Molecular pathways involved in the cyclic activity of frog (Pelophylax esculentus) Harderian gland: Influence of temperature and testosterone.

The Harderian gland of Pelophylax esculentus (previously: Rana esculenta) shows seasonal secretory activity changes. Specifically, the secretory activity reaches a maximum during the hottest months, i.e., July and August, drops in September and slowly increases from October onwards. Expressions of P-CaMKII, P-ERK1 and P-Akt1 correlate well with gland secretory activity; i.e., they peak immediately before the hottest part of the year (maximum secretory activity). When the gland activity declines, kinase expressions drop and remain low until February. Experiments of thermal manipulation indicate that high temperature induces the activation of CaMKII, ERK1 and Akt1, and at low temperatures, Akt1 expression decreases. Experiments of chemical castration indicate that the Harderian gland of Cyproterone acetate-treated frogs shows lower Akt1 activity as compared to controls, but the CaMKII and ERK1 activities remain unchanged. Furthermore, in a period of resumed gland activity (October-December) we observed the highest expression of PCNA, a mitotic marker. Immediately after the proliferative phase, we found the highest expression of caspase 3, an enzyme that plays a key role in apoptosis. In combination, the results suggest the following: 1) CaMKII, ERK1, and Akt1 modulate the annual secretory activity of the frog Harderian gland; 2) CaMKII and ERK1 activities are regulated by temperature, whereas both temperature and testosterone likely play a central role in Akt1 regulation; and 3) proliferation and apoptosis occur to restore and balance, respectively, an adequate cell number, which is essential to gland function.

Effects of D-aspartate treatment on D-aspartate oxidase, superoxide dismutase, and caspase 3 activities in frog (Rana esculenta) tissues.

Although D-aspartate (D-Asp) has been recognized to have a physiological role within different organs, high concentrations could elicit detrimental effects on those same organs. In this study, we examined the D-aspartate oxidase (D-AspO) activity and the expression of superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) and caspase 3 in different tissues of the frog Rana esculenta after chronic D-Asp treatment. Our in vivo experiments, consisting of intraperitoneal (ip) injections of D-Asp (2.0 micromol/g b.w.) in frogs for ten consecutive days, revealed that all examined tissues can take up and accumulate D-Asp. Further, in D-Asp treated frogs, i) the D-AspO activity significantly increased in all tissues (kidney, heart, testis, liver, and brain), ii) the SOD1 expression (antioxidant enzyme) significantly increased in the kidney, and iii) the caspase 3 level (indicative of apoptosis) increased in both brain and heart. Particularly, after the D-Asp treatment we found in both brain and heart (which showed the lowest SOD1 levels) a significant increase of the caspase 3 expression and, vice versa, in the kidney (which showed the highest SOD1 expression) a significant decrease of the caspase 3 expression. Therefore, we speculate that, in frog tissue, D-AspO plays an essential role in modulating the D-Asp concentration. In addition, exaggerated D-Asp concentrations activated SOD1 as cytoprotective mechanism in the kidney, whereas, in the brain and in the heart, where the antioxidant action of SOD1 is limited, caspase 3 was activated.

Distribution of free D-aspartic acid and D-aspartate oxidase in frog Rana esculenta tissues.

In this paper, we examined the distribution pattern of D-aspartic acid (D-Asp), as well as D-aspartate oxidase (D-AspO), D-amino acid oxidase (D-AAO), and L-amino acid oxidase (L-AAO) activities in different tissues of frog, Rana esculenta. High concentrations of free D-Asp were found in the testes (0.21+/-0.02 micromol/g b.w), in the liver (0.20+/-0.03 micromol/g b.w), and in the Harderian gland (HG) (0.19+/-0.03 micromol/g b.w). A higher activity of both D-AspO and D-AAO with respect to L-AAO was endogenously present in all examined frog tissues, particularly within the kidney, liver, and brain. Our in vivo experiments, consisting of i.p. injections of 2.0 micromol/g b.w. D-Asp in frogs, revealed that all examined tissues can take up and accumulate D-Asp and that this amino acid specifically triggers D-AspO activity. Indeed, no increase in both D-AAO and L-AAO was found in all frog tissues after D-Asp treatment. The optimum pH for D-AspO activity was around 8.2 and the optimum temperature was about 37 degrees C. Furthermore, its activity linearly increased with increasing D-Asp incubation times. In vitro experiments assaying the substrate specificity of D-AspO indicated that the enzyme had greater affinity for N-methyl-D-aspartate than for D-Asp and D-glutamate. This study provides evidence of the presence of free D-Asp in frog R. esculenta tissues, along with its role in triggering D-AspO activity. These findings suggest that D-AspO could play an essential role in decreasing excessive amounts of D-Asp in frog tissues, a phenomenon that, if left unchecked, could have detrimental physiological effects on the animal.

D-Aspartate binding sites in rat Harderian gland.

Radioligand binding of D-[(3)H]aspartic and L-[(3)H]glutamic acids to plasma membranes from rat Harderian gland was evaluated. Binding was optimal under physiological conditions of pH and temperature, and equilibrium was reached within 50 min. Specific binding for D-Asp and L-Glu was saturable, and Eadie-Hofstee analysis revealed interaction with a single population of binding sites (for D-Asp K(d) = 860 +/- 28 nM, B(max) = 27.2 +/- 0.5 pmol/mg protein; for L-Glu, K(d) = 580 +/- 15 nM and B(max) = 51.3 +/- 0.8 pmol/mg protein). L-[(3)H]glutamate had higher affinity and a greater percentage of specific binding than did D-[(3)H]aspartate. The pharmacological binding specificity of L-[(3)H]glutamate indicated an interaction with NMDA-type receptors. Specifically, the order of potency of the displacing compound tested was L-Glu > D-Asp > NMDA > MK801 > D-AP5 > glycine. For D-[(3)H]aspartate, the data revealed an interaction of D: -Asp with either NMDA-type receptors or putative specific binding sites.

D-Aspartate affects secretory activity in rat Harderian gland: molecular mechanism and functional significance.

In this paper, the role of D-aspartate in the rat Harderian gland (HG) was investigated by histochemical, ultrastructural, and biochemical analyses. In this gland, substantial amounts of endogenous D-Asp were detected, along with aspartate racemases that convert D-Asp to L-Asp and vice versa. We found that the gland was capable of uptaking and accumulating exogenously administered D-Asp. D-Asp acute treatment markedly increased lipid and porphyrin secretion and induced a powerful hyperaemia in inter-acinar interstitial tissue. Since D-Asp is known to be recognized by NMDA receptors, the expression of such receptors in rat HG led us to the hypothesis that D-Asp acute treatment induced the activation of the extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK) and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) pathways mediated by NMDA. Interestingly, as a result of enhanced oxidative stress due to increased porphyrin secretion, the revealed activation of the stress-activated protein kinase/c-jun N-terminal kinase (SAPK/JNK) pro-apoptotic pathway was probably triggered by the gland itself to preserve its cellular integrity.