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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 19(2)

Synthetic seminal plasma peptide inhibits testosterone production in frog testis in vitro

Luana Quassinti A , Ennio Maccari A , Oretta Murri A and Massimo Bramucci A B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Department of Molecular, Cellular and Animal Biology, University of Camerino, I-62032 Camerino (MC), Italy.

B Corresponding author. Email: massimo.bramucci@unicam.it

Reproduction, Fertility and Development 19(2) 398-402 https://doi.org/10.1071/RD06044
Submitted: 9 May 2006  Accepted: 22 November 2006   Published: 29 January 2007

Abstract

The role of synthetic seminal plasma peptide, designed using biochemical and mass spectroscopy analyses of native peptides extracted from seminal plasma, was studied in amphibian (Rana esculenta) testicular steroidogenesis. Production of testosterone and prostaglandin F2α was determined by incubating frog testes with synthetic peptide in vitro. Analysis of the data showed a dose-dependent inhibition of testosterone production (43% at 10−5 m concentration) without prostaglandin F2α synthesis being affected. Determination of the peptide activity during the annual R. esculenta reproductive cycle showed inhibition of testosterone production in post-reproductive and recovery periods, suggesting a possible involvement of peptide in gonad steroidogenesis.

Additional keywords: 17β-oestradiol, prostaglandin F2α, Rana esculenta, steroidogenesis.


Acknowledgements

This work was supported by a MIUR grant (cofin PRIN 2003, prot. 2003055477).


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