{"title":"Oxytocin receptor expression in developing mouse gonads and its modulation by high-dose folic acid","authors":"Hakan Sahin, Fidan Pashayeva, Gozde Erkanli Senturk","doi":"10.1007/s10735-025-10621-1","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The oxytocin receptor (OTR) is known to be expressed in various organs, including the adult reproductive system. However, its expression in developing gonads has not yet been reported. This study investigates OTR expression in the ovaries and testes during critical developmental stages, specifically embryonic day 13.5 (E13.5), embryonic day 18.5 (E18.5), and postnatal day 14 (P14). According to our findings, both developing ovaries and testes exhibited OTR expression, including in immature follicle and Sertoli cells. OTR-expressing cells increased in the developing ovary, while a decrease was observed in the postnatal testis. In addition, our results showed that a high dose folic acid (FA) diet affected the number of OTR-expressing cells in developing gonads, particularly during the later stages of embryogenesis. These findings suggest that OTR may play a role in gonadal development and that its expression is influenced by sex. Furthermore, changes in folic acid supplementation may interfere with this developmental process.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":650,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Molecular Histology","volume":"56 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2000,"publicationDate":"2025-10-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Journal of Molecular Histology","FirstCategoryId":"99","ListUrlMain":"https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10735-025-10621-1","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q3","JCRName":"CELL BIOLOGY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
The oxytocin receptor (OTR) is known to be expressed in various organs, including the adult reproductive system. However, its expression in developing gonads has not yet been reported. This study investigates OTR expression in the ovaries and testes during critical developmental stages, specifically embryonic day 13.5 (E13.5), embryonic day 18.5 (E18.5), and postnatal day 14 (P14). According to our findings, both developing ovaries and testes exhibited OTR expression, including in immature follicle and Sertoli cells. OTR-expressing cells increased in the developing ovary, while a decrease was observed in the postnatal testis. In addition, our results showed that a high dose folic acid (FA) diet affected the number of OTR-expressing cells in developing gonads, particularly during the later stages of embryogenesis. These findings suggest that OTR may play a role in gonadal development and that its expression is influenced by sex. Furthermore, changes in folic acid supplementation may interfere with this developmental process.
期刊介绍：
The Journal of Molecular Histology publishes results of original research on the localization and expression of molecules in animal cells, tissues and organs. Coverage includes studies describing novel cellular or ultrastructural distributions of molecules which provide insight into biochemical or physiological function, development, histologic structure and disease processes.
Major research themes of particular interest include:
- Cell-Cell and Cell-Matrix Interactions;
- Connective Tissues;
- Development and Disease;
- Neuroscience.
Please note that the Journal of Molecular Histology does not consider manuscripts dealing with the application of immunological or other probes on non-standard laboratory animal models unless the results are clearly of significant and general biological importance.
The Journal of Molecular Histology publishes full-length original research papers, review articles, short communications and letters to the editors. All manuscripts are typically reviewed by two independent referees. The Journal of Molecular Histology is a continuation of The Histochemical Journal.
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