RESUMEN
Arginine vasotocin (AVT), a neurohypophysial hormone, has many essential functions in birds including the regulation of salt and fluid balance, blood pressure, the stress response and a variety of behaviors. In addition, AVT controls reproductive functions in birds that are served by oxytocin in mammals. In the following review, we examine the functions of AVT in birds with an emphasis on the present state of knowledge concerning the cloned receptors for this important hormone. Receptor and gene structure, signal transduction mechanisms and expression pattern are all discussed. Finally, we explore the phylogenetic relationships between the cloned avian receptors and other vertebrate and invertebrate neurohypophysial hormone receptors.
Asunto(s)
Aves/fisiología , Vasotocina/fisiología , Secuencia de Aminoácidos , Animales , Clonación Molecular , Datos de Secuencia Molecular , Filogenia , Homología de Secuencia de AminoácidoRESUMEN
The avian homologs of arginine vasopressin (AVP) and oxytocin (OT) are arginine vasotocin (AVT) and mesotocin (MT), respectively. In birds, AVT shares many of the functions of AVP including regulation of fluid balance, blood pressure regulation and the stress response. AVT also plays an oxytocin-like reproductive role in birds by stimulating uterine (shell gland) contraction during oviposition. The role of MT in avian reproduction is not clear. Here, we report the cloning of a third neuropeptide receptor in the chicken (Gallus gallus). Parsimony analysis reveals that the new receptor has highest homology to mammalian OT receptors and the MT receptors of non-mammalian vertebrates. Moreover, the receptor bears far less homology to the two avian VT receptors that have been cloned. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and in in situ hybridization analyses reveal the receptor is expressed in both the endometrium and myometrium of the shell gland. The expression pattern and high homology to OT receptors suggest that the receptor may stimulate myometrial contraction and therefore play a critical role in oviposition.
Asunto(s)
Oxitocina/análogos & derivados , Receptores de Oxitocina/genética , Vasotocina/genética , Secuencia de Aminoácidos , Animales , Secuencia de Bases , Pollos , Clonación Molecular , Endometrio/metabolismo , Femenino , Regulación de la Expresión Génica , Humanos , Hibridación in Situ , Datos de Secuencia Molecular , Miometrio/metabolismo , Sondas de Oligonucleótidos/farmacología , Oligonucleótidos/química , Oviposición , Oxitocina/química , Oxitocina/genética , Filogenia , Reacción en Cadena de la Polimerasa de Transcriptasa Inversa , Vasotocina/químicaRESUMEN
The neurohypophysial hormone arginine vasotocin (AVT) stimulates adrenocorticotropin hormone (ACTH) secretion from the avian anterior pituitary gland resulting in increased adrenal secretion of corticosterone in response to stress. Here, we report molecular cloning and functional characterization of a gene encoding an AVT receptor subtype, designated the VT2 receptor, that may mediate the stimulatory effect of AVT on ACTH secretion in birds. The open reading frame predicts a 425 amino acid polypeptide that includes seven segments of 19 to 24 hydrophobic amino acids, typical of guanine nucleotide-protein coupled receptors. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the VT2 receptor shares highest identity with the mammalian V1b-vasopressin receptor subtype. Expressed VT2 receptors in COS7 cells mediate AVT-induced phosphatidylinositol turnover and Ca(2+) mobilization. In the domestic chicken, expression of VT2 receptor gene transcripts is limited to the pituitary gland. Based on similarities in sequence, site of expression and coupled signal transduction pathways, we conclude that the VT2 receptor is the avian homolog of the mammalian V1b-vasopressin receptor, and therefore may play an important role in the avian stress response.
