title: Tickling stimulation causes the up-regulation of the kallikrein family in the submandibular gland of the rat.
abstract: We recently showed that tactile stimulation (tickling) accompanied by positive emotion altered the expression of many genes in the rat hypothalamus (Hori et al., 2009 [15]). In this study, the effect of repeated tickling on gene expressions of the rat salivary gland was examined. After 4-week stimulation, several genes of the kallikrein (Klk) family were remarkably up-regulated and the alpha-amylase (amylase) gene was down-regulated in DNA microarray analysis. In quantitative analysis using real-time PCR of the submandibular gland of the rats tickled for 2 weeks, mRNAs of Klk1, Klk2 (Klk1c2, Tonin), Klk7 (Klk1l), Klk1b3 (Nerve growth factor, gamma), Klk1c10, Klks3 (Klk1c9) and GK11 were significantly 2-5-fold increased among 18 members of the Klk gene family examined and the submandibular amylase was decreased compared with the lightly touched and untouched control rats. In immunoblot analysis the increase in Klk7 protein was observed in the whole cell lysate fraction of the submandibular gland. In immunohistochemical analysis with anti-Klk7 polyclonal antibody, the immunostain was increased in duct cells of the submandibular gland of the tickled rat when compared with the lightly touched and untouched control rats. These results suggest that tactile sensory processing in the central nervous system affects the gene expression in the peripheral tissue probably via hormonal and/or autonomic neural activities. Submandibular Klks may be biochemical markers indicating positive emotional states.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Biochemistry, Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennoudai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8575, Japan.
authors.forename: Takuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yamamuro
authors.affiliation: Bio-Laboratory, Foundation for Advancement of International Sciences, 586-9 Akatsuka-Ushigafuchi, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-0062, Japan.
authors.forename: Miyo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hori
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Biochemistry, Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennoudai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8575, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshimi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nakagawa
authors.affiliation: Bio-Laboratory, Foundation for Advancement of International Sciences, 586-9 Akatsuka-Ushigafuchi, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-0062, Japan.
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hayashi
authors.affiliation: Bio-Laboratory, Foundation for Advancement of International Sciences, 586-9 Akatsuka-Ushigafuchi, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-0062, Japan.
authors.forename: Shigeko
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sakamoto
authors.affiliation: Bio-Laboratory, Foundation for Advancement of International Sciences, 586-9 Akatsuka-Ushigafuchi, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-0062, Japan.
authors.forename: Junji
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ohnishi
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Biochemistry, Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennoudai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8575, Japan.
authors.forename: Shino
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Takeuchi
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Biochemistry, Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennoudai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8575, Japan.
authors.forename: Yuko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Mihara
authors.affiliation: Doctoral Program in Kansei, Behavioral and Brain Sciences, Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennoudai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8575, Japan.
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shiga
authors.affiliation: Bio-Laboratory, Foundation for Advancement of International Sciences, 586-9 Akatsuka-Ushigafuchi, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-0062, Japan.
authors.forename: Kazuo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Murakami
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Biochemistry, Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennoudai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8575, Japan. Electronic address: o-urayama@tius-hs.jp.
authors.forename: Osamu
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Urayama
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology; D015153:Blotting, Western; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics; D004644:Emotions / Q000502:physiology; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007610:Kallikreins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D046228:Microarray Analysis; D010812:Physical Stimulation; D012313:RNA / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D057057:Serine Proteases / Q000096:biosynthesis; D013363:Submandibular Gland / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000502:physiology; D014828:Vocalization, Animal; D000516:alpha-Amylases / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D012313:RNA; D004247:DNA; D000516:alpha-Amylases; D057057:Serine Proteases; D007610:Kallikreins