DRP006531
Transcriptome analysis of exocrine glands in rodents
The exocrine-gland secreting peptide 1 (ESP1) is the first proteinaceous pheromone identified in mammals. The ESP1 is a 7k Da protein secreted from the extraorbital lacrimal gland (ELG) into tear fluid of male mice.  It has been reported that the mouse ESP multigene family consists of 38 genes including 24 putatively functional genes and 14 pseudogenes. Out of the 24 intact ESP genes, 15 were expressed in the ELG and/or submaxillary gland (SMG) of sexually mature BALB/c mice. To examine the expression of non-mouse ESPs, we conducted transcriptome analysis of ELG and SMG in rats and hamsters.