Abstract
Simple SummaryThe breeding periods of desert rodents should be favorable to the survival of small young, conditioned by the availability of food that occurs in the Libyan jird biotope during the long photoperiod and the high temperatures. The Libyan jird (Meriones libycus) were caught in their natural biotope in the Saharan desert in Algeria and showed a seasonal cycle of the testis activity, characterized by the highest peak during spring (the breeding season) and the lowest activity was registered during autumn and winter (nonbreeding season). Lhcgr mRNA expression is increased in autumn and decreased in spring. This expression varied in an opposite manner to testicular and seminal vesicle structures. The Libyan jird (Meriones libycus, 1823) is a wild desert rodent that is a seasonal breeder species adapted to breed when the environmental conditions can satisfy the energy and hydrous requirements of pregnant and nursing females to ensure that births occur at the most favorable time of the year. We assessed gene expression of testicular luteinizing hormone receptor (Lhcgr) correlated to testis activity. The expression of Lhcgr was evaluated using quantitative Real Time-Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR and the testis activity by a histological method in adult male Libyan jirds during the nonbreeding and breeding seasons. Our results showed that Lhcgr mRNA expression increased in autumn during the nonbreeding season and decreased in spring during the breeding season. This expression varied in contrast to testicular structure or function and plasma testosterone levels. These results help to elucidate this desert rodent’s seasonal sexual activity, which is correlated with central regulation.
Highlights
Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.The framework supporting the gonadotropic axis is composed of different major elements—hypothalamic gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), pituitary gonadotropins (luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)) and gonadal sex steroids [1]
With the alignment of the Lhcgr sequences obtained from the following different species and accession numbers (Mongolian gerbil (AB571125); Syrian hamster (AB571126); rat (NM_181692.1), mouse (NM_178260.3), and opossum (NM_001144132.1), we identified the core sequence from which several sets of primers were designed to facilitate amplification of the specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products for Libyan jird—Lhcgr and β-actin
Sperm was absent and spermatogenesis was stopped at the spermatogonia stage in most observed tubules, with spermatogonia located near the basement membrane that became thick and pleated (Figure 2a–c)
Summary
The framework supporting the gonadotropic axis is composed of different major elements—hypothalamic gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), pituitary gonadotropins (luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)) and gonadal sex steroids [1]. Data on the sexual activity associated with changes in pituitary gonadotropin expression of several wild mammal species are reported in bear [5], blue foxes [6], rams [7], ground squirrels [8], and roe deer [9]. The Eld’s deer probable existence of endogenous seasonal rhythm operating independently of photoperiod cannot be excluded [10]
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