A differential response in the reproductive system and energy balance of spiny mice Acomys populations to vasopressin treatment

Tilaye Wube, Fuad Fares, Abraham Haim

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Increased dietary salinity suppressed reproduction of the xeric adapted golden spiny mouse, Acomys russatus. Testicular and uterine mass were reduced, suppressed spermatogenesis and vaginal closure were observed. The anti-diuretic hormone, vasopressin (VP), was suggested to mediate such effects. However, increased dietary salinity did not affect reproductive status of a mesic adapted population of the common spiny mouse, A. cahirinus. In the present study, the effect of exogenous VP on the reproductive status and energy balance of both males and females of A. russatus and of a mesic population of A. cahirinus was tested. Vasopressin (Sigma, 50 μg/kg) was injected intraperitoneally in three-day intervals for four weeks. In VP-treated A. russatus, spermatogenesis was significantly suppressed while the change in testis mass did not show significant difference. Both control and VP-treated females lost body mass (Wb) significantly and the latter also exhibited a higher energy expenditure compared to their male counterparts. VP did not affect reproductive status in both sexes of A. cahirinus. Also it did not have a significant effect on Wb, energy intake, and energy expenditure in this species. Our results support the idea that VP mediates the effects of increased diet salinity on reproduction in A. russatus. The results also reinforce previous knowledge that different physiological systems could be integrated by a single biochemical signal.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)499-504
Number of pages6
JournalComparative Biochemistry and Physiology - A Molecular and Integrative Physiology
Volume151
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 2008

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
The study was supported by an ISF grant from the Israel Academy of Science and Humanities to AH and FF. We also would like to thank Nina Dainov and Dimitri Rozenband for maintaining the mice colonies. We are also grateful to the anonymous referees for their constructive comments.

Keywords

  • Acomys
  • Energy consumption
  • Energy intake
  • Reproduction
  • Salinity
  • Vasopressin

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biochemistry
  • Physiology
  • Aquatic Science
  • Animal Science and Zoology
  • Molecular Biology

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