title: Immunolocalization of steroidogenic enzymes P450scc, 3betaHSD, and P450c17 in the ovaries of wild raccoon dogs (Nyctereutes procyonoides).
abstract: We investigated the distribution of 3 types of steroidogenic enzymes, P450scc, 3betaHSD, and P450c17, in wild raccoon dog ovaries by immunohistochemistry. Six pairs of ovaries were obtained from wild raccoon dogs between 2001 and 2003, with 3 of the 6 pairs of ovaries containing corpora lutea. P450scc, 3betaHSD, and P450c17 were localized in the granulosa and theca cells of these raccoon dogs. Furthermore, lutein cells were stained positively for P450scc and 3betaHSD in the pregnant and non-pregnant raccoon dogs. These results suggest that granulosa and theca cells may synthesize progesterone and androgens, which may play an important role in follicular development, and that lutein cells are a major source of progesterone in wild raccoon dogs.
authors.affiliation: College of Biological Science and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China .
authors.forename: Qiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Weng
authors.forename: Tetsuma
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Murase
authors.forename: Makoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Asano
authors.forename: Toshio
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tsubota
mesh_terms: D015096:3-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D002786:Cholesterol Side-Chain Cleavage Enzyme / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D007120:Immunochemistry; D010053:Ovary / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology*; D046031:Raccoon Dogs / Q000378:metabolism*; D012621:Seasons; D013254:Steroid 17-alpha-Hydroxylase / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D015096:3-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases; D013254:Steroid 17-alpha-Hydroxylase; D002786:Cholesterol Side-Chain Cleavage Enzyme