title: Morphological and neuroanatomical study of the mammary gland in the immature and mature European beaver (Castor fiber).
abstract: This study investigated general morphology and immunohistochemical properties of nerve fibres supplying the mammary gland (MG) in the European beaver. The microscopic analysis of the beaver mammary gland revealed the presence of morphological structures which are characteristic for mammals. There were no distinct differences in the morphological features of the mammary gland between the juvenile and non-pregnant mature beaver. The nerve fibres were visualized using antibodies against protein gene product 9.5 (PGP) and biologically active substances including β-hydroxylase tyrosine (DβH), neuropeptide Y (NPY), calcitonine gene-related peptide (CGRP) and substance P (SP). The study has revealed that the MG in the juvenile and mature beaver is richly supplied with PGP-immunoreactive (PGP-IR) nerve fibres. The most abundant innervation was observed in the nipple and less numerous nerve terminals supplied the glandular tissue. Double-labelling immunohistochemistry disclosed that the majority of PGP-IR nerve fibres associated with blood vessels and smooth muscle cells in both the nipple and glandular tissue were also DßH-IR. However, these nerve terminals were less numerous in the glandular tissue than in the nipple. Most of the DßH-IR axons associated with arteries and smooth muscle cells in the entire gland also stained for NPY. Small number of DßH/NPY-IR fibres supplied veins. CGRP-IR fibres were more abundant than those expressing SP. No distinct differences in the distribution and immunohistochemical characteristic of nerve fibres were observed between the juvenile and adult animals. The distribution and immunohistochemical properties of nerve fibres supplying the gland in the beaver remind those previously described in other mammalian species.
authors: Department of Animal Anatomy, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Warmia and Mazury, Olsztyn, Poland. Electronic address: ameliaf@uwm.edu.pl.
authors: Amelia
authors: A
authors: Franke-Radowiecka
authors: Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research of Polish Academy of Sciences, Olsztyn, Poland.
authors: Zygmunt
authors: Z
authors: Giżejewski
authors: Department of Animal Anatomy, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Warmia and Mazury, Olsztyn, Poland.
authors: Magdalena
authors: M
authors: Klimczuk
authors: Department of Animal Anatomy, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Warmia and Mazury, Olsztyn, Poland.
authors: Agnieszka
authors: A
authors: Dudek
authors: Department of Animal Anatomy, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Warmia and Mazury, Olsztyn, Poland.
authors: Michal
authors: M
authors: Zalecki
authors: Department of Animal Reproduction with clinic, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Warmia and Mazury, Olsztyn, Poland.
authors: Andrzej
authors: A
authors: Jurczak
authors: Department of Animal Anatomy, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Warmia and Mazury, Olsztyn, Poland.
authors: Jerzy
authors: J
authors: Kaleczyc
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D042361:Mammary Glands, Human / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000254:growth & development; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009478:Neuropeptide Y / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy; D018015:Receptors, Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide / Q000378:metabolism; D012377:Rodentia / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000254:growth & development; D013004:Somatostatin / Q000378:metabolism; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase / Q000378:metabolism; D043222:Ubiquitin Thiolesterase / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D009478:Neuropeptide Y; D018015:Receptors, Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide; D013004:Somatostatin; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase; D043222:Ubiquitin Thiolesterase
keywords: European beaver; Innervation; Mammary gland; Morphology; Peptides