title: Musk gland seasonal development and musk secretion are regulated by the testis in muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The muskrat is a seasonal breeder. Males secrete musk to attract females during the breeding season. The testosterone binding to the androgen receptor (AR) in musk glands of muskrat may play an important role conducting the musk secretion process.
  
  
  METHODS
  The musk gland, testis and blood samples of musk rats are collected in both breeding and non-breeding seasons. Some part of the samples are kept in liquid nitrogen for transcriptome analysis and Western blotting test. Some part of the samples are kept in 70% alcohol for histology experiment, blood samples are kept at -20 °C for the serum testosterone measurement experiment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  This study demonstrates that the quantity of secreted musk, the volume of the musk glands, the diameter of the gland cells and AR expression are all higher during the breeding season than at other times (p < 0.01). StAR, P450scc and 3β-HSD expression in the Leydig cells of the testis were also higher during this season, as was serum testosterone. AR was also observed in the gland cells of two other musk-secreting animals, the musk deer and small Indian civet, in their musk glands. These results suggest that the testes and musk glands co-develop seasonally.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The musk glands' seasonal development and musk secretion are regulated by the testes, and testosterone plays an important role in the seasonal development of musk glands.
authors.affiliation: College of Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Tianxiang
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: College of Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Dong
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.affiliation: College of Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Qi
authors.affiliation: Zhonshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Weixuan
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: College of Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Mengyuan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.affiliation: College of Biological Science and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Jiachen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.affiliation: College of Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Liangliang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: College of Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yihua
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: College of Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Wenxia
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: College of Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Xiaolong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: College of Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Ruibo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.affiliation: College of Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Ran
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: College of Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yuting
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.affiliation: College of Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Juntong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: College of Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Shuang
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: College of Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, People's Republic of China. hudefu1234567@sina.com.
authors.forename: Defu
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: College of Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, People's Republic of China. liushuqiang@bjfu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Shuqiang
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003411:Arvicolinae; D015153:Blotting, Western; D001947:Breeding; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005229:Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007985:Leydig Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size; D011944:Receptors, Androgen / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D012016:Reference Values; D012098:Reproduction / Q000502:physiology; D012543:Scent Glands / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism*; D012621:Seasons; D017423:Sequence Analysis, RNA; D013737:Testis / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D005229:Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated; D011944:Receptors, Androgen; C008563:musk; D013739:Testosterone
keywords: AR; Musk gland; Muskrat; Seasonal development; Testis