title: Seasonal expression of androgen receptor in scented gland of muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus).
abstract: Muskrat is a seasonal breeder, males of which secret musk from paired perineal scented glands found beneath the skin at the ventral base of the tail for attracting female during the breeding season. The aim of this study was to investigate the seasonal changes of expression of androgen receptor (AR) in the scented gland of muskrat during the breeding and nonbreeding seasons. Histologically, glandular cells, interstitial cells and excretory tubules were identified in scented glands in both seasons, whereas epithelial cells were sparse in the nonbreeding season. AR was observed in glandular cells of scented glands during the breeding and nonbreeding seasons with stronger immunostaining during the breeding season compared to the nonbreeding season. Consistent with the immunohistochemical results, AR protein level was higher in the scented glands of the breeding season, and then decreased to a relatively low level in the nonbreeding season. The mean mRNA level of Ar was significantly higher in the breeding season than in the nonbreeding season. In addition, plasma gonadotropins and testosterone concentrations were remarkably higher in the breeding season than those in the nonbreeding season. These results suggested that muskrat scented gland was the direct target organ of androgen, and stronger expression of AR in scented glands during the breeding season suggested that androgens may directly influence scented glandular function of the muskrats and also courtship behavior as we inferred.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Animal Physiology, College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, PR China.
authors.forename: Lu
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Animal Physiology, College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, PR China.
authors.forename: Shuqiang
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Animal Physiology, College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, PR China.
authors.forename: Qinglin
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Animal Physiology, College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, PR China.
authors.forename: Shiyang
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Institute of Public Health, Inner Mongolia University for Nationalities, Tongliao 028000, PR China.
authors.forename: Lihong
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bao
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Animal Physiology, College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, PR China.
authors.forename: Xia
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Sheng
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Animal Physiology, College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, PR China.
authors.forename: Yingying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Veterinary Physiology, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Tokyo 183-8509, Japan.
authors.forename: Gen
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Veterinary Physiology, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Tokyo 183-8509, Japan.
authors.forename: Kazuyoshi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Taya
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Animal Physiology, College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, PR China. Electronic address: qiangweng@bjfu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Qiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Weng
mesh_terms: D000728:Androgens / Q000097:blood*; D000818:Animals; D003411:Arvicolinae / Q000502:physiology*; D001947:Breeding; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D010502:Perineum / Q000502:physiology; D011944:Receptors, Androgen / Q000378:metabolism*; D012543:Scent Glands / Q000378:metabolism*; D012621:Seasons; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D000728:Androgens; D011944:Receptors, Androgen; D013739:Testosterone
keywords: Androgen receptor; Courtship behavior; Muskrat; Scented gland; Seasonal change