title: Seasonal Expression of Prolactin Receptor in the Scented Gland of Male Muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus).
abstract: Prolactin (PRL) has numerous actions in mammalian biological systems including mammary development and biological processes. The aim of this study was to investigate the seasonal changes of prolactin receptor (PRLR) expression in the scented gland of muskrat during the breeding and nonbreeding seasons. Histologically, glandular cells, interstitial cells and excretory tubules were identified in the scented glands in both seasons, whereas epithelial cells were sparse in the nonbreeding season. PRLR was observed in glandular cells of scented glands during the breeding and nonbreeding seasons with stronger immunostaining during the breeding season. Consistent with the immunohistochemical results, both the mean of protein and mRNA levels of PRLR were higher in the scented glands of the breeding season, and relatively lower level in the nonbreeding season. In addition, differential seasonal changes were also detected in the expression profile of microRNAs (miRNAs) in the scented gland of muskrat. Besides, plasma PRL concentration was remarkably higher in the breeding season than that in the nonbreeding season. These results suggested that muskrat scented gland was the direct target organ of PRL, and stronger expression of PRLR in scented glands during the breeding season indicated that PRL may directly regulate scented glandular function of the muskrats.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Animal Physiology, College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Han
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Animal Physiology, College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Liang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Animal Physiology, College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Shuo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Animal Physiology, College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, People's Republic of 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, People's Republic of 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, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yingying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Animal Physiology, College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Zhengrong
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Animal Physiology, College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Qiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Weng
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003411:Arvicolinae; D019295:Computational Biology / Q000379:methods; D015870:Gene Expression; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics; D058977:Molecular Sequence Annotation; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D011981:Receptors, Prolactin / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D012543:Scent Glands / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D012621:Seasons; D013737:Testis / Q000378:metabolism; D059467:Transcriptome
chemical_list: D035683:MicroRNAs; D011981:Receptors, Prolactin; D011388:Prolactin