title: Immunolocalization of inhibin/activin subunit proteins during the breeding season in testes and scented glands of muskrats (Ondatra zibethicus).
abstract: The objective of this study was to investigate the cellular immunolocalization of inhibin a and inhibin/activin (β(A) and β(B)) subunits in the muskrat testes and scented glands during the breeding season. Inhibin α and inhibin/activin (β(A) and β(B)) subunits were expressed in Sertoli cells and Leydig cells of testes and glandular cells of scented glands, respectively. Also, positive signals of inhibin α and inhibin/activin (β(A) and β(B)) subunits by Western blotting were both observed in testicular and scented glandular tissues. These results suggested that the testes and scented glands of the muskrats had the ability to synthesize inhibins and activins and that activins and inhibins might play an important role in testicular and scented glandular function in muskrats.
authors.affiliation: College of Biological Science and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, PR China.
authors.forename: Xiaoting
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Haolin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Jiaju
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Weng
authors.forename: Xia
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Sheng
authors.forename: Lu
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Xiao
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Shuqiang
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Meiyu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Qiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Weng
authors.forename: Gen
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.forename: Kazuyoshi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Taya
mesh_terms: D028341:Activins / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D003411:Arvicolinae / Q000378:metabolism*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000502:physiology; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007265:Inhibins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D021122:Protein Subunits; D012543:Scent Glands / Q000378:metabolism*; D012621:Seasons; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D013737:Testis / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D021122:Protein Subunits; D028341:Activins; D007265:Inhibins