Abstract
The growth hormone releasing hormone (GHRH) gene is believed to produce a single functional peptide, GHRH (1). Although GHRH mRNA and peptide have been identified in various tissues, the only accepted function of GHRH is the stimulation of pituitary growth hormone. We have discovered that the GHRH mRNA encodes a second peptide that is abundant in testicular germ cells and specifically activates Sertoli cell expression of stem cell factor (SCF), a factor crucial for the normal progression of spermatogenesis (2). These observations suggest that the GHRH gene produces two distinct peptides, each with tissue-specific activities.
Publication types
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Comparative Study
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
MeSH terms
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Amino Acid Sequence
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Animals
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Cells, Cultured
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Gene Expression / drug effects
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Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone / chemistry
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Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone / genetics*
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Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone / pharmacology*
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Immunohistochemistry
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Male
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Molecular Sequence Data
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Peptide Fragments / chemistry
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Peptide Fragments / genetics
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Peptide Fragments / pharmacology
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Rats
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Sequence Homology
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Sertoli Cells / drug effects
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Sertoli Cells / metabolism*
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Stem Cell Factor / genetics
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Stem Cell Factor / physiology
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Testis / metabolism*
Substances
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Peptide Fragments
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Stem Cell Factor
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growth hormone releasing hormone-related peptide
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Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone