title: Morphology and gene expression profile of the submandibular gland of androgen-receptor-deficient mice.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In the submandibular gland (SMG) of mice, the granular convoluted tubule (GCT) develops preferentially in males dependent on androgens. To clarify the molecular mechanism of androgen action in SMG, we examined the SMG of mice deficient for the androgen receptor (ARKO).
  
  
  METHODS
  The morphological features and gene expression in the SMG of control and ARKO mice with or without hormone treatments were analysed by immunohistochemistry, DNA microarray, and RT-PCR.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The development of GCT and expression of GCT-specific products such as NGF were even lower in ARKO male SMG than in control female SMG. The administration of androgens to ARKO males had no effect on SMG, whereas the administration of thyroid hormone (T4) caused the extensive conversion of striated duct cells to GCT cells with the increase of NGF mRNA. Gene expression profiles in control and ARKO male SMG were analysed by DNA microarrays, and genes with higher or lower expression in ARKO male SMG were determined. They were then classified into groups according to their responsiveness to the administration of dihydotestosterone (DHT) or T4 to ARKO males. RT-PCR revealed that, while no gene was responsive to DHT, expression of many genes was up- or down-regulated by T4.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results confirmed that GCT cell differentiation induced by androgens is dependent on the classical androgen receptor (AR), whereas that by T4 is independent of AR. Differential reactivity of genes to androgens and thyroid hormone in ARKO mice may shed light on the mechanism of androgen action in the SMG.
authors.affiliation: Department of Histology and Embryology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa University, 13-1 Takara-machi, Kanazawa, Ishikawa 920-8640, Japan.
authors.forename: Kannika
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Adthapanyawanich
authors.affiliation: Department of Histology and Embryology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa University, 13-1 Takara-machi, Kanazawa, Ishikawa 920-8640, Japan.
authors.forename: Tewarat
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kumchantuek
authors.affiliation: Department of Histology and Embryology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa University, 13-1 Takara-machi, Kanazawa, Ishikawa 920-8640, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nakata
authors.affiliation: Department of Histology and Embryology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa University, 13-1 Takara-machi, Kanazawa, Ishikawa 920-8640, Japan.
authors.forename: Miyuki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.affiliation: Department of Histology and Embryology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa University, 13-1 Takara-machi, Kanazawa, Ishikawa 920-8640, Japan.
authors.forename: Tomohiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wakayama
authors.affiliation: Division of Functional Genomics, Advanced Science Research Center, Kanazawa University, 13-1 Takara-machi, Kanazawa, Ishikawa 920-8640, Japan.
authors.forename: Takumi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nishiuchi
authors.affiliation: Department of Histology and Embryology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa University, 13-1 Takara-machi, Kanazawa, Ishikawa 920-8640, Japan. Electronic address: siseki@med.kanazawa-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Shoichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Iseki
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011944:Receptors, Androgen / Q000172:deficiency; D012737:Sex Factors; D013363:Submandibular Gland
chemical_list: D011944:Receptors, Androgen
keywords: Androgen receptor; Androgens; Differentiation; Gene expression; Submandibular gland; Thyroid hormone