NCBI Summary:
This gene encodes a receptor for vasoactive intestinal peptide, a small neuropeptide. Vasoactive intestinal peptide is involved in smooth muscle relaxation, exocrine and endocrine secretion, and water and ion flux in lung and intestinal epithelia. Its actions are effected through integral membrane receptors associated with a guanine nucleotide binding protein which activates adenylate cyclase. Several transcript variants encoding different isoforms have been found for this gene. [provided by RefSeq, Oct 2011]
General function
Receptor
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Cellular localization
Plasma membrane
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Ovarian function
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Expression regulated by
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Ovarian localization
Comment
Vasoactive intestinal Peptide and its receptors in human ovarian cortical follicles. Gabbay-Benziv R et al. Ovarian cryopreservation is one option for fertility preservation in patients with cancer. The danger of reseeding malignancies could be eliminated by in vitro maturation of primordial follicles from the frozen-thawed tissue. However, the development of this system is hindered by uncertainties regarding factors that activate primordial follicles. Neuronal growth factors such as vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) play important roles in early mammalian folliculogenesis. There are no data on the expression of VIP and its vasoactive intestinal peptide pituitary adenylate cyclase 1 and 2 receptors (VPAC1-R and VPAC2-R) in human preantral follicles.
Tissue samples from 14 human fetal ovaries and 40 ovaries from girls/women were prepared to test for the expression of VIP, VPAC1-R, and VPAC2-R on the protein (immunohistochemisty) and mRNA (reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction) levels. Immunohistochemistry staining was mostly weak, especially in fetal samples. The VIP protein was identified in oocytes and granulosa cells (GCs) in the fetal samples from 22 gestational weeks (GW) onwards. In girls/women, VIP follicular staining (oocytes and GCs) was identified in 45% of samples. VPAC1-R protein was identified in follicles in all fetal samples from 22GW onwards and in 63% of the samples from girls/women (GC staining only in 40%). VPAC2-R protein was identified in follicles in 33% of fetal samples and 47% of the samples from girls/women. The mRNA transcripts for VIP, VPAC1-R, and VPAC2-R were identified in ovarian extracts from fetuses and women.
CONCLUSIONS:
VIP and its two receptors are expressed in human ovarian preantral follicles. However, their weak staining suggests they have limited roles in early follicular growth. To elucidate if VIP activates human primordial follicles, it should be added to the culture medium.
Follicle stages
Antral, Preovulatory
Comment
Expression of VPAC1 receptor at the level of mRNA and protein in the porcine female reproductive system. Bukowski R et al. (2015) The presence and distribution of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) receptor VPAC1 was studied in the ovary, oviduct and uterus (uterine horn and cervix) of the domestic pig using methods of molecular biology (RT-PCR and immunoblot) and immunohistochemistry. The expression of VPAC1 receptor at mRNA level was confirmed with RT-PCR in all the studied parts of the porcine female reproductive system by the presence of 525 bp PCR product and at the level of proteins by the detection of 46 kDa protein band in immunoblot. Immunohistochemical stainings revealed the cellular distribution of VPAC1 receptor protein. In the ovary it was present in the wall of arterial blood vessels, as well as in the ovarian follicles of different stages. In the tubular organs the VPAC1 receptor immunohistochemical stainings were observed in the wall of the arterial blood vessels, in the muscular membrane, as well as in the mucosal epithelium. The study confirmed the presence of VPAC1 receptor in the tissues of the porcine female reproductive tract what clearly shows the possibility of influence of VIP on the porcine ovary, oviduct and uterus.//////////////////