotrophin-releasing hormone. J Comp Neurol. 2006; 499:897-910. https://doi.org/10.1002/cne.21152. PMid:17072839.

  • Panzica GC, Fraschini F, Aste N, et al. The density of melatonin receptor is dependent upon the prevailing photoperiod in Japanese quails. Neurosci Lett. 1994; 173:111-114. https://doi.org/10.1016/0304-3940(94)90161-9.

  • Sweta A, Pratap D, Haldar C. Stunning facts of bird migration: Mini-review. J Endocrinol Reprod. 2019; 23(1):44-47. ISSN (Online): 0976-5131.

  • Prusik M, Lewczuk B. Roles of direct photoreception and the internal circadian oscillator in the regulation of melatonin secretion in the pineal organ of the domestic turkey. A novel in vitro clock and calendar model. Int J Mol Sci. 2019; 20:4022. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms20164022. PMid:31426535 PMCid:PMC6721154.

  • Petrusewicz-Kosińska M, Przybylska-Gornowicz B, Ziółkowska N, et al. Developmental morphology of the turkey pineal organ. Immunocytochemical and ultrastructural studies. Micron. 2019; 122:8-20. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.micron.2019.04.002. PMid:31026727.

  • Nascimento ES Jr, Souza AP, Duarte RB, et al. The suprachiasmatic nucleus and the intergeniculate leaflet in the rock cavy (Kerodon rupestris): Retinal projections and immunohistochemical characterization. Brain Res. 2010; 1320:34-46. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brainres.2010.01.034. PMid:20096673.

  • Reppert SM, Weaver DR, Cassone VM, et al. Melatonin receptors are for the birds: Molecular analysis of two receptor subtypes differentially expressed in chick brain. Neuron.1995; 15:1003-1015. https://doi.org/10.1016/0896-6273(95)90090-X.

  • Ziółkowska N. Melatonin Biosynthesis and Mechanisms of Its Regulation in The Domestic Goose Pineal Organ. Doctoral Thesis. University of Warmia and Mazury, Olsztyn, Poland; 2015.

  • Morin LP, Shivers KY, Blanchard JH, Muscat L. Complex organization of mouse and rat suprachiasmatic nucleus. Neuroscience. 2006; 137:1285-1297. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroscience.2005.10.030. PMid:16338081.

  • Gubrij KI, Chaturvedi CM, Ali N, et al. Molecular cloning of an oxytocin like receptor expressed in the chicken shell gland. Comp Biochem Physiol. B. 2005; 142:37-45. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cbpc.2005.05.011. PMid:16005652.


Abstract Views: 434

PDF Views: 0




  • Comparative Immune-reactivity Patterns of Arginine Vasotocin (AVT) and Melatonin Receptors (Mel1a & Mel1b) in Hypothalamic Regions of Male Japanese Quail Coturnix coturnix japonica: Possible Role in Water-Electrolyte Balance

Abstract Views: 434  |  PDF Views: 0

Authors

Chandana Haldar
Pineal Research Lab, Department of Zoology, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi – 221005, Uttar Pradesh, India
Sanjeev Kumar Yadav
Pineal Research Lab, Department of Zoology, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi – 221005, Uttar Pradesh, India
Sweta Arora
Pineal Research Lab, Department of Zoology, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi – 221005, Uttar Pradesh, India

Abstract


Photoperiod influences circulatory Melatonin (Mel) and hypothalamic functions via retino-hypothalamic tract. However, interrelation between Mel receptors and Arginine Vasotocin (AVT), a water-electrolyte balancing hormone receptor expression in hypothalamic regions of avian brain has never been explored. We noted the expression pattern of two Mel receptors (Mel1a & Mel1b) along with AVT, in terms of neuronal immuno-positivity, in hypothalamic region of Japanese quail under different photoperiodic conditions with/without melatonin treatment. This is interesting and equally important because both Mel and AVT levels are regulated by light/dark cycle. Confocal imaging revealed specific regional localization of Mel1a/Mel1b in Supra-Chiasmatic Nucleus (SCN), Supra-Optic Nucleus (SON) and Para-Ventricular Nucleus (PVN), the intensity of which was dependent on the photoperiodic condition (long day, LD or short day, SD) and melatonin treatment. Mel1a/Mel1b was mostly co-localized along with AVT. Mel1b was abundant in hypothalamic regions in contrast to the Mel1a as reported in mammals. Mel1a immune-positivity was detected in SCN and SON regions of brain. Compared to control birds, a high intensity of Mel1a immunoreactivity was found in hypothalamic regions of birds under short photoperiod (SD, 8h L: 16h D) after Mel treatment. Further, Mel1b immunopositivity was high only in birds exposed to long days (LD, 16h L: 8h D). In SCN, abundant Mel1a and AVT immunoreative cells were found in Mel pretreated and SDexposed birds compared to LD-exposed ones. Mel1a and AVT immunoreative cells were less in PVN of both SD and LD exposed birds. Our data of co-localization of Mel receptor(s) along with AVT in hypothalamic regions (exposed to short or long days with/without melatonin administration) strongly suggest a role for Mel along with AVT in water-electrolyte balance of birds which is important during long duration nuptial migration/flight.

Keywords


Co-Localization, Hypothalamus, Melatonin/AVT, Quail, Receptor, Water-Electrolyte Balance.

References





DOI: https://doi.org/10.18311/jer%2F2021%2F28023