title: Identification of Toll-like receptors in the rat (Rattus norvegicus): messenger RNA expression in the male reproductive tract under conditions of androgen variation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Although the majority of Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are reported in many species, some of them are not yet described in the rat. Further, factors that govern Tlr expression in the male reproductive tract have received little attention. We attempt to identify and characterize Tlrs in the rat and determine the expression profile under conditions that affect male reproductive tract gene expression.
  
  
  METHODS
  Rat Tlr5, Tlr10, and Tlr11 transcript sequences were submitted to GenBank and in silico characterization carried out using bioinformatics tools. RT-PCR analyses using gene specific primers for rat Tlr1-13 were carried out with RNA isolated from reproductive tract tissues of various experimental groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Tlr5, Tlr10, and Tlr11 identified in this study share features that are characteristic of the known TLRs. Abundant Tlr expression was observed in the male reproductive tract of adult and developing rats. Further, Tlr expression was also observed in the epididymides of androgen ablated rats.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Tlr5, Tlr10, and Tlr11 are ubiquitously expressed in the rat. Tlrs seem to be expressed during male reproductive tract development and under conditions of androgen ablation, suggesting the preparedness of the male reproductive tract to detect an infection under all conditions of androgen status.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Sciences, University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Barnali
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Biswas
authors.forename: Ganapathy
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Narmadha
authors.forename: Mithilesh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Choudhary
authors.forename: Frank S
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: French
authors.forename: Susan H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Hall
authors.forename: Suresh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yenugu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005837:Genitalia, Male / Q000196:embryology / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D016678:Genome; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D015213:Neuroimmunomodulation; D051381:Rats; D011944:Receptors, Androgen; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D051194:Toll-Like Receptor 1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D051201:Toll-Like Receptor 10 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D051198:Toll-Like Receptor 5 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D011944:Receptors, Androgen; D051194:Toll-Like Receptor 1; D051201:Toll-Like Receptor 10; D051198:Toll-Like Receptor 5