Gu Lijuan, Mo Eunkyoung, Yang Zhihong, Zhu Xuemei, Fang Zheming, Sun Baishen, Wang Chunyan, Bao Jianfeng, Sung Changkeun
Department of Food Science and Technology, College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, South Korea.
Growth Factors. 2007 Aug;25(4):264-79. doi: 10.1080/08977190701773187.
The expression and localization of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) in the four parts (tip, upper, mid and base) of the red deer antler has been extensively investigated. We used reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (real time RT-PCR), in situ hybridization, immunohistochemistry and Western blot techniques to localize IGF-I messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) and IGF-I peptide in the four parts of the antler. The specific sequence encoding IGF-I was detected by RT-PCR in all of the four specimens, and the 395 bp IGF-I sequence from the red deer antler was shown to have very high homology with human, goat and mouse IGF-I. In situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry results demonstrated that the expression of IGF-I occurred in chondrocytes and osteoblasts in the tip and upper parts of the antler. However, IGF-I was only detectable in osteoblasts around the bone in the mid and base parts. There were significant differences in the intensity of the signal obtained with the IGF-I probe in the tip, upper, mid and base tissues. The Western blot analysis also provided evidence that IGF-I expression was localized differentially in the four parts of the deer antler. This study indicates that antler tissue is an essential part of the IGF system, which is involved in the regulation of the growth of red deer antlers. The specific expression of IGF-I in the four parts of the deer antler suggests that the IGF-I molecule is present at significantly different levels throughout the deer antler development and regeneration processes. Localization of IGF-I in chondrocytes and osteoblasts suggests that IGF-I may play an important role in cartilage and bone formation. In addition, it may have a variety of biophysical effects that influence the rapid growth of deer antlers.
对马鹿鹿茸四个部位（尖部、上部、中部和基部）中胰岛素样生长因子-I（IGF-I）的表达和定位进行了广泛研究。我们使用逆转录聚合酶链反应（RT-PCR）、实时逆转录聚合酶链反应（实时RT-PCR）、原位杂交、免疫组织化学和蛋白质印迹技术，在鹿茸的四个部位定位IGF-I信使核糖核酸（mRNA）和IGF-I肽。通过RT-PCR在所有四个样本中均检测到了编码IGF-I的特定序列，并且马鹿鹿茸中395 bp的IGF-I序列与人类、山羊和小鼠的IGF-I具有非常高的同源性。原位杂交和免疫组织化学结果表明，IGF-I的表达发生在鹿茸尖部和上部的软骨细胞和成骨细胞中。然而，仅在中部和基部的骨周围成骨细胞中可检测到IGF-I。在尖部、上部、中部和基部组织中，用IGF-I探针获得的信号强度存在显著差异。蛋白质印迹分析也提供了证据，表明IGF-I在鹿茸的四个部位存在差异表达。本研究表明，鹿茸组织是IGF系统的重要组成部分，参与马鹿鹿茸生长的调节。IGF-I在鹿茸四个部位的特异性表达表明，在整个鹿茸发育和再生过程中，IGF-I分子的水平存在显著差异。IGF-I在软骨细胞和成骨细胞中的定位表明，IGF-I可能在软骨和骨形成中发挥重要作用。此外，它可能具有多种生物物理效应，影响马鹿鹿茸的快速生长。
