The presence of sex hormone receptors in the Harderian gland (HG) of nonmammalian tetrapods has been investigated. In the male and female green frog, Rana esculenta, androgen receptors were found in both nuclear and cytosolic extracts (Kd = 1.8 ± 1.2 nM); their seasonal variations correlate with plasmatic androgen profiles as well as with the cyclic secretory activity of the gland. These findings suggest a direct participation of intracellular androgens in the seromucoidal secretion of frog Harderian gland. No estradiol specific binding was detectable. In the toad, Bufo viridis, an androgen-estrogen binding protein (Kd = 1.8 ±0.7 nM) was evidenced only in the cytosolic fraction of the both sexes. Androgen and/or estrogen binding proteins were undetectable in the lizard Podarcis s. sicula and the chicken. © 1991 Accademia nazionale dei Lincei.
Sex steroid binding proteins in the Harderian gland of nonmammalian tetrapods
CHIEFFI, Gabriella;DI MATTEO, Loredana;MINUCCI, Sergio;VARRIALE, Bruno
1991
Abstract
The presence of sex hormone receptors in the Harderian gland (HG) of nonmammalian tetrapods has been investigated. In the male and female green frog, Rana esculenta, androgen receptors were found in both nuclear and cytosolic extracts (Kd = 1.8 ± 1.2 nM); their seasonal variations correlate with plasmatic androgen profiles as well as with the cyclic secretory activity of the gland. These findings suggest a direct participation of intracellular androgens in the seromucoidal secretion of frog Harderian gland. No estradiol specific binding was detectable. In the toad, Bufo viridis, an androgen-estrogen binding protein (Kd = 1.8 ±0.7 nM) was evidenced only in the cytosolic fraction of the both sexes. Androgen and/or estrogen binding proteins were undetectable in the lizard Podarcis s. sicula and the chicken. © 1991 Accademia nazionale dei Lincei.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
